An important message from our Chair
After 11 years of being at the forefront of generating opportunities for authentic representation of people with disability in media, the Attitude Foundation has made the difficult decision to cease operations. It is the Board’s intent to lodge its de-registration notice with ASIC by 30 June 2026.
The Board would like to thank all supporters, program participants, donors and partners for their ongoing support over the last 11 years which has been integral to the organisation’s success in changing community attitudes toward people with disability.
"We were a trailblazer in this space when we started in 2014 with a clear mission to challenge stereotypes by creating opportunities for and promoting authentic media representation of people with disability," said Attitude Foundation Chair Emily Dash.
“Our Board is extremely proud of the very real change we have generated and the foundations we have laid which other organisations are now better positioned to amplify into the future.”
“Special thanks must go to our founder Graeme Innes AM, Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner from 2005 to July 2014, whose passion for promoting and upholding the rights of people with disability is at the core of Attitude Foundation’s work.”
“Thanks to Graeme’s foresight, and the passion and commitment of all those who followed him in fuelling the vital work of the Attitude Foundation, authentic representation of people with disability is no longer a ‘nice to have’, but rather is an achievable benchmark,” she said.
Major achievements of the Attitude Foundation include producing content such as the three-part ABC documentary series Perspective Shift focusing on people with disability in STEM; the Re-Framed podcast exploring and critiquing the representation of people with disability in screen media; and the Love Without Limits podcast discussing dating and relationships.
At the 2025 Antenna Awards in Melbourne, which celebrated excellence in Australian community television, the Best New Program Award was won by ALL IN which was a collaboration between the Attitude Foundation, C31 and Powerd. It was created by and for people with disability, showcasing arts, culture and local advocacy.
Our transformative Emerging Voices internship program also provided training and support for people with a disability working in the creative space.
Attitude Foundation’s work has also been critical in shaping national policy, contributing to the wider industry and government adopting inclusive frameworks and cultural policies.
"We are proud of the role the Attitude Foundation has played in putting authentic media representation of people with disability on the national agenda, and working to not only create opportunities but also to train and mentor people with disability to flourish in the creative media sector,’’ Emily said.
“There is of course more work to be done in this space, particularly relating to employment and combatting the liability myth and discrimination which force people to hide their disability, as well as in dismantling the often paternalistic and patronizing attitudes that still exist within disability service provision.”
“We look forward to supporting the many other organisations which are well placed to continue this trajectory of change,” she said.
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