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4 December 2025Celebrating International Day of People with Disability
Inclusion Carnival 2025
What happens when you ask students what inclusion really means to them?
In late 2025, with support from Developmental Disability Western Australia (DDWA), we set out to answer that question—and the result was our very first Inclusion Carnival, held in celebration of International Day of People with Disability at Southwell Primary School.
Because when people feel included, they thrive.
Student-Led from the Start
The carnival didn't begin on event day. It began weeks earlier, when we invited students across the school to share their ideas and opinions. What did inclusion mean to them? What did they want to see?
Giving students a genuine voice in decisions that affect them isn't just good practice—it's foundational to their sense of belonging, confidence, and emotional wellbeing.
A Day for EveryoneOn carnival day, we opened our gates to parents, caregivers, and the wider school community. The atmosphere was one of togetherness—families connecting, neighbours meeting, and students proudly sharing what they'd helped create.
Activities were designed to nurture the whole child: cognitive, emotional, fine motor, and gross motor development—while sparking curiosity, creativity, and self-expression. Every activity invited participation, not perfection.
Stronger Together
Just the Beginning
None of this would have been possible without our village. Volunteers gave their time generously. Staff engaged in professional learning to deepen their understanding of inclusive practice. Parents and caregivers showed up—not as spectators, but as partners.
This is what community looks like: people coming together to support every child's right to belong.
The Inclusion Carnival is more than an event—it's a commitment to building a school culture where wellbeing and belonging sit at the centre of everything we do.
When students shape decisions, they develop agency. When families engage, connections deepen. When communities gather around shared values, everyone benefits.
This is just the start. Come see what's possible.
Building Wellbeing Literacy Through Inclusion
The Inclusion Carnival is proudly supported by She Speaks, and reflects a shared commitment to building wellbeing literacy in schools and communities.
At She Speaks, self-care is defined as "a proactive action to support, maintain, and protect wellbeing, wellness and health… a process of self-discovery, not perfectionism or comparing yourself to others." This isn't about bubble baths or quick fixes—it's about understanding what you need, developing agency, and recognising that we thrive through connection with others.
The Inclusion Carnival brought this philosophy to life.
When students were invited to share their ideas and shape the event, they practised empowerment—building belief in their ability to influence their world. When families, caregivers, and community members came together on carnival day, they demonstrated the relational reality of care: that we need each other for inspiration, support, and belonging.
She Speaks teaches that self-care doesn't happen in isolation. We exist within ecosystems—families, schools, communities—where our wellbeing affects others and theirs affects ours. The carnival created a space where this interconnection was visible and celebrated. Children saw adults showing up for them. Families connected with neighbours. Staff deepened their understanding of inclusive practice. Everyone contributed to collective flourishing.
This is everyday self-care in action: small moments of kindness, mindful awareness of what others need, and the empowering experience of having your voice heard.
When we build wellbeing literacy in children—helping them understand their emotions, develop self-compassion, and recognise their place within a caring community—we give them tools for life. The Inclusion Carnival was one step in that journey.
Because true inclusion and true wellbeing share the same foundation: the belief that every person matters, and that we are stronger together.
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Credits Produced by Ethan Clayden Media Inclusion Festival design by Delyse Clayden Advocacy Southwell Primary School Principal Naomi Greaves Supported by Narelle Lemon and She Speaks (funded by Department of Communities, WA Government) Funding support from Developmental Disability Western Australia
Thank you to the school community of Southwell Primary School