D. 100 // 51-60
51 // Kirstie Wilson: Starfish Education and Sensory Store, led by the passionate and driven Kirstie, is a true gem in the disability space. Kirstie isn’t just a business owner—she’s a fierce advocate who pours her heart into ensuring that children of all abilities are seen, supported, and celebrated. Every product in the store is carefully chosen or created to support neurodivergent children and those with disabilities, reflecting a deep understanding of sensory needs and developmental diversity. What sets Starfish apart is that it’s built around lived experience—Kirstie knows firsthand the gaps in support and resources, and she’s working to fill them with care, compassion, and purpose. www.starfishstore.com.au
52 // Waryk Holmes: Waryk aka Rooster is a 20year old country boy living with Cerebral Palsy. He is an aspiring Paralympian and competes in Wheelchair racing internationally. He shares the ups and downs of disability and lives his life with authenticity. He loves to have a crack at anything and prove to others with a disability that nothing is out of reach. @_team_rooster_
53 // Minie Minarelli: With the podcast “How We Special Needs” I aim to give voice to families who live all sorts of disabilities and special needs, to bring awareness, to break stigmas, to start conversations around conditions we live with but don’t define us. www.mykabukigirl.com
🌟 This is what leadership looks like — unfiltered, unpaid, unstoppable.
54 // Lumen Gorrie: Lumen Gorrie (they/them) is a queer, trans, AuDHD, chronically ill, disabled psychologist, educator, and advocate from Naarm. Their work focusses on supporting those who are excluded, pathologised, and harmed by mainstream systems and perspectives – especially neurodivergent, chronically ill, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and other marginalised people, and those with eating disorders, differences, or difficulties. They centre lived experience, autonomy, and dignity, and work from an intersectional, anti-ableist, anti-colonial, depathologising framework. www.appetiteforchangeproject.com
55 // Tanya-lee Holmes: Tanya-Lee Holmes is a proud disabled woman, veteran and disability advocate, and founder of Imperfectly Perfect Sugar Cookies a vibrant, purpose-driven baking venture that blends advocacy, creativity, and community. Living with multiple disabilities including a spinal cord injury, functional neurological disorder (FND), and chronic pain, Tanya-Lee’s life was transformed by trauma but never defined by it. @imperfectlyperfectsugarcookies
56 // Shantelle Jones: Kind World Club is a not-for-profit Melbourne-based initiative that creates opportunities for Neurodivergent children and their families to connect in a kind, inclusive and supportive environment. www.kindworldclub.com.au
57 // Kate Foster: Kate Foster is an Autistic children's author. She is passionate about encouraging and teaching a wider understanding of autism and mental illness via a positive approach and representation in both her books as well as her presentations and talks. She has founded the Diversity in Australia and New Zealand Children's Book Award, which amplifies books with authentic disability representation, which are often overlooked for traditional awards. She is changing the landscape of disability representation in Australian children's literature. www.kfosterbooks.com
58 // Akii Ngo: Akii is a first-generation Aussie, who lives with multiple complex chronic illnesses, debilitating chronic pain and various disabilities. An intimate partner (IPV) and family violence (FV) survivor-advocate, who advocates passionately on several advisory committees, councils and working groups (such as the Victorian Disability Advisory Council) Australia-wide within the health, violence-prevention, LGBTQIA+ and human rights sectors. www.akiingo.com
59 // Samantha Longmore: Sam is a powerful and inspiring keynote speaker who brings a wealth of lived experience to every stage she steps onto. Based in a rural community, she successfully runs multiple businesses while also holding the title of world champion disabled water skier. A passionate disability advocate, Sam shares her remarkable journey from surviving two car accidents in just 45 minutes, to navigating life in a wheelchair, and the countless challenges she has faced and overcome. With honesty, strength, and resilience, she empowers audiences to rise above their own obstacles and embrace what’s possible. www.ohhbulldust.myshopify.com
60 // William Ready: Julia Ryan is an autistic and ADHD mum to two beautiful boys, including her eldest son who is also autistic. His diagnosis over a decade ago cracked their world wide open and reshaped everything - from parenting to education, relationships, and the way they see the world. Navigating rejection, broken systems, and endless paperwork, Julia fought to have her son included, supported, and celebrated for exactly who he is. Along the way, she discovered her own neurodivergence and a deep passion for advocacy and change. This personal journey inspired William Ready - a business named after her son and built on love, lived experience, and the belief that different is powerful. William Ready provides thoughtfully designed sensory tools, educational resources, and sensory-friendly spaces that help neurodivergent children regulate, learn, and thrive. Every product is inspired by the everyday challenges Julia faced as a mum, and the magic of seeing her child flourish when supported. www.williamready.com.au
