Strengthening Disability Advocacy conference 2014
Champions of change

Monday 4th August, 2014 | Olympic Park Convention Centre , Melbourne

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Conference News

About

Welcome to the Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference 2014, which brings together champions of change from across Australia, representing many sectors and issues.

This conference takes place at a time of great change and importance:

the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is being rolled out, with launch sites operating amid much political, policy and practical uncertainty
the Victorian state disability plan 2013-2016 has been in place for a year
the new Federal Government has been in office for a year and its first Budget has outlined major changes to disability eligibility and support and the defunding of Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner
disability advocacy organisations are set to commence the final year of our three year contracts
a state election will be held in Victoria in just a few months.

This year’s program therefore seeks to take stock of the dramatic changes we have seen since we met up last in 2012 and the challenges and opportunities we face in the coming years. We want to look at what change has been achieved, how it came about, whether it has delivered what we hoped for, and what our priorities now must be.

We look forward to coming together with you all 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.

We hope these two days provide you with much food for thought, lots of connections, and practical tools to help with your work. Of course, we also want to make sure you have some fun too!

Keep up to date with the latest conference news on X (formerly twitter)

Program

Monday 4th August, 2014

Keynote address: Advocates are champions

Time: 12:00am - 1:00am

Location: River Room

Speaker: Graeme Inness, Former Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission

Graeme Innes speaks about the critical role that advocates can play when championing the rights of people with a disability. This keynote address is only weeks after his final address to the National Press Club as Disability discrimination Commissioner.

Morning tea

Time: 1:00am - 1:30am

Location: Skyline Room

Real change or short changed?

Time: 1:30am - 2:30am

Location: Park B

Speaker: Kairsty Wilson, Principal Solicitor, Association for Employees with a Disability (AED) Legal Service
Speaker: Viv Avery, Lawyer, Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service Inc.

Hear from AED Legal Service and Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Services campaign leaders about how they achieved systemic change through grassroots advocacy. What strategies did they use? Did they achieve real change or find themselves short-changed? What would they do differently in future? The session canvases AED’s work to secure fair wage rates for people with an intellectual disability and Villamanta’s campaign against the fee hike for people living in community residential units.

Not another brick in the wall: Making education inclusive

Time: 1:30am - 2:30am

Location: River Room

Facilitated by: Stephanie Gotlib, Executive Officer, Children With Disability Australia

Speaker: Nicholas Pole, Deputy Secretary, Regional Support Group, Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Speaker: Madeleine Sobb, Advocate and Student
Speaker: Elizabeth McGarry, Chief Eexecutive Officer of the Association for Children with a Disability (ACD)

Stephanie Gotlib With all the talk about Gonski reform, disability loading in schools funding, social inclusion and belonging, how can we ensure that children with disabilities achieve a meaningful learning experience? This panel session, chaired by Stephanie Gotlib, Executive Officer of Children With Disability Australia, discusses policy that will positively impact on inclusive education for students with a disability.

Strength in numbers

Time: 1:30am - 2:30am

Location: Park A

Speaker: Victorian Self Advocacy Network (VSAN)Committee,

The Victorian Self Advocacy Network VSAN was launched in November 2013 in response to interest for such a network from more than 90 delegates at the last Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference. This session will be an opportunity to learn all about how VSAN works, to explore ideas, talk about issues and let the Committee know what you think VSAN should be doing.

Lunch

Time: 2:30am - 3:30am

Location: Skyline Room

Captains of change: Q&A with Commissioners, Public Advocate and Senior Practitioner

Time: 3:30am - 5:00am

Location: River Room

Facilitated by: Graeme Inness, Former Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission

Speaker: Laurie Harkin, Disability Services Commissioner
Speaker: Kate Jenkins, Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human rights Commissioner
Speaker: Bernie Geary, Principal Commissioner, Commission for Children and Young People
Speaker: Dr Frank Lambrick, Senior Practitioner Disability, Department of Human Services
Speaker: Dr Grant Davies, Acting Health Services Commissioner, Department of Health

This conversation, moderated by Graeme Innes, former Disability Discrimination Commissioner, challenges thinking on ways to influence change. Panellists are asked about the way they advocate for change and how they use their positions of authority to safeguard the rights of people with a disability. How does this help advocates in their work? And what do they see as the hot topics?

