Local disability conference a huge success

LOCAL paediatric allied health organisation Kids+ has united disability advocates and professional and family carers to spark social change at its biennial Changemakers Conference.

The event, which was held earlier this month, explored the theme “Breaking the Mould” and encouraged guests to share, connect and empower each other to reshape support for people with disabilities.

Participants and presenters included people with lived experience, therapists, researchers, community workers and parents.

Keynote speeches by CanChild’s Dr Olaf Kraus De Camargo, Qubit Incubator’s Shay Jayawardena, and BackTrack Youthworks’ Bernie Shakeshaft explored early intervention, working with remote communities and disadvantaged youth.

Other highlights included a popular session by local men’s group leader Matt Perrett on the support and culture of dads and male carers of children with disabilities, as well as co-designed sessions with physiotherapist Sara West, and local parents Cam and Liv Young, and Hannah and Josh Jenkins.

Kids+ chief executive officer Shaun Cannon said the Changemakers Conference was a positive and purposeful experience.

“The Changemakers Conference has three aims: prioritise the perspective of those with lived experience of disability, provide a platform for those with practical professional expertise to share their ideas and experience, and remind us that each of us has the potential to be a changemaker every day,” he said.

Attendees said they were invigorated and empowered by the event.

“Changemakers helped me refocus how I can centre family, culture and a person’s dreams. Heaps of ideas to take back to the school I work at,” one attendee said.

Another said: “Learning more about inclusive language – the power of inclusive language – and seeing examples of what inclusive language might look like, it was really powerful.”