Jason Falinski (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to acknowledge a young and determined member of our Mackellar community, Ms Laura O'Reilly. A recipient of the 2019 Westfield Local Heroes award as well as a finalist for the 2015 Young Australian award, Laura has accomplished so much at such a young age. Alongside her two young brothers, Laura grew up in a household which placed value on social justice and fairness above all. Laura received her undergraduate degree at Cambridge university before continuing to receive her juris doctor from the University of New South Wales. Just what the world needed, another lawyer!

When Laura first began studying law her youngest brother, Shane, had just graduated high school with a passion for IT. Shane was a bubbly and intelligent young man. He also had profound cerebral palsy. Unfairly, this eliminated the prospect of further training or employment in any field. He was left to traditional day programs; his IT talents remained underutilised. In 2009, Laura knew this had to change. Laura is co-founder, CEO and director of Fighting Chance, a charity which designs, builds and then scales social enterprises which aim to move the dial for Australians with a disability and, in turn, their families. Fighting Chance has continued to grow. It now operates two businesses—Jigsaw and Avenue. The former employs those with a disability, paying them the minimum wage to do administrative tasks. (Time expired)