The 16th Annual National Disability Summit – Returning in 2025!
Be the first to know! Register your interest to receive updates on the dates and location.
The National Disability Summit is a must-attend event for disability service providers, community care organizations, and industry leaders looking to navigate the latest developments in disability care and support.
This year’s program will feature in-depth discussions on the NDIS, funding models, workforce challenges, service innovation, and policy changes, with practical insights to help providers improve service delivery and outcomes for people with disability.
Who Attends?
Join a dynamic audience of NDIS service providers, senior executives, community care organizations, local and federal government representatives, independent carers, aged care providers, and technology leaders to explore strategies that enhance independence, inclusion, and participation for people with disability.
Stay informed, connect with peers, and be part of the conversation shaping the future of disability services.
What you can expect from the 2025 agenda:
- How can providers and participants effectively navigate the latest NDIS changes?
- How can providers prepare for compulsory registration?
- Understanding the new NDIS Act: What are the key changes and timelines?
- Navigating the new short notice cancellation requirements: What do providers need to know?
- How can Support Coordination be leveraged in employment services?
- Effective time management for Support Coordinators and Recovery Coaches: What strategies work?
- How can organisations grow and support their lived experience workforce?
- What are the most successful strategies for employing people with disability?
- Beyond SIL: What innovative housing models are improving lives?
- How can disability services better support mental health needs?
- Assistive Technology: How to choose, fund, and implement effectively?
- What does successful Person-Centered Active Support look like in practice?
- Empowering Self-Advocacy: What tools and techniques really work?
- How can we improve healthcare experiences for people with disability?
- Overcoming challenges in rural and remote service delivery
- Cultural Competence in Disability Support: From Theory to Practice
- Ensuring Financial Sustainability for Disability Service Providers
- How can we smooth the transition from education to employment for people with disability?
- Aging with Disability: What support strategies are most effective?
- What practical support makes the biggest difference for families and carers?
- Enhancing Digital Safety and Literacy for People with Disability
- Emergency Preparedness: How can we ensure the safety of people with disability?
CALL FOR PAPERS!
We encourage you to register your interest to speak, and/or nominate a colleague! Please include any topic, themes, or ideas you want to be featured in 2025.
For speaker submissions, please include the following information:
- Name, job title, organisation
- Presentation title
- 3-5 dot points explaining your main discussion points (40 words max.)
- Would you like to join a panel discussion? Please list your topic suggestions
- Would you like to facilitate a workshop? Please suggest workshop topics
To submit and for any queries, please contact:
Katrina Bowns
Senior Conference Producer
e: [email protected]
t: 02 9080 4322
Sponsors
Silver Sponsor
Session Spotlight Sponsor
Supporting Sponsor
Exhibitor
Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
Don’t miss this opportunity to get involved early in next year’s National Disability Summit!
There are many opportunities for networking including social events such as networking drinks, lunch and refreshments breaks making this not just a conference… but an all-encompassing industry experience.
Sponsorship or exhibiting will allow your organisation to:
- Build relationships with potential & existing clients
- Network with the industry
- Generate leads from a targeted audience
- Demonstrate your product/service in person
- Build brand awareness
To see what we have available please contact;
Danielle Newman
Senior Business Development Manager
P: 02 9080 4318
E: [email protected]
2024 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
The Hon Bill Shorten MP
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
The Hon Michael Sukkar MP
Federal Member for Deakin, Shadow Minister for Social Services, Shadow Minister for the NDIS, Shadow Minister for Housing, Shadow Minister for Homelessness
Rosemary Kayess
Disability Discrimination Commissioner
Graeme Innes AM
Robyne Burridge OAM
Jeswynn Yogaratnam
Commissioner,
NT Anti-Discrimination Commission
2024 Speakers
Myron Mann
CEO,
Bedford Group
Carol Berry
CEO,
The Disability Trust
