Council launches new campaign to promote diversity and inclusion

Sunday, 19 May 2024

Penrith City Council is shining the spotlight on the diverse abilities and achievements of individuals within the community, with a new campaign called "One Community, Many Abilities”.

The campaign, which will be featured on Council’s digital platforms and advertised throughout Penrith, aims to raise awareness about the valuable contributions people living with disability can make, when given the opportunity.

A key component of the campaign is a series of online videos featuring five inspiring Penrith residents, who each have inspiring stories of resilience, creativity, determination and empowerment to share.

Among the featured locals is Julian who lives with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia and is a force to be reckoned with. He excels in powerchair football, creates captivating light installations for Vivid Sydney, and has established his own Empire 3D printing business.

Another profiled local is Lauren, a loving mum who is deeply involved in deaf sports and works tirelessly as a support worker, advocating for inclusivity and understanding. Her story, along with others like

Madeleine, who identifies as being on the autism spectrum and having ADHD, and Jesse, a wheelchair rugby league player, highlights the diverse talents and strengths within the Penrith community.

Marley, with his infectious energy and presence, demonstrates the power of inclusivity and acceptance through his work in Kelly's kitchen and his vibrant social media presence, enriching the community with his contributions.

Penrith Mayor Todd Carney said this campaign is an important outcome of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) and reflects Council’s commitment to championing diversity and inclusion across Penrith.

“The DIAP is all about making Penrith more accessible and inclusive, and a big part of achieving this is raising awareness of the role we all play as advocates in making our City an inclusive place for all,” Cr Carney said.

“Through this new campaign we are sharing the incredible talents, skills and stories of just a few of the individuals living with disability in Penrith, to highlight the valuable contributions they can make to our City, when given the opportunity.

“Over the next few weeks, you will see the faces of these inspiring residents on our website, on billboards, in newspapers and other places across our City and I encourage you to head to our website to discover more about them.” Cr Carney said.

Watch their inspiring stories here penrith.city/manyabilities

Photo captions:
Penrith City Council social media tile for new campaign to promote diversity and inclusion.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Sunday, 19 May 2024.