Purpose of the project:
The Kin Ambassador Program was created to engage individuals from ethnoculturally and linguistically diverse (ELD) backgrounds who have lived experiences with disabilities. The program aimed to build a diverse community where participants could share their lived experience, develop new skills, and bring these insights back to their communities.
What we did:
Over the four-year program, we recruited ambassadors with lived experiences who were eager to learn how to effectively share their lived experience and connect with their communities. Kin facilitated a series of training sessions and workshops, co-designed with the ambassadors and the Project Advisory Group, to enhance skills in public speaking, communication, disability awareness and more.
The ambassadors applied the skills they acquired to engage with their communities, raising awareness and spreading knowledge about disability and the services available.
Some ambassadors participated in our “Disability Sunflower Stories” podcast, where they shared their experiences with disability. To extend the reach of these stories, episodes were produced in both English and some in the ambassadors’ native languages.
Outcomes
The Ambassador Program was successful in achieving its goals of fostering a diverse and inclusive community of individuals with lived experiences of disability. The program not only empowered the participants but also enhanced multicultural understanding and relationships within the broader community.
During the program, we reached over 4,000 people via community engagements and social media. We conducted over 10 training sessions.
We also collaborated with Media on Mars to produce a series of short videos that capture the essence of the program and what it meant to the participants.
We are immensely proud of the ambassadors and the significant contributions they have made to their communities.
If you’d like to become an ambassador or get involved in the project please email [email protected]
Program supported by Department of Social Services.
