Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference 2017

Getting into gear for the NDIS journey

Righting the script: Moving legislative and cultural barriers facing people with disability, Keynote address: What should the NDIS look like within a Human Rights Framework?

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.

GPS needed for the road ahead 

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.

Motor’s running and we’re ready to roll

Dean Barton-Smith AM, has accumulated more than 30 years experience in the field of marketing and public affairs,  strategic / corporate planning and advocacy within the telecommunication, sport, government (both state and federal), retail, health care, mental health, professional association, emergency management, transport, community and disability sectors.

Revving up empowerment in the NDIS 

Gary has worked in the disability sector for nearly 30 years. He has particular expertise in the Deafness area including Deafness and mental health. He has worked in s variety of roles across disabilities including management, community development, case work, project worker, advocacy and carer. He is a well-known advocate and social commentator across the disability sector in Australia. 

Closing Address

Jeff Waters was a TV reporter for 30 years and has worked in almost as many countries. Learning to film and edit his own journalism, he became the world’s first professional video journalist in 1996. His latest reporting job was as Senior Journalist, Victoria, for ABC TV News, and his video journalism has been broadcast by CNN and the BBC, as well as all Australian and New Zealand Television networks and many others. Jeff is the author of two non-fiction books, and he now works largely as a media consultant for charities and NGOs.

Motor’s running and we’re ready to roll

Until recently, Kirsten was the National Manager of Communications and Engagement at the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations and was a Director in the Information Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) team at the National Disability Insurance Agency. Before joining the NDIA, she served as the inaugural Executive Director of the National Disability and Carer Alliance and the Deputy Campaign Director of the Every Australian Counts campaign for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Revving up empowerment in the NDIS 

Leah has over 30 years of experience working in community services. Leah has managed the NDIS Appeals and Advocacy Program in the Barwon region for the last 4 years during the trial period and now expanding into other Regions throughout Victoria. Leah also has a ‘lived experience’ of caring for a daughter with a disability and as such has an understanding of the need for advocacy and support for people with disabilities.

Motor’s running and we’re ready to roll

Leah van Poppel has been involved in the campaign for the NDIS since its early days, when she worked at the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO). She has since held a range of positions across the disability sector in both government and advocacy. Leah is currently a member of the NDIS Independent Advisory Council.

Motor’s running and we’re ready to roll

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.

Opening address: Tracking the Victorian transition to the NDIS

Having previously worked in the public housing sector, community development and in protecting the rights of working people, Mr Foley is excited by the challenge of transformational reform for people with disability through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Mr Foley is a member of the St Kilda Football Club and hopes to see a premiership in his lifetime. He is a cricket tragic, destined to be stranded on a single century after too many innings.

GPS needed for the road ahead 

Bio coming soon.

Welcome

Melissa has a passion for disability advocacy and to see bridges built where barriers once were. Professionally, Melissa came to DARU after five years managing Deaf Victoria, where she, in conjunction with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, was a major contributor to the Auslan Interpreting in Public Hospital inquiry. She also coordinated a national conference to discuss and create a plan of action for barriers of accessing Mental Health support for Deaf and hard of hearing people.

GPS needed for the road ahead 

As Deputy Commissioner at Disability Services Commissioner, Miranda takes a leading role in promoting the rights of people with disability, oversight of critical incidents reported by disability service providers and the resolution of complaints about Victorian disability services. She is committed to improving the lives of those who use disability services, and in particular, ensuring that people with a disability are heard and protected from abuse and neglect.

GPS needed for the road ahead 

In Peter’s current role he is focusing on key areas of Scheme Design and Approach which recognise the shift from the current program based systems to an Insurance scheme based on markets that need to be developed and supported so that best practice can be enabled and continuous improvement encouraged.  Driven by a passion to see the Australian commitment to rights of people with a disability and the rights of children realised, he recognises the possibilities of the NDIS as the game changer.

Defiant Lives

Sarah’s first documentary ‘Untold Desires’ (SBS 1994) dealt frankly with the topic of sexuality and disability and was followed by ‘A Wing and A Prayer’ (SBS 2000) and the long running series ‘No Limits’ (2003). Sarah has gained recognition by winning numerous industry and community awards.

In 2010 Sarah was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to travel to England and America to research her documentary about the disability rights movement which has evolved into ‘Defiant Lives’.

Revving up empowerment in the NDIS 

completed her Master of Public Policy and Management in 2013, and before that she was at the Victorian Law Reform Commission where she worked on the review of the Guardianship and Administration Act 1986 (Vic). Tess has been involved in the disability sector for the past 8 years in both personal and professional roles. Tess is keenly interested in social inclusion, law reform and decision-making arrangements for people with cognitive impairment and mental ill health, particularly in relation to NDIS matters. 

Revving up empowerment in the NDIS 

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-