Show Notes
Building Inclusion: Australia’s Disability Strategy is a powerful new podcast series amplifying the voices shaping the future of disability inclusion in Australia.
Hosted by writer, lawyer and disability advocate Sam Drummond, Building Inclusion brings Australia’s Disability Strategy to life through lived experience.
Each episode dives into the outcome areas at the heart of the Strategy: Employment and Financial Security; Inclusive Homes and Communities; Safety, Rights and Justice; Personal and Community Support; Education and Learning; Health and Wellbeing; and Community Attitudes.
Honest and solutions-focused, Building Inclusion centres the voices too often left out of national conversations.
A new podcast series by Powerd Media. Launching Wednesday 11th March 2026.
Produced by Eliza Hull Hosted by Sam Drummond Recorded by Ascent Media Audio Edited by Honor Marino at Print Radio Tasmania
This podcast by Powerd Media is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing under the Inclusion and Accessibility Fund: Australia's Disability Strategy (ADS) – Community Attitudes grant program.
Transcript:
Sam Drummond 00:01 Hello, I’m Sam Drummond, and you're listening to Building Inclusion - Australia's Disability Strategy podcast, a series by Powerd Media. We hear from voices across the country, people with disability, advocates, leaders, experts shaping the future of disability inclusion in Australia. Each episode explores the key outcomes of Australia's Disability Strategy - Education.
Josh 00:25 Most of the kids in my class are really empathetic, and they like know if someone's feeling a bit down or unsure.
Sam Drummond 00:31 Employment.
Quinn Jones 00:32 Out of nowhere, I got this chance to come to Hotel Etico. So, I had really no experience. I was very shy, and I had never worked in hospitality before. It was very nerve wracking, but also it was a chance, and so even though I was very nervous, I was very motivated to come here
Sam Drummond 00:51 Community support.
Kathleen O'Kelly Kennedy 00:52 The big change for me happened when we were invited to a camp. I didn't really know many people with disabilities in general. It lit a little spark, because I was watching these Paralympians. They just they seem to be proud of their disabilities.
Sam Drummond 01:06 Housing and inclusive communities
Leeanne Caton 01:08 Because success in life starts with a home. Everything else follows, but you can't even go to school or have a healthy life unless you've got a home.
Sam Drummond 01:15 Health and Wellbeing.
Amanda White 01:15 They realise that I can be a parent and that I can look after my girls. And you know, there was ups and downs, but isn't that what it is in every family
Sam Drummond 01:28 And Safety, Rights and Justice
Rosie Putland 01:30 Actually, so many of the things that were put in place for victims did benefit me as an autistic person.
Sam Drummond 01:38 This is a conversation about access, about equity, and about the kind of country we want to build together. Building Inclusion. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More from Building Inclusion
This episode explores Health & Wellbeing, highlighting how accessible systems, inclusive healthcare, and appropriate supports can improve outcomes for people with disability. Sam Drummond speaks with Dr Dinesh Palipana, reflects on overcoming scepticism within the medical profession and the value of employing disabled professionals in healthcare. He discusses how inclusion can lead to practical benefits such as reduced absenteeism and stronger patient trust, while also drawing attention to ongoing physical and logistical barriers in the health system, including inaccessible hospital environments and transport challenges. He also speaks with Dr Margaret Spencer and her goddaughter Amanda White, who share insights into the lived experience of parenting with disability. They discuss the importance of tailored supports for families, the barriers parents can face, and the strengths and possibilities of co-parenting models when the right structures are in place. Also joining the conversation is Vera Ciavarella, who is the Disability Liaison Officer from the Royal Women’s Hospital, who outlines initiatives aimed at improving disability awareness and patient care. Host – Sam Drummond Produced by Eliza Hull for Powerd Media Audio Edited by – Honor Marino for Print Radio Tasmania Audio Record – Ascent Media This podcast by Powerd Media is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing under the Inclusion and Accessibility Fund: Australia’s Disability Strategy (ADS) – Community Attitudes grant program. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This episode explores ‘Education and Learning’, highlighting how the right supports and environments can enable people with disability to learn, connect, and thrive alongside their peers.
This episode explores Personal and Community Support for people with disability in Australia, highlighting how the right supports can empower people to lead meaningful, connected, and fulfilling lives.
The podcast episode explores safety, rights, and justice for people with disability in Australia, and the urgent need for systems that truly protect and uphold human rights. Sam Drummond speaks with Rosie Putland, an Autistic advocate, who shares her experiences navigating discrimination and the justice system. Rosie reflects on how some supports designed for victim survivors were, at times, more accessible and inclusive for her - highlighting how thoughtful approaches can better serve diverse needs.
The podcast episode explores Inclusive Housing and Communities in Australia, and the real impact that accessible design and policy can have on people’s lives. Sam Drummond spoke with Paul Nunnari, a respected Paralympian and long-time disability advocate, about the power of speaking up for change. Paul shared how he once wrote directly to the NSW Premier to advocate for the Sydney Opera House to become more accessible for people with disability — a reminder that advocacy from individuals can influence some of the country’s most iconic places.