Council
7 September, 2026
Valuable discussion on election process
PARTICIPANTS at last week’s South West Regional Advocacy Network meeting had the opportunity to learn more about the Victorian Electoral Commission’s democracy ambassador program.
The network meeting, held at Warrnambool’s Reid Oval last Wednesday, was hosted by the Self-Advocates Connected group.
The Regional Advocacy Network is made up of participants from disability service providers Cooinda, Mulleraterong, Kyeema and Southern Stay, along with members of Self-Advocates Connected.
The meeting included a presentation by a representative from the Victorian Electoral Commission’s (VEC) Democracy Ambassador program who educated participants about who can vote, how to enrol to vote, how to vote correctly and where to get help to vote.
The VEC’s Democracy Ambassador program supports voters, who are under-represented at the ballot box, to learn how to make their vote count, including at the upcoming state election in November and at local council elections.
This includes people with intellectual disabilities and those who have neurodevelopmental conditions like autism.
Meeting participants also learnt about the low-sensory voting centres the VEC is rolling out in every Victorian electorate.
Selected venues, including the Archie Graham Community Centre in Warrnambool, will be quieter, with a controlled temperature, extra space around voting booths and natural lighting to address barriers that make in-person voting overwhelming or inaccessible for neurodivergent voters.
The presentation was followed by South West Regional Advocacy Network’s quarterly meeting.
Participants shared their news on all the wonderful projects they are working on including the successes and achievements since the last meeting in May.
If you have an intellectual disability or acquired brain injury and are interested in joining Self Advocates Connected (or are from an organisation that works with people with intellectual disabilities and are interested in joining) contact project coordinator Rachael Gleeson on 0493 214 996 or email rachael@selfadvocatesconnected.org.au
