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A photo of Oliver wearing a colourful blazer and blue glasses is added onto a pink and yellow watercolour background

Access Arts Achievement Award Winner 2022

02/12/2022
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A photo of Oliver wearing a colourful blazer and blue glasses is added onto a pink and yellow watercolour background

Access Arts Achievement Award Winner 2022

Oliver Hetherington-Page

Oliver is standing in front of a black background wearing blue glasses, an orange shirt and a colourful blazer. He is looking slightly off from the camera lens with a calm expression.

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Oliver is standing in front of a black background wearing blue glasses, an orange shirt and a colourful blazer. He is looking slightly off from the camera lens with a calm expression.

Oliver Hetherington-Page has been awarded the Access Arts Achievement Award for 2022 for the creation of Santa Claus is Autistic, a new cabaret work that will have its premier season at Redlands Performing Arts Centre in 2023.

 

Oliver is a neurodiverse theatre-maker who debuted his cabaret The No Bang Theory at the Billie Brown Theatre as part of Undercover Artist Festival in 2021. Due to rave reviews the show was taken to The Wynnum Fringe, Adelaide Fringe, HOTA on the Gold Coast and The PIP theatre, with plans to continue the show into 2023.

 

Santa Claus is Autistic was thought up by Oliver Hetherington-Page and aims to highlight the contrast the disabled experience of a fictional outsider, to the very real lived experiences of autism.

“If anyone other than Santa made a list and checked it twice to divide people into either naughty or nice, society would be fast to diagnose and ostracise,” said Oliver.

The piece will feature a neurodiversity choir and will give voice to fostering a better understanding of the barriers and challenges faced by those with autism. Being able to produce a work that uses an authentic voice to accurately portray lived experience has been well received in the community with generous support of the project.

 

Along with helping him to develop and produce this piece, the grant allows Oliver to reunite with fellow creatives, Director Lewis Jones and musical director Timothy Forrester, who helped make his last cabaret The No Bang Theory so successful.

 

Oliver has plans to premier Santa Claus is Autistic in the second half of 2023

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The Access Arts Achievement Award is sponsored by CPL – Choice, Passion, Life, one of Queensland’s leading disability service providers.  

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Eight orange circles in a line with headshots of Sync participants in each. Light blue circles are placed behind in the background.

The next generation of Arts leaders are…

09/11/2022
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Eight orange circles in a line with headshots of Sync participants in each. Light blue circles are placed behind in the background. The SYNC Australia logo is placed at the bottom of the circles on the left side.

The next generation of Arts leaders are...

Sync Leadership and Access Arts are excited to announce the 2022 cohort for the Sync Leadership Australia Online Program.

 

Sync Leadership Australia Online Program welcomes the following arts leaders:

Daniel Graham — NSW

“At times it can feel like a lonely place being in the disability arts sector. But now, I am excited to have the opportunity to work and learn from those who are in the disability arts leadership community who can assist me on my journey.”

Daniele Constance — Qld

“I am thrilled to be taking part in Sync Australia. As a disability-led program, I am looking forward to building my skills, knowledge and shifting my understanding of what leadership can be and taking the next step to become a leader myself.”

Fi Peel — ACT

“Sync Leadership Australia online program is a great opportunity for me. To be mentored by disability arts leaders will not only benefit my professional development but will enable me to pay that forward to others seeking to find their feet within the mainstream arts industry. It is equal parts humbling, exciting and energizing and I cannot wait!”

Harmonie Downes — Qld

“The opportunity to learn about myself, to foster the leadership potential in others and to cultivate my understanding of leadership with clarity, beauty and passion is something that I am thoroughly looking forward to.”

Jacqueline Tooley — NSW

“Being chosen to participate in this program is an honour and an exciting chance to lean into my leadership potential.”

Jodee Mundy — Vic

“Being selected by other d/Deaf and disabled peers into the Sync Leadership Australia online program enables me to feel seen, safe and supported as a recently disabled artist. I am looking forward to learning and experiencing all that this program has to offer.”

