Join us for a Community Forum for the review of the Disability Discrimination Act.

This forum is hybrid, so you can join in-person or online. When registering, please select whether you would prefer to attend in-person or online.
*Please note tickets are limited.

Online participants will join for the first 2 hours from 1:30 - 3:30pm.
The in-person event will run until 5.00pm for people who want to stay for discussion about particular themes and settings. These same themes will be covered in upcoming online roundtables (available for registration on the Attorney-General's website soon).

You can download a copy of the hybrid forum agenda.

What is this forum about?

The Australian Government is reviewing the Disability Discrimination Act (the Act).

Public consultation is now open. You are encouraged to share your thoughts, insights and suggestions to help make sure the Act upholds the rights of people with disability.

The review is happening in response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

For more information about what changes are being considered in the review, you can read the following resources:

Issues Paper
Issue Paper Summary (Easy Read and Auslan translations also available)
Overview

What we want to know from you

During the forum, you will be asked for your ideas about changes to the Act including:

Definitions of disability and disability discrimination
A positive duty to eliminate discrimination (stronger protections to prevent discrimination before it happens)
Inclusion of people with disability in areas of public life like employment and education, including consideration of adjustments, unjustifiable hardship, inherent requirements, and suspension and exclusion of students with disability.
Access to justice, including offensive behaviour and vilification protections, and application to policing.
Other possible areas for reform, including intersectional complaints, assistance animals, and enforceability/compliance with the Disability Standards.

This forum will provide opportunities to give input into each of these areas through group discussion and individual activities.

Accessibility

Participant guides will be distributed to the email you register with prior to this event. It will have more information about how the event will run.

If you have any accessibility requirements, please tell us when you register so we can make sure we can best support you to attend. This might include:

Live captioning

Auslan

Receiving information before the event

Where you want to sit or specific considerations about how you want to participate

Other needs

In-person attendees will also be asked about dietary requirements or restrictions when you register (afternoon tea will be provided).

Support to register or attend

The Social Deck is coordinating the events on behalf of the Attorney-General’s Department.

If you need help to register, please contact The Social Deck at email engage@thesocialdeck.com or phone 0458 228 142 (business hours, AEST).

For more information about the consultations, please go to the Attorney General's Department website.

Privacy

Your personal information is protected by law, including under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act).

During the registration process, The Social Deck and/or the Attorney-General’s Department may collect your name, contact information, the name of your organisation (if applicable), and optional details such as your phone number, demographic information (e.g. age group, gender, location, cultural background, disability status), and accessibility requirements. If you join online via Zoom, Zoom will collect the name and email you enter when joining. You may choose to use a nickname and a non-identifying email address.

We use this information to send event updates, ensure the session is inclusive and accessible and understand who we are hearing from. Non-identifying information you provide may be included in a report to the Australian Government. Zoom sessions are not recorded unless clearly stated in advance and with your permission.

All information is stored securely in Australia. You can choose what information to provide, and you may request to access or delete your personal information at any time.

The Social Deck’s privacy policy is available on their website.

The Attorney-General’s Department’s Collection Notice is available here.