Spreading the word & Hitchhiker’s guide

Time: 3:30am - 5:00am

Location: Park B

Speaker: Reinforce,
Speaker: New Wave,
Speaker: Peta Ferguson, President, Brain Injury Matters (BIM
Speaker: Lisa Brumtis, Self Advocate
Speaker: Neil Cameron, Self Advocate, Brain Injury Matters
Speaker: Kelvin Lim, Self Advocate

Members from Reinforce and New Wave talk about the different ways they spread the word on issues facing people with intellectual disabilities and what they do to let people know about, and get, their rights. Peta Ferguson, President of Brain Injury Matters (BIM), describes the production of two kits, The Hitch-hiker’s Guide through the Brain maze and the associated speakers kit, showing how they work and their importance. Then a brief explanation of what causes ABI, the short and long term effects and the negative community attitudes to this sometimes hidden disability followed by three BIM members sharing their personal journeys:

Deafblind World & My vote my right

Time: 3:30am - 5:00am

Location: Park A

Speaker: Deafblind Victoria,
Speaker: Matthew Potocnik, Education and Disability Engagement Officer for the Victorian Electoral Commission

DeafBlind Victorians deliver their interactive hands-on presentation DeafBlind World that shows what it is like to be deafblind. Then Matthew Potocnik, Education and Disability Engagement Officer at Victorian Electoral Commission explains how easy it is to vote and what help is available to make sure you get your voice heard in this year’s State election.

Afternoon tea

Time: 5:00am - 5:30am

Location: Skyline Room

Official welcome

Time: 5:30am - 5:45am

Location: River Room

Speaker: Andrea Coote, Parliamentary Secretary for Family and Community Services

Andrea Coote was elected to Parliament in September 1999 andhas proved herself to be a pivotal part of the Victorian Parliamentary Liberal Party.

Pssst, have you heard about the UN Convention?

Time: 6:00am - 7:00am

Location: Park A

Speaker: Jacqui Ward, Self Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU)
Speaker: Peta Ferguson, President, Brain Injury Matters (BIM

This session showcases the latest resources developed by SARU including the Pssst Kit. Jacqui Ward, Self advocacy Unit (SARU) and Peta Ferguson, Brain Injury Matters (BIM), do a show-and-tell of fun resources and videos finishing with an all inclusive game of UNCRPD Bingo.

A plan for change

Time: 6:00am - 7:00am

Location: River Room

Facilitated by: Maryanne Diamond, General Manager Advocacy and Engagement, Vision Australia

Speaker: Michael Cromie, Acting Manager, Victorian Office for Disability
Speaker: Keran Howe, Executive Officer, Women with Disabilities Victoria
Speaker: Liz Kelly, Co-director of TLConsult
Speaker: Laura Lo Bianco–Smith, Manager Transport Accessibility, Public Transport Victoria

Is the State Disability Plan making change happen? How can advocates use the plan to make change happen in their communities? How have advocates already used the plan to make change happen? These are just some of the questions that Maryanne Diamond, General Manager Advocacy and Engagement at Vision Australia and former World Blind Union President, puts to this interactive and engaging panel.

Change with no change

Time: 6:00am - 7:00am

Location: Park B

Speaker: Sue Smith, Coordinator, Self Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU)

Sue Smith, Self Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU) Coordinator has many years experience of raising awareness on issues concerning people with a disability. She has done this on a shoe string without the back up of a glossy marketing department. In this session, Sue shares her ideas for making change happen when you have little or no money and encourages discussion from the floor.

