Dr Jenny Crosbie, Principal Industry Fellow at the Centre for Social Impact Swinburne University (CSI Swinburne) has been inducted into Disability Employment Australia’s Hall of Fame for her long-term commitment to the evolution of disability employment in Australia.
Dr. Crosbie is the 2024 inductee into the Hall of Fame and was presented with this honour at the Disability Employment National Conference in Melbourne on Wednesday 12 June 2024. Dr. Crosbie was selected by Disability Employment Australia ‘s Board of Directors as the recipient of this prestigious award.
Dr. Crosbie has made a significant contribution to supporting people with disabilities to be included in community life over the past 35 years. Dr. Crosbie managed two disability employment organisations in her early career and was the first Executive Officer of DEA (then known as ACE National Network) in the early 2000’s. More recently her work has been focused on research, particularly on addressing barriers to economic participation for young people with intellectual disabilities, with a focus on systemic barriers that limit opportunities to be included in employment.
Dr. Crosbie’s PhD research reconceptualises thinking about economic participation for young people with intellectual disability and identifies factors that promote their inclusion in community-based economic participation roles. Her dedication and innovative research have led to significant advancements in understanding how to overcome the challenges faced by young people with intellectual disability. Her work also offers a strong focus on improving service systems.
Professor Erin Wilson , Director of the Centre for Social Impact at Swinburne University, praised Dr. Crosbie’s contributions, stating, “Dr. Crosbie’s work has been instrumental in reshaping how we understand economic participation for young people with intellectual disabilities. Her research and advocacy have provided critical insights and paved the way for more inclusive practices. CSI Swinburne congratulates Jenny on this achievement, and we are proud to employ two Hall of Fame inductees, with Jenny joining Research Fellow, Ms Lucy Macali, in this honour.”
Dr. Crosbie says, “It is an honour to be recognised in this way and especially to join so many people I admire in the DEA Hall of Fame. My focus has always been on breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for people with disabilities. Right now I am hopeful that big changes are afoot in the disability employment space, and I’m grateful to be back working with so many wonderful colleagues and the community to improve employment opportunities, especially for people who have missed out in the past .”
Dr. Crosbie was present to accept the Disability Employment Service sector’s acknowledgment of her achievements at the Conference Gala Dinner at the Grand Hyatt, Melbourne on Wednesday 12 June 2024.
Images courtesy of Melissa Hobbs .
