Overview

The 16th Annual National Disability Summit will return in 2025! Register your interest to find our where & when.

This is a key event for disability service providers and industry leaders to address a wide range of issues and considerations, headlined by crucial discussions of the NDIS. Additionally, the program will delve into the progress and initiatives that support people with disability and their families to maximise independence and participation.

The Summit brings together a passionate audience consisting of NDIS services providers, high-level executives, community care organisations, state & federal government agencies, council organisations, NDIS representatives, independent carers, aged care facilities, aged care providers, and technology providers.

What you can expect from the 2025 event:

  • Understanding the sector post Royal Commission and NDIS Review
  • Key topics to be covered across two full days of conference sessions, discussing:
    • Disability workforce
    • Sustainable disability employment
    • Housing
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Role of government bodies
    • Building inclusive communities, and more.
  • Strategies and initiatives for improving quality and person-centred care
  • Lived experiences highlighting the challenges and potential solutions.
  • Quality improvement discussions
  • Conference networking dinner to continue your discussions in a more relaxed and informal setting.

2024 Sponsors

Silver Sponsor
Shift Care

Lanyard Sponsor
Simply Helping

Lunch Business Clinic Sponsor

2024 Exhibitors

Warner Institute

LBM Fleet

Blue Light Card

All about caring

Disability gateway

Bupa

Check up

2024 Supporting Partner

Talking Disability

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities

Don’t miss this opportunity to get involved early in next year’s National Disability Summit!

There are many opportunities for networking including social events such as networking drinks, lunch and refreshments breaks making this not just a conference… but an all-encompassing industry experience.

Sponsorship or exhibiting will allow your organisation to:

  • Build relationships with potential & existing clients
  • Network with the industry
  • Generate leads from a targeted audience
  • Demonstrate your product/service in person
  • Build brand awareness

To see what we have available please contact;

Danielle Newman
Senior Business Development Manager
P: 02 9080 4318
E: Danielle.newman@informa.com

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS


The Hon Bill Shorten MP
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme


The Hon Michael Sukkar MP
Federal Member for Deakin, Shadow Minister for Social Services, Shadow Minister for the NDIS, Shadow Minister for Housing, Shadow Minister for Homelessness


Rosemary Kayess
Disability Discrimination Commissioner


Graeme Innes AM


Robyne Burridge OAM


Jeswynn Yogaratnam
Commissioner,
NT Anti-Discrimination Commission

Speakers

Myron Mann, CEO, Bedford Group
Myron Mann
CEO,
Bedford Group

Carol Berry, CEO, The Disability Trust
Carol Berry
CEO,
The Disability Trust

Pauline Luchetta, Founder & CEO, Custodia
Pauline Luchetta
Founder & CEO,
Custodia Plan Management


Emma Gierschick OAM
Woman of the Year 2019, Nominee Victorian Woman of Honour 2019 & 2020


Simone Austin
Chief Health Officer and Chair of the Advisory Board, healthylife, Accredited, Practising Dietitian


Stu Schonell
CEO,
Advocacy WA


Professor Christine Bigby
Director, Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University


Jethro Hepton
Board Chairperson,
Advocacy WA


David Swain
CEO,
Endeavour Foundation


Cat Lancaster
Life Without Barriers


Catherine Pollaers
Emerging Leader and Member, Queensland With Disability Network


Jess Harper
CEO, Disability Intermediaries Australia


Briar Harte
Inclusive Design Principal, NAB, Disability Inclusion Changemaker of the Year 2024


Perrin Abbas
Project Lead – Disability Inclusion, Multicultural Communities Council of SA


Luke Wilson
Director, Paylos Adventures


Jessica Lane
Innovation Manager,
Community Lifestyle Agenda


A/Professor Dinesh Palipana OAM LLB MD
Doctor, Lawyer, Researcher, Disability Advocate, 2021 QLD Australian of the Year


Jeff Smith
CEO, DANA


Dr Alex Harrison
Senior Veterinarian, Eastside Veterinary Clinic, Treasurer, The Veterinary Kaleidoscope


Dr Jennie Hutton
Emergency Physician, Senior Research Fellow La Trobe and Melbourne University. Priority Population Lead VVED, Northern Health


Dr Alex Harrison
Senior Veterinarian, Eastside Veterinary Clinic, Treasurer, The Veterinary Kaleidoscope