Kirsty Collins — NSW

“Sync Leadership Australia online program will enable me to better engage with and build a network with other disabled people to grow our knowledge, make meaningful change and achieve extraordinary things together.”

Tyson Hopprich — SA

“With this opportunity, I will be able to enhance my leadership potency as a creative professional with the tools and gusto required to inspire, support, and collaborate with our diverse and incredible disability community.”

Founded over 10 years ago by Sarah Pickthall and Jo Verrent, two leaders with disability from the UK, the Sync Leadership Australia Online Program is a new online leadership and coaching program. It explores leadership for people with disability and/or who are d/Deaf in the arts, culture, heritage and media. 

 

The program combines leadership theory with one-on-one coaching and support for participants to reflect and progress their leadership potential.

“Never has there been a more important time to capitalise and invest in the natural skills and ingenuity of leaders with disability and/or who are d/Deaf than now. Working with this fantastic new cohort of ambitious, empathic leaders in Australia, we aim to do just that.”

Sarah Pickthall – Co-Founder, Sync Leadership

For more information

Click the button below for more information about the 2022 Sync Leadership Australia participants

Click here

Sync Leadership Australia Online Program is presented by Sync Leadership (UK) and Access Arts, supported by Australia Council for the Arts.

Sync Leadership logo

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A woman with short brown hair is standing in front of a white background looking at the camera smiling. On the top right hand corner is a watercolour graphic in pinks and yellows.

2022 Achievement Award Applications Open

19/09/2022
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All avenues to submit your application for the Access Arts Achievement Award have now been closed. Thank you to all who have applied.

A woman with short brown hair is standing in front of a white background looking at the camera smiling. On the top right hand corner is a watercolour graphic in pinks and yellows.

2022 Access Arts Achievement Award applications - now open!

Apply now for the Access Arts Achievement Award

19 September – 7 November 2022  


Supporting all forms of art, the Access Arts Achievement Award provides up to $10,000 funding for Queensland artists to create, develop, present, produce, exhibit, and tour their work. The award is a fantastic opportunity to extend the life of an existing piece or create a new one!


Read about last year’s award winner, Karen Lee Roberts.

2021 ACCESS ARTS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER

Karen Lee Roberts

Accomplished Brisbane-based cabaret artist Karen Lee Roberts was awarded the Access Arts Achievement Award for 2021. Karen used the $10,000 grant to produce a collaborative work; Sex and Other philosophies

Learn more about Karen
Lady in a green dress under a brick bridge
Important Dates

Applications open for submission:

Applications close for submission:

Award winner advised:

Projects may take place between:

Monday 19 September 2022

Monday 7 November 2022

December 2022

1 January – 31 December 2023

Applications will be assessed by a professional panel who will be looking out for innovative, viable project’s with artistic and/or cultural merit, which will provide opportunity for professional development.
 

The Access Arts Achievement Award is proudly sponsored by CPL – Choice, Passion, Life.

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Eight orange circles is a line with headshots of Sync participants in each, Sync Leadership Logo is overlaid on top of the graphic

2022 Sync Leadership Australia Online Program

09/09/2022
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Eight orange circles is a line with headshots of Sync participants in each, Sync Leadership Logo is overlaid on top of the graphic

2022 SYNC AUSTRALIA LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Presented by Sync Leadership and Access Arts

We are no longer taking any applications for the SYNC Leadership Australia Online Program for 2022. Thank you to all that have applied.

Are you an arts leader with disability and looking to advance your leadership potential? 

The Sync Leadership program combines leadership theory with one-on-one coaching and support. This enables participants to reflect and progress their leadership ability with renewed purpose. 

 

Taking part in Sync Leadership Australia will help you develop new awareness and skills and refresh your confidence to progress your professional arts career.  

 

Access Arts is delighted to bring the Sync Leadership program back to Australia in 2022. 

