Social Change Community Newsletter October 2026

Welcome to our Social Change Community Newsletter!

Welcome to the second edition of our Social Change Community Newsletter.

The Social Change Community reflects our shared commitment to creating positive social change through advocacy, inclusion and collective action.

Every other month, we share updates on our advocacy work, highlight upcoming opportunities to get involved, and provide resources to support your advocacy journey. We are excited to have you with us as we work together to create meaningful change.

International Allyship Day recap.

On 8 August, we celebrated International Allyship Day, a day that reminds us that creating a more inclusive world is something we can all play a role in.

To celebrate, we held an Advocacy and Allyship webinar that covered:

• The different types of advocacy;
• Intersectionality;
• How to offer assistance with advocacy; and
• How to be a great ally.

We also launched a campaign on our social media platforms that included a video featuring members of the Social Change Community sharing what makes an ultimate ally. Their answers are different, but they all point to the same idea: allyship isn't about having all the answers. It's about showing up, paying attention and being willing to make a difference. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to be willing to listen, learn and act.

To view our allyship video, visit the following link: What makes the ultimate ally?(opens in new tab)

Why is allyship important?

Many of the positive changes we see today started with one person sharing their experience, identifying a barrier, and helping others understand the impact it has on daily life.

When people come together, learn from one another and take action, barriers can be challenged and systems can change.

Help shape more inclusive communities through your local council.

Your voice can help create more accessible communities.

Every few years, local councils review their Disability Inclusion Action Plans (DIAPs), giving people with a disability the opportunity to shape the services, infrastructure and public spaces they rely on every day. DIAPs influence decisions about public infrastructure, community services, digital accessibility, employment opportunities and community participation.

To support people in the low vision or blindness community to have their voices heard, the Social Change team has developed new resources to support participation in local council consultations. These resources include a DIAP Self-Advocacy Toolkit(opens in new tab) alongside a Draft Template Letter for submissions.

While the template letter provides a useful starting point, individuals are encouraged to personalise their submissions and share their own lived experiences. Personal stories can be powerful drivers of change and help councils better understand the real-world barriers that exist within their communities.

Together, we can support stronger community participation and help shape more accessible and inclusive local communities.

If there are any questions about providing feedback on a draft DIAP, please contact the Social Change team at socialchange@guidedogs.com.au.

Social Change Community member spotlight: Meet Samira.

“People often don’t understand disability, and that’s what I want to change.” 

That’s what motivates Samira to advocate.

Resilience has shaped Samira’s journey and now it’s shaping her advocacy. At 16, Samira left her home in Afghanistan for eye treatment in India. Her life changed overnight when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, leaving her unable to return home. After three years in India, she moved to Australia through the support of the United Nations, where she has continued to build a new life.

Today, Samira is using those experiences to create meaningful change. She is passionate about raising awareness of disability and challenging the assumptions people often make about what people with disability can achieve. Through the Social Change Community, she’s encouraging people to better understand the experiences of others, so everyone has equal opportunities in education, employment and everyday life.

Outside of advocacy, Samira enjoys accessible fencing for people with low vision or blindness, exploring new places and listening to audiobooks.

Her advice to anyone considering getting involved in advocacy is simple: your voice matters. Samira believes every conversation has the power to create change. By sharing our experiences and listening to one another, we can create a community where everyone is better understood and included.

If you are interested in getting involved in advocacy initiatives and would like to have a chat with a mobiliser, please contact socialchange@guidedogs.com.au.

Smart glasses update.

As governments consider legislation relating to smart glasses, we’ve heard strong feedback from members of the Social Change Community about the importance of ensuring the voices of people with low vision or blindness are part of the conversation. We’re currently working alongside the sector to develop a shared position and policy recommendations on this issue. We’ll continue to keep you updated as this work progresses.

Meet the Social Change team: Karlee.

Karlee works in the Social Change team as the Lived Experience Coordinator. Karlee has a beautiful Guide Dog called Isla, who is also a much-loved member of the team.

Karlee’s role involves coordinating Guide Dogs’ team of Lived Experience Presenters who have low vision or blindness. The team presents at a range of internal and external events as well as facilitating industry training sessions.

Karlee also runs the Student Education Program at Guide Dogs, where Lived Experience Presenters deliver interactive presentations to student groups in daycares, primary and secondary schools, TAFE, and universities. The presentations provide students with an insight into living with low vision or blindness and highlight the ways they can ensure greater inclusion and accessibility within daily life. Karlee is passionate about breaking down the barriers that people with low vision or blindness face.

In Karlee’s free time, she loves taking Isla on play dates with other doggy friends, going to Pilates classes, and spending time with friends.

If you are interested in hearing from one of our Lived Experience Presenters or would like more information about the presenter program at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, please email speakers@guidedogs.com.au.

Your voice matters: Report your barriers to the Social Change team.

The most powerful driver of change is lived experience, and that's why we'd love to hear from you.

We're inviting people who have low vision or blindness to share the barriers they've experienced in everyday life. This could be Guide Dog access refusals, challenges with online shopping, banking or booking systems, inaccessible websites or apps, unsafe road crossings, difficulties navigating public spaces, or any experience where you've felt excluded or unable to participate fully.

Every story helps us better understand what's happening in our community and shapes the campaigns, advocacy, and actions we take next. We genuinely value your insights, and we listen to what you tell us.

Whether it's a one-off experience or an ongoing challenge, your voice can help create lasting change for others. Together, we can build a more accessible and inclusive community for everyone.

To report a barrier and share your experience, please contact socialchange@guidedogs.com.au.

Thank you for being part of the Social Change Community.

Warm regards,

Dan & Katie