Dr Jennie Hutton
Emergency Physician, Senior Research Fellow La Trobe and Melbourne University. Priority Population Lead VVED, Northern Health


Daniel Valiente-Riedl
General Manager, JobAccess


Kylie van Luyn
Founder, DEIAB Practitioner, Psychotherapist and Human Rights Consultant, Elevated Coaching & Consulting Global


Samantha Connor
Disability Activist


Chris Campbell
Business Development Manager, Shiftcare


Luke Wilson
Director, Paylos Adventures


Elizabeth O’Shannessy
Disability Access and Inclusion Lead, Allied Health Executive, Alfred Health


Tony Nicholls
CEO & Founder, Good Talent Media


Primal Fernando
International Disability Inclusion Advocate


Bianca Stern
General Manager, All Things Equal

Pre-conference Workshop

13:00 – 13:30 Registration | Arrival Tea & Coffee

14:00 – 16:30 Including Afternoon Tea 14:45 – 15:00

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP | Creating an Elevated Workplace: Why Psychological Safety Matters in Disability Employment

This comprehensive session is designed to help participants develop an in-depth understanding of disability inclusion, awareness, belonging and cultivating a psychologically safe workplace.

  • Tools to identify and address harmful workplace situations, as well as develop practices to ensure the well-being of all employees, which directly impacts revenue, retention, productivity, and overall morale
  • Explore concepts to foster a culture of inclusion, belonging, respect, and safety that supports employee well-being and organisational success
  • Defining and identifying psychosocial hazards and workplace psychological safety and explore effective disability awareness and inclusion initiatives and the role of intersectionality
  • Participants will develop strategies for creating a more inclusive workplace culture and identifying microaggressions and bias

This session is a great opportunity for service providers supporting participants in the workforce, organisational leaders who are just getting started on their disability awareness and inclusion journey, those who have already committed to maintaining an inclusive workplace culture, and people with disability who want to arm themselves with the correct knowledge on workplace rights and fairness.

Workshop Leader
Kylie van Luyn, Founder, DEIAB Practitioner, Psychotherapist and Human Rights Consultant, Elevated Coaching & Consulting Global

Agenda

DAY ONE | 19 September 2024

08:15

Registration & Morning Coffee

09:00

DAY ONE OPENING

09:00

Opening remarks from the Chair

Emma Gierschick OAM

09:10

OPENING ADDRESS | Changing Peoples Perspectives

Robyne Burridge OAM

09:40

PANEL | The Future of Home and Living

  • SIL
  • How does this process work?
  • Where do you start for a PWD?
  • How to make your own home?
  • Other important considerations, diet, friendship, community, and avoiding homelessness

Simone Austin, Chief Health Officer and Chair of the Advisory Board, healthylife, Accredited, Practising Dietitian
Cat Lancaster, Director, Professional Practice Center for Practice Excellence Disability and Mental Health, Life Without Barriers
Kairsty Wilson, Principal Legal Practitioner, and CEO, AED Legal Centre
Beck Marriott, Executive General Manager – Shared Living, Aruma
Moderated by Stuart Schonell, CEO, Advocacy WA

10:30

IN CONVERSATION | Foundational Supports 101

  • How will this affect us?
  • How will this be implemented?
  • What does the eligibility look like?

Jess Harper, CEO, Disability Intermediaries Australia
Samantha Connor, Disability Activist

11:00

Networking Break & Morning Tea

11:30

KEYNOTE ADDRESS |

The Hon Bill Shorten MP, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme

12:10

EXECUTIVE PANEL | Setting up Your Organisation for Success and Ensuring People with Disability are at the Heart of Your Organisation

  • Are we stronger together?
  • How can qualified and registered providers distinguish themselves from the inexperienced provider?
  • Ensuring person-centred care is at the heart of the organisation
  • Are mergers and acquisitions the way forward?
  • Tangible takeaways from some of Australia’s larger disability service providers

Myron Mann, CEO, Bedford Group
Carol Berry, CEO, The Disability Trust
David Swain, CEO, Endeavour Foundation
Cat Lancaster, Director, Professional Practice Center for Practice Excellence Disability and Mental Health, Life Without Barriers
Moderated by Pauline Luchetta, Founder & CEO, Custodia Plan Management

12:55

SESSION SPOTLIGHT | Streamlined Client Care – Delivering Highly Personalised Care While Growing Your Business

Chris Campbell, Business Development Manager, Shiftcare

13:15

Networking Lunch

13:35

LUNCHTIME BUSINESS CLINIC | Reputation Management / Crisis Media Management

When a crisis hits your organisation, no news is good news. Effective Reputation Management is staying out of the media altogether and when this isn’t possible – mitigating and removing the impact of devastating press is key. Join Tony in this informal setting (over the latter part of the lunchtime period).

