The new NT Disability Inclusion Awards closely align with NT's first ever National Disability Strategy and celebrate the exceptional contributions of individuals and businesses to creating an inclusive and welcoming Northern Territory for people with disability. There are five categories of awards, plus an overall winner:

1. Excellence in Rights Promotion Award – This Award recognises a person with disability who has made a significant contribution to supporting and promoting the human rights of people with disability or who is making a mark in the respective field and in doing so challenging community perceptions of disability. Disability service providers are encouraged to think of the people with disability you support or know in the community and nominate worthy candidates for this category.
   
   
2. Excellence in Supporting Inclusion and Participation – This Award recognises the significant contribution of an individual, team, business or organisation to improving the community inclusion and participation of a person with a disability in the Northern Territory. Disability service providers can nominate and/or be nominated for this category. We also encourage you to think about nominating individuals and organisations in the broader NT community doing great work in this space.
   
   
3. Excellence in Innovation – This Award recognises an individual, team or organisation that has developed new or innovative approaches to ensuring people with disability can access services, facilities or information. Disability service providers can nominate and/or be nominated for this category. We also encourage you to think about nominating individuals and organisations in the broader community doing great work in this space.
   
   
4. Excellence in Supporting Employment Outcomes - This Award recognises organisations and mainstream businesses and clubs contributing significantly to employment outcomes for people with disability. Disability service providers can nominate and/or be nominated in this category. In particular, Disability Employment Services are encouraged to think about nominating public and private mainstream businesses you work with, who are exceptional in their approach to creating meaningful job opportunities for people with disability.
   
   
5. Excellence in Supporting Mental Health disabilities and recovery programs - This Award recognises an individual, team or organisation that has provided high-quality, individualised, recovery-focused support to ensure the highest possible outcomes for people with psychosocial disabilities. Disability service providers can nominate and/or be nominated in this category.
   
   
6. 2022 Overall Award for Excellence - A winner will be selected from the pool of winners and highly commended recipients across all five Award categories.

NDS encourages members to nominate and promote the Awards to people with disability and the families you support. To keep up to date with the latest information, follow the Awards on Facebook and help us to get the word out by liking and sharing our posts to your social media.

Winners will be announced at an Award Ceremony on Friday, 11 November 2022 – please save the date.

Nominations close at 12pm ACST Friday, 30 September.

For more information about how to nominate, visit ntdsa.org.au