Conferences for people with disability receive $320,000 funding boost

The Australian Government is providing $320,000 to help people with disability attend 27 conferences throughout Australia., Bill Shorten, announced the conference funding today while speaking at the Young People in Nursing Homes Alliance’s Shaping the Future Today conference in Melbourne.

“This funding helps maximise participation of people with disability, their families and carers in disability conferences held within Australia,” Mr Shorten said.

“The program assists with the cost of conference fees, accommodation and travel, engaging Auslan interpreters and note-takers, providing hearing loops and material in alternative formats to their families and their carers at disability focused conferences.”

Among the other conferences that have received funding are:

• Queensland Advocacy Inc – Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Seminar, Brisbane
• Multiple Sclerosis Australia, Multiple Sclerosis National Advocacy Conference, Canberra
• The Spastic Centre – International Cerebral Palsy Conference, Sydney
• Australian Federation of Disability Organisations – Policy About Us, For Us, Melbourne
• Brain Injury Australia Inc – “Insights and Solutions” – the 2nd International Conference on Alcohol and Other Drug Related Brain Impairment and Brain Injury, Melbourne

National conferences will receive up to $10,000 in funding, while international conferences held in Australia will receive up to $20,000 in funding.

“Not only will this funding support the attendance of people with disability, it will also raise awareness in the community about issues important to people with disability, their families and carers,” Mr Shorten said.

“The voices of people with disability need to be heard and that’s what this program is all about – ensuring people are able to participate and have their say.”