First prize for Melanie’s vulnerable story

Physical Disability Australia
Blog
Jul 2025

Melanie Hawkes wears many hats, including PDA’s WA Director and the person who bravely shared her sexual journey as a woman living with disability, reigniting a worldwide conversation around disability rights, intimacy and pleasure.

Her most recent chapter saw her being awarded the Jennifer Burbidge Short Story Award for people with disabilities at the WillyLit Festival in Victoria on Saturday 21st June.

Her winning entry, titled “A New Chapter In My Life”, was about her first session with a sex worker at age 43.

Announced at the awards ceremony, Melanie won first place in her category, with prizes of $500, an anthology of all the shortlisted stories and a certificate.

Her story can be downloaded from the WillyLitFest website:

www.willylitfest.org.au/jennifer-burbidge-writing-award

Click on ”SEE THE 2025 ADA AWARDS SHORTLIST”

Due to the SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT there is a content WARNING – proceed with caution.

Melanie hopes that this piece will become chapter one of her planned memoir.

Physical Disability Australia (PDA) is a national peak Disability Peoples Organisation run by and for people with physical disability, advocating for equal opportunity, inclusion and human rights across Australia. Established in 1995, PDA represents the voices and lived experiences of its members to influence policy, engage with government, and drive meaningful change, ensuring people with physical disability are respected, empowered and able to participate fully in all aspects of society.

Speak up. Get involved.

Whether you’re living with a disability, know someone who is, or simply believe in equal rights — your voice matters.

Join the Movement. Amplify Every Voice.

Together, we can break barriers and build a more inclusive world.

First prize for Melanie’s vulnerable story

Speak up. Get involved.

Join the Movement. Amplify Every Voice.

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