Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference 2024
Shaping Tomorrow, Empowering Today: Leading the Way for Disability Rights

Thursday 19th September, 2024 | NAB The Hall , 700 Bourke Street, Docklands

About

We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to see real change for people with disability as a result of the Disability Royal Commission into violence abuse neglect and exploitation and also with the NDIS review.

While responses to these reforms are starting to trickle through, there will still be work that needs to be done to ensure that we speak with one voice and push for the recommendations that we believe are vital, to be implemented. We must keep up the pressure and ensure sustained attention on the importance of these findings.

What do we need to do as a State to ensure that the rights of people with disability to live their lives free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, and also have robust, strong foundational supports, outside of the NDIS?

Where does Victoria need to go from here, and what is the role for disability advocacy to steer this in the right direction?

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

Program

Thursday 19th September, 2024

Registration and Tea and Coffee

Time: 9:00am - 9:30am

Location: NAB Hall Foyer

Conference Opening

Time: 9:30am - 9:45am

Location: NAB Hall

  • Speaker: Melissa Hale, Manager, Disability Advocacy Resource Unit
  • Speaker: Perry Wandin, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation

Welcome from VCOSS

Time: 9:45am - 10:00am

Location: NAB Hall

Speaker: Damien Ferrie, President, Victorian Council of Social Service

Welcome from Disability Advocacy Victoria

Time: 10:00am - 10:10am

Location: NAB Hall

Speaker: Julie Phillips, Disability Advocacy Victoria

Keynote: Nothing about us without us: Advocates Leading from Lived Experience:

Time: 10:10am - 11:00am

Location: NAB Hall

Speaker: Christina Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, Disability Leadership Institute

Morning Tea

Time: 11:00am - 11:30am

Location: NAB Hall Foyer

Disability Royal Commission: Unpacking the Victorian Response to the Disability Royal Commission

Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm

Location: NAB Hall

Facilitated by: Deb Fewster, Director of Policy and Advocacy, VCOSS

  • Speaker: Lucinda Garrido, Director | Disability and NDIS Reform, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
  • Speaker: Sandy Ross, CEO Rights Information Advocacy Centre/ Disability Advocacy Victoria Board Member
  • Speaker: Philip Waters, General Manager, Deaf Victoria/ DPO Victoria
  • Speaker: Jeff Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA)

Lunch

Time: 12:30pm - 1:15pm

Location: NAB Hall Foyer

Inkrewsive 

Time: 1:15pm - 1:45pm

Location: NAB Hall

Speaker: Inkrewsive, Hip Hop Group

Navigating the NDIS Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No.1) Bill 2024 – What Advocates Need to Know

Time: 1:45pm - 2:15pm

Location:

Speaker: Professor Darren O’Donovan BCL (Hons), PhD, Senior Lecturer, Director of Engagement La Trobe Law School

Panel Discussion: Making Victoria the Safer State- Safeguarding People with disability against Violence Abuse Neglect and Exploitation

Time: 2:15pm - 3:00pm

Location: NAB Hall

Facilitated by: Julie Phillips, Disability Advocacy Victoria

  • Speaker: Tanya Harding, Team Leader, Advocacy and NDIS Appeals, Rights Information and Advocacy Centre
  • Speaker: Dan Stubbs, Victorian Disability Worker Commissioner
  • Speaker: Colleen Pearce, Public Advocate

Afternoon Tea

Time: 3:00pm - 3:30pm

Location: NAB Hall Foyer

Presentation: Playing the Political Game 

Time: 3:30pm - 4:00pm

Location:

  • Speaker: Ryan Sheales, Director Communications, VCOSS
  • Speaker: Ryan Batchelor, Labor MP for Southern Metropolitan region in Victoria’s Legislative Council

Wrap-up and Conference close

Time: 4:00pm - 4:15pm

Location: NAB Hall

Speaker: Melissa Hale, Manager, Disability Advocacy Resource Unit

Speakers

Christina Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, Disability Leadership Institute

Christina Ryan is a non-profit governance & management specialist with particular expertise in embedding ethical frameworks across organisational structures & culture. She provides peer consultancy on change management, human rights, human resources, good practice governance & management, and recruiting & retaining people with disabilities.

