Not fit for purpose

Presented for the first time at the Australian Museum as part of the Unfinished Business exhibition, the installation, ‘Not fit for purpose’, by Uncle John offers a striking reflection on the systemic inequities within Australia’s disability support systems.

In Australia, 5.5 million people, approximately 21% of the population, live with disability (ABS, 2022). Many continue to face unmet needs in essential areas such as mobility, communication, and emotional support. Among people with disability aged under 65, nearly 40% report that services are unaffordable, while others cite a lack of availability, eligibility, or information about support (ABS 2019). These challenges are especially acute in regional and remote communities where limited access to services and infrastructure increases isolation. For First Nations peoples living with disability these issues are compounded by systematic racism and the ongoing effects of colonisation.

Through the display of old and outdated mobility equipment, Uncle John speaks to the enduring challenges faced by people with disability, issues often overlooked or rendered invisible in public discourse. The work draws attention to the financial and logistical barriers that prevent many Australians from accessing suitable, modern aids. For some, the high cost of replacement means relying on outdated or malfunctioning equipment for years, sometimes decades.

Uncle John’s installation, shown here for the first time, serves as both a personal testament and a public call for action. It compels us to confront the ongoing inequities in disability access and support, and to imagine a more inclusive Australia, one where everyone has the tools, mobility, and dignity they deserve.