MEDIA RELEASE
Acclaimed actor and breakout star of Love on the Spectrum and Austin, Michael Theo will open the first ever fully community-controlled celebrations for the UN International Day of People with Disability in the ACT. Michael will be interviewed by our event MC ABC Canberra Radio host Saskia Mabin.
The flagship online event, Halting Hate, Finding Kindness: Rebooting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the 2020’s, runs from 12.00 pm to 5 pm on 3 December.
it explores how we can challenge hate and misinformation and rebuild kindness and inclusion in the 2020s.
Highlights include:
- Michael Theo, breakout star of ‘Love on the Spectrum’ and ‘Austin’
- MC ABC Canberra Mornings Radio Presenter, Saskia Mabin
- A special message from Professor Nicolas Levrat, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues
- Thought provoking panel including Professor Gerard Goggin, Dr. Ashleigh Haw, Professor Nicole Asquith and AFI Policy Head Craig Wallace.
- Panels to examine the impacts for discrimination, the economy and jobs and mental health and violence
- Closing plenary and the ACT’s first ever I-Day Declaration – a call for action and legacy work across the remaining 364 days of the year.
Media can attend the Opening Ceremony from 12 noon next Wednesday: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86923686361
Other highlights include:
Halting, Hate: Finding Kindness – The Power of Words and Images: an arts showcase featuring images, prose and poetry on the local IDAY themes to be launched at the headline event and featured in Canberra Weekly
Special Canberra Weekly feature on 27 November showcasing local stories, conversation starters, disability arts and offers. The cover features Canberra leaders from business, community and government coming together to support shared notions of respect, access, truth, diversity, equity and disability inclusion within a progressive city.
A new Celebration Pass insert in the Weekly with things to do, see, experience and talk about across Canberra. Highlights include:
- a 10% discount at an adventure park
- a light rail familiarisation experience, pop up stall and a student engagement program on light rail plus accessibility announcements by people with disability on light rail vehicles
- events including Art exhibitions, inclusive community dance, a disability led queer variety show, Awards, a special Stages of Empathy Theatre Performance by Rebus Theatre, free tours at the National Museum and more
- peer support and self advocacy opportunities
- information about grants, services and more
- facts and conversation starters plus ten things you can do right now to welcome people with disability
You can also download new podcasts – The Independent Assessment, on all good podcast Apps, has an episode on the I-DAY theme as well as an I-DAY edition of the Canberra Business Chamber Podcast.
I-Day this year has two community spokespeople Taryn Lee (youth advocate) and Ravi Krishnamurthy (multicultural leadership) as well as the Co-Chairs Kat Read from Women with Disabilities ACT and Craig Wallace (Advocacy for Inclusion)
Quotes:
Ravi Krishnamurthy JP
“This year’s agenda encourages open conversation on topics such as how misinformation about disability spreads, its real-world impacts on employment and wellbeing as well as mental health and violence prevention.
“We are also keen to build on learnings from other communities, including the multicultural community.”
Taryn Lee
“Disability is close to everyone in the community and this year there is something each and every Canberran can do, see, attend, watch or listen to”
Safety, dignity, and truth are everyone’s responsibility. Governments, organisations and citizens can each play their part in upholding dignity and respect. We’re creating space for people to commit to shared action. We can all take action here.”
Kat Reed, Co Chair of the I-DAY steering committee for Women with Disabilities ACT
“In 2025, our Steering Committee and partners were determined to fix the day in the reality of the times and find ways to make it visible and relevant to all Canberrans while not missing out on the spirit of fun that comes as thoughts turn to the end of the year.
“It’s fitting that the sparkling presence of Michael Theo will launch I-DAY this year – we have all enjoyed his ability to face the world with a sense of humour and followed his journey to find connection. It’s a real spotlight in a sometimes-bleak media conversation about disability and ableism over the past few years.
Craig Wallace, Co-Chair of the I-DAY steering committee
“It’s the first year since the ACT Government made a wise and generous decision to hand over control of I-Day to people with disability. It isn’t that often you see Governments surrender a whole promotional program but the efforts of the community-controlled Steering Group for I-Day has shown this was the right move.
“They took the baton and ran with it coming up with a brilliant focus on answering hate speech, disinformation in these unsettled times through dialogue, a mainstream media partnership plus a new celebration pass which seeds events, experiences, offers and conversations across the city.
More information: https://www.advocacyforinclusion.org/i-day/
Media Contacts
Craig Wallace, A/g Chief Executive Officer, Advocacy for Inclusion on 0477 200 755 and Kat Reed, Chief Executive Officer, Women with Disabilities ACT 0412 094 757
Attachment A
Press material:
About Michael Theo: Michael Theo stars in the Northern Pictures comedy series Austin on the ABC. In 2025 Michael was nominated for a Silver Logie ‘Best Actor in a Comedy’, he also received a nomination for the AACTA Awards for ‘Best Acting in a Comedy’ in the same year. Prior to Austin, Michael was the break-out star of the ABC/Northern Pictures documentary series Love on the Spectrum appearing in the first 2 seasons of the show. Michael has guest starred on numerous podcasts including Justin Long’s Life is Short, Ricki Lake’s The High Life and Australia’s hugely popular podcast series The Imperfects, among others. A passionate animal activist, nature lover, and avid railway enthusiast, Michael continues to champion inclusion, self-acceptance, and the celebration of neurodiversity. Outside the creative sphere, Michael is an Ambassador for Wable, an app designed to help neurodivergent people build friendships and social connections.
Event information