Keeley’s Cause up for two national awards

SINCE 2017, Ballan-based nonprofit Keeley’s Cause has gone from strength to strength.

With a goal of gifting iPads to primary school-aged children with intellectual disabilities, the organisation has recently been nominated for two National Disability Awards.

The nonprofit is up for Inclusive Communities title, while Keeley Johnson, who has an intellectual disability and founded the organisation at 13 years old, is in the running for Outstanding Leader of the Year.

Keeley’s mother and charity CEO Sharon Murphy said acknowledgment from the disability sector is an important achievement.

“Keeley’s doing amazing work in the disability space so it’s important to highlight what a person with a disability can do based against what society thinks they can’t do,” she said.

“On a wider scale, getting into that disability sector as a prominent player is huge because they’re able to support the cause and awareness.

“To be recognised by a disability award is more clarification for Keeley on the importance of what she does in her own space because this is her world.”

Having started off by delivering two iPads for two children with intellectual disabilities, the nonprofit has since provided nearly 450 devices to kids around Australia.

The nominations add to a year of wins for Ms Johnson, with accolades such as the Social Enterprise in the Australian Small Business Champion Awards, and Women Changing the World’s Young Woman of the Year.

2023 also marks the first instance where Keeley’s Cause has delivered an iPad in each state.

“I think the award will bring more collaboration amongst other disability organisations which is already starting for us with NDIS agencies,” Ms Murphy said.

“We have the opportunity to open some global doors. We’re in talks with Bangladesh, Uganda, and Africa at the moment.”

Run through National Disability Services, the award winners will be announced during a ceremony in early December.