Morning tea

Time: 1:00am - 1:30am

Location: Skyline Room

Justice system: Double whammy

Time: 1:30am - 2:30am

Location: Park B

Speaker: Julie Phillips, Manager, Disability discrimination Legal Service

People with disabilities are more likely than other Victorians to be in prison and to be victims of crime. How can we turn the recommendations from recent justice inquiries into positive action? How can we influence government policy and put an end to this shameful situation? Julie Phillips from the Disability Discrimination Legal Service (DDLS) discusses why the problems continue when we know what the answers are.

A champion of change on the world stage

Time: 1:30am - 2:30am

Location: Park A

Speaker: Judy Huett, Self Advocate

Judy Huett, a leading self advocate from Tasmania, talks about her work on boards and committees including representing Australia on the UN Committee on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Geneva.

Working for change

Time: 1:30am - 2:30am

Location: River Room

Facilitated by: Geoff Crawford, Operations Coordinator / Public Officer, Australians for Disability and Diversity Employment (ADDE)

Speaker: Liz Kelly, Co-director of TLConsult
Speaker: Martin Stewart, Disability Employment Advocate, Australians for Disability and Diversity Employment (ADDE)
Speaker: Robert Pask, Safe Futures Foundation

This session examines the issues that make it difficult for people with a disability to access employment. Geoff Crawford, the Operations Manager at Australians for Disability and Diversity Employment (ADDE), asks the panelists, who all have the lived experience of disability, to expand on what can be done to address legal and attitudinal barriers to greater employment participation.

Lunch

Time: 2:30am - 3:30am

Location: Skyline Room

Tools for making change happen

Time: 3:30am - 5:00am

Location: Park A

Speaker: Lauren Henley, National Policy Officer, Blind Citizens Australia

Learn the most effective ways to run an advocacy campaign and discover successful strategies used by advocacy organisations.

Bully or victim?

Time: 3:30am - 5:00am

Location: Park B

Speaker: Dream Theatre,

A lot of self advocates say that bullying is a big problem for people with a disability. In this session you will see a video about bullying and you will have the chance to talk about what can be done to stop the problem of bullying.

Let’s talk about sex

Time: 3:30am - 5:00am

Location: River Room

Speaker: Dean Dadson, Project Officer, Self Advocacy Resource Unit
Speaker: Dr Patsie Frawley, Research Fellow, La Trobe University
Speaker: Dr George Taleporos, Executive Officer, Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS)
Speaker: Glynn Evans, Team Leader of the Department Of Human Services ASIST / Outreach Program
Speaker: Christian Astourian, Program Manager of the Diversity and Disability program at the Migrant Resource Centre North West (MRCNW)
Speaker: Greg Axtens, Self Advocate
Speaker: Sharon Granek, Coordinator, Disability Advocacy Resource Unit (DARU)

Your accessible accommodation or mine? Get ready for a frank panel discussion about the ways people with a disability express their sexuality and needs within relationships. The covers are peeled back and the panel will look at challenges faced by people with a disability when asserting their right to a fulfilling life.

Afternoon tea

Time: 5:00am - 5:30am

Location: Skyline Room

Finale

Time: 5:30am - 6:30am

Location: River Room

Speaker: First Dog on the Moon, Award winning Cartoonist for the Guardian
Speaker: Shaking the Tree,

Featuring Australia’s much loved cartoonist Andrew Marlton, otherwise known as First Dog on the Moon, gives us a wrap then the acclaimed Shaking the Tree choir takes us out with songs that give difference a whole new meaning.

Bernie Geary, Principal Commissioner, Commission for Children and Young People

Captains of change: Q&A with Commissioners, Public Advocate and Senior Practitioner

Bernie has worked with vulnerable young people and their families for over 40 years, having been Victoria’s first outreach youth worker in West Heidelberg. Commencing in 2005 as Victoria’s inaugural...

Bill Lawler, Advocate

Bill has had a long association with the disability sector spanning over 20 years. Positions held over this time include Rural Access Project Officer at Latrobe City for 11 years...

