Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson today congratulated Maroochydore resident Linley Erskine on being nominated for the Speaker’s inaugural Inspirational Women’s Awards for her work in pioneering a disability support agency “A Key for Me”.
Linley Erskine was chosen by community members to represent the Maroochydore electorate at a breakfast to be held in Parliament House on 8 March 2013 in celebration of International Women’s Day.
Speaker Fiona Simpson said she was delighted to welcome Linley as her special guest in recognition for her pioneering work in supporting people with disabilities.
State Members of Parliament were invited by the Speaker to seek nominations for women who had made a difference in their local community – whether in business, community work, the arts, the environment or some other area.
“There are many inspirational women like Linley across Queensland who are making a positive contribution to their community – some are well-known and others do their work quietly without fanfare,” Ms Simpson said.
“This is a great opportunity for them to be publicly recognised and congratulated for their achievements,” Ms Simpson said.
Linley, the mother of an adult daughter with Down Syndrome, recognised the need of many disabled adults to find more suitable supported accommodation and services choices.
After years of research and collaboration with other parents who had been unable to find suitably supported accommodation choices for their family members, Linley established “A Key for Me”, gaining funding through Disability Services Queensland for a three year pilot scheme.
The organisation has grown over the last seven years and as a result of Linley’s hard work and perseverance and she has helped many disabled individuals to establish independent lifestyles.
A Key for Me has been approved by Disability Services Queensland as a Host Provider under the State Government’s new Your Life Your Choice initiative, to broker individual funding for people with disabilities.
