Four people outdoors, having a conversation around a round table. Two of them are in wheelchairs, and they are all smiling.

Must-attend events for the disability community in Australia for 2023

If you’re part of the disability community in Australia, this article is specially for you. We’re going to highlight local and online events that are not only accessible but also incredibly enriching.

Local Events in Australia

Melbourne Disability Expo

  • Location: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
  •  Date: November 17th to 18th, 2023

The theme of this year’s Melbourne Disability Expo is “My Future, My Choice,” with a focus on empowering people to control how they want to live their lives now and plan for the future. This will connect human services organizations and government agencies directly with their customers.

The Melbourne Disability Expo brings together a wide range of products and services to help people live their best life, including government and advocacy organizations, aids and equipment providers, financial and legal services, education, training and employment providers, social and leisure options, transport and vehicles, health and medical products and services, allied health professionals and support services, including in-home care providers.

The expo will also feature a range of informative and interactive presentations delivered by industry experts, all-abilities adult and children’s entertainment, and food vendors. Jump the entry queues by registering your attendance for the free Disability Expo on Friday and Saturday, November 17th and 18th, 2023, at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Get organized with the Expo Guide that will give you the lowdown on parking, exhibitors, floor plan, and the stage and entertainment schedule. The Melbourne Disability Expo will link thousands of people with a disability with hundreds of product and service providers as well as presenting a range of informative and interactive presentations delivered by industry experts. People with Disability are embracing “My Future, My Choice” to control how they want to live their lives now and plan for the future.

More information → https://melbournedisabilityexpo.com.au

Disability Sport & Recreation Festival

  • Location: Crown Riverwalk, Southbank – Yarra Promenade between Queensbridge St and Rockpool Bar and Grill
  • Date: December 1st, 2023

“There will be approximately 30 exhibitors and two activity zones where you can try different inclusive sport and recreational activities and learn about programs you can get involved in within your community. Other perks include meeting Paralympians and ambassadors, tuning into the Vision Australia live broadcast and witnessing the Flame of Hope light the cauldron at the finish point of the Law Enforcement Torch Run.”

More information → https://www.dsr.org.au/vdsr-festival

Online Events

Global Conference 2023: Better Together – Creating an accessible and inclusive world

  • Date: November 1st, 2023

This year’s global conference, chaired by our CEO, Diane Lightfoot, will celebrate the power of partnerships. At Business Disability Forum we’ve created a global community where organisations of all sizes who want to get better at disability inclusion come together to learn and share best practice. Innovative ideas for inclusion come from collaborating with others who bring a fresh and different perspective, including disabled people, and from sharing expertise to create a more accessible and inclusive world for everyone.

Innovation in technology can turn science fiction into fact at breathtaking speed. Fears about the future abound. Will AI become an unruly ruler over our lives? Will disabled people or anyone different from the creators be excluded from the virtual world? It’s right to ask these questions, but it’s also true that technology giants have been competing to create the most inclusive and accessible technology to improve the lives of disabled people.

Learn what they have been doing, what’s possible and how they have been able to be so innovative. The answer might lie in who they employ and choose to work with.

More information → https://businessdisabilityforum.org.uk/networking-and-events/globalconference-2023/

Disabled Not Disposable: A health equity conference from the disabled patient’s perspective

  • Date: November 29, 2023

Disabled Not Disposable is a free virtual conference for health care providers who seek increased knowledge and training on providing quality and dignified care for patients with disabilities. Our hope is that this conference will result in decreased health inequities faced by the disability community and improve trust with a community that disproportionately requires complex care.

The half-day virtual event will involve four educational sessions between the medical community and the disability community.

More information → https://www.gillettechildrens.org/get-involved/attend-an-event/2023-disabled-not-disposable-a-health-equity-conference

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions:

  1. How can I register?
    • Most events offer online registrations and accessibility features.
  2. Are the events free?
    • Some are free, while others may require a registration fee.
  3. How can I prepare for an online event?
    • Make sure you have a good internet connection and a compatible device to participate in webinars or online forums.
  4. Where can I find more information?
    • The official websites of the events and social media are excellent sources of updated information.
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