Disability and Diversity Training

Kerrie has experience in speaking to small and large community groups both locally and overseas. She addresses private and public organisations and offers disability awareness training to local, state and national government.

As a member of the City of Melville Access Advisory Committee Kerrie has helped train and inform local community government staff and has also spoken to other Town’s advisory groups and councils.

Previously in paid and voluntary capacities she addressed Rotary and Lions groups for fundraising and awareness raising purposes.

Kerrie has expertise in human rights issues such as disability rights; gender and development; cultural awareness; systemic and individual advocacy. She is also well versed in policy development, governance and administration.

Kerrie has a passion for seeing future generations become inclusive and accepting of diversity and speaks to school students on a range of issues.

To find out more about how Kerrie Duff Consulting can assist you take a look at the Facebook page or contact Kerrie via Linked In or Twitter.

About

Kerrie Duff Consulting

Motto: ‘To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.’ Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Kerrie lives in Perth, Western Australia, Australia and is the Sole Trader of Kerrie Duff Consulting.

She has a quirky sense of humour and has been (lovingly) called a craft-o-holic – especially  with quilting, patchwork and lace-making.  Kerrie occasionally masquerades as a mermaid with 3 other women (including at  the 2012 International Day of Disability  event in Northbridge )

She is a longstanding advocate for disability and human rights issues.

Kerrie’s awesome claim to fame is that she is a Paralympian and won a bronze for the 400 meters freestyle in England, 1984, with a personal best time by 11 seconds, yes, 11. Others improve by 100ths of seconds. Not Kerrie. Who knows what she would have done if she didn’t miscount the laps and keep a bit in reserve in case she needed to do another 100 meters!

Kerrie holds a Masters of Human Rights (Curtin; 2014), a Bachelor of Arts (Monash; 1983), is a certified Training and Assessment trainer (Morley Training Centre; 2013) and a Leaders for Tomorrow graduate (2013). She has a Full Blue from Monash University for her sporting achievements and was awarded the inaugural Malcolm B Menelaus Award from the Spina Bifida Foundation of Victoria in 2003.

Kerrie grew up in Victoria and now lives in WA. She is married to Martin, puppy mummy to Lucy and aunt to Giselle and Felix.

Goals

  • Provide leadership and mentor youth and adults with disabilities to assist them to reach their potential.
  • Seek justice and rights for people whom society often overlooks or ignores.

Dream

  • Write children’s books. Maybe even an autobiography (when far older).

Specialities

  • Represented Australia internationally  at:
    • 1994 Far Eastern South Pacific International Competition (Beijing) Swimming, Gold, Silver;
    • 1984 Paralympics (Equal ranking to Olympics for sport for people with disabilities) UK. Bronze medalist 400m f/s
    • 1982, Far Eastern & South Pacific Comp’n (equal ranking as Commonwealth Games for people with disabilities), Hong Kong.Gold (2), silver (1), bronze (2); 1981
    • First Invitational Junior Games for the Disabled, Newcastle Upon Tyne,UK.
  • National competitions & A.U.S.S.I. Masters:various medals & Australian records
  • Employment history:
    • Current: National Disability Insurance Agency: Planning and Support Coordinator (while taking a sabbatical from consulting)
    • Previously: WA’s Individualised Services: communications officer (p/t); Rocky Bay: training department (casual); Options Employment: disability awareness trainer (casual); People With disabilities WA; Spina Bifida Association WA; World Vision Australia; Laserlife Australia.

Current Affiliations:

  • Rocky Bay’s Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Advisory Committee

Past Affiliations:

  • Women With Disabilities Australia – Board member
  • Women with Disabilities WA: President
  • Diverse Leadership WA – public officer
  • Telethon Kids Institute/ UWA School of Population & Health- Consumer representative: Developmental Pathways Project
  • People With disabilities WA – Vice President
  • Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association WA: Vice President
  • Genetics Support Council WA: Treasurer
  • Spina Bifida Foundation Victoria: Board member
  • Spina Bifida Association Victoria: President
  • Yooralla: Board member

Down the rabbit hole

Image   

Getting sidetracked when preparing a presentation for a group of 65 or so librarians and museum staff on issues around disability inclusion is to be expected from me, with my Myers Briggs enfp’ishness. (Check out Myers Briggs and Steven Covey if you don’t know what this means.)