Applications are open Friday 9 September - Tuesday 18 October 2022
Find out more

This fantastic opportunity is available to eight emerging and established leaders who identify as experiencing disability and/or who is D/deaf across Australia. The program is disabled-led and is delivered as a series of online modules, with full access support provided for the individual needs of all participants. 

 

  • Online training (6 x three hour sessions)  
  • 1:1 coaching sessions (3 x one hour sessions) 

 

* Participants must be available for all sessions in November 2022  

HOW TO APPLY

  1. complete your application online here and upload your supporting material
    OR 
  2. email your completed application form (see below for a downloadable application form) and supporting material to syncaustralia@cpl.org.au. Please use “SYNC Leadership Australia 2022” in the subject heading.

Applications are open Friday 9 September to Tuesday 18 October 2022

Applications close in:
Days
Hours
Minutes

Apply now

APPLY ONLINE

Application Guidelines

We encourage you to apply in advance of the closing date to avoid delays caused by unforeseeable technical difficulties. 

For further information on Sync Leadership Australia Online Program please click here. 

 

For more information or assistance please email us at syncaustralia@cpl.org.au . Alternatively call us on 07 3505 0311 or 0403 070 661.

Sync Leadership Australia Online Program is presented by Sync Leadership (UK) and Access Arts, supported by Australia Council for the Arts. 

Sync Leadership logo

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A woman smiling. She has her hair pulled back in a ponytail and is wearing a tan jacket.

Apply now: Disability Leadership Scholarship Program 2022

29/06/2022
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A woman smiling. She has her hair pulled back in a ponytail and is wearing a tan jacket.

Apply now: Disability Leadership Scholarship Program 2022

Applications close Sunday 24 July 2022 11:59 pm | Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), in partnership with the Australian Network on Disability

Inclusion, diversity and equity require leaders with disability to be part of decision making across organisations.

 

Without Board and Executive representation, businesses are not making informed decisions with true market representation.

 

The Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Network on Disability are partnering to support leaders with disability by providing an opportunity to uplift their governance knowledge. In the first round of the national Disability Leadership Program (DLP), 85 full-fee scholarships are being funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.

 

The application process will be managed by the Australian Scholarships Foundation as the facilitating partner.

 

Scholarship recipients will undertake the Company Directors Course or the Foundations of Directorship course at AICD. Successful applicants will be provided with a number of course dates between November 2022 and June 2023 from which to choose.

 

In addition to the course, scholarship holders will receive a complimentary one-year:

  • > AICD Membership
  • > Directorship Opportunities subscription, Australia’s foremost listing platform which provides the widest choices for directorship positions

 

To help maximise board career opportunities, the program will also work with existing directors to build disability confidence through Leader-to-Leader Conversations facilitated by Australian Network on Disability.

Apply now

More info

For further information on the scholarship contact Australian Scholarships Foundation via applications@scholarships.org.au or call 1300 248 675.

 

For further information on AICD courses and membership please contact 1300 739 119, visit the AICD website or email the AICD Scholarships and Grants Team on scholarships@aicd.com.au.

 

For further information on the services the Australian Network on Disability provide, please visit the Australian Network on Disability website.

 

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. Go to www.dss.gov.au for more information.

 

Applications for the 2022 Disability Leadership Program scholarship close at 11.59pm AEST on Sunday 24 July 2022.

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Access Arts Achievement Award Winner

02/12/2021
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Person in green dress crouching under brick bridge

KAREN LEE ROBERTS

ACCESS ARTS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER 2021

Accomplished Brisbane-based cabaret artist Karen Lee Roberts has been awarded the Access Arts Achievement Award for 2021.

As an international performer, Karen’s credits include the musical HAIR at the Old Vic Theatre in London and her own original works at the Wataboshi Festival in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Performing her original cabaret Chameleon at various festivals around Australia, including Access Arts’ Undercover Artist Festival, she has been gracing Australian festival stages for nearly a decade.

