A new connection between Australia’s Parliament and the cerebral palsy community has begun with the official launch of the Parliamentary Friends of Cerebral Palsy at Parliament House in Canberra.
Cerebral Palsy Australia joined people with cerebral palsy, families, parliamentarians and representatives from across the CP and disability community for the launch of the new bipartisan group.
Co-chaired by Dr Mike Freelander MP and Angie Bell MP, the Parliamentary Friends of Cerebral Palsy has been established to create an ongoing connection between Australia’s Parliament and people with cerebral palsy, their families and the wider CP community.
At the heart of the launch were the voices and experiences of people with cerebral palsy and their families.
Wade Costley, Chair of CPA’s Lived Experience Advisory Panel, opened and closed the proceedings, while Evan O’Hanlon OAM facilitated a lived-experience panel featuring Zane McKenzie, Briar Tomkins, Naomi Fallon and Charlie Fallon.
Together, they shared different experiences and perspectives, highlighting what the right support and opportunities can make possible and why lived experience needs to be part of the conversations and decisions that affect people with cerebral palsy.
The event also highlighted an important message: cerebral palsy is for life, and three in four Australians with cerebral palsy are adults.
CPA thanks Dr Mike Freelander MP and Angie Bell MP for co-chairing the Parliamentary Friends, the parliamentarians who attended during a busy sitting week, and everyone who travelled from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and elsewhere to take part.
The launch marks the beginning of an ongoing opportunity for Australia’s Parliament to hear from, learn with and work with the cerebral palsy community.
See more photos from the launch in our Facebook photo album.
