2024 NDIS Conference Page2 | Conference Services

The 4th National First Nations Greater Choices for Disability Care Conference is designed to provide NDIS registered service providers, community organisations, service managers, support facilitators, allied health professionals, frontline workers and NDIS participants the opportunity to network, discuss and share information in regards to the successes and challenges experienced in the rollout and implementation of Australia’s largest social policy reforms, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in its 10th year anniversary.

The ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) stated that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience disability at more than twice the rate as compared to non-Indigenous Australians. Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander peoples with disability also experience inequality and prejudice across a spectrum of health, well-being and social indicators, often facing multiple barriers to their meaningful participation within the wider community. As a result, Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander peoples living with a disability and their families are amongst the most disadvantaged and disempowered members of the Australian community, which impacts on health, education, employment, personal safety and compounded risks of entering into the mainstream justice system.

The conference will also be a great resource and avenue to identify models of support and engagement that reflect various cultural practices of our communities to ensure that First Nations Peoples’ living with a disability can live life their way. Sharing stories and story-telling is so strong in Aboriginal communities, in that it leads the way to support healing in our community so we can move forward and get things right. Reflecting the importance of culturally respectful planning resources and tools to adapt the changes to the disability sector, that is people with disability will have “choice and control” over their own lives and empowered to make decisions for their own care according to their personal needs and wants.

Furthermore, the conference also aims to give a voice to Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander peoples living with a disability and their family carers to share their needs, their concerns and share their story and experiences. This conference presents a chance for Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander frontline disability support workers, mainstream community and allied health workers serving First Nations NDIS service users to engage with industry leaders and peers, learn cutting edge innovations and techniques as well as hear firsthand experiences from Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander peoples living with a disability. The conference will also examine innovative ways to activate and engage people with disability in employment opportunities and challenge delegates individually and collectively to identify the way forward for their organisations. This conference is for anyone who is interested in strengthening and upholding the rights of people living with a disability. With a rich diversity of speakers, delegates and exhibitors, this two-day conference will empower you, inspire you and invigorate your passion for supporting your clients to reach their goals each and every day through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

CONFERENCE THEME AND FOCUS

This year's conference focuses on how service providers are finding ways to deliver high-quality support to First Nations peoples with a disability in an NDIS context to tackle some of the difficult issues that have threatened to derail the delivery of NDIS in our communities. The conference themes include:

Health & Wellbeing

Community Living – housing and supported living accommodation
Residential and Centre-based Day Respite Services
Mobility & Transport
Capacity Building in Life skills, education and employment
Disability Workforce Sector Development
Technology & Innovations
Allied Health Services