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About CYDA
Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) is a not-for-profit community organisation. We are the peak organisation representing the rights and interests of children and young people with disability (aged 0-25) in Australia.
We do this by:
- Consulting with young people with disability, their families and caregivers about the issues that matter to them.
- Running leadership programs and networking events for young people with disability.
- Making resources to support the rights and wellbeing of children and young people with disability.
- Working directly with government and policy-makers to make positive change for children and young people with disability.
- Doing research with our academic partners at The University of Melbourne and the University of New South Wales.
- Making submissions to government and decision-makers promoting the rights and wellbeing of children and young people with disability.
Our vision
Children and young people with disability across Australia can fully exercise their rights, realise their aspirations, and thrive in all communities.
Our purpose
We advance equality of opportunity by working with children and young people with
disability, their families and communities, to drive systemic change.
Our values
Voice: We centre children and young people with disability in our decisions and actions
Care: We approach everything we do with care: for the people we work with, the people we work for, and each other
Commitment: We stay committed to deep, lasting change, even when progress is slow or uncertain
Courage: We act with courage. We speak up for what is right, and hold ourselves and others accountable.
Inclusion: We recognise that we don’t all experience the world in the same way, and that diversity strengthens our work.
Image: A young child using a wheelchair, laughing with a gummy smile, her head tilted to her left. The child is wearing long navy and white pyjamas and white socks.
People at CYDA
Strategic plan
At CYDA, our goals are to:
- raise community attitudes and expectations
- champion initiatives that promote the best start in the early years for children with disability, and their families and caregivers
- lead social change to transform education systems to be inclusive at all points across life stages
- advocate for systems that facilitate successful life transitions to adulthood
- lead innovative initiatives to ensure the sustainability and impact of the organisation and the broader sector
Read our full Strategic Plan for 2024–2027 👉
Annual reports
Constitution
CYDA’s Constitution sets out the rules that govern the organisation’s internal management and operations.
