Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference 2023
Other lifeboats in the ocean

Mon 4 Sept 2023 | 10am - 4:30pm

Shiver me timbers! Advocacy and inclusion

The systems juggernaut has been in dry docks for some time while inspection and investigation has been underway.  Unfortunately, too many rotting and split timbers were found, rendering her unseaworthy.  What repairs can be done to get her full steam ahead again?

When

Monday 4th September, 2023: 10:15am - 11:10am

Where

The Hall

Speakers

Facilitated by:

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 of flagship VCOSS publications including the annual Victorian Budget submission and the quadrennial VCOSS Election Platform, as well periodic issues papers and reports. He loves finding … Continued Photo of Ryan Sheales, Director Communications, VCOSS

Panelists include:

Sam Drummond, Senior Policy and Research Officer, Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

Sam is the Senior Policy and Research Officer at the Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. He is also a discrimination lawyer, human rights advocate and ambassador of the Includability Project with the Australian Human Rights Commission. If that wasn’t enough, he sits on the community panel of the Ad Standards that adjudicates complaints … Continued

Photo of Sam Drummond, Senior Policy and Research Officer, Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

Chris Varney, Chairperson, Victorian Disability Advisory Council

Chris (he/him) is proudly autistic and is the Founding Director and Chief Enabling Officer of I CAN Network, Australia’s largest autistic-led organisation. I CAN employ 74 autistic adults and mentors over 2,000 young people through 130 I CAN School programs and I CAN Online. Prior to founding I CAN, Chris was previously a Youth Representative … Continued

Photo of Chris Varney, Chairperson, Victorian Disability Advisory Council

Caitlin Syer, Member, Victorian Disability Advisory Council

Caitlin Syer is a young woman with intellectual disability and dyspraxia. Caitlin thinks that people with intellectual disability have limited opportunities, especially in areas of education and employment, something she is passionate to change to bring about a more inclusive Victoria. Caitlin works at the Behavioural Insight division at Victorian Public Sector Commission and at … Continued

Photo of Caitlin Syer, Member, Victorian Disability Advisory Council

Session Summary

Keynote 1: Disability Inclusion in Victoria

Sam Drummond,  Senior Policy and Research Officer, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

There have been many advances in major policy and system reform in Victoria in recent years that aim to progress equality. How is this translating into greater inclusion for people with disability in mainstream service systems? Sam Drummond, Senior Policy and Research Officer at  Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, explores impact of these reforms on disability inclusion, as well as the important role that disability advocacy play in leveraging these opportunities to drive greater outcomes for people with disability.

In Conversation: Disability Inclusion and the state of the advocacy sector - Panel session

Disability advocates are a critical enabler of disability inclusion in our society. There are many initiatives underway to promote disability inclusion on a state and federal level that demonstrate a genuine desire to see disability inclusion in mainstream services become reality and disability advocacy services become stronger across the country alongside this.

We have heard that there are many major policy and system reforms that have the potential to advance disability inclusion, however the data tells us that its still not translating on the ground into real and meaningful change.

What do we need to do to increase accountability on mainstream services to become more disability inclusive? What are the big picture human rights issues at play here? What is the Victorian Governments vision for a strong and vibrant disability advocacy sector and its role in the realisation of a more inclusive Victoria?