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...

Damien Ferrie, President, Victorian Council of Social Service

Damian Ferrie has held executive leadership roles in health, housing and community development within the public and for purpose sectors. His career has been focused on tackling social, economic and health equity. Until recently,...

Dan Stubbs, Victorian Disability Worker Commissioner

Dan Stubbs is the Victorian Disability Worker Commissioner and is the head of the Commission. He was appointed in October 2019 by the Governor-in-Council. As the Commissioner, Dan is responsible...

Deb Fewster, Director of Policy and Advocacy, VCOSS

Deborah Fewster is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at VCOSS, and the Chair of the DARU Governance Group. Prior to joining VCOSS, she was the Head of Policy and...

Inkrewsive, Hip Hop Group

Inkrewsive is a collective of hip hop artists who live with disability, neurodiversity and complex mental health. Their music serves as a compelling platform for storytelling, pushing boundaries, and advocating...

Jeff Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA)

Jeff Smith is the Chief Executive Officer of Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA), the peak membership body for independent advocates in Australia. Prior to joining DANA, Jeff worked as a...

Julie Phillips, Disability Advocacy Victoria

Julie Phillips has been working in the disability sector for over 30 years.  As a Community Worker for the Victorian Deaf Society, Julie began advocating for members of the Deaf...

Lucinda Garrido, Director | Disability and NDIS Reform, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

Director | Disability and NDIS ReformDisability Reform and Complex NeedsDisability, Fairness and Emergency Management DivisionDepartment of Families, Fairness and Housing

Melissa Hale, Manager, Disability Advocacy Resource Unit

Melissa Hale is the Manager of Disability Advocacy Resource Unit auspiced by the Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS) and Disability Advocacy Victoria which resources and builds the capacity of...

Philip Waters, General Manager, Deaf Victoria/ DPO Victoria

Philip Waters is a proud Deaf person and is the General Manager for Deaf Victoria, the peak organisation representing deaf and hard of hearing Victorians. Previously, he was a senior...

Professor Darren O’Donovan BCL (Hons), PhD, Senior Lecturer, Director of Engagement La Trobe Law School

Dr Darren O'Donovan is Senior Lecturer in Administrative Law at La Trobe Law School. His research focuses primarily on frontline administrative justice and the integrity branch of government, and he has published widely in both areas. Darren is co-author of the NDIS Digest, a regular accessible guide to NDIS appeals and policy developments for the disability sector and the broader public.

Ryan Batchelor, Labor MP for Southern Metropolitan region in Victoria’s Legislative Council

Ryan is the ALPs State Member for the Southern Metropolitan Region, representing the inner southern, inner eastern and bayside suburbs of Melbourne. First elected in November 2022, Ryan is a...

Ryan Sheales, Director Communications, VCOSS

Ryan Sheales is the Director of Communications at the Victorian Council of Social Service. He specialises in messaging, advocacy, digital engagement and media. He manages the public release and promotion...

Sandy Ross, CEO Rights Information Advocacy Centre/ Disability Advocacy Victoria Board Member

Sandy Ross is CEO of Rights Information and Advocacy Centre (RIAC), and Treasurer of Disability Advocacy Victoria. Prior to working for RIAC, Sandy spent 5 years as Executive Officer of...

Tanya Harding, Team Leader, Advocacy and NDIS Appeals, Rights Information and Advocacy Centre

I am a Team Leader of Advocacy and NDIS Appeals and works for the Rights Information and Advocacy Centre. (RIAC) As a disability advocate, I am deeply committed to promoting...

Venue

National Australia Bank have created a hub in Melbourne’s CBD with a range of meeting rooms and technologies available to NAB customers in a modern, architecturally interesting building.

The building design incorporates access features including talking lifts with tactile buttons, accessible toilet on the same level as The Hall and safe taxi drop off and pick up point. Being located right next to Southern Cross station with entrance directly from the Bourke Street concourse further adds to the access credentials.

These facilities are offered to NAB not-for-profit customers free of charge. DARU is pleased to take advantage of this offer and we look forward to welcoming you here in September.

Getting There

The Hall is located on level 3.  There are two main entrances:

  1. Bourke Street concourse (the pedestrian bridge extension of Bourke Street) – level 2
  2. Taxi drop off – level P1 (see taxi information below for details)

From both the concourse and P1 entrances there is lift, escalator and stair options to take you to Level 3.  Look out for the volunteers to ask directions. They’ll be waring red vests with a fire logo.

If you need assistance at either Southern Cross or Flinders Street stations, get in touch with Travellers Aid.   They provide a buggy service, mobility aid hire and companion assistance amongst other things.

Here’s information to assist your journey in getting there…

Train

Southern Cross Station is virtually on the doorstep which is very convenient as most metropolitan lines, and all regional lines, go through Southern Cross.

Coming from a train platform at Southern Cross Station:

  1. Head to the northern end of the platform (the Etihad stadium end).
  2. Take the lift up to the Bourke Street concourse.
  3. Once you reach the concourse, turn left.

You should see the NAB building almost immediately as it is the first building on the right over the tracks. Once inside the very impressive atrium, take the escalator directly in front of you, or the lift on the right, up one level to The Hall.

Tram

Trams that stop at Southern Cross station include:

  • Spencer Street routes – 12, 48, 75, 96, 109 & City Circle
  • Collins Street routes – 11, 12, 42 & 109
  • Bourke Street routes – 86 & 96

Taxi

The taxi drop off point at 700 Bourke Street is located opposite the Channel Nine studios. The taxi rank located outside Platform 28 night club can also be used as a drop off point. The Platform 23 rank is recommended as the pick up point when booking taxis for return journeys home.

Getting to NAB from the Platform 23 rank:

  1. Cross at the pedestrian lights.
  2. Turn right and follow the footpath to the NAB entrance. You have arrived at level P1.
  3. Go to level 3 using either the lift or escalator.
  4. On level 3, The Hall is located to the right of the escalator.

Parking

Etihad Stadium’s car park provides 24-hour security and surveillance seven days a week. The fully covered and underground facility is located only a short walking distance from NAB.

Visit the website for  information on rates or to book your space in advance online:
http://etihadstadium.com.au/car-park-options/

Note: Event discounts are only applicable for events held at the stadium.

Tickets

Prices

  • Ticket type: Full Delegate
    Ticket description: For organisations, government and individuals.
    Price: $75.00
  • Ticket type: Concession Delegate
    Ticket description: For DSP recipients, concession card holders and students.
    Price: $35.00

Payment Options

Credit Card: This is the preferred payment method. The platform used to manage secure transactions is PayPal.

Invoice: You can request to pay via invoice, we will send you an invoice separately once you have booked your tickets through Humanitix.

Cash: Will not be accepted for this event.

Check In

Tickets are NOT available at the door on the day and entry will be denied to anyone who is not on the attendee list. We need to be strict because the room capacity is dictated by OH&S restrictions.

On the day, go to the registration desk to check-in and receive your pass and program.

Cancelation and Refunds

Tickets for this event are not refundable. However, tickets are transferrable. If you can no longer attend, contact DARU to change the details on your ticket.

Access Information

Companion Card is accepted for this event. Contact DARU to arrange:
T: (03) 9639 5807
E: [email protected]

Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference 2024

Shaping Tomorrow, Empowering Today: Leading the Way for Disability Rights

Where:

NAB Hall, 700 Bourke Street, Docklands

When:

Thursday 19th September, 2024

Cost:

$35 - $75

Status:

Bookings open!

NAB The Hall
700 Bourke Street, Docklands

Sponsors