Yenn Purkis wins at the 2019 Chief Minister's Inclusion Awards

Yenn Purkis recieved the Achievement in Inclusion award at the 2019 ACT Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards.

This award recognises a person with disability who has over a long period of time (more than 10 years) made a significant personal contribution to creating an inclusive ACT community. 

Yenn Purkis is an advocate of positive change. Yenn is an autistic and non-binary author, presenter and community leader and has been active in the disability community in Australia and internationally since 2005. Yenn was a victim of bullying and violence, unemployed for years, locked in prison and psychiatric wards but has used their difficult past to drive their passion for making change and become the leader they are today.  

Yenn is now part of the ACT Government Disability Justice Reference Group, has facilitated the Canberra Autism Women’s Group since 2011 and won the 2016 ACT Volunteer of the Year award. The reach and impact of Yenn’s contributions, and their endless energy and commitment to advocating for inclusion and diversity were applauded by the judging panel as an outstanding achievement.