YOUTH and disability advocate Gabriel Gervasoni has been recognised for his contributions to Ballarat, and beyond, with an Australia Community Achievement Award.<\/p>\n
Mr Gervasoni was awarded the Community Hero honour at a ceremony at the Sofitel Melbourne earlier in the month.<\/p>\n
Within the Ballarat Youth Ambassador Program and Central Highlands Youth Advisory Board, Mr Gervasoni works to make the area a better place for young people.<\/p>\n
He also has a vision impairment, and passion for standing up for equal access for people with a disability.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt shows that those who are legally blind, or people with a disability in general, can achieve the things that people without a disability can achieve,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to think that the award will help boost my advocacy work, and I was completely honoured to win it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Australia Community Achievement Award isn\u2019t Mr Gervasoni first honour. In 2021 he was Ballarat\u2019s Young Citizen of the Year.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s contributed to the YDAS Emerging Young Leaders Program, YMCA Youth Parliament, is a PTech ambassador encouraging students to explore STEM pathways, and is working with the City to improve sustainable practices and the green habits of young people.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s also member of the Vision Australia Further Education Bursary selection panel and participated in the YAC Vic Young Advocates Program.<\/p>\n
\u201cGabriel has made submissions to the Royal Commission into Disability and the TAFE Access Inquiry by the Victorian Parliament,\u201d mum Amanda Gervasoni said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has also completed accessibility audits at Sovereign Hill and the Gold Museum with his recommendations being implemented.<\/p>\n
\u201cGabriel created a tutorial on how to use the voice over function on iPhone for Vision Australia which is being used nationally.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs one of the organisers of the Spring in the Park… festivals, Gabriel was able to ensure that Ballarat had free, completely accessible community functions that were a safe space for people of all ages and abilities to attend.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe many awards that he has received have allowed him to raise the profile of young people living with a disability in his regional community and their valuable contribution to society, as has his various radio, podcast, print media and online news interviews.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
YOUTH and disability advocate Gabriel Gervasoni has been recognised for his contributions to Ballarat, and beyond, with an Australia Community Achievement Award. Mr Gervasoni was awarded the Community Hero honour at a ceremony at the Sofitel Melbourne earlier in the month. Within the Ballarat Youth Ambassador Program and Central Highlands Youth Advisory Board, Mr Gervasoni […]<\/p>\n