Discussion points will include:

  • Building your reputation and protecting your organisation
  • Formulate crisis communications strategy
  • Preparing your team

Tony Nicholls, CEO & Founder, Good Talent Media

14:15

Person Centred Active Support: What You Should be Aware of

Professor Christine Bigby, Director, Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University

14:45

KEYNOTE ADDRESS |

Rosemary Kayess, Disability Discrimination Commissioner

15:15

PANEL | Surviving to Thriving

Wherever it’s utilising your NDIS plan, overcoming trying situations and other triumphs in your journey. This panel will bring together an expert panel of people living with disability sharing their stories from surviving to thriving.

Catherine Pollaers, Emerging Leader and Member, Queensland With Disability Network
Nina Crumpton, Participant and Founder/CEO, The Hand Up Space
Dr Alex Harrison, Senior Veterinarian, Eastside Veterinary Clinic, Treasurer, The Veterinary Kaleidoscope
Modareted by Emma Gierschick OAM

16:00

Afternoon Tea & Networking Break

16:30

The Legislative Impact of Disability Policy Reform: NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce

Jeff Smith, CEO, DANA

17:00

PANEL |It’s Not ‘Too Hard’: Creating Better Employment Opportunities for People with Disability

  • Preparing clients and participants for greater employment opportunities
  • Beyond the gaps, what can we really do to assist?
  • Organisational funding supports, existing policies and procedures

Perrin Abbas, Project Lead – Disability Inclusion, Multicultural Communities Council of SA
Daniel Valiente-Riedl, General Manager, JobAccess
Stephanie Agnew, Senior Consultant, Get Skilled Access, Disability Inclusion Advocate
Jeff Smith, CEO, DANA
Primal Fernando, International Disability Inclusion Advocate
Moderated by Bianca Stern, General Manager, All Things Equal

17:45

Closing Remarks from Chair

17:45

Networking Drinks

19:00

Conference Dinner | M1-M2 Rooms, level 1, The Crown Promenade Hotel

A true highlight of the event. Continue your discussions of the day and network with speakers, delegates and sponsors in a more relaxed and informal setting.

Numbers to the dinner are limited, book early to avoid disappointment.

The conference dinner will be held in the meetings rooms next door to the main conference room.

7pm – 9:30pm

DAY TWO | 20 September 2024

08:15

Registration & Morning Coffee

08:50

DAY TWO OPENING

08:50

Opening remarks from the Chair

Briar Harte, Inclusive Design Principal, NAB, Disability Inclusion Changemaker of the Year 2024

09:10

KEYNOTE ADDRESS |

Graeme Innes AM

09:40

KEYNOTE ADDRESS | From Housing to the NDIS, What Can We Do?

The Hon Michael Sukkar MP, Federal Member for Deakin, Shadow Minister for Social Services, Shadow Minister for the NDIS, Shadow Minister for Housing, Shadow Minister for Homelessness

10:10

Creating an Elevated Workplace: Why Psychological Safety Matters in Disability Employment

This comprehensive session is designed to help participants develop an in-depth understanding of disability inclusion, awareness, belonging and cultivating a psychologically safe workplace.

  • Tools to identify and address harmful workplace situations, as well as develop practices to ensure the well-being of all employees, which directly impacts revenue, retention, productivity, and overall morale
  • Explore concepts to foster a culture of inclusion, belonging, respect, and safety that supports employee well-being and organisational success
  • Defining and identifying psychosocial hazards and workplace psychological safety and explore effective disability awareness and inclusion initiatives and the role of intersectionality
  • Developing strategies for creating a more inclusive workplace culture and identifying microaggressions and bias

Kylie van Luyn Founder, DEIAB Practitioner, Psychotherapist and Human Rights Consultant, Elevated Coaching & Consulting Global

10:40

Networking Break & Morning Tea

11:10

Quality Person-Centred Care Means Something Different to Every Person with a Disability, Including Those with the Same Disability