Let’s talk about sex

Christian is fluent in Italian, French, Greek and English which he has put to practical use in the management of the Disability and Diversity program where he has developed a...

Colleen Pearce, Public Advocate

Colleen Pearce is Victoria’s first female Public Advocate, a position she has held since September 2007. As Public Advocate, she is the guardian of last resort for adults with disabilities...

Deafblind World & My vote my right

Heather Lawson, Trudy Ryall and Michelle Stevens are founding members of Deafblind Victorians. The group is run by and for people who are Deafblind or who have both vision and...

Let’s talk about sex

Dean Dadson has worked in the disability field for more than 20 years. Dean has worked at the SARU on various projects, including the Act Resources Guide project since February...

Captains of change: Q&A with Commissioners, Public Advocate and Senior Practitioner

Dr Frank Lambrick is a forensic psychologist with over 20 years experience working within this field, mostl of which has been specifically within the disability area. He is also the...

Let’s talk about sex

Dr George Taleporos completed his PhD in psychology investigating disability and relationships and has expertise in disability reform and youth engagement. He has held managerial roles in advocacy and played...

Captains of change: Q&A with Commissioners, Public Advocate and Senior Practitioner

The Health Services Commissioner receives and resolves complaints about health service providers with a view to improving the quality of health services for everybody. Grant started his career as a...

Let’s talk about sex

Patsie has been working alongside people with an intellectual disability for over twenty-five years, as an educator, advocate, policy advisor and researcher. Her research focus is on sexuality and relationships,...

Bully or victim?

Dream Theatre is an independent unfunded company of young people. It was established in the Victorian regional town of Seymour in 2004 in response to a lack of creative opportunities...

Not another brick in the wall: Making education inclusive

The Association is a Victorian based, not-for-profit family-focussed organisation which exists to assist children with a disability and their families through the provision of information, support and advocacy. The Association...

Finale

Andrew Marlton (aka First Dog on the Moon)is the editorial cartoonist for the Guardian Australia. He won a Walkley award in 2012 for his cartoon ‘Drowning’ and was named the...

Geoff Crawford, Operations Coordinator / Public Officer, Australians for Disability and Diversity Employment (ADDE)

Geoff was born with a genetic eye condition called ocular albinism. He has three grown up children and two grandchildren. He has worked on the factory floor right through to...

Let’s talk about sex

Glynn is passionate about ensuring that people with a disability are given the same opportunities and experiences in life as everyone else in the community. Over the past 15 years,...

Keynote address: Advocates are champions

Graeme Innes has been Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner since December 2005. During that time he has also served as Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner for three and a half years and...

Let’s talk about sex

Greg is a long-time activist around the issues of sexuality and people with a disability. He is a Reinforce and Disability Justice Advocacy committee member.

Pssst, have you heard about the UN Convention?

Jacqui Ward works at SARU (Self Advocacy Resource Unit) supporting and resourcing self advocacy groups in Victoria. Jacqui has worked with many different communities but her particular focus has been...

Jayne Crouch, Mother, Carer and LEAD Barwon Graduate

Jayne Crouch is the mother of five, the youngest two children have disabilities. Her daughter has Down syndrome and her son is on the autism spectrum, he also has ADHD...

A champion of change on the world stage

Judy Huett Is a 40 year old woman with an intellectual disability from Burnie ,Tasmania, where she lives with her husband Peter. In 2010Judy was awarded the Tasmanian Disability community...

Justice system: Double whammy

Julie Phillips has been working in the disability sector for over 20 years. As a Community Worker for the Victorian Deaf Society, Julie began advocating for members of the Deaf...

Real change or short changed?

A major highlight during Kairsty’s leadership at AED has been her advocacy to improve the wages and working conditions for people with disability working in business services, now known as Australian Disability Enterprises. This work for people with disabilities was formally recognised by the legal profession in 2011, when the Law Institute of Victoria awarded Kairsty with the Community Lawyer of the Year Award.

Getting There

Tickets