Barwon Disability Resource Council
Why choose BDRC?
Since 1975, we’ve been finding ways to provide people with disability the support, services and resources they need to get the most out of life.
We are dedicated to working with people with disability in the Barwon Region.
Dedicated to care for over three decades, every one of our team members understands the importance of human rights, confidentiality, empathy and reliability.
Our Mission & Guiding Principles
Our Mission
Promote rights, social and economic inclusion for all.
Guiding Principles
BDRC’s Guiding Principles are in accordance with all articles of the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2008), including
Equality and non-discrimination, awareness raising and accessibility.
Purposes
- To provide information and advocacy to people with disabilities, their families and carers in the geographical area of service covered by BDRC.
- To promote positive change in the lives of people with disabilities, their families and carers.
- To promote equal access of people with disabilities into the community.
- To address systemic issues affecting people with disabilities.
- To assist in the planning and regional development of disability services with appropriate government departments and other service providers.
- To assist individuals and groups to develop self-advocacy skills.
- To identify, co-ordinate and implement appropriate community programs and projects in advocacy, information, accessibility and other issues of relevance to local communities and in keeping with BDRC’s Mission.
- To identify, create and develop business opportunities that are appropriate and in keeping with BDRC’s mission.
David Petherick
David Petherick started work with the BDRC in June 2021 as the Executive Officer. He was previously Executive Officer of the BDRC for 3 years from 1995-97. He is excited about being a part of the great work that the BDRC has been doing in Geelong since 1975 and he continues to learn from everyone in the disability advocacy community.
He has worked in the disability sector for almost 30 years, most of that time in Advocacy.
Before he started with the BDRC David was the Deputy CEO of VALID for 4 years and prior to that he worked with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) for 2 years at their National Office in Geelong, mostly working on projects to increase employment opportunities for people with disability.
David was also the CEO of the Australian Camps Association and People Outdoors for almost 10 years until 2015 and during that time he saw the great benefits that building resilience can provide for all of us.
He also worked for 8 years at the Office of the Public Advocate as an Advocate/Guardian and as the Manager of the Community Visitors Program and the Independent Third Persons Program and he has also been an integration teach and a teacher for adults with an intellectual disability for 5 years.
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