Voices.
Choices.
Futures.
19 May 2026
A national forum bringing stakeholders together to explore current approaches in disability, with a focus on supported decision-making and inclusion in education.
Conference Agenda
19 May 2026
MC welcome and housekeeping
MC Melanie Suzanne Wilson.
Acknowledgment of Country
Conference welcome
MDAA Chairperson Jasmine Irwin.
Conference opening
MDAA ED Yvonne Munce.
Special address
Commissioner Jeff Smith.
Special address
Senator Jordan Steele-John, Greens Senator for Western Australia.
Panel discussion 1
National Dialogue on Supported Decision-Making and Disability Rights.
Commissioner Jeff Smith- NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner and Mr Zaya Toma- Assistant Director- National Insurance Disability Agency External Reviews Branch
Morning tea
Workshop 1
Implementing Supported Decision-Making: Evidence, Models and Lessons from Across Australia.
Rekha Khatri. Melek Ucak. Luna Wu. Rana Karakus and Manon Bilawczuk. Julian Laurens. Ahilan Croos, Fatemeh Abbasi, Julian Vaz, Lisa Weingartner. Sid Chandran.
Lunch and networking
Workshop 2
Bridging Research and Practice: Disability Inclusion in Australian Education.
Dr Jacqueline Small and Dr Santuri Rungan. Dr Joanne Danker and Dr Adrian Chew. Isabel Ramirez, Alison Maunder and Jill Hellemans. Yangi