RMIT staff awarded at Accessibility in Action Awards 2025

RMIT staff awarded at Accessibility in Action Awards 2025

Staff were recognised by the Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET) for inclusive methodologies that have enhanced accessibility across teaching and learning environments.

RMIT Accessibility Coordinator Jacinta Jones O’Meara was awarded the individual award for Accessibility Leadership and Advocacy for her work championing the lived experience of students with disabilities and driving improvements across the University.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to do what I do, and I love it,” Jacinta said.

Jacinta has worked in disability inclusion at RMIT since 2012 and has led significant improvements for students with disabilities.

Her consultancy has transformed practices across property, IT, teaching, and library services.  

She designed Accessibility Capability Uplift training for more than 180 library staff - creating a proactive problem-solving culture around disability barriers - and established RMIT's first Sensory Friendly Study Space.

Jacinta also pioneered the University’s Neurodiverse Study Sessions, which have significantly enhanced student success and belonging.

Jacinta Jones O’Meara won the individual award for Accessibility Leadership and Advocacy. Jacinta Jones O’Meara won the individual award for Accessibility Leadership and Advocacy.

In the project and team category, staff from across Education and International and Engagement portfolios and the School of Global Urban and Social Studies were recognised for pioneering an accessibility-focused approach to assessment design.

The team developed collaborative workshops addressing exclusionary barriers in assessment. 

They introduced an experimental Inclusive Thinking Cycle adapted from New Zealand's Universal Design for Learning Thinking Cycle, helping educators incorporate individual adjustments into assessment design for all students' benefit.

The workshops embraced Universal Design for Learning principles using ADCET-provided personas and demonstrated technological solutions including H5P interactives, Canvas Studio captioning, AI-generated summaries, and accessibility checkers. 

Project and team category winners L-R Jamal Abiloma, Alyce Greenwood, Anna Branford, Ronny Andrade Parra, Chilwin Soh, Helen McLean. Not pictured: Jacinta Jones O’Meara, Teresa Dowding, Ann Standish, Colette Beauregard Seehaber, Rachael Hains-Wesson, Hilary Wheaton Project and team category winners L-R Jamal Abilmona, Alyce Greenwood, Anna Branford, Ronny Andrade Parra, Chilwin Soh, Helen McLean. Not pictured: Jacinta Jones O’Meara, Teresa Dowding, Ann Standish, Colette Beauregard Seehaber, Rachael Hains-Wesson, Hilary Wheaton, Hannah Bradley.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education Professor Sherman Young said the recognition by the Australian Government-funded ADCET reflects the passion that exists across RMIT for making the learning and teaching experience accessible, inclusive and impactful for all regardless of their ability.

“We know education can and should be universally accessible and there is no shortage of work underway at RMIT, driven by passionately engaged people, to ensure our systems, processes and people are equipped with the principles and practices of universal design.

“It’s about ensuring that learning is accessible for everyone, everywhere, all the time,” he said.

The Awards were presented at the ADCET Accessibility in Action Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 28 May. 

29 May 2025

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29 May 2025

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