Pauline Luchetta
Founder & CEO,
Custodia Plan Management
Emma Gierschick OAM
Woman of the Year 2019, Nominee Victorian Woman of Honour 2019 & 2020
Simone Austin
Chief Health Officer and Chair of the Advisory Board, healthylife, Accredited, Practising Dietitian
Stu Schonell
CEO,
Advocacy WA
Professor Christine Bigby
Director, Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University
Jethro Hepton
Board Chairperson,
Advocacy WA
David Swain
CEO,
Endeavour Foundation
Cat Lancaster
Life Without Barriers
Catherine Pollaers
Emerging Leader and Member, Queensland With Disability Network
Jess Harper
CEO, Disability Intermediaries Australia
Briar Harte
Inclusive Design Principal, NAB, Disability Inclusion Changemaker of the Year 2024
Perrin Abbas
Project Lead – Disability Inclusion, Multicultural Communities Council of SA
Luke Wilson
Director, Paylos Adventures
Jessica Lane
Innovation Manager,
Community Lifestyle Agenda
A/Professor Dinesh Palipana OAM LLB MD
Doctor, Lawyer, Researcher, Disability Advocate, 2021 QLD Australian of the Year
Jeff Smith
CEO, DANA
Dr Alex Harrison
Senior Veterinarian, Eastside Veterinary Clinic, Treasurer, The Veterinary Kaleidoscope
Dr Jennie Hutton
Emergency Physician, Senior Research Fellow La Trobe and Melbourne University. Priority Population Lead VVED, Northern Health
Dr Alex Harrison
Senior Veterinarian, Eastside Veterinary Clinic, Treasurer, The Veterinary Kaleidoscope
Dr Jennie Hutton
Emergency Physician, Senior Research Fellow La Trobe and Melbourne University. Priority Population Lead VVED, Northern Health
Daniel Valiente-Riedl
General Manager, JobAccess
Kylie van Luyn
Founder, DEIAB Practitioner, Psychotherapist and Human Rights Consultant, Elevated Coaching & Consulting Global
Samantha Connor
Disability Activist
Chris Campbell
Business Development Manager, Shiftcare
Luke Wilson
Director, Paylos Adventures
Elizabeth O’Shannessy
Disability Access and Inclusion Lead, Allied Health Executive, Alfred Health
Tony Nicholls
CEO & Founder, Good Talent Media
Primal Fernando
International Disability Inclusion Advocate
Bianca Stern
General Manager, All Things Equal
Insights
How this Senior Territorian is seeking justice for people with disability
At birth, the parents of disability advocate Dr Robyne Burridge OAM were told her diagnosis of cerebral palsy was so severe that she would struggle to hit milestones like sitting up, let alone walking and talking…
Nothing about us without us – are we there yet with disability rights?
“Nothing about us without us” – the idea that policy shouldn’t be designed without first consulting the people it targets – has become a prominent mantra in the disability rights space in recent years…
The right way to treat people with disabilities at school
When Matthew De Gruchy was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, a rare genetic eye condition, at the age of nine, he did not know that his difficulties with blindness would pale in comparison to the social challenges he later experienced…
Photos From 2024 Event
Testimonials
Elizabeth O’Shannessy, Alfred Health
“It was a wonderful event and I really enjoyed being part of it. It had some really important conversations with many participants around challenges accessing healthcare and it has me back to work feeling buoyed with enthusiasm to keep educating our staff. As a speaker I was kept to date and informed along the way. I was so impressed by how inclusive the event was.”
Anonymous
“It’s good to be involved in events with a strong focus on improving the quality of care and service to people we serve (in this case people living with disability).”
Anonymous
“The National Disability Summit was invaluable for connecting with many passionate leaders and speakers in the NDIS, disability and mental health space. I felt recharged from attending and motivated to keep improving the systems and services we provide to persons with a disability and most of all, ensuring that persons with a disability are at the core of everything we do. What a fantastic event!”
Anonymous
“A valuable opportunity to learn about challenges and discuss solutions for people with disability, and to connect with key individuals and organisations in the sector.”
Venue
Crown Melbourne
8 Whiteman Street
SOUTHBANK VIC 3006
Contact
Still have a question?
Katrina Bowns
Conference Producer
[email protected]
Danielle Newman
Senior Business Development Manager
+61 2 9080 4318
[email protected]
Event Code Of Conduct
We want everyone who comes to our events to have a great experience. This code explains our expectations and rules, which includes general good practice behaviour, and how to report anything witnessed or experienced that goes against them. Read our Event Code of Conduct here.