Nick Schumi

Nick’s lived experiences of both cerebral palsy and as a manual wheelchair user have shaped his drive for working to increase awareness and inclusion for people with disability in the wider community.

Extensive board, governance and political experience provides Nick with a strong foundation of knowledge across policy and access issues. As well as being PDA’s South Australian Director, he has been a Director of JFA Purple Orange, the Housing Board and a member of Ministerial Advisory Committees such as Students with Disabilities (SA), and Home Modifications Australia to name a few. He was a candidate in the 2014 and 2018 State Elections for the South Australian based Dignity Party (formally Dignity for Disability).

A strong, passionate and active disability advocate, Nick is a certified Youth Worker specialising in engagement with a strong emphasis on empowerment. The original founder of the Julia Farr Youth Committee (JFY), now known as Enabled Youth Disability Network (EYDN). Nick was Chair from its beginning in 2008 until 2015 and continues to have an active role with the Youth Mentoring Program and Peer Support Networks.

Nick also works across many organisations facilitating various disability awareness training programs. He has also worked for Determined2 Immersion Therapy. A world first water-based therapy program that allows people with disabilities and injuries to use scuba equipment in a controlled pool environment to be as free as possible in water.’