Everyone belongs at UNSW
Part of making you feel at home on our campuses is having Diversity Champions whose role it is to drive significant cultural change around equity, diversity and inclusion at UNSW.
“Supporting and knowing how to communicate to various audiences is key to swaying and influencing hearts and minds.” - Bani Aadam
Bani Aadam (he/him) is a PhD Candidate and Tutor in the School of Social Sciences. His research is in ethics and mental health clinical practice, and he has lived experience of psychosocial disability. Bani has worked in the psychosocial and disability sectors for several years and is currently appointed by the NSW Minister for Mental Health to the role of Official Visitor, working with NSW mental health clinical staff to ensure appropriate services and supports are being delivered in our public mental health systems, meeting the obligations of the NSW Mental Heal Act (2007).
“My interest in becoming a Diversity Champion is based on principles of human rights, particularly justice, equality, inclusion, and participation. I want to see UNSW lead the way on social justice, allowing people to be active and engaged in university life and citizenship more broadly.”
“I am passionate about advocating for people with disability and providing digital accessible services.” - Dr Veronica Jiang
Veronica Jiang (she/her) is a Lecturer at the School of Marketing. Since 2017, she has been working on two innovation and social engagement projects for people with disability, the first aiming to create and showcase virtual reality videos that tell authentic life stories of people with disability, and the second working with start-up company PeepsRide, which aims to provide accessible transport for people with disability.
Veronica has ideas for a number of projects she would like to push forward as a UNSW Disability Champion, including further embedding Universal Design for Learning, establishing a disability advocacy program, and performing a detailed audit of campus accessibility.
“People with disability are hugely under-represented and misrepresented in the mass media. I want to contribute amplify their voices and advocate for their rights.”
Get involved
UNSW students and staff are invited to join the Disability Network.
“I want to be a voice for my community to create meaningful change.” - Isabelle Vertucci
Isabelle Vertucci (she/her) is a Peer Connections Officer (Equity) in the Office of Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education and Student Experience). Her role involves creating inclusive mentoring programs and communities to warmly welcome all new students coming to UNSW. Isabelle has lived experience of disability, as well as experience working in the disability sector, which she says has nourished her passion to support and uplift people within the community.
“I care about creating a safer, happier space for all staff and students at UNSW and want to be a leader who empowers people and celebrates diversity in my work. I know that I still have so much to learn and understand from people with a wide range of lived experience, but I am so keen to listen and learn.”
