Dedicated senior teacher Emma Reid's contributions to the Mount Ommaney Special School have been transformative, particularly through her leadership in advancing both cultural awareness and inclusive performing arts practices.

Emma was instrumental in bringing a specialised non-verbal drama practice to her school: a technique for, by and with students with intellectual and multiple disabilities. This initiative began in 2022 through collaboration between Emma and the UK-based Open Theatre Company, supported by her school leadership team. Emma fully organised a two-week residency of the Open Theatre UK directors at her school, including securing funding from Brisbane City Council. The residency demonstrated the profound impact of non-verbal drama on student engagement and connection.

In collaboration with her colleagues, Emma has embedded the practice across her school, and is actively working to spread the practice throughout Queensland. In 2024, she received a Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor's Creative Fellowship to help fund her trip to England to undertake further study with the Open Theatre Company. Her school was a finalist in the Sydney Opera House Play Awards.

In addition to her work in the creative arts, Emma was also a founding member of the school's Reconciliation Action Committee and has chaired the committee for several years. She coordinated the creation of a visually and linguistically accessible Acknowledgement of Country, which is embedded into daily practice in classrooms, and facilitated the acquisition of Indigenous resources for the school library.

Emma was school librarian for several years and transformed the library into a warm, inviting space. Her efforts also led to the creation of two murals in collaboration with a local Indigenous family who designed and painted the artwork, one of which, titled "Learning on Country," now graces the library walls.

Emma’s work has not only enriched the lives of students at Mount Ommaney Special School but has also garnered interest from educators, artists, and the broader community, solidifying her role as a leader in inclusive education.