ABOUT INCLUSION NORTHERN TERRITORY
Inclusion NT works to build a community in the Northern Territory that is inclusive of people with intellectual disability and provides opportunities for leadership. We do this by advocating with people with intellectual disability and creating opportunities for people to develop skills, speak up about their experiences and make decisions about their lives.
HOW WE DO IT
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Inclusion NT is the Northern Territory representative of Inclusion Australia, which is the national peak for people with intellectual disability and families.
- Inclusion NT is supported by the South Australian Council on Intellectual Disability (SACID), the SA member of Inclusion Australia.
- We speak up about issues that are important to people with intellectual disability and their families in the Territory and on a national level.
- We have people with intellectual disability represented at every level of our organisation (Board, reference group, staff, members) to make sure we are doing work that people with intellectual disability and their families really want.
WHY WE DO IT
All people are valued members of the Australian community.
This includes people with intellectual disability.
People with intellectual disability have the same rights to:
- Make decisions about their lives
- Speak up if they are not happy with something in their life including, diversity of choice for housing, education, work, relationships, recreation and leisure
- Equity and justice
- Be empowered to take their full place in the Australian community
- Dignity and privacy in all aspects of their lives
HISTORY OF INCLUSION NT
Inclusion NT started as a branch of Inclusion Australia (IA).
IA is the national peak for people with intellectual disability and families. IA has been advocating for the rights of people with intellectual disability since 1954. IA provides expert advice to the Federal Government and other organisations to drive systemic change.
IA has member organisations in each state but has not had representation from the Northern Territory or ACT.
IA first employed a NT manager in August 2021 to understand how to make sure people with intellectual disability and families are represented in IA’s national advocacy. With the support of a Local Steering Group, IANT became a branch of IA.
In 2024 Inclusion NT begins receiving support from SACID to operate as its work expands in the Northern Territory. This will help the Inclusion NT team to deliver more workshops and information in the Northern Territory.
