beyondblue congratulates Melbourne student Ella Ingram, who has been named a finalist in the 2016 Human Rights Awards after her landmark discrimination win against a global insurance giant.
The 22-year-old woman is one of six finalists for the Young People's Human Rights Medal 2016.
Ella was 17 years old when she was forced to cancel her New York travel plans on doctors’ advice following a diagnosis of depression in 2012.
In a David-and-Goliath battle, Ella took multinational corporation QBE to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2015 and won, proving she was discriminated against on the grounds of her mental health.
The tribunal found QBE unfairly discriminated against Ella by selling a travel insurance policy with a blanket mental health exclusion and then using that clause to deny her a refund.
QBE was found guilty under the Federal Anti-Discrimination Act, 1992 and ordered to pay Ella’s claim of $4,292.48 plus $15,000 compensation.
Ella is committed to working with the Australian depression, anxiety and suicide prevention organisation beyondblue to raise awareness of insurers’ discriminatory behaviour.