The Sunshine Coast-based Managing Director of a national not-for-profit organisation has today been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of her tireless dedication to improving opportunities for people living with a disability.
Carmel Crouch, Managing Director of STEPS Group Australia, has been honoured for helping young Australians living with a disability and/or autism to achieve independence and self-actualisation through empowering and supported education, training and employment.
Carmel is the driving force behind the groundbreaking social enterprise STEPS Pathways College, an innovative independence education program designed to assist young people with a disability in achieving lifelong independence.
The first and only independence education program of its kind in Australia, STEPS Pathways College provides the tools and support needed to help young people take control of their lives, harness their potential and fulfil their ambitions.
Ms. Crouch said that she was honoured to receive the award and would continue to advocate for improved standards of living for Australians living with disabilities and autism.
“Since the inception of the STEPS Pathways College in 2017 we have helped rewrite the future landscape for people with disabilities and autism, challenging outdated expectations and proving that when we invest in inclusion, we enrich society as a whole.
“I firmly believe that every person, no matter their ability, has the right to dream, to achieve, and to live a life of purpose and meaning. That’s the vision of STEPS, and it’s a vision we’re committed to bringing to life – one student, one story, and one step at a time.”
As a movement built on the hope and determination of creating better lives for young people with disabilities, STEPS is founded in a simple but powerful idea – that every person has the right to a life of opportunity, dignity, and independence.
“At STEPS Pathways College, self-determination is at the heart of everything we do,” Ms. Crouch continued.
“Our students master practical independent living skills, but they also develop the courage to voice their aspirations, advocate for their needs, and chase their ambitions.
“This isn’t just about helping people survive – it’s about helping them thrive.”
For more information on the STEPS Pathways College, please visit www.stepspathways.com.au.
