Do disabled people really belong in our community?
Description
Do disabled people really belong in our community?
Why are there proposed cuts to NDIS funding? How does this impact community attitudes toward people with disability?
Our expert panel take on these questions and more!
Join us as former Disability Royal Commissioner Prof. Alastair McEwin AM and Megan Spindler-Smith Acting CEO of People with Disability Australia (PWDA) tackle these difficult questions.
Event details:
Date: Thursday 24 September 2026
Time: 2.00pm - 3.00pm followed by a networking afternoon tea till 3.30pm
Location: Tyree Room, John Niland Scientia Building, UNSW Sydney
This event features Auslan interpreters, captions and a sensory space.
Register now to secure your free tickets.
Meet the speakers
Prof. Alastair McEwin AM
Alastair McEwin served as one of the Commissioners on the Royal Commission. Now a Professor of Practice in Disability at the University of New South Wales U NSW, his work draws deeply on the findings and recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission.
Megan Spindler-Smith
Megan Spindler-Smith (they/them) is the Acting CEO of People with Disability Australia (PWDA), the national disability rights and advocacy organisation led by and for people with all kinds of disability. Megan is a strategic, innovative and influential executive leader with more than two decades of experience driving inclusion, culture and change initiatives across the not-for-profit, public and private sectors. As a proud disabled person, they are passionate about advancing intersectional, rights-based change for people with disability at a national level, with a focus on accessibility, inclusion and participation. Drawing on lived experience and a background in clinical, human-centred and organisational development, Megan has led national-level work to improve accessible media, strengthen inclusion and build cultures of respect and belonging across multiple sectors. They regularly engage with government, business and community organisations on disability rights, leadership, accessibility and systems change, bringing a practical and action-focused perspective to complex challenges.
Emma Bennison
Emma Bennison is the CEO of Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA), the national voice for independent disability advocacy. She’s an award-winning leader, advocate, TEDx speaker, and mentor, passionate about building inclusive communities, empowering people with disability, and creating a fairer, more equitable society.
FAQs
- Should I attend in person?
Yes! We encourage you to join us in-person on the day if you are able. You will be able to chat with the speakers, connect with other leaders, advocates and members of the community. Plus there is free afternoon tea.
- Can I attend online?
Yes! The event will be livestreamed so you can join us online, anywhere in the world.
- Will it be recorded?
Yes! We will record this event and publish it on the UNSW YouTube page and on the DIIU website for future viewing. A written transcript will also be available.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