 

Karen will use the $10,000 grant to produce a new collaborative work Sex and Other Philosophies, in collaboration with performing artists Lucinda Shaw and James Halloran.

Mental wellbeing will be explored, and Karen hopes the audience will come away being enriched by the experience of looking into the souls of characters portrayed in a series of vignettes that are interwoven and entwined by music and text.

 

“Sex and Other Philosophies is all about deconstructing and interrogating ideas surrounding the concept of what relationships and mindset are all about, and what the values, attitudes and beliefs encompassing them behold.

“The show poses existential questions about life and explores the meaning of the sensual and sensory aspects of life, through poetry, word play, playful dialogue, and original songs,” Karen said.

 

Karen is aiming to premiere Sex and Other Philosophies in the second half of 2022.

 

The Access Arts Achievement Award is sponsored by CPL – Choice, Passion, Life, one of Queensland’s leading disability service providers.

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Eight orange circles is a line with headshots of Sync participants in each

The next generation of Arts leaders are…

29/10/2021
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Eight orange circles is a line with headshots of Sync participants in each

The next generation of Arts leaders are...

Sync Leadership and Access Arts are excited to announce the 2021 cohort for the Sync Australia Leadership program.

 

Sync Australia welcomes the following arts leaders:

  • Jeremy Hawkes – QLD
  • Riona Tindall – QLD
  • Rebecca Hogan – NSW
  • Eugenie Lee – NSW
  • Liz Cooper – NSW
  • Richard Bell – NSW
  • Bedelia Lowrencev – NSW
  • Alison Paradoxx – SA

 

Founded over 10 years ago by Sarah Pickthall and Jo Verrent, two disabled leaders in the UK, the Sync Australia program is a new online leadership and coaching program exploring Deaf and disabled leadership in arts, culture, heritage and media.

 

The disability-led program combines leadership theory with one-on-one coaching and support for participants to reflect and progress their leadership potential.

“Never has there been a more important time to capitalise and invest in the natural skills and ingenuity of Deaf and disabled leadership than now. Working with this fantastic new cohort of ambitious empathic leaders in Australia, we aim to do just that”.

Sarah Pickthall – Co-Founder, Sync Leadership

For more information about the 2021 Sync Australia participants, please visit https://syncleadership.com/programmes/sync-australia/

 

Sync Australia is presented by Sync Leadership (UK) and Access Arts, supported by Australia Council for the Arts and the British Council UK/Australia Season 2021-22. 

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2021 Achievement Award Applications Open

28/09/2021
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Applications open for $10k Access Arts Achievement Award

Calling all artists, arts workers, and producers with a disability in Queensland. It’s that time of year again! Applications are now open for the 2021 Access Arts Achievement Award.

 

Supporting all forms of art, the Access Arts Achievement Award provides up to $10,000 funding for Queensland artists to create, develop, present, produce, exhibit, and tour their work. The award is a fantastic opportunity to extend the life of an existing piece or create a new one!

 

Read about last year’s award winner, Alexandra Ellen.

 

2019’s Access Arts Achievement Award recipient, Lauren Watson used her funding to successfully debut her aerial theatre show, Nerve, at this years Undercover Artist Festival.

A professional panel will assess all applications. They are seeking innovative, exciting, viable projects with artistic and/or cultural merit. For more information and to apply, please download the Application Form and Application Guidelines.

 

Need help with your application? Join our free online Grants Writing Workshop on 5 October. Bookings are essential.

Important dates:

Applications Open for Submission:      Now – Friday 5 November 2021

Grants Writing Workshop:                     Tuesday 12 October 2021

Applications Close for Submission:    Friday 5 November 2021

Award Winner advised:                          Thursday 2 December 2021

Projects may take place between:        1 January and 31 December 2021

The Access Arts Achievement Award is proudly sponsored by CPL – Choice, Passion, Life.

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