Or so you all probably think.

What is not standard is the lass putting her technological skills into overdrive and creating a new fb page for her business.

So if you want to take a trip down the rabbit hole with me, do join me at Kerrie Duff Consulting on Facebook. It’s a work in progress.

Like me.

Like life.

Welcome on the journey.

Consultant and Trainer Background

DSC00207

Kerrie Duff (nee Engel) is available to speak and train on human rights based issues, specialising in disability and diversity, and community awareness. She is a member of two local council access and inclusions groups and offers training in the private and public sector. She also has experience speaking to school children and service groups.

So who is Kerrie and what are her qualifications:

A quick run down – Kerrie was born with a neural tube defect called Spina Bifida. She walks with crutches and at times uses a wheelchair (for wheelchair basketball, tennis and walking her dog.)

Kerrie and Lucy seated near teh Christmas tree
With Lucy on her first Christmas as part of the family

This hasn’t stopped her living a full and varied life with lots of patchwork, reading, cooking, travel and other adventures along the way. Speaking of travel she was introduced to her husband via mutual friends from Norway, moved to Perth to join him 10 years ago ,and hasn’t looked back since.

Martin and Kerrie at their engagement party

 

 

Kerrie and Martin at their engagement party

 

 

Kerrie grew up in Melbourne , the eldest of two children, and was involved with the Spina Bifida Association Victoria (SBAV) from an early age. She has always stretched the limits of ‘what if’ and never been afraid to give something new or challenging a go. Continue reading

Dream, Design, Develop and Diversify

KDC Logo

Welcome to the first post from Kerrie Duff Consulting.  It seems fitting to enter the world of WordPress technology on Easter Sunday- a time of renewal, refreshment, family and friends, A time of growth and inclusion in our varied communities.

So who is Kerrie and what is her business all about?

Eli Runa and me IF plannings

Kerrie (pictured above right) grew up in Melbourne and moved to Perth in 2003. She recently graduated from Curtin University with her Masters in Human Rights and has a passion for disability, gender and indigenous issues. Before returning to study she worked at People With disabilities WA (PWdWA) as project officer for Disability First Stop, followed for a time as the senior systemic advocate.

In 2013 her Master in Human Rights internship with WA’s Individualised Services (WAiS) evolved into a part time communication’s coordinator role and her Cert IV TAE traineeship at Rocky Bay progressed into a casual role in the Training Department.

Over the years Kerrie has held various positions on boards and committees at local, national and international levels.  Recently she undertook a training course through the Australian Institute of Company Director‘s thanks to a scholarship via the Leaders for Tomorrow program which she participated in during 2013.

Kerrie puts her International Training in Communication skills (once called Toastmistresses) to good use. She speaks at school, community and service groups on a range of advocacy issues and volunteers time participating in a disability awareness consumer groups with the Town of Melville and Cockburn.

She is an active consumer representative with the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research – recently renamed Telethon Kids Institute – and has given presentations to government and non government organisations in Victoria and WA. She held the role of President for Women with Disabilities WA in 2013 and was Vice President of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association WA during 2011-2013. Currently she serves on People with Disabilities WA’s Board as Vice President and as a general committee member of the Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA) organisations.

Kerrie’s understanding of diversity began at an early age. She went through the local brownie, guide and ranger movement experienced special school and mainstream education.

Over the years her involvement in Paralympics (winning bronze for the 400mtrs freestyle in 1984), editing a text ‘Challenge and Hope: disability, disease and trauma  in the developing world’ (looking at World Vision International (WVI) projects) have combined with her own varied life experiences to shape her ongoing ideas and beliefs.

She represented the Pacific region on the International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Board for two terms between 2000-2004.  She has been a guest speaker at World Vision International Asia Pacific community workers training workshops on disability and development issues. Kerrie speaks to community groups and school students on a range of issues, and has a strong sense of doing her best to empower others to reach their potential.

You will find Kerrie on Facebook, Linked in, Skill pages, the World Cafe and in a range of other media.