ABC is looking for storytellers for International Day of People with Disability
Are you a new creator with a disability? Do you have a burning story that you have always wanted to investigate and discover?
ABC partners with International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD) will recognize the 5.5 million Australians with a disability.
A series of true stories and content will be commissioned by ABC for IDPwD to be released on ABC platforms on December 3.
This year, we’re calling on disabled creators to produce stories that cover a range of important topics, for example, from the importance of including disabled people in the design of AI and media solutions to the underrepresentation of disabled people in senior business, political and boardroom leadership in Australia.
We’d also love to hear from regional and remote Australian creators about the issues that matter to them.
While we value stories that highlight lived experiences, we encourage creators to explore a variety of topics that reflect their interests.
We are particularly interested in hearing from First Nations, regionally based, culturally and linguistically diverse, and LGBTQ+ content creators.
All creators participating in the program will be paid for their work.
Who can apply?
To be eligible, you must live in Australia, be over 18, have disability experience, and be available to work on your content between August 2026 and May 2027.
What to talk about?
We would like you to submit an original, non-fiction story idea.
This could be an issue affecting your community, a stereotype you want to dispel, or an attitude you want to challenge.
Eli Sutherland, for example, wrote about the joys and challenges of connecting with nature as a person with a disability.
Comedian, actor and advocate Loz Booth has partnered with Play School and ABC Sport to produce a series of social media reels Addressing disability representation on Australian screens And Highlighting obstacles in para sports.
Paralympic athlete Tom O’Neill-Thorne has produced and presented content on a variety of topics for ABC TV Darwin. new program for aspiring para-athletes in regional areas.
Australian composer, orchestrator and arranger Georgia Scott interviewed composer Sonnet Curé (ABC’s Headliners) and flautist Lamorna Nightingale (Artistic Director of Ensemble Offspring and Backstage Music) for ABC Classic to explore how classical music can become more inclusive.
Loading…
What are we looking for?
When pitching your story idea, you will need to choose the format that best suits what you want to do.
ABC is looking for story ideas that fit the following formats:
- Video: 2–3 minute short-form video
- Sound: 2–3 minute audio package
- Digital article: An 800 word article
- Social media: An Instagram, TikTok or Facebook story, reel or photo essay
How to apply
Fill out the form below by midnight Wednesday, July 8 Tell us about your idea, what format you want to use, and your previous content creation experience.
Please note: You don’t need to produce the content, just share your idea.
If successful, you will work with an ABC producer to produce the story between August 2026 and May 2027.
If you are experiencing difficulty completing the form below or have questions about the application process, please email us at ABCInclusive@abc.net.au.
Loading…
