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- Champion For People With Disability
“I like to feel that I can use my life experience to help others,” Shelley Spencer says.
The Ferntree Gully mother of two joined the Knox Disability Advisory Committee two years ago to give people living with disability a say in Council decisions affecting their lives.
Shelley, 50, has overcome barriers to become an advocate for others and now runs a plan management business supporting other NDIS participants.
“As I was born with cerebral palsy, I have had to advocate for myself in different times in my life,” she says. “I have had to educate people about my disability.
“People should treat people with disability just like any other person in our community. If someone looks like they need help, a person should ask if they need help. If they say no it is because they can do it themselves, and just allow them to do it themselves.”
Established in 1999, the committee includes people with disability, carers and service providers who work with Council to ensure everyone can participate in community life with independence, equity and dignity.
The United Nations’ International Day of People with Disability, held annually on 3 December, celebrates the achievements and contributions of people living with disability. The day aims to help raise awareness of and promote an accessible and inclusive community for the 17% or 28,000 residents living with disability in Knox.
“I feel like I’m helping other people who have a disability by saying what I think is wrong in our community and what needs to be fixed,” Shelley says.
“I feel that my voice is heard and that everyone is being heard in the advisory committee meetings. For example, we had a staff member come to one of our meetings and we all gave him input into a project. He then took it away and brought it back with our input included.
“I find it really interesting the diversity of people that are also on the advisory committee, and we all bring our own perspectives of what we feel is important.”
If you are living with disability or a carer, Council support and services are available. These include:
• A Guide to Disability and Aged Services in Knox
• Subscribe to our Accessing Knox e-newsletter
• Access keys (accessibility guides for a range of Council facilities and events)
• Information on accessible playgrounds and toilets
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What's happening
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Events, activities and festivals
- Knox Factor
- Festivals and civic events
- Business networking event: Why Australian-made matters now more than ever
- Community event info and registration
- Community training: 3Rs of family violence
- Community training: Building Aboriginal cultural competency
- Community training: Child safe standards for Community groups
- Community training: Cultural awareness training
- Community training: Managing challenging members and volunteer-related situations
- Community training: Safe food handling
- More than shelter - supports for people experiencing homelessness
- OELLEN Career Expo 2025
- Running a Successful Community Group/Sports Club
- Have Your Say
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News
- A revitalised route for Boronia
- Art Beyond Waste exhibition
- Business networking and Bodacious Coffee tour
- Could your community group benefit from funding support?
- Cr Susan Laukens elected Knox Mayor
- Economic & demographic insights: What’s ahead for Knox?
- Electoral irregularities
- Free Community Training Workshops
- Free community training workshops
- Free workshops for cleaner. greener living
- Get growing with Gardens for Harvest
- International Women's Day networking event
- Join our bike education courses
- Join the Environment Advisory Committee
- Join the Knox Multicultural Advisory Committee
- Keep leaving your rubbish bin out until 6pm
- Knox retailer networking session
- Learn how to compost at home
- Leave your rubbish bin out until 6 pm
- Make an 'empty your fridge' frittata
- Make the switch to reusable nappies
- Making Knox more Electric Vehicle ready
- Making Knox more Electric Vehicle ready
- More Than Shelter
- New wetland ready to explore
- OELLEN Career Expo 2025
- Progress is building at Bayswater Library
- Race ready!
- Ready, set, play! 2025 local playground upgrades
- Removal of pine trees at Koolunga Native Reserve
- Revitalising Boronia
- Rubbish bin lids are changing
- School holiday activities for young people
- StageScape - community performing arts festival
- Together we are Knox
- Together, we've changed 86% of bin lids
- Transform your home with all-electric solutions
- We are sorry
- Winning government grants and tenders workshop
- Arts in Knox
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Major projects and initiatives
- Capital Works Projects at Sports Facilities
- Capital works
- Carrington Park Activity Centre redevelopment
- Chandler Road shared path and road renewal project
- Demolition of Knox Basketball Stadium (Boronia)
- Gilbert Park upgrades
- Kings Park masterplan
- Lewis Park Masterplan
- New Bayswater Library
- Park Ridge Reserve Upgrade
- Tormore Reserve pavilion upgrade
- Wally Tew upgrade
- Wantirna Reserve redevelopment
- Community groups and volunteering
- Explore Knox
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Event Calendar
- Bee Gees Revival
- Burt Bacharach (Featuring Michael Cormick)
- FRITZ (School Holiday Feature Show)
- Lady Be Good, The Songs of Ella Fitzgerald (Featuring Nina Ferro)
- Tenori
- The Beatlez
- Tis the Season – A Very Jazzy Christmas Spectacular
- Wish Upon A Star – The Disney Songbook (ft. Danielle Matthews)
- Women of Wit
- Knox eNews