Aboriginal artwork with the word YES

Cerebral Palsy Alliance Backs First Nations Voice to Parliament

Cerebral Palsy Alliance is proud to confirm its support of a First Nations Voice to Parliament, as expressed in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Cerebral Palsy Alliance is dedicated to championing a world of equal opportunities and inclusivity for all Australians living with cerebral palsy and similar disabilities and as such, a Voice to Parliament is directly aligned with our mission.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart is a national Indigenous consensus position on Indigenous constitutional recognition and was developed from a convention of 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates. The request for a Voice to Parliament has come from grassroots communities across Australia who want a say on how laws and policy decisions may affect their families on the ground. We affirm our support for this simple and modest reform.

As the world-leading organisation for cerebral palsy services, research, tech and advocacy, we hold a vision for an inclusive society. Through our Reconciliation Action Plan and continued research and service delivery, we are strengthening our partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and leaders, listening to their wisdom and lived experiences, to help support long-term health and social outcomes.

Cerebral Palsy Alliance, with over 180 leading Australian charities committed to inclusivity, has joined the Allies for Uluru Coalition to support a YES vote for a Voice to Parliament. We look forward to sharing educational information and resources with our community on the Voice to Parliament over the coming months.

We strongly believe this invitation represents a powerful and unique opportunity for all Australians to walk forward together in support of a better and brighter future. We appreciate that not all community members will support this statement and we respect each individual’s right to vote in the referendum as they see fit.

Guided by our core values, we seek to facilitate respectful, curious and courageous dialogues to help educate and empower our staff, clients, members and wider community on the Voice to Parliament 2023 referendum.

This simple and practical form of recognition is a step forward in the right direction.

You can read more about Cerebral Palsy Alliance’s Reconciliation Action Plan here.

Additional information resources:

You might also be interested in

Laura Pettenuzzo smiling to camera
Blog

Internalised Ableism and the NDIS​

We're delighted to welcome Laura Pettenuzzo as a guest blogger. Laura is a writer with cerebral palsy and a disability advocate living on Wurundjeri country.
Laura Pettenuzzo​
Mar 10, 2020 · 4 min read​
Two young siblings walking together
Report​

NDIS 2.0​

Launched by Get Skilled Access, spearheaded by Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott, outlines what’s worked, areas for improvement, and seeks to start a conversation about the future of the NDIS.
Dylan Alcott​
Feb 12, 2020 · 11 min read​