International Day of People with Disability grants awarded

International Day of People with Disability

Annually Nillumbik Shire Council supports International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), which is held on 3 December each year, to highlight the contributions people with disability make across the community.

Grants up to $1,000 are available to support events and activities celebrating and promoting disability inclusion in Nillumbik between November and January each year.

This annual grant opens in July.

2025 recipients

Araluen

See Me Through Clay | $1,000
See Me Through Clay presented by Araluen at Montsalvat, celebrates the vital place of artists with disability in Nillumbik’s cultural heritage. The diverse exhibition of sculpture and complementary works brings people together through artistic excellence, creativity, inclusion, and powerful stories.

Eltham High School

Someone Elses Shoes... | $1,000
As part of a whole school agenda to promote inclusion, diversity, and empathy, students from years 7-12 are invited to challenge themselves by experiencing a moment in the life of someone living with a physical disability by taking part in a wheelchair basketball workshop.

Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club

Free 5 -10 Year Old Neurodiverse Friendly Basketball Clinic | $1,000
Hosting a free 5-10 year old Neurodiverse Friendly Basketball Clinic. A day to celebrate IDPwD, provide an opportunity for families and their children to come together in a sporting environment, offering a safe and inclusive space for them to connect and build social connections.

Jennifer Johnsen (auspice Imagine Reevolution)

Resilience in Colour | $1,000
A two-day inclusive art program for people with disabilities, neurodivergence, mental health challenges, and others who have faced adversity. Participants explore resilience through acrylic painting and gelli plate printmaking, then showcase their creations in a relaxed community exhibition, celebrating inclusion, creativity, and connection.

Montmorency Community Group

Exceptional Minds, Real Needs |$1,000
A singular community event featuring a guest speaker sharing insights on supporting high-IQ autistic students in primary and secondary schools. Open to Nillumbik and Banyule and surrounding communities, the session promotes inclusion, advocacy, and understanding, empowering neurodivergent young people to thrive among their peers and prepare for life beyond school.

Nillumbik Dementia Friendly Alliance

Meet Day promoting available supports for people living with cognitive decline and their carers | $1,000
Enjoy a fun and informative afternoon learning about what Nillumbik can offer for people wanting to expand their knowledge of dementia, and what's on offer locally to help! Come and try our sensory tools, the Magic Table and the brand new inmuRELAX, along with a welcoming afternoon tea.

St John of God Outreach Services

Seen and Celebrated: Showcasing the Creativity and Performance of Local Artists with Disabilities | $1,000
A community celebration showcasing artworks and performance art by local artists with disability, celebrating inclusion and creativity. Hosted at our Greensborough Community Campus to mark International Day of People with Disability.

2024 recipients

A Fitting Connection

ReFelt Christmas | $1,000
Celebrating International Day of People with Disability by felting textile waste into beautiful felted fabric that will be used to create gift wrapping or Christmas Tree ornaments. Participants will attend workshops where they can learn about the process of turning textile waste into felted fabric. The ReFELT project also offers participants a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge technology, specifically the FeltLOOM, which will be newly available in Australia. This innovative machine enables the transformation of textile waste into new felted fabric, promoting sustainability and creative expression.

Araluen

The Zoo | $870
'The Zoo' marks Araluen’s 50th anniversary by uniting performers from multiple Araluen locations in an original production. Visual artists with disabilities will also showcase their talents, creating an inclusive celebration that promotes disability inclusion.

Diamond Valley Basketball Association

Diamond Valley Wheelchair Basketball Tournament | $1,000
A wheelchair basketball tournament to celebrate International Day of People with Disability.

Different Journeys

Autism and Lego fun | $1,000
Hosting two autism friendly events for autistic teens and adults. We will work with Lego Master Kate Frost from Frost Bricks who will create fun and engaging fully inclusive events, and share with participants their love for Lego.
Greensborough RSL

Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club

Super Hoops Welcome Day | $1,000
Hosting a Super Hoops Welcome Day to promote the start of our new inclusion program for 5–15-year-olds. The day will consist of neurodiverse friendly basketball activities and games. At the end of the session, we will have an afternoon tea to promote social connection for participants, parents and carers.

Hohnes Road Playhouse

Senses Scavenger Hunt | $595
Hosting a 'Senses Scavenger Hunt' on IDPwD! This fun, inclusive event invites children of all abilities to explore the world through touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste. Celebrating diversity and understanding, we look to enjoy a week of discovery and connection in our community!
Hohnes Road Playhouse

St John of God Accord

Our Minds Matter Mental Health Morning Tea for IDPwD | $1,000
xJoin us for a mental health morning tea on IDPwD, to support greater understanding of mental wellbeing in the lives of people with intellectual disability. We welcome all people with disabilities, carers and providers from the Nillumbik Shire to connect, share experiences and celebrate at our welcoming Greensborough campus.