Celebration lunch to champion inclusion in Geelong

CELEBRATED advocate Rhiannon Tracey will speak in Geelong next week, discussing the experiences that continue to shape her voice and impact in the community.

Tracey sustained a spinal cord injury in a pool accident at the age of 20 and went on to establish the not-for-profit organisation The Next Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Centre.

Now a sought-after motivation speaker, she has been recognised with several accolades, including Young Australian of the Year and Cosmopolitan’s Game Changer Woman of the Year, and has forged a successful career in the fashion industry, where she has promoted greater representation and inclusion.

Tracey will headline Leisure Networks’ International Day of People with Disability Celebration Lunch at GMHBA Stadium on Wednesday, December 3, reflecting on her journey, community advocacy and the ongoing work required to build inclusive environments.

The event has been co-designed with people with disability.

Leisure Networks chief executive David Meade said the lunch aims to spark meaningful dialogue and spotlight the leadership of people with disability across the region.

“Inclusion grows when we design with community, not for community,” he said.

“This celebration is about recognising the people who drive change every day and create spaces where everyone is recognised and belongs.”

The program will be led by Leah Alstin, a disability inclusion advocate and co-designer of the event. Alstin lives with Friedreich’s Ataxia, a rare, inherited disorder that causes progressive damage to the nervous system.

Auslan interpretation and captioning will be available throughout the event to support full accessibility.

For tickets, head to trybooking.com/events/landing/1490694