The Zero Barriers Business Excellence Awards announced this week celebrated businesses and organisations across South West Sydney working to make their practices more inclusive for people with disabilities.

Awards recognised leadership in five categories: Community, Innovation, Small to Medium Business, Large Business, and Sports and recreation.

The year-long Zero Barriers initiative has developed into a movement and a challenge that more businesses are embracing, led by The Multicultural Network and supported by Settlement Services International (SSI), the South West Bankstown Chamber of Commerce and the Canterbury Bankstown, Fairfield and Liverpool councils.

The project involved presentations to businesses, the development of a checklist, guidelines and stickers designed by local children with disabilities. Those businesses and organisations that displayed inclusive attitudes towards reducing barriers received the sticker and could nominate themselves for the Zero Barriers Awards.

Minister for Disability and Multiculturalism, the Hon. Ray Williams, attended the awards alongside Khal Asfour, the Mayor for Canterbury Bankstown. Both reiterated the commitment of state and local governments to continue working to implement their respective disability inclusion action plans.

SSI’s Multicultural Disability Inclusion Officer, Javier Ortiz, said, “It is great to see how many businesses have embraced making some small changes to their practices. The ripple effect from that can have profound effects not only to individuals but also to entire communities.”

SSI’s CEO and Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year Violet Roumeliotis said, “Migrants have a history of being engaged in small businesses, which are often seen as the cornerstone of migrant communities. The inclusive attitudes displayed by those businesses in South West Sydney and the involvement of local governments demonstrate the inclusive and welcoming environment that newcomers of all abilities settling in the region can expect.”

From the 37 nominees, the winners for each category were:
•    Community Category — Muslim Women’s Association
•    Innovation Category — MTC Liverpool
•    Small to Medium Business — Crezent Eatery, Condell Park
•    Large Business — Rashays, Punchbowl
•    Sports and recreation — C&M Swimming Club, Padstow

SSI, along with the organisations and local governments involved in the project, will continue to support businesses working to reduce their barriers and showcase examples of why it is important to build inclusive practices in businesses and in all other areas of community life.

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