Trailblazing a community-led National Inquiry into ADHD with Senator Jordon Steele-John & Joana Partyka

Today on the podcast I'm speaking with a politician, but definitely not your average politician. Jordon Steele-John is the second youngest Senator in Australia, and shares the incredible story of how he was elected into the Senate at 23, and how, in the 6 years since then, he continues to use his unique lens as a disabled politician to advocate for the disabled community in a way Australia hasn't seen before. Jordon's office has a strong current focus on ADHD reform and this year prompted a radical community-led national inquiry into ADHD, medicare and support services.

 

Joana Partyka also joins me on this weeks conversation. Joana is Jordon's Communications Advisor, a woman with a lived experience of ADHD, and is working closely with Jordon & his team on their current ADHD campaign in Australia.

 

 

Jordon, Joana & I talk about:

 

- why the Greens party and Jordon's office in particular has a current focus on ADHD and easier access to support & medication 

 

- how to make a submission to the ADHD inquiry (closes June 9th 2023 - links below)

 

- how important it is to centre the lived experience of ADHDers when creating change movements and policy change at a governmental level

 

- how Jordon has helped to create an inclusive and supportive environment in his office for disabled people, and in particular people with ADHD

 

HELPFUL LINKS: 

 

Submission: https://greens.org.au/campaign/adhd/make-a-submission

 

Submission template: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Hn4NWV3Hfag_uT1FI9ypTQRDAGlDOV2GGglIZn-x3xs/edit