Take advantage of early-bird pricing and register for NDP’s Cultivating your Disability Workforce now!

With a mix of theory and practice, strategic considerations, and issues on the ground, the one day conference, to be held on Thursday, 24 June will be relevant to everyone working in the sector or with an interest in the disability workforce. Conference sessions will be available on-demand for 30 days after the conference.

Early-bird virtual conference registrations are open until 8.00pm AEST on Friday, 4 June 2021.

The program

Professor Anne Kavanagh will speak about her research ‘The Forgotten Workforce’ which unearthed significant financial and psychological hardship experienced by disability support workers.

Occupational therapist, Leanne McMurtrie, shows us how technology can be used to deliver better person-centred care. Her case study of a boy with autism spectrum disorder, and the VR games she commissioned to help him, won her the recent NDP Small Business Digital Champions contest.

Far from the welfare spend it is so often framed to be, regional disability workforce connector, Andrew Gibbs, will share his insights and stories about the economic impact of the NDIS – a 22-billion-dollar golden ticket to stimulate regional economies.

Every four years the Fair Work Commission reviews the Social Community Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS). There are a few welcome improvements for people in the disability sector. Michael Pegg has the latest from the Fair Work Commission on the SCHADS Award.

The Disability Royal Commission has been extended a further 17 months. Henry Newton will lead a panel discussing how we can all entrench zero tolerance for violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability.

One in five new jobs in Australia is expected to be in disability support over the next few years. Laura Green from one of Australia’s biggest disability service providers, will share how the sector is providing mature women entering the sector with opportunities to thrive.

We would like to acknowledge our valued sponsor, HESTA for supporting this conference.