Opening Opportunities is a two-day national conference that will help you uncover employment opportunities for people with disability. The conference will feature speakers including families, young people with disability, and professionals from Australia and overseas who have opened opportunities using an approach called Customised Employment.

Customised Employment is a tried and true method when implemented with integrity, and it has been used locally and internationally. At this conference, you’ll see abundant evidence that it’s an approach that works. Our speakers will share their lived experiences of customising employment and provide practical tips you can start implementing immediately.

Learn more about the conference, speakers, and presentations on our main conference page

Why you should attend the Opening Opportunities conference

At the conference, you’ll be part of a supportive tribe of changemakers who share your values and are walking the same path. You will rub shoulders with families and professionals who can see people’s potential and believe in creating a better employment future.

So get away from your daily grind for two days and come away with

the realisation that there’s an abundance of employment opportunities waiting to be discovered
a greater understanding of how to map out a customised employment pathway
various ways to create employment opportunities
ways to navigate stigma about disability
insights into how to identify a person’s interests in a way that leads to employment
networking opportunities and ways to connect with other people after the conference.

This conference is perfect if you’re

Overwhelmed (or underwhelmed!) by the limiting post-school options for students with disability
Feeling stuck and worried that your family member might never be able to work
Feeling disheartened by the limiting beliefs of others about your family member’s ability to be meaningfully employed
A family member, a mentor or paid supporter, a professional, a prospective employer, or someone who wants everyone to be meaningfully and sustainably employed.

ACT educators and career advisors can claim up to 10 hours of professional development under TQI.

Learn more about the conference, speakers, and presentations on our main conference page

Conference details

Date: Thursday, 25 and Friday, 26 May 2023
Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on both days
Location: Hotel Realm in Canberra
Please plan to join us for a social networking event on Thursday evening, immediately after the end of Day 1

Please note there will be no live streaming of this event.

Tickets

Early bird rate (until 11:59 pm AEST on Thursday, 6 April 2023)

Conference only – $150.00 for people with disability and family members
Conference and Thursday evening networking event – $165.00 for people with disability and family members
Conference only – $340.00 for professionals
Conference and Thursday evening networking event – $355.00 for professionals
Strictly no shared tickets

Standard rate (from 7 April 2023)

Conference only – $180.00 for people with disability and family members
Conference and Thursday evening networking event – $195.00 for people with disability and family members
Conference only – $380.00 for professionals
Conference and Thursday evening networking event – $395.00 for professionals
Strictly no shared tickets

Subsidised (reduced-price) tickets are available. Please get in touch with Anne at anne@imaginemore.org.au to apply.

Learn more about the conference, speakers, and presentations on our main conference page