Recognising International Day of People with Disability 2025

On 3 December 2025, The Hopkins Centre joined communities across Australia and the world in recognising International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), a day dedicated to strengthening awareness, understanding and inclusion for the 5.5 million Australians with disability. This year’s theme, “Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress,” closely aligned with our Centre’s mission to advance disability and rehabilitation research that improves accessibility, participation and quality of life.

IDPwD Ambassadors shared insightful reflections on building a more inclusive society, supported by accessible video content and an Easy Read version of the UN theme. These messages strongly resonated with The Hopkins Centre’s ongoing work in inclusive design, assistive technologies and consumer-led rehabilitation solutions.

Community groups, workplaces and schools across Australia used the IDPwD Community Conversation Guide to spark meaningful discussions about inclusion, while free social media resources encouraged people to share messages of support online. Participants connected using @idpwd on Facebook, @idpwd_au on Instagram and the hashtags #IDPwD and #IDPwD2025, helping amplify the national conversation.

Many also attended local and online activities listed in the IDPwD Community Event Calendar, contributing to a vibrant week of events celebrating diversity and promoting accessible, equitable participation.

IDPwD 2025 served as a powerful reminder of why our research matters: to break down barriers, elevate lived experience and support better rehabilitation outcomes for people with disability. The Hopkins Centre looks forward to continuing this momentum through our research, partnerships and community engagement in 2026.

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