The NDIS trials are done and we’re now transitioning, region by region, to full roll out across Australia to be completed by 2020. The changes since trial are significant – Planners have been outsourced, the Quality and Safeguards Framework has been introduced and the External Merits Review has been replaced by the NDIS Appeals process.
Advocates are now shifting gear, turning their focus from the euphoric nationwide campaign that got the scheme established, back to assisting people with disability to navigate a new landscape where the signposts are not always clear.
Getting into gear for the NDIS journey will feature a keynote address and facilitated panel discussions looking back on the journey so far, how well the principles of choice and control are being embedded in NDIS policies and processes and what road blocks to avoid on the road ahead.
This conference is for anyone who is interested in strengthening and upholding the rights of people with disability.
Highlights from 2016
Last year’s ‘Putting rights centre stage’ conference created a buzz that sent ripples out to the wider sector and into the mainstream. To remind us of the key points, here is a short highlights video that encapsulates the passion participants experienced.
Conference supporters
The Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference is hosted by DARU and is the flagship event for the disability advocacy sector in Victoria. The conference planning committee is comprised of representatives from disability advocacy organisations. The team putting together SDAC17 includes:
Melissa Hale, Coordinator, DARU
Natasha Brake, Administration Officer, DARU
Melanie Muir, President, Disability Advocacy Victoria (DAV)
Llewellyn Reynders, Policy Manager, Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS)
Leah Katieva, CEO, Rights Information and Advocacy Centre (RIAC)
Pauline Williams, Program Manager, Action for More Independence and Dignity in Accommodation (AMIDA)
Dean Dadson, Project Officer, Self Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU)
The Disability Services Commissioner is committed to ensuring that people with disability have a voice and presence in conversations about matters that affect them. Which is why The Disability Services Commissioner has proudly sponsored the Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference 2017: Getting into Gear for the NDIS Journey, to enable 50 people with disability to purchase their conference ticket at a heavily discounted rate of $30. Do you:
Have a disability?
Have a concession card?
Email admin@daru.org.au to request the CODE to purchase your subsidised ticket on Eventbrite, and book today!
A team of strong facilitators from the disability advocacy sector is already confirmed to lead panel conversations with equally dynamic guests and Alastair McEwin, Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner, has agreed to present the Keynote Address. But wait! there’s more…
Those who came to last year’s Rights Retrospective will remember the powerful preview of Defiant Lives shown by Sarah Barton. We’re thrilled to announce that a screening of the full length documentary of Defiant Lives will be featured as the pre-conference event at Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference 2017 in September.
Registrations are now open for both Gearing up for the NDIS journey and Defiant Lives. Go to the tickets page and book now to secure your place.
The theme for 2017’s Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference is ‘Getting into Gear for the NDIS journey’.
This conference will begin with a keynote address presenting an overview of the NDIS, setting the scene before the first panel takes stock of the road already travelled. We will look back and see how far we have come.
The second panel will look at how we can assert our human rights in the NDIS and investigate how well the framework is fitting into the NDIS system. It will also look at how effective the processes are in dealing with situations that go wrong.
The final session will look to the future of advocacy in the NDIS, identify the potholes ahead and how best to smooth these out or avoid them all together.
The planning committee have had some fruitful brain storming sessions and invitations have started going out to potential speakers, facilitators and panellists.
We look forward to keeping you up to date as confirmations come through.
Defiant Lives introduces the world to the most impressive activists you’ve never heard of and tells the story of the rise and fight of the disability rights movement in the United States, Britain and Australia. Featuring exclusive interviews with elders (some now deceased) who’ve led the movement over the past five decades, the film weaves together never-before-seen archival footage with the often-confronting personal stories of disabled men and women as they moved from being warehoused in institutions to fighting for independence and control over their lives. Continue reading →
Speaker:The Hon. MP Martin Foley, Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Equality, Minister for Creative Industries
Negotiations with the Commonwealth are ongoing as state funded disability support services are transitioning to the NDIS. It’s a messy and complex process and we’ll hear a quick update on how things are going and how the Victorian Government is planning to bridge the gaps in service provision for those who are not eligible for the NDIS. Continue reading →
Speaker:Alastair McEwin, Disability Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission
In this presentation, the Disability Discrimination Commissioner will reflect on how far we have come since the NDIS first started, and what we need to do going forward to ensure that it’s full potential is realised. He will also remind us how important it is to implement a human rights framework to ensure self-determination Continue reading →
Facilitated by: Leah van Poppel, Program Manager, youth Disability Advocacy Program (YDAS)
Speakers:
Kirsten Deane, National Manager, Communications & Engagement at Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO)
Dean Barton-Smith, CEO at Deaf Children Australia & Member of Independent Advisory Council NDIA
Les Cope, President of Ability Dignity Access Management (ADAM inc.), Administrator at NDIS Grassroots Facebook Group
The strength of personal stories and grassroots campaigning on the rights of people with disability touched the general public and politicians alike. This panel will reflect on how highlighting the disparity of people with disability in living an ‘ordinary life’ shamed the nation and brought the NDIS into being. We turned the narrow dusty road into a super highway- but are we there yet? Continue reading →
Leah Katieva, CEO at Rights, Information and Advocacy Centre (RIAC)
Tess McCarthy, Coordinator Policy and Research Unit, Office of the Public Advocate
Gary Kerridge, NDIS Senior Local Coordinator at Brotherhood of St Lawrence
Since its inception, a fundamental principle of the NDIS has always been to promote choice and control. This panel will investigate how empowered people with disability really are in asserting these principles through NDIS processes. Are goals translated into supports through planning and does ‘reasonable and necessary’ refer to need of the participant or the NDIA’s bottom line? Continue reading →
