The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations invites you to join us for the 2026 National Disability Advocacy Conference.
This year’s theme, RIGHTS | VOICES | ACTION, brings together people with disability, advocates, disability-led organisations, policy leaders and decision makers from across Australia to progress national conversations on disability rights, inclusion and systemic reform.
Across two half-days, the conference will feature keynote presentations and panel discussions focused on strengthening advocacy capacity, amplifying lived experience leadership and advancing practical policy change.
This is a national forum for collaboration, strategy and action.
Confirmed Speakers
Hear from national leaders shaping disability rights and reform:
- Elaine Teague, Chief Executive Officer, Disability Federation of Ireland – The Irish model for supported decision making for people with disability
- Rosemary Kayess, Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission – Establishing an Independent Monitoring Mechanism under the CRPD
- Robbie Francis Watene, Disabled Research Lead, Donald Beasley Institute, New Zealand – Establishing an Independent Monitoring Mechanism under the CRPD
- Kate Chaney MP, Independent Member for Curtin – Automated decision-making in government – a new policy framework
- Ellen Tilbury, Principal Solicitor, Disability Rights, Justice and Equity Centre – Panel session on ADM in government – issues for people with disability
- Jacqui Phillips, Executive Director of Policy and Research, Australian Council of Social Services – Panel session on ADM in government – issues for people with disability
- Geoff Quinlan, Head of Strategy & Brisbane 2032 Coordination, Paralympics Australia
- Jade Maloney, Chief Executive Officer & Fergus Bailey, Senior Consultant, ARTD Consultants – Review of Australia’s Disability Strategy
- Sam Byrne, Secretary, The Co-Op Federation & Genevieve Smith, AFDO – Co-operative Communities Project
- Tim Harte, AFDO Board – Update on the Conference of State Parties (COSP19)
Additional speakers will be announced as confirmed.
Accessibility
The conference will be delivered via Zoom Webinar.
To support accessibility:
- Auslan interpreters will be present throughout the conference
- Live captioning will be provided.
Recordings and presentation materials will be made available to registered participants following the conference and distributed via email once available.
Registration
Click here to register via Humanitix.
Registrations close Monday 15 June at 11.55pm AEST.
Scholarship Registrations
AFDO is offering a limited number of scholarship registrations for people who would benefit from financial assistance to attend the conference. As these scholarships are limited, priority will be given to people with disability and emerging disability advocates.