  • Our needs are dependent on many factors including personality and motivation. This means:
    • Funding needs to fit with the life choices of a person with disability as well as their changing life circumstances
    • Diversity of needs is not considered in the regions
    • Clearer budgets and spending areas to make plans easier to manage
    • Disability awareness training by people with disability to all providers, NDIA/S staff, disability related ministers and department heads
  • As a sector what we can do as a whole to improve this

Jethro Hepton, Board Chairperson, Advocacy WA
Stu Schonell, CEO, Advocacy WA

11:40

KEYNOTE ADDRESS | Positive Duty in the NT

Jeswynn Yogaratnam, Commissioner, NT Anti-Discrimination Commission

12:10

IN CONVERSATION | Engaging Staff in the Safe Delivery of Care

  • Homegrown innovations
  • Software solutions, such as the power of AI
  • Changes in training
  • Key takeaways and learnings

Jessica Lane, CEO, Life Choice Wide Bay Burnett
Pauline Luchetta, Founder & CEO, Custodia Plan Management
Luke Wilson, Director, Paylos Adventures
Moderated by Briar Harte, Inclusive Design Principal, NAB, Disability Inclusion Changemaker of the Year 2024

12:55

Networking Lunch

13:15

LUNCHTIME BUSINESS CLINIC | How to be Innovative in the Current Climate

It is not an easy time to run a service provision organisation within the current climate, and Pauline has had her fair share in running, selling and building them. Join Pauline in this informal setting (over the latter part of the lunchtime period) and discuss in roundtables how to be innovative when running a company.

Discussion points will include:

  • Hiring and gig economy
  • Merges and acquisitions
  • How do you get clients, and how do you market yourself?
  • What is your point of difference?

Pauline Luchetta, Founder & CEO, Custodia Plan Management

13:55

IN CONVERSATION | Accessing Accessible Healthcare

  • Virtual ED, Projects, Sunflowers, and Disability Liaison Officers
  • Regional, Rural and Remote Access to Disability Service Providers
  • Access to Healthcare in a Metropolitan Emergency Department

A/Professor Jennie Hutton, Emergency Physician, Senior Research Fellow La Trobe and Melbourne University. Priority Population Lead VVED, Northern Health
Elizabeth O’Shannessy, Disability Access and Inclusion Lead, Allied Health Executive, Alfred Health
Bianca Bassett, Senior Consultant, Get Skilled Access, Disability Inclusion Advocate
A/Professor Dinesh Palipana OAM LLB MD, Doctor, Lawyer, Researcher, Disability Advocate, 2021 QLD Australian of the Year
Moderated by Julie Fisher, Author, Keynote Speaker, Disability Advocate

14:40

CLOSING ADDRESS | NDIS is There Another Way? What’s Next for All Those Involved?

  • The Disability Sector Post Royal Commission and NDIS Review

Jess Harper, CEO, Disability Intermediaries Australia

15:10

Closing Remarks from Chair

15:15

Conference Concludes

Buy a Pass

YOUR SUMMIT EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:

  • 2 Days of networking with a highly targeted group of stakeholders
    Meet and network with every stakeholder in the room. Have a productive conversation with senior leaders and cultivate meaningful connections via the dedicated networking breaks.
  • Executive Insights & Market Experts
    This is a unique opportunity to learn from the leaders on what they are doing, how they are doing it and why. Ask questions of speakers which inform your own decision making, grasp what other stakeholders are thinking and take actionable learnings back to your organisation.
  • Post event audience insight reports
    Want to know more about your fellow delegates? Where are they from? What are their top challenges? What are their most common questions? Find out with our post-event Audience Insights Reports which comes free as part of your delegate ticket.
  • On-demand recordings & BONUS video content
    Need to re-watch a presentation from the event? Interested in seeing more our specialised healthcare content?
  • CONNECT ME APP
    • Searchable attendee list
    • Access the agenda
    • Pre-book meetings
    • Live chat with attendees
    • Engage in Q&A
  • Networking Drinks
    Sometimes the best conversations aren’t in a boardroom…they’re the chats over a glass of wine after a day of intellectual stimulation
  • Networking Dinner
    How often is your conversation cut short because the conference finishes? Take the opportunity to continue your discussions and connect with more of your industry colleagues in a relaxed and informal setting at the networking dinner.

