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Please read and share our Call to action document.
​It's set out across 4 pages to give an overview of what inclusive education is and what Queensland students with disability need from the Queensland Government. 

inclusionqld2020_qcie_call_to_action_4page.pdf
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Electoral Commission Queensland Website - find out which is your electorate, who is your MP and who are the candidates in your area.​

How can you help advocate during this election?
How to be heard?
There are several ways to have your say in the lead up to the October 31 election:

• Organise a meeting with your local candidates.
• Write them an email or letter.
• Attend a local community event and ask your candidates a question.
• Maximise engagement whilst they are door knocking / out in the community.
• Give them a call.
• Contact them via social media.
• Enrol and vote.

Do one of the above or do them all, the most important thing is to take advantage of this occasion to have your say and ask what your candidate will do for students with disability, and Queensland's implementation of inclusive education.

Meeting with your MP and candidates is an important way of directly raising your concerns and seeking a commitment from them to take action on our issues if elected. You don’t need to be an expert. As a member of the community your opinion is valuable and it will assist your future MP to influence public policy and represent your community.  Remember to reflect the experience of your local area. 

Learning about your MP and/or election candidate

• Read the biography or ‘about’ section of their webpage (or, for MPs, you can look on the Parliament website).
• Find out what issues they have spoken about recently by reading their latest media releases.
• Search the Parliament Hansard to read their inaugural speech, community recognition statements, private member’s statements and other speeches.
• Find out what they have said about education, students with disability, inclusive education or more than likely special schools. 
• If you are active on social media follow your MP on Twitter and/or Facebook.

During a meeting with your MP or the candidates

1. Introduce yourself. Explain why you care about the issues (briefly) and if possible highlight any shared values.
2. Outline the purpose of the meeting. For example, ‘I want to discuss QCIE's Call to Action and the difference they could make to our local area.’
3. Talk about how the issues manifest in your local schools, and if you feel comfortable share your family's experience. 
4. Ask the MP/candidate to urge their party to make a commitment to implement our recommendations if elected. Let them know you are interested in the outcome too.
5. If you can, ask if they are happy to have their photo taken with you and the QCIE Call to Action or brochure (please do share this with QCIE).
6. Ask whether they would like to stay updated on QCIE activities. 
7. Thank them for their time. Thank their staff for helping you set up the meeting.

Why use social media for advocacy?

• Social media is a great way to communicate with your local MP or electoral candidates.
• It is wide-reaching, free and an easy tool for advocacy.
• As well as gaining the attention of your local MPs and electoral candidates, you can also engage with other families who are actively advocating as part of the campaign. 

Social Media Tips

• Keep your message short and to the point.
• Follow relevant politicians and education influencers – keeping an eye on what others post means you can provide timely content and responses.
• Where appropriate, tag relevant politicians in your message, e.g. to thank them for meeting with you. 
• Add photos and videos of your advocacy.