Mary Mallet, CEO at Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA)
Miranda Bruyniks, Deputy Commissioner, Disability Services Commissioner (DSC)
The sector lobbied hard to retain independent advocacy by remaining outside the NDIS. Anecdotally, it’s acknowledged that participants achieve better outcomes through their interaction with the Agency by seeking advocacy assistance- but what will advocacy look like in the new NDIS landscape? This panel will identify the pot holes and road blocks ahead where advocacy might be called upon to hold the system to account. Might advocacy prove to be the most effective GPS for the NDIS? Continue reading →
Alastair’s background is in arts, law and business administration. Alastair’s previous roles include CEO of People with Disability Australia and Manager of the Australian Centre for Disability Law. He is currently President of the Deaf Society of NSW and Chairperson of the NSW Disability Council, the official advisory board to the NSW Government on disability issues. Continue reading →
Colleen Furlanetto lives in rural Victoria where she runs an Earthmoving Business and farm with her husband and family. Colleen was an elected representative of the Strathbogie Shire, from 2008 – 2016 serving two terms. With 4 years as Deputy Mayor and final year in 2016 as Mayor. Colleen is currently in her second term on VDAC which commenced in 2013 and, in December 2016, she was appointed as Chair of VDAC. Continue reading →
Prior to his involvement withAbility Dignity Access Management (ADAM inc.), a Victorian non-profit organisation whose main focus is empowering and supporting people with disabilities, Les was a founding member and Chairman of ‘Chandler Co-operative’, one of 13 disability groups forming the Victorian Parent Advocacy Collective (VPAC). Les continues to share Information and empower others towards self-advocacy in his current role as an administrator with the ‘NDIS Grassroots Discussion Facebook Group. Continue reading →
Miranda has over 30 years experience in the disability and insurance sectors, starting her career as an Occupational Therapy clinician before moving into regulatory and management roles including manager of an occupational rehabilitation centre, the Medical Assessment Tribunals in Queensland, the TAC and the Department of Human Services in Victoria. As Deputy Commissioner at Disability … Continue reading →
Trevor is passionate about protecting and enhancing the human rights of people with disabilities having had first hand personal experience of disability discrimination in Australia on many occasions. He uses his lived experience in his current role, leading a team of 9 disability advocates to protect the rights of people with disability on a range of issues.
Trevor is a man wearing many hats and holds several positions including Chairperson of Disabled People’s International (DPI) Asia Pacific Region and member of the DPI World Executive, Chairperson and President of the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO), the peak body representing people with disability in Australia and is a current member of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission’s Disability Reference Group after previously serving 4 years as the Co- Continue reading →
More speakers will appear here as they are confirmed.
Venue
The Hall @ NAB
700 Bourke Street, Docklands
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, multiple accessible toilets 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:
Bourke Street concourse (the pedestrian bridge extension of Bourke Street) – level 2
Taxi drop off – level P1 (see taxi information below for details)
Volunteers will be on hand to greet and direct you at both entrances. They will be wearing our striking, bright red conference vests so it will be hard to miss them! Ask them for assistance and directions if needed.
Train
Southern Cross Station is the nearest station 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:
Head to the northern end of the platform (the Etihad stadium end).
Take the lift up to the Bourke Street concourse.
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.
Trams
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
NAB 700 has a taxi drop off point at 700 Bourke Street which 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:
Cross at the pedestrian lights.
Turn right and follow the footpath to the NAB entrance. You have arrived at level P1.
Go to level 3 using either the lift or escalator.
On level 3, The Hall is located to the right of the escalator.
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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.
Delegates can take advantage of the $18 early bird rate on 2 September (enter before 9:30am and exit between 1:30pm & 8pm). Visit the website for more rate information or to book your space in advance online: http://etihadstadium.com.au/car-park-options/
Note: the event is only applicable for events held at the stadium.
Tickets
Tickets go on sale Monday 15 May 2017.
Ticket inclusions
Time and location for the pre-conference screening of Defiant Lives on Thursday 14 September are pending. Inclusions for this event will be provided as soon as arrangements are confirmed.
The ticket for the full day conference program on Friday 15 September includes:
entry to all sessions
lunch
morning tea and afternoon tea
tea and coffee all day
Tickets are inclusive of GST and Eventbrite fees and are non-refundable. Purchased tickets can, however, be transferred to another person by contacting the event organiser.
Access information
This conference is fully inclusive and we are committed to meeting all access requirements for participants with disability. There will be Auslan platform interpreters for all sessions. The registration form has an access requirement section where you can let us know what you need including:
Attendant care
Tactile Auslan interpreters
Alternative formats
Wheelchair access
Live captioning
Note: If you do require attendant care, register yourself and then contact DARU and we will manually process a ticket for your support person or can arrange one for you.
To make changes to a purchased ticket or to arrange attendant care needs, contact Natasha Brake at DARU:
T: (03) 9639 5807
E: Natasha.Brake@vcoss.org.au
Ticket type
Ticket description
Price
Dates available
Defiant Lives Adult
Rated M for mature audience. People under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
$20
15 May 2017 - 12 Sep 2017
Defiant Lives - Concession
Rated M for mature audience. People under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
We’re Putting rights centre stage with sessions on promoting rights into the future, the role of advocacy in safeguarding against abuse and neglect, and applying a human rights-based approach to consumer-directed service delivery. Speakers and panelists will provide a range of perspectives gained from lived experience, evidence based research and applied practice in disability advocacy. Read more >
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 2013-2016 Victorian state disability plan has been in place for a year. Read more >
Our 3rd conference aims to make sure the disability advocacy sector understands and is well equipped to use the legal system in their work. Read more >
