Kerrin Smithies

CBM Australia

CBM Australia is part of an international Christian development organisation. For more than 110 years globally and 30 years in Australia, we have worked to break the cycle of disability and poverty in the world's poorest places. We are driven by our vision for an inclusive world where people with disabilities enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential. We partner with local community organisations, NGOs, and governments to bring the best possible combination of CBM Global Disability Inclusion's resources together with deeply relevant local knowledge, relationships and influence. We also partner with the disability movement to influence governments, organisations and institutions, providing proven and trusted technical advice along with quality-assurance mechanisms to ensure rights-based, disability inclusive development. Our disability-inclusive advocacy ensures people with disabilities are empowered and included in planning and decision making. We keenly advocate for justice and a generous Australian Aid program. We do this because people with disabilities living in poverty face stigma, violence and discrimination, and have reduced access to health care, rehabilitation, assistive devices, safe and accessible living environments, education and employment. In emergencies, people with disabilities are often the worst impacted and face a higher risk of being injured or losing their lives during a disaster.