Our ambassadors

We are proud to have the support of our Ambassadors to help promote International Day of People with Disability(IDPwD) and share their unique experiences and perspectives.

Meet our IDPwD 2024 Ambassadors below.

Image of Cooper Smith smilingCooper Smith (he/him) is a DJ and music producer with cerebral palsy who communicates through his music. Cooper works to champion diversity and inclusion in the music industry and has performed at a wide range of live events, including the 2023 Ability Fest and 2024 Australian Open. Cooper visits primary schools and high schools to talk with students about disability and inclusion across all areas of life. He loves music, fitness and dreams of modelling more.

Image of Hayden Moon smilingHayden Moon (he/they) is a dancer, writer, and passionate advocate for LGBTQIA+, First Nations and disability issues. Hayden has written extensively on his experiences through various publications, including a chapter in “Nothing to Hide – Voices of Trans and Gender Diverse Australia.”

Image of Khadija Gbla smiling with her arms crossed in front of her.Khadija Gbla (she/they) is a renowned award-winning intuitive speaker, human rights activist and compassionate thought leader. Born in Sierra Leone, Khadija came to Australia as a refugee at the age of 13. Khadija is determined to build a more inclusive, culturally aware, safe and accepting society no matter our differences through heart-centredness.

Image of Marcus Dadd smilingMarcus Dadd (he/him) is a farmer from Mudgee, NSW, Australian National University Environmental Science and Agriculture graduate with honours (focusing on sustainable beef production) and disability advocate. He is currently working on a large cattle station in the Northern Territory. Marcus is passionate about inclusivity, sustainability and incorporating climate-positive practices into agriculture.

Image of Sara Shams smiling

Sara Shams (she/her) is a disability advocate, model, speaker, and healthcare professional. She is passionate about establishing equal opportunities, creating inclusive environments, and increasing the representation of people with disabilities, particularly from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Sara advocates for an intersectional approach to inclusion, recognising the unique challenges faced by individuals at the intersection of race, disability, and other marginalised identities. As a modelling inclusion ambassador, she works with the fashion and media industries to amplify diversity and ensure authentic representation of all disabled communities.

Image of Uncle Paul Calcott smilingUncle Paul Constable-Calcott (he/him) is an artist and disability advocate who uses his art to share his journey as a gay First Nations man living with disability in urban Australia. Uncle Paul works closely within the community, such as coordinating exhibitions and leading initiatives like the NunnaRon Art Group for artists with disability.

Image of Sean Skeels and Marley Whatarau smiling with their arms on each other’s shoulders.Sean Skeels (he/him) and Marley Whatarau (he/him) are best friends who have bonded through dancing and making cooking videos together. They have gained popularity on Instagram and TikTok through their “Get Down with Sean and Marley’ videos. Last year they received the TikTok Good Award, which recognises creators who strive to create positive change in their communities.

Learn more about all of our Ambassadors on the Watch page.

You can also find out more about our previous IDPwD Patrons and Ambassadors:

If you are interested in becoming an ambassador, contact us at idpwd@dss.gov.au

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