1300 039 390Aspire Awards 2020
On Wednesday 2 December 2020, on the eve of International Day of People with Disability, Funds in Court hosted the national Aspire Awards. Associate Justice John Efthim, the Senior Master, is patron of the Awards. The awards were founded by Miranda Bain, Director of Strategy, Government and Community Relations – Funds in Court.
The awards recognised all Australians who identify with a disability and whose work and achievements have made a significant contribution to their profession or to community.
The awards are in memory of the late Senior Master Kevin J Mahony AM. The awards progressed through a nomination process in all states and territories culminating in a national awards ceremony which recognised and celebrated the important contributions of people with disability across eight categories.
The awards were hosted by Paralympian and TV presenter Kurt Fearnley, who introduced a distinguished group of presenters, including Professor Gillian Triggs, David Marr, Bruce Bonyhady and Cate Campbell.
Inspire Awards 2016-2019
The Inspire Awards were held between 2016 and 2019. These evolved into the Aspire Awards.
The Inspire Awards were an initiative of Funds in Court. The Inspire Awards were peer based and recognised a Victorian person who identifies with a disability, 18 years of age or older, who is well respected in their field of work or interest and in their community.
Nominees were acknowledged not only for their professional contribution to their work but for their outstanding leadership qualities, role modelling and mentoring. In her speech at the 2016 awards, the Honourable Marilyn Warren AC, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, commented that the award nominees “have shown qualities of great richness, joy, and generosity.”
The awards provided an important opportunity to raise awareness about disability issues more broadly across the community and, ultimately, to support the development of an inclusive Australian society.
When presenting the 2016 human rights award, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Professor Gillian Triggs, spoke to the 200 people in attendance about what inspiration really means to her.
“It’s about encouraging leadership in the community – leadership can be exercised quietly at one end of the spectrum or, at the other, in a blaze of media publicity.
“I am particularly pleased with the award category today for speaking out because in my current job I have come to believe that, one way or another, we must speak up and speak out about the injustices we see in society.”
Professor Triggs said we owe a great debt to people who have identified particular needs in their professional community and have set out to rectify them.
You can read more about the 2016 winning nominations and their contributions [PDF 1MB].
Distinguished guests at the 2016 awards included Genevieve Timmons (Portland House Foundation), Keran Howe, Sharon Grenek and Marija Groen (Women with Disabilities Victoria) and Joe Calafiore, Kylie Gryzbek and Amanda Bavin (the Transport Accident Committee), Miranda Bruyniks (Deputy Disability Services Commissioner), Sherene Devanesen (CEO Yooralla), Mary-Jane Lerodiaconou and the Funds in Court Executive team.
Major benefactors