BUY PASSES

BOOK YOUR PASS

ALL ACCESS PASS
(MAIN CONFERENCE + WORKSHOP PASS)

REGISTER NOW

  • Access to full two- day conference
  • Access to Post-conference half-day workshop
  • Post-Event Audience Insights Report
  • On-demand recordings via Streamly
  • Networking drinks reception
  • Pre-book meetings with event app
  • Searchable attendee list
  • App messaging function
  • Live interactive Q&A & audience polls
  • Dedicated networking opportunities
  • BONUS post-event video content including speaker interviews
  • Access discounted hotel rate

STANDARD PASS

REGISTER NOW

  • Access to full two day conference
  • Post-Event Audience Insights Report
  • On-demand recordings via Streamly
  • Networking drinks reception
  • Pre-book meetings with event app
  • Searchable attendee list
  • App messaging function
  • Live interactive Q&A & audience polls
  • Dedicated networking opportunities
  • BONUS post-event video content including speaker interviews
  • Access discounted hotel rate

VIRTUAL PASS

REGISTER NOW

  • Access to full two- day conference online
  • On-demand recordings via Streamly
  • Searchable attendee list
  • App messaging function
  • Q&A through event app

GROUP PASS PACKAGE
(UP TO 6 STANDARD PASSES)

REGISTER NOW

  • SAVE over $300 on each ticket by booking as a group
  • Access to full two day conference
  • Post-Event Audience Insights Report
  • On-demand recordings via Streamly
  • Networking drinks reception
  • Pre-book meetings with event app
  • Searchable attendee list
  • App messaging function
  • Live interactive Q&A & audience polls
  • Dedicated networking opportunities
  • BONUS post-event video content including speaker interviews
  • Access discounted hotel rate

NETWORKING DINNER

BOOK DINNER

  • Up to 2 additional hours of networking with conference attendees
  • Only available to delegates who are also attending the conference

* Concession rate is available – please contact info@informa.com.au for more details.

Insights

How this Senior Territorian is seeking justice for people with disability

At birth, the parents of disability advocate Dr Robyne Burridge OAM were told her diagnosis of cerebral palsy was so severe that she would struggle to hit milestones like sitting up, let alone walking and talking…

Read More

Nothing about us without us – are we there yet with disability rights?

“Nothing about us without us” – the idea that policy shouldn’t be designed without first consulting the people it targets – has become a prominent mantra in the disability rights space in recent years…

Read More

The right way to treat people with disabilities at school

When Matthew De Gruchy was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, a rare genetic eye condition, at the age of nine, he did not know that his difficulties with blindness would pale in comparison to the social challenges he later experienced…

Read More

Bite-sized Videos

What does innovation in the disability sector look like?
Accessing support with regional, rural, and remote regions
Providing Access for the Deaf Community

View More Videos

Photos From 2024 Event

National Disability Summit 2024

Testimonials

Elizabeth O’Shannessy, Alfred Health

“It was a wonderful event and I really enjoyed being part of it. It had some really important conversations with many participants around challenges accessing healthcare and it has me back to work feeling buoyed with enthusiasm to keep educating our staff. As a speaker I was kept to date and informed along the way. I was so impressed by how inclusive the event was.”

Anonymous

“It’s good to be involved in events with a strong focus on improving the quality of care and service to people we serve (in this case people living with disability).”

Anonymous

“The National Disability Summit was invaluable for connecting with many passionate leaders and speakers in the NDIS, disability and mental health space. I felt recharged from attending and motivated to keep improving the systems and services we provide to persons with a disability and most of all, ensuring that persons with a disability are at the core of everything we do. What a fantastic event!”

Anonymous

“A valuable opportunity to learn about challenges and discuss solutions for people with disability, and to connect with key individuals and organisations in the sector.”

Venue

Crown Melbourne
8 Whiteman Street
SOUTHBANK VIC 3006

Contact

Still have a question?

Katrina Bowns
Conference Producer
Katrina.Bowns@informa.com.au

Danielle Newman
Senior Business Development Manager
+61 2 9080 4318
Danielle.Newman@informa.com

Event Code Of Conduct

We want everyone who comes to our events to have a great experience. This code explains our expectations and rules, which includes general good practice behaviour, and how to report anything witnessed or experienced that goes against them. Read our Event Code of Conduct here.