Dear Readers, 

The agenda for our IMPACT 2024: Connect, Share, Act. conference at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on May 9 is almost complete. 

Read more about our agenda here.

I am thrilled with the calibre of international and local speakers who will be discussing the most compelling issues currently facing people with disability and employers. 

Our international speakers will provide world-class perspectives into the latest global access and inclusion trends. Our CEO panel will give the audience an insight into the access and inclusion plans of some our largest corporations. You’ll hear powerful stories that resonate, learn about ground-breaking research that will inform and educate, and get insights that can be adapted and replicated into your own organisation. 

IMPACT 2024; Connect. Share. Act. is more than a conference. It’s your opportunity to be part of something bigger - to connect, learn, and help create a disability confident Australia where people with disability can participate equitably as employees, customers, and stakeholders. 

We're extending early bird tickets to Friday, so don’t miss out! 

Click here to buy your tickets. 

I hope you will join us on this journey to Connect. Share. Act. 

❤ Roses are red, violets are blue, and our early bird price extension is just for you ❤

As a token of our appreciation this Valentine's Day, we're extending our early bird ticket pricing just a little bit longer. We want to spread the love for inclusivity and empowerment, so this heartfelt offer ends midnight, Friday 16 February. 

Click here for your discounted early bird tickets before Friday. 

We've already announced our delight in hosting an incredible lineup of international speakers that include Professor Maria Soledad Cisternas Reyes, Randy Lewis, Caroline Casey, and Jenny Lay-Flurrie. 

We're also incredibly pleased to add additional speakers to our CEO Insights panel lineup:

• Paul Graham, Group CEO & MD Australia Post
• Vanessa Hudson, CEO & MD Qantas
• David Koczkar, CEO & MD Medibank
• Paul Scurrah, CEO & MD Pacific National
• Leah Weckert, CEO & MD Coles

Click here to read more about our speakers.

And if you're keen to see what all of our speakers will be discussing, click here to check out the day's jam packed agenda. 

Enter the Disability Confidence Awards   

Nominations are now open for our annual Disability Confidence Awards.

Launched in 2022, the awards recognise and celebrate organisations that have made systematic changes to their workplaces to become inclusive of employees and customers with disability, as well as individuals who have worked to promote disability inclusion. 

Along with the previous year's awards, we have introduced new award categories. You can apply for the following awards: 

• Disability Inclusion Changemaker of the Year 
• Inclusive Initiative of the Year 
• Disability Employee Network of the Year 
• Supervisor of the Year 
• Intern of the Year 
• Mentor of the Year 
• Mentee of the Year 
 
Nominate yourself, your colleague, or your organisation by Friday 22 March 2024. Finalists will be notified by 18 April 2024 and award recipients will be announced at our awards night in Melbourne on Wednesday 8 May 2024. 

Find out more about the awards and apply here. 

Purchase your awards night tickets here. 

Read our submission to inform the NSW Government’s response to the DRC’s recommendations 

The NSW Government recently sought submissions to inform its formal response to the 222 recommendations contained in the Disability Royal Commission’s final report. The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is leading the whole of government response to the report and is committed to consulting with stakeholders to inform the development of the response. 

Our submission focussed on the DRC’s Recommendation 7.19, which asserts the need to establish specific disability employment targets for new public service hires in agencies and departments.  

Australian Disability Network advocates for disability employment targets to be introduced not only throughout the public sectors but also within the private sector. 

You can read our submission here.

Embrace inclusion by hosting an intern with disability  

Registrations will soon open for the Winter session of our award-winning Stepping Into internship program. Through this program, we recruit university students and recent graduates with disability, into member organisations who are looking to provide a paid internship. 

Over the past 15 years the Stepping Into Internship Program has given employers access to an amazing talent pool of applicants. It has also provided practical opportunities for employers to develop their disability confidence and awareness. The program also gives interns practical experience and confidence in the workplace. 

Click here to join our Member information session on Wednesday 14 February at 2pm AEST. 

Please contact our Program Lead, Rudy at rudy.haruta@ausdn.org.au to register your interest and discuss the program. 

Develop your Access and Inclusion Plan with our Masterclass 

An Access and Inclusion Plan (also known as a Disability Action Plan) is a roadmap of clear goals and actions that an organisation will take to support the inclusion of people with disability as employees, customers, and stakeholders.  

Australian Disability Network is here to support your organisation to scope, consult, develop, and launch your Access and Inclusion Plan with effective implementation in mind. 

Across 12 weeks, Australian Disability Network’s Access and Inclusion Plan Master Class participants complete a series of three online workshops and collaborative sessions to learn how to develop their Plan.  

Access discount benefits for our Access and Inclusion Index
When you participate in this Masterclass, you will also unlock a discounted rate for an Introductory Report from our Australian Disability Network Access and Inclusion Index. This powerful report enables you to confidently and easily check on the progress of your Access and Inclusion Plan.  

Join our Information Sessions on: Wednesday 6 March and Wednesday 13 March. Applications close:  Wednesday 20 March 

Register your interest by reaching out to memberexperienceteam@ausdn.org.au, 02 8270 9200 or with your Relationship Manager

Get to know your membership

We are running a Know Your Membership – New Member Introduction Session for our Member Contacts who have joined us in 2023 / 2024 and the new Contacts of our existing Members. 

The session will take place on Thursday 29 February 2024 from 10.00am to 11am (Sydney time). 

The Know Your Membership – New Member Introduction Session will: 

• Introduce the Australian Disability Network with a welcome by a Leadership Team Member. 
• Discuss why access and inclusion is good for business. 
• Discuss how to engage your entire organisation. 
• Learn how Australian Disability Network can support you and your organisation. 
• Guide you through our three service offering pillars: Build, Connect, Check. 
• Provide information and updates. 
• Provide networking with your peers. 

No Member hours or costs are associated with your attendance. 

Please advise if you require any adjustments to participate in the Session by contacting the Member Experience Team via email at memberexperienceteam@AusDN.org.au or via phone: (02) 8270 9204 before 22 February 2024 

Join an online training workshops 

Our facilitated online workshops are a great way to improve your knowledge and your disability confidence. Courses are tailored for different areas of your business, providing value to your entire workforce. Participants have found the workshops engaging, interactive and informative.  

Our workshops cover a range of topics including disability confident workforces, disability confident managers, inclusive recruitment, inclusive customer experiences and accessible communications. 

You can find out more about our training or register here. 

Latest disability sector news  

• Rosemary Kayess gives her first interview as Disability Discrimination Commissioner 
• Calls for changes to the supported wages system 
• UK Government launches disability action plan 
• Doctors with disabilities call for action to support more people to study medicine 

Showcase your commitment as an IMPACT 2024 sponsor

Becoming a sponsor of IMPACT 2024: Connect. Share. Act. is a prime opportunity to elevate your organisation's visibility, drive business growth, and showcase your contribution to the collective mission of fostering inclusive workplaces.

Our ever growing audience includes CEOs, senior managers, diversity practitioners, human resources professionals, and WH&S Advisors, from both the public and private sectors.  

We are currently finalising sponsorships and exhibition opportunites, so please email us at Conference@AusDN.org.au to find out more about our pre-packaged and bespoke options. 

Welcome to our new members 

We’re delighted to welcome the new members who joined our rapidly growing network since November