The first Queensland Disability Advocacy Conference will bring together the disability advocacy sector to connect with each other and build collective knowledge.

This conference will be held in person at Victoria Park in Brisbane on Wednesday June 21st and Thursday June 22nd 2023.

Presenters & Sessions

Elly Desmarchelier - Master of Ceremonies

As a proud disabled woman, Elly was the national spokesperson for the Defend our NDIS campaign during the 2022 Federal election. Her fierce advocacy has gained her access to rooms where decisions are made that impact the lives of Australians with disability, such as speaking at the Prime Minister’s 2022 Jobs and Skills Summit.

Appearing on national TV, including The Project, The Drum, Q&A and 7.30, Elly shared her insights and experiences on being a disabled woman in modern society. Her writing has been featured in national publications such as Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and the ABC.

Elly is featured in the National Archives of Australia exhibition: Disrupt, persist, invent: Australians in an ever-changing world for her advocacy work, particularly on the Defend Our NDIS campaign. She was also a finalist in the Marie Claire’s 2022 Women of the Year Award.

Fueling her advocacy, Elly is determined to create change for the 1 in 5 Australians with disability and believes that’s only possible if people with disability have a seat at the table.

In addition to her role as MC, Elly will be running a facilitated networking session to build connections across the sector.

Songwoman Maroochy – Aboriginal Elder

Maroochy Barambah is an Aboriginal Elder from Brisbane, Australia. She is of Turrbal and Gubbi Gubbi ancestry with additional bloodline connections to Wakka Wakka, Kamilaroi and Birri Gubba Country. Maroochy was born on Cherbourg Aboriginal Reserve in South East Queensland. She is the Songwoman and Law-woman of the Turrbal Tribe.

Songwoman Maroochy will be delivering a Welcome to Country to open the conference.

Cathy Basterfield – Access Easy English, Victoria

Cathy Basterfield has a national and international reputation in the development of Easy English.

Cathy is acknowledged by her peers as a highly experienced, skilled practitioner in the field of Easy English. She is also recognised as being at the forefront of the development of Easy English in Australia, being one of the first practitioners in this specialist field. She has been at the forefront of the development of quality standards and benchmarks for Easy English.

Cathy was awarded a Victorian Government Ethel Temby scholarship for an investigative study into international trends and accreditation for Easy English writing and publications in 2011. Cathy is a trained Speech Pathologist. She has a background of more then 30 years experience in working with people with Complex Communication Needs.

She has a wide breadth of skills and knowledge in working with people with Complex Communication Needs. Cathy devises functional and meaningful communication for people with little or no speech. Cathy is a published author in Easy English and the use of Key Word Sign (formerly Makaton).

Cathy will facilitate a workshop on accessible communication.

Professor Christine Bigby – Living with Disability Research Centre, Victoria

Professor Christine Bigby has a national and international reputation for her research on the social inclusion of adults with intellectual disability. The focus of her work is policy issues, program effectiveness and front line practice that supports quality of life outcomes for people with intellectual disability. Her current ARC and other grants are examining the effectiveness of supported accommodation services, the nature and meaning of social inclusion for people with intellectual disability, and supported decision making for people with cognitive disability.

She is a visiting Professor at the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent, Fellow of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability, Past chair of the IASSID Special Interest Group on Ageing and Intellectual Disability, a National Board member of ASID - Research to Practice, founding Editor of Research and Practice in Intellectual Disability (RAPIDD),and a Foundation Fellow of the Australian College of Social Work. She has published 8 books, 42 chapters and 165 peer reviewed journal articles. In March 2016 Professor Bigby was elected Chair of Academic Board and held this position until March 2022. She was appointed as a member of the ARC College of Experts in 2018 and elected as President of ASID in Nov 2021. Professor Bigby was an author of the most recent research report commissioned by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability: Diversity, dignity, equity and best practice: a framework for supported decision making.

Professor Bigby will present on best practice supported decision making, appear on a panel and facilitate a workshop.

Dr John Chesterman – Office of the Public Advocate, Queensland

John Chesterman is the Public Advocate for Queensland.

With expertise in human rights, guardianship, supported decision making, powers of attorney and elder abuse, John is well recognised for his advocacy concerning the rights and interests of at-risk Australians, including adults with impaired decision-making ability.

John will take part in the supported decision making panel discussion.

Briony Blackmur – Social Worker, Queensland

Briony is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with over 24 years’ experience working in the field of health and disability with children, families, and adults. She has over 17 years’ experience in the field of therapeutic and counselling support with adults and children including assessment, analysis and developing and reviewing plans. Briony is the co-convener of the Australia Association of Social Workers (AASW) Disability Practice Group.

Briony will facilitate a self-care workshop.

A full program will be made available closer to the conference.

Frequently asked questions:

Who should attend? The conference is for disability advocates in Queensland.

What is included in the conference ticket? The conference ticket includes two-day attendance, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea on both days and networking drinks scheduled for the afternoon on Wednesday 21st June.

When is the conference? The conference is being held on Wednesday 21st (10.00am - 5.00pm) and Thursday 22nd (9.00am - 3.30pm) of June 2023.

What time do I need to arrive? Registration begins at 9.00am on Wednesday 21st June and 8.45am on Thursday 22nd June.

Where is the conference being held? The conference is being held at Victoria Park, 309 Herston Road, Queensland 4006, in the Garden Marquee.

How do I get to the conference? There is free parking available at Victoria Park. For those travelling on public transport, Herston station (part of the northern busway) is a 5 minute walk from Victoria Park.

I'm traveling from outside of South East Queensland, is there accommodation nearby? If you are travelling from outside of South-east Queensland, please discuss your travel needs with your manager. Your manager will then liaise with QAI as there are travel and accommodation subsidies available for attendees travelling from regional Queensland.

What accessibility support will be provided? The venue is physically accessible with ramp entry and accessible toilets. We have arranged for a hearing loop and live captioning. If you have additional accessibility requirements, please contact pathways@qai.org.au to discuss further.

I have dietary requirements; will I be catered to? Yes. As part of your registration, you can identify your dietary requirements and we will provide this information to Victoria Park to be catered for.

Do I need to bring anything? No. You just need to bring yourself.

I’m unable to attend the event, can my colleague attend instead? If you’re unable to attend the event, please let us know at pathways@qai.org.au. If you have a colleague who you would like to attend in your place, this can be accommodated.

I have further questions, who can I talk to? Any further questions please email pathways@qai.org.au