2020 BIAT AGM update

While numbers were limited due to social distancing requirements, there was a good turn out and BIAT is grateful to all those who attended, including BIAT members and friends of BIAT. 

BIAT is particularly appreciative of the ongoing support received from Senator Catryna Bilyk and Alison Standen MP - pictured with BIAT President Dario Tomat and BIAT Executive Officer, Deborah Byrne.

Dario, Deborah and BIAT Financial Officer, Bec O’Halloran – each reflected on the eventful year BIAT has had, and the successful outcomes from two 12-month projects funded by National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Information, Linkages, and Capacity Building (ILC) grants.

You can read their full updates in the BIAT Annual Report 2019-2020.

Economic Participation Project: Disclosure - Who, What, When, Where, Why 
During the evening, Project Officer, Robyn McWaldron and Disability Employment Service (DES) Provider, Tim Hunt (Interact Australia), provided an overview of the Disclosure Project.
‍

The Project focussed on ensuring people living with brain injury seeking employment have control over, and are empowered to choose, what and how they want potential employers and others to know about their disability. It sought to develop alternate ways for people with brain injury seeking or returning to employment to communicate the impact of their disability to potential employers, and to work with employers around reducing the barriers to employment for people with brain injury.

The suite of Disclosure tools produced included Disclosure videos which support people with brain injury seeking employment to tell their story their way and provided a voice to people who may experience cognitive and communication challenges. The AGM included a screening of two Disclosure Participant videos.
‍

Feedback about the Disclosure videos from Project participants, DES Providers, employers and the NDIA has been overwhelmingly positive:“[The employer] can see that you are more than just your brain injury/disability. Employers can see who you are.” (Disclosure Participant)

“[The videos] were a genuine representation of each individual, professionally produced, tailored and very practical. I think they helped our participants present a professional summary of their strengths and support requirements. This is right on the money, I’d like to be able to produce videos like these for all our DES participants, as I feel it would help people living with any disability obtain employment.” (DES Provider)

Special thank you to project participant, Andy Rodman, for sharing his experience of making a Disclosure video and discussing the value employment brings to his life.

You can read the final Economic Participation Project: Disclosure - Who, What, When, Where Why Report here. 

BIAT worked with Domin8 Media to produce a video of the Disclosure Project presentation - you can view the video below.

‍
‍

Thank you!

The AGM provided the perfect opportunity for BIAT to thank our volunteer Committee of Management for their ongoing support and expert guidance of the Association. Outgoing Committee Members, Leanne Whitney and Charlene Barach each received a ‘Volunteer’ variety of Camellia as a sign of BIAT’s appreciation. Special mention to Leanne Whitney who served on the Committee for 13 and a half years.

Life Membership of BIAT 
Sue Hodgson and Nick Baily, who were awarded Honorary Life Member of BIAT in 2018 for their service to the organisation, were presented with wooden Life Membership Badges to symbolise their connection to BIAT.