‘Disability means different ability, not no ability’: disABILITY awards 2025 | Gallery
People living with a disability don’t want pity, they want independence, and Toowoomba’s disABILITY Awards have acknowledged the companies and individuals who have gone above and beyond to ensure people with a disability are seen in the same way as anyone else.
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The 11th Business disABILITY awards have brought together people of all abilities who are helping to create inclusion in our workplaces.
Co-founder of Business disABILITY Awards Kim Stokes said the mindset towards disability needed to change and hiring someone with a disability was just as beneficial for the organisation as it was the individual.
“Disability really means different ability, it doesn’t mean no ability,” she said.
“We need to realise we are not doing people who live with a disability a favour by employing them.”
Ms Stokes said living with a disability can mean many different things, and each person can bring their own unique talents to different workplaces.
“What people often miss is someone with an impairment, for example, sees the world differently, they solve problems differently, they have a different attention to detail,” she said.
“Diversity and inclusion in a workplace only brings about smarter workplaces, more effective workspaces, and more profitable workspaces.”
Diverse workplaces have shown to significantly increase employee wellbeing and team performance, according to the Inclusion@Work Index 2023-2024.
The report found that inclusive teams are eight times more likely to work effectively together and five times less likely to experience discrimination or harassment at work.
Ms Stokes co-founded these business awards with Paul Wilson and David Wallis in 2012 when they saw a need for more representation of people with disabilities in the workforce.
“Back then, people with disability being widely employed by the greater community was something that really wasn’t talked about much and there was a lot of stigma and fear of employing people with an impairment,” she said.
Ms Stokes said it was common for others to pity people with disabilities.
“They don’t want your pity,” she said.
“They want to be independent, they want to have opportunities where they can do things without having to ask for someone else’s help.
“Independence starts by recognising and respecting that person as a human being.
“The more we can empower people, the more that can bring to enrich our lives and our neighbourhoods.”
Newlands Group took home the award for Outstanding Employer and the Toowoomba civil construction and commercial building company has always maintained three to four per cent of their workforce as disabled employees.
Founder Barry O’Sullivan said inclusion of all kinds creates a much more resilient team in their organisation whether it be gender, race, ethnicity, or disability.
“We’re a diverse society and society is built up by diversity so why not have that same mix within your organisation,” he said.
“If you had a look around the room last night it was a great mix of able people and disabled people and it wasn’t like we were segregated into two different sections it was just a group of people.
“All human beings, just celebrating all sorts of companies, or individuals, or organisations that have done extremely well in being diverse.”
Mr O’Sullivan’s longest serving employee Lindsay Gibson came along to the event and went up on stage to accept the company’s award with them.
Mr Gibson has worked with the Newlands Group for 24 years, working in their workshop and he has an intellectual disability.
Mr O’Sullivan said through his job Mr Gibson has becomes independent and is now able to live on his own and look after himself.
2025 Business disABILITY award winners:
Judy Antonio Memorial Award
Winner: Steven Paull
Sponsored by Paul Antonio and family
Elissa Flanagan ‘Aim High’ scholarship
Winner: Alyshia Mckenna
Sponsored by David Janetzki MP and Trevor Watts MP
Social Inclusions award
Winner: Toowoomba Regional Council - The Change Project
Outstanding employer award
Winner: Newlands group
Outstanding employee award
Winner: Harry Sargent
Outstanding volunteer award
Winner: Anita Paine
Innovation & Access award
Winner: D Dance Academy
Education and Training award
Winner: Dr Sharon Boyce
Indigenous Champion award
Winner: Carbal Medical Services
Business Engagement award
Winner: Ability Enterprises
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