The 2014 conference will bring together champions of change from across Australia. We will look at ways to better safeguard the rights of people with a disability. It will be a great opportunity to:

• learn more about the big issues facing people with a disability including employment, inclusive education, the justice system and the NDIS
• discuss new and creative ways to advocate for change
• meet new people and increase your professional and personal networks

Speakers include:

• Graeme Innes AM, Disability Discrimination Commissioner
• Judy Huett, self-advocate from Tasmania, representative on the expert group that presented to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) in Switzerland, 2013
• The Hon. Mary Wooldridge MP, Minister for Disability Services and Reform
• Colleen Pearce, Victoria’s Public Advocate
• Laurie Harkin AM, Disability Services Commissioner
• Kate Jenkins, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner
• Bernie Geary, Principal Commissioner for Children and Young People
• Frank Lambrick, Senior Practitioner, Department of Human Services
• Dr Grant Davies, Acting Health Services Commissioner
• Bill Lawler, Disability Advocate
• Dream Theatre, producers of Bully or Victim? DVD
• Maryanne Diamond, General Manager Advocacy and Engagement at Vision Australia and former World Blind Union president
• Sue Smith, Coordinator of Self Advocacy Resource Unit
• Walkley Award winning cartoonist First Dog on the Moon, who started drawing audio described cartoons, currently at The Guardian

The Reel Zone

The Reel Zone is a movie theatre with a difference. The films tell real life stories about how people with disabilities realise that their right to a fulfilled life is not straightforward. The stories share the many challenges people have to overcome before making real changes for themselves.

Features include:

• Twenty Years Twenty Stories, where twenty individuals share how they used the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) – developed by the Australian Human Rights Commission.
• Bungee Jumping, Lawyers & Love, is a series all about plunging into life. Kylie, Jane, Andrew and Chris each give an account of their struggles to live and love without anyone bringing in the lawyers.