Theint Theint Thu
GEDSI in Climate Response short course alumni

Theint Theint Thu began her career in healthcare, working as a nurse and health project officer in humanitarian and community health settings. Through her work with conflict-affected communities in Northern Rakhine State, she witnessed firsthand the barriers vulnerable populations face in accessing healthcare and essential services.

After sustaining a spinal cord injury in 2021, she experienced many of these challenges herself, inspiring her to become a disability advocate. Today, through her platform Beyond The Disability, she is helping amplify the voices of people with disabilities in discussions on climate change, health and community resilience.

When Theint joined the Australia Awards Short Course on GEDSI in Climate Response: Inclusive and Equitable Approaches, delivered by the University of Queensland in 2025, she saw an opportunity to strengthen her ability to advocate for people whose voices are too often absent from climate discussions. As a former nurse, health project officer and woman with a disability, she understood that climate change affects communities differently – and that those most vulnerable are frequently excluded from decision-making.

The Australia Awards Short Course introduced Theint to new ways of thinking about climate action through the lens of gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI). Sessions on Climate Justice Frameworks, adaptation and vulnerability, disaster risk and impacts, and inclusive decision-making helped her better understand the links between climate change, health, equity and human rights. The learning also strengthened her confidence to discuss climate-related health risks and advocate for more inclusive approaches within her professional and community networks.

“The course transformed the way I view climate action. It helped me understand that climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a matter of health, equity, inclusion, ad human rights,” she says.

Theint participated in a group discussion during the 2025 GEDSI in Climate Response: Inclusive and Equitable Approaches Short Course.

Following the course, she translated her learning into action through a Return-to-Work initiative called Empowering Disability Voices in Climate and Health Responses. Through the initiative, she surveyed 100 women with disabilities from the Myanmar Women with Disabilities Network to better understand their experiences and information needs related to climate-related health risks.

The findings revealed gaps in access to climate and health information. In response, she developed educational materials tailored to different disability groups – including PDF materials for people with hearing disabilities and audio resources for people with visual impairments and shared them through disability networks and online channels. This helped ensure that climate and health information reached people who are often overlooked by mainstream communication channels.

 “One of the most important lessons I gained was that information is only empowering when it is accessible,” she says.

Through Beyond The Disability, Theint continues to raise awareness about climate-related health risks, preparedness, resilience and disability inclusion. Drawing on evidence from her survey, professional health expertise and lived experience, she creates accessible content that supports informed decision-making and promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities in climate and health responses.

The impact of her work continues to grow. From approximately 600 followers during the implementation of her Return-to-Work initiative, Beyond The Disability now reaches nearly 3,000 followers and serves as an important platform for discussion and awareness on disability inclusion, health and social issues, reflecting the growing demand for accessible and inclusive communication. Her advocacy has also been recognised by the United Nations in Myanmar, which invited her to share her story as a disability advocate for International Women’s Day 2026.

Theint at the 2025 GEDSI in Climate Response: Inclusive and Equitable Approaches Short Course.

For Theint, the Australia Awards Short Course provided more than knowledge – it provided a framework for action. By applying inclusive approaches to climate and health communication, she is helping expand access to information and participation for people with disabilities, contributing to a more equitable and climate-resilient Myanmar where all voices are heard and valued.