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Disability and Inclusion Network
The Disability and Inclusion Network is a meeting point for postgraduate students at the University of Sydney who identify with having a disability. Both coursework and HDR students are welcome.
One in 5 Australians live with visible and non-visible disabilities that impact daily activities, studies, communication and/or mobility in various ways, including:
- physical – affects mobility, dexterity; including migraine, endometriosis, EDS, PCOS
- mental illness – anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar and other conditions
- sensory – d/Deaf, hard of hearing, hyperacusis, blind, low vision
- neurological – MS, epilepsy, brain injury, conditions affecting brain and nervous system
- learning – cognitive and intellectual disability, memory, focus, neurodiversity
- immunological – autoimmune, ME/CFS, and other chronic multisystemic conditions.
Disabilities Officer – Gemma Lucy Smart
The Disabilities Officer is responsible for representing students in the Disabilities Network and advocating on their behalf.
I’m Gemma – your SUPRA Disability Equity Officer and your HDR representative on the Disability Inclusion Action Plan Implementation Committee. I’m a PhD researcher and here to do what we can to improve the lives of students with disabilities/disabled students at the University. I run the SUPRA Disability and Inclusion Network as a way of connecting with other students and providing them a space for community and advocacy. I’m passionate about disability inclusion, accessibility, awareness, and activism.
Contact the Disabilties Officer
If you have any queries about the Disabilities Network or would like to raise some issues please contact SUPRA’s Disabilities Officer: disability@supra.usyd.edu.au.
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You can join the Inclusion and Disability Network on Facebook.
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2025 equity officer election results
Congratulations to the following postgrads, who were elected as SUPRA equity officers for the 2025–26 term: Disabilities Officer: Sarah M Huffman International Students' Officer: Dihao (Amper) Zhu...
Make student taxes fair!
Campaign for fair taxes for part-time research students Part-time Higher Degree Research (HDR) students face an unfair tax burden – their research stipends are taxed, while full-time students’...
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