IMPACT leader named finalist in national disability employment awards

It’s rare to be recognised for your work on a national stage, but that’s exactly what IMPACT Community Services’ Felicity Hill experienced as a finalist at last month’s Disability Employment Australia (DEA) Awards.

Having been promoted to Regional Manager of Employment Services in December 2025 after only three months at IMPACT, Felicity was an obvious nomination choice for the Prime Super Emerging Leader Award.

The award celebrates a leader early in their management career who has demonstrated exceptional initiative, innovation and influence.

This is precisely what Felicity has done in her role overseeing IMPACT’s Inclusive Employment Australia and Workforce Australia teams across the organisation’s regional Queensland network, spanning from the Fraser Coast to Central Queensland.

Felicity clearly recalls the moment she learned she was one of the three finalists. At the time, she was tackling her emails after a month-long family holiday to Japan.

“It was the first email that I saw in my inbox,” Felicity said. “I was really excited. I was proud of myself.

“It's so nice to be recognised for your efforts in the sector, and I think it's something that doesn't happen enough on that scale.”

Felicity travelled to Adelaide to attend the DEA’s Gala Dinner, where the winners across four categories were announced.

While Felicity didn’t take home the win, she knows that being named a finalist is an honour in itself. Felicity said it was surreal to hear people screaming for her.

“It was nice to feel known in that space because it’s not something that happens very often,” Felicity said.

“People that I didn't know were congratulating me, which made my anxiety so much better.”

In addition to representatives from partner organisation CoAct, one of Felicity’s cheerleaders on the night was IMPACT’s General Manager of Disability, Employment and Training, Jenna Morrish.

As an experienced leader, Jenna saw Felicity’s leadership potential from the get-go and has been nurturing it ever since.

Her support hasn’t gone unnoticed. Felicity said she loves working under Jenna, whose mentorship and transparent, upfront leadership style suit the emerging leader well.  

“I appreciate her as a human,” Felicity said.

“She gives me opportunities to learn and grow and do things that I haven't done yet, and she supports me in that.

“Her brain works the same as mine. She understands me. When I go on tangents, she can keep up.”

The feeling is mutual. Jenna said that she’s witnessed incredible professional and personal growth in Felicity over the years they’ve known one another, and this development has accelerated over the last eight months.

“Since starting at IMPACT, I’ve seen Felicity step confidently into her leadership, continuing to evolve, challenge herself and lift others along the way,” Jenna said.

“What truly sets her apart is how deeply she cares about her people.

“She has a natural ability to hold accountability while building trust, which makes her not only respected, but genuinely valued by her team.”

Helping to shape Felicity’s empathetic approach is her firsthand knowledge of the employment challenges faced by those living with disability. Felicity’s mum, who has lived with disability for Felicity’s entire life, inspired her to join the disability employment sector.

“I watched her struggle all through high school just wanting to work, not for money, but to give her a sense of purpose,” Felicity said.

“When she did finally get a job after I finished high school, it changed her.

“She became brighter and happier. It made her feel like she was contributing to society in a meaningful way.”

Since launching her career in the industry in 2018, Felicity has supported many people in similar shoes to her mum find this same sense of fulfillment through employment.

She began as a consultant in the open employment space before finding her home in the Disability Employment Services (DES) program, now known as Inclusive Employment Australia. She also tried her hand as a claims officer and a regional manager at a not-for-profit, laying the groundwork for her current role at IMPACT.

Felicity said that the considerable time she spent working on the ground has made her a better leader.

“I knew what it was like to have that pressure of KPIs and placements and money,” Felicity said.

“I think that helped shape me to be the manager that I am because I have a good understanding of all facets of the role.”

This is only the beginning for Felicity, who hopes to continue to grow as a leader while helping more people experience the same sense of purpose and belonging that meaningful employment can bring.

To learn more about IMPACT’s Inclusive Employment Australia and Workforce Australia services, visit www.impact.org.au