Alumni Highlights
Emma Jane Myers
Young Alumni Award - 2024
Emma Myers is a pioneering force in Australia’s media industry, reshaping the landscape of representation and inclusion. Born with cerebral palsy, Emma faced scepticism and low expectations during her formative schooling years. Her story is one of overcoming adversity and defying the odds to become a leading advocate for disability rights and media representation.
“I've always had a drive to change the perceptions of people living with a disability. So much of media representations and portrayals on screen feed into the public conscious, and that impacts on the way people with disabilities are viewed and treated and live their daily life.”
Despite facing discouragement about her potential in high school, Emma’s love for learning and education prevailed.
“I was told that I shouldn't attain the ATAR, that there'd be no reason for me to go to university or educate myself further. But I've always loved education, and I've always loved learning.”
After navigating various jobs, Emma took a chance on higher education through the Open Foundation program at the University of Newcastle, leading to her completing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours).
“It was a real turning point in my life because it's the first time I actually thought to myself, I don't care what people think I can or can't do. This is what I'm going to do for myself.”
2024 Alumni Excellence Award Recipient | Emma Jane Myers 1:46
One of Emma's most notable achievements took place during her Honours year in 2022. She co-created and wrote ‘Latecomers’ a critically acclaimed SBS Digital Originals series that explores the complexities of intimacy and relationships for individuals with disabilities. Drawing from her experiences living with cerebral palsy, Emma and co-creator Angus Thompson crafted a powerful narrative that has garnered international acclaim.
“Latecomers came about when I was working with the ABC and one of my co-creators asked me if I wanted to collaborate with him on a short TV project. It's allowed me to promote the intimate aspects of people with a disability and promote the fact that we experience desire and the desire to be loved and cared for in a non-platonic way just the same as anyone else.”
The series won the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Award for Best Online Drama or Comedy in early 2024. Emma’s Honours thesis, which received First-Class Honours, delved into the representation of women, disability, and intimacy in contemporary culture.
In addition to her groundbreaking work on ‘Latecomers’, Emma has become a sought-after speaker and advocate. Her poignant TEDx Talk in late 2023 addressed the challenges faced by women with disabilities due to misrepresentation on screen, highlighting a topic often overlooked by society. Emma now serves as a Disability Rights and Political Reporter at the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia in Canberra, continuing her commitment to advocacy and change.
Emma has played an active role in the Screenworks Inside the Writers Room program and served on the Gender Matters Taskforce with Screen Australia. She also contributed to the media team for the 2018 Invictus Games, working alongside notable figures like Dylan Alcott, received the Lion's Youth Award, and held the title of Miss Cessnock City for two years.
“I've always known that the media is an incredibly powerful tool in the way that it can shape the lives of everyday individuals. And that's a huge drive for me to continue to promote and inspire change towards the treatment of disabled individuals.”
Emma Myers’ journey reflects her deep belief in the transformative power of education and media. Her work continues to break barriers and pave the way for a more inclusive and representative media landscape. Emma’s story is a beacon of hope and inspiration, demonstrating that with passion and perseverance, one can reshape the world for the better.
Emma Jane Myers
Screenwriter, Actor, Journalist Disability Rights and Political Journalist, Community Broadcasting Association of Australia
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) 2022, Bachelor of Arts 2020, Open Foundation Certificate Program 2017
I've always known that the media is an incredibly powerful tool in the way that it can shape the lives of everyday individuals. And that's a huge drive for me to continue to promote and inspire change towards the treatment of disabled individuals.
Alumni Excellence Awards
Young Alumni Award
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