
About this episode
John Baxter discusses his experiences and advocacy for First Nations peoples with disabilities, highlighting systemic inequities in Australia's support systems.
"Uncle' John Baxter grew up with spina bifida, was fostered out to non-Aboriginal family and attended a three-storey high school in Box Hill, Victoria which was challenging for a boy on crutches. He completed an apprenticeship as a printer and graphic artist. Throughout his life he has been a fearless champion for improving the lives of First Nations peoples living with disabilities. He is the creator of a dedicated installation, "Not Fit for Purpose" now on display at the Australian Museum. He talks to Elaine Wziontek about the systemic inequities within Australia's disability support systems. And these challenges are especially acute in regional and remote communities. Original air date: 06.02.26 Support the show: https://donate.2rph.org.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
People in this episode
Host: Elaine Wziontek
Guest: John Baxter
Topics covered
- disability
- First Nations
- systemic inequities
- support systems
- regional communities
Keywords
- spina bifida
- disabilities
- advocacy
- Australian Museum
- Not Fit for Purpose
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Australian Museum
Places: Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
More episodes of Ablequest
- Matt Bowtell - Free 3D Hands · May 29, 2026 · 15 min
- Sam Penny - Ocean Heroes · May 15, 2026 · 15 min
- Storm Menzies - Storm Beauty · May 1, 2026 · 14 min
- Alexandra Morse - Music Therapy · April 17, 2026 · 15 min
- Disability news update · April 3, 2026 · 14 min
- Tarsha Saint - Brookvale's Spirit · March 20, 2026 · 14 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Ablequest podcast page.