EquiArts Australia is delivered by the Disabled Creative Collective, a group of disabled creatives and arts workers who want to continue to build an accessible and inclusive arts sector for people with disability.
Disabled Creative Collective was awarded a four year tender by Creative Australia with support from Screen Australia and the Office for the Arts to bring these annual virtual forums and in-person gatherings to you.
The Disabled Creative Collective have worked as freelancers in the arts sector, primarily in Screen but with connections and interests in a number of other Art forms.
Chanel is a proud member of the disability and hard-of-hearing communities and an advocate for authentic disability stories on screen. After acquiring her disability as an established film practitioner, Chanel became committed to ensuring disabled creatives have a seat at the industry table.
Chanel has been recognised by Screen Producers Australia as a “One to Watch” and was awarded the Regional to Global Internship with Australians In Film and Screenworks, gaining international experience with Animal Logic Entertainment and Truant Pictures in LA. Chanel is currently in production on her first feature documentary, Hard as Puck. When not producing her own work, Chanel works as an access coordinator on projects including The Twelve (Binge) and Procilivitas.
Her disability advocacy spans both public and private sectors. She served on the WA Minister’s Advisory Committee for Disability (2022–2025), and contributes to local and state disability inclusion networks.
Stephanie Dower is a Screen Producer, Writer, and Access Coordinator. In 2021, Stephanie produced and edited short film Sunshine, a Bus Stop Films and Taste Creative project funded through Screen Queensland’s RIDE Shorts program.
Most recently, Stephanie produced the AACTA-nominated short film And The Ocean Agreed alongside Luisa Martiri and Writer/Director Tanya Modini, and served as Access Coordinator for feature films Spit and Amazon Studios’ The Bluff.
As founder and director of production company Dower Productions, a recipient of Screen Queensland’s Business Enterprise Fund, Stephanie is developing a slate of exciting and bold content spanning across formats, with notable projects including travel series Carry On, and feature drama Seeing Scout.
A strong advocate for disability inclusion both on and off the screen, Stephanie is an inaugural member of Screen Queensland’s Equity and Diversity Taskforce, a member of Experience Gold Coast’s newly formed Disability Reference Group and served as an appointed advisor to the Screen Producers’ Australia Council. Stephanie also co-hosts Attitude Foundation’s ReFramed and is a regular speaker at prolific industry events.
Aimee Huxley has had a successful career in the Screen Industry, spanning over fourteen years across the United Kingdom and Australia combined. Aimee has a reputation for exceeding client expectations with a track record of delivering projects within or on budget and schedule. Throughout her career,
she has demonstrated strength in project management, leadership, maintaining strong relationships, communication, organisation and more.
Proudly identifying as a female leader with low vision, Aimee values her strong connections to the disabled community.
Her work both online and in person, is driven by a passion for raising awareness of key disability topics, tackling barriers to inclusion and promoting equal opportunities for people with disability. She also supports the wellbeing of the community by validating shared experiences, offering a safe space to share and discuss mutual challenges and providing practical tips for navigating the ups and downs of life with disability.
Through community events, public forums and lived experience perspectives shared on social media, Aimee informs, connects and drives change that benefits the community as a whole. By speaking openly about challenges as well as achievements, she helps tackle stereotypes and highlights where systems fall short, working towards a more inclusive society.
Aimee’s passion for advocacy led her to discover a role within the Social Change team at Guide Dogs NSW/ ACT, where she is currently working part time on campaigns that tackle barriers experienced by the low vision and blindness community.
Earlier this year, Aimee launched her first business Inclusive Consulting, which offers accessible and inclusive workplace solutions to businesses and organisations- specialising in the Screen, Creative and Arts sectors. The
business aligns with Aimee’s values to provide tools, solutions and promote equity in the workplace, enabling people with disability to fully participate in all areas of life.
Paul Nunnari is an accomplished Australian Paralympic athlete, disability advocate, performer, and business leader. As a wheelchair athlete, he represented Australia in three consecutive Paralympic Games – Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, and Athens 2004. Known as “The Other Superman,” he later gained national recognition as a wheelchair aerialist on Australia’s Got Talent, performing internationally and appearing in films.
His unique perspective as both a Paralympic athlete and performer has informed his advocacy for authentic disability representation in media and entertainment. During his career in the New South Wales government, Nunnari championed accessibility initiatives, notably contributing to making the Sydney Harbour Bridge wheelchair accessible.
His work on major events like the 2018 Invictus Games and Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations earned him the Public Service Medal PSM in 2022 for outstanding public service in access and inclusion. Paul is currently the CEO of Inclusively Made, transforming the film, TV and advertising industries’ approach to disability inclusion.