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It’s OK, I know what you are thinking:

Does having a disability mean I am disadvantaged?

Does being gay mean I face discrimination?

Sometimes both—but not all the time.

About Wayne

Wayne is a prominent, in-demand, and outspoken international public speaker, presenter, advocate, and now writer promoting the rights of and opportunities for people with disability and people in the LGBTIQ community. In his career to date Wayne has undertaken a number of speaking opportunities throughout Australia on issues of disability, diversity, and human resources. Wayne’s entire career is focused on assisting people with disability into employment and training. Wayne has many years’ experience working within the Disability Employment Services Program (DES). He has also previously worked within the former Disability Employment Network (DEN), where he has seen the transformative difference well-paid employment can make in an individual’s life. Wayne has experience in all aspects of client relations, human resources, and business administration. He has a keen interest in social and employment policy that ensures the talents and expertise of people with disability are recognised in the workforce and community more broadly. Wayne’s work is focused on ensuring that full participation in both work and community life is realised.

 

Wayne is a solutions-focused thought leader. He knows there is much work to be done to improve the employment of people with disability. He knows all too well that as a country, Australia cannot let the skills and talents of people with disability go to waste.

 

Wayne’s career highlights include:

  • Current member of NDS ACT Committee 

  •  Current board member and Secretary of Sharing Places Inc

  • Current Deputy Chairperson of LGBTI Health Australia board of directors 

  • Previous member of the ACT LGBTIQ Advisory Council -  (served as deputy chair 2017 -2019)

  • Previous member of the ACT Disability Reference Group (2017-2019)

  • Previously served for more than six years as board Vice President of Meridian (formally AIDS Action Council of the ACT)

  • Previous Member of Director Generals’  Advisory Group – Justice and Community Safety

  • Advising employers across Australia on the importance of a diverse workforce that includes people with disability.

  • Consultancy work with various Australian Public Service (APS) agencies on issues facing people with disability.

  • Providing extensive human resources advice and support in relation to the employment of staff with disability.

  • Previous member of the Disability Employment Working Group chaired by the Australian Public Service Commission.

  • Previous member of the board of directors for Physical Disability Australia.

Wayne has a unique, humorous, thought-provoking, and challenging insight into the issues facing people with disability. He too has a disability, but is well-known for forgetting about it. ‘Is it wrong that I forget I have a disability? I just get on with things; I’ve got shit to do.’

 

Wayne believes his parents won the diversity lottery, as he is a disabled, gay, aspiring drag queen! Wayne now embarks on the journey as a writer with his first book Anecdotes of a Disabled Gay. His book is a collection of the shit people say to a thirty-something-year-old disabled gay man.

Wayne is fearless and unapologetic in his commitment to raising the profile of people with disability and people of the LGBTIQ community. Wayne can be regularly seen wearing magic shoes.

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