History of ANSWD
The Australasian Network of Students With Disabilities (ANSWD) was formed at the Canberra Pathways 5 Conference in December 2000. It was established to promote an equitable learning environment for students with disabilities. The organisation had Matthew Wren as Convenor, state based representatives, a representative on Tertiary Education Disability Council of Australia (now Australian Tertiary Education Network on Disability), an email list and a website.
In February 2001, the ANSWD website was moved to the Deakin University server. By June 2001, ANSWD lobbied welfare officers to be included in the National Union of Students.
At the Pathways 6 Conference, Heather Lewis of Deakin University, Victoria and Timothy Hart of Macquarie University, NSW were elected as co-convenors. In March 2003, letters were sent to Brendan Nelson and the opposition parties.
Campaign against the proposed changes to the PES and the abolition of the Student Financial Supplement Loan Scheme.
In 2006, the ANSWD website was moved to its present position. At the Hobart Pathways 8 Conference in November/December 2006 a managing committee was formed.
Convenors of ANSWD
1. Matthew Wren - University of Tasmania
2. Heather Lewis of Deakin University, Victoria and Timothy Hart
of Macquarie University, NSW
4. Julie Sutherland (South Australia) and Matthew Gee Kwun Chan (New South Wales)
3. Timothy Hart - Macquarie University, NSW
