09:00

Opening remarks from the Chair

Emma Gierschick OAM

09:10

OPENING ADDRESS |

Mandy McCracken, Founder & Chairperson, Storyteller and Disability Advocate, Get Started Disability Support Australia

09:30

PANEL | Sustainable employment & the future of work opportunities for people with disability

• The real reward of disability employment: morale, benefits
• Challenging the systemic barriers we already know, more than just a ‘tick-box’
• Access to Employment Assistant Funding – overcoming cost barrier
• Actionable steps to ensure correct systems are in place
• Key takeaways and how can we implement this within our own setting?

Matt De Gruchy, Disability Advocate, Matt De Gruchy Vision
Tracey McGeehan, Disability Support Officer, Northeast Health Wangaratta
Sharon Carroll, Diversity & Inclusion Partner, People & Culture, Australia Post
Corene Strauss, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Network on Disability
Daniel Valiente-Riedl, General Manager, JobAccess
Moderated by Melissa Tandy, Managing Director, Strategic Shift

10:20

Reform of the disability discrimination law

Natalie Wade, Founder and Principal Lawyer, Equality Lawyers

10:50

Networking Break & Morning Tea

11:20

Equal Employment: Important Considerations

There are very few workplaces that cater to people with disability well, let alone allowing people with disability a chance at equal employment. People with disability have to fight for advocacy rights to be able to keep their job, as well as not to be burnt out, or in the worst case – fired from employers because there isn’t an equal opportunity. This session will explore finding the right supports in the workplace, Disability Discrimination or workplace rights, and Awareness Training – how to deliver this successfully.

Sirani McNeill, Hospitality Staff Member, All Things Equal
Bianca Stern, General Manager, All Things Equal

11:40

How disability is managed in main stream education: a ground snap shot of school inclusion

The Victorian government has implemented Disability Inclusion, a new approach to supporting students with disabilities in government schools across Victoria. The reforms are part of the Inclusive Victoria: State Disability Plan 2022-2026, providing improved resources for students with disabilities within schools. The government has allocated $1.6 billion to change student disability funding, which was announced in the 2020 state budget. This session is a snapshot of government primary schools embracing disability and inclusion and the new reforms, making a difference through inclusion and understanding of individual student needs and creating a climate of unity between students, teachers, families and specialist support agencies.

Donna Wright, School Principal, Bandiana Primary School

12:10

My plan, my business: how I used my NDIS Plan to start a Support Coordination business

It’s without shadow of doubt disability employment statistics are not where they meant to be, and Nina knows this too well. In this session, Nina Crumpton shares how her NDIS Support Coordination funding for mentoring on how to start a business, the audit process and the way in which Nina used support workers with very specific skills to assist her with a business launch.

Nina Crumpton, Participant and Founder/CEO, The Hand Up Space

12:40

PANEL | Defining good quality support from our perspective: a carers viewpoint

• What do we see as good quality support for the people we support?
• What is the disconnection point? How do you manage this?
• Compared to broader community support

Commissioner Dan Stubbs, Victorian Disability Worker Commission
Emma Gierschick OAM
Belinda Kochanowska, Principal Solicitor, Intrepidus Law
Moderated by Matt De Gruchy, Disability Advocate, Matt De Gruchy Vision

13:15

Networking Lunch

14:15

ADDRESS | The Paralympics to Parliament House

• Overcoming Challenges
• Breaking Down Barriers and Attitudes
• Creating Access and Inclusion
• The Important Role of Employment and Leadership for People with Disability

Liesl Tesch AM, Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Communities, and Parliamentary Secretary for Disability Inclusion, Australian Labor Party

14:45

PANEL | Making healthcare more accessible

• Successful projects
• Outcomes for influencing change behaviour
• Implementing change from within
• Workforce and staff development

Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM LLB MD, Doctor, Lawyer, Researcher, Disability Advocate, 2021 QLD Australian of the Year
Katherine Kelly, Disability & NDIS Coordinator, South West Sydney LHD
Dr Craig McBride, Senior Paediatric Surgeon, Children’s Health Queensland, Professor, University of Queensland
Amanda Frier, Access for All Manager, CheckUP
Moderated by Emma Gierschick OAM

15:30

Afternoon Tea & Networking Break

16:00

ADDRESS | The IncludeAbility Project: working together to reimagine disability employment

Caroline Tjoa, Director – IncludeAbility Project, Australian Human Rights Commission
Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM LLB MD, Doctor, Lawyer, Researcher, Disability Advocate, 2021 QLD Australian of the Year

16:30

PANEL | Building community inclusion through truly inclusive practices and innovations

• Designing for people with disability in mind, what we really want and quality improvement in how to deliver
• Beyond co-design, successful models and outcomes, and data driven insights
• Solutions to challenges within your context

Aunty June Riemer, Deputy CEO, First Peoples Disability Network
Bryce Pace, Autism Advocate
Kim Samuel, Director, City Plan Western Parkland City, Greater Cities Commission
Irena Reiss, Lawyer and Disability Advocate
Moderated by Dr Adam Johnson, Researcher and Lecturer, School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia

17:15

CLOSING ADDRESS | Sport has the power to change the world

• Change perceptions inclusive society
• Programs: schools and education, employment

Geoff Quinlan, Head of Strategy and Brisbane 2032 Coordination, Paralympics Australia
Alexandra Viney, Australian Paralympian

17:45

Closing Remarks from Chair

17:50

Networking Drinks

18:45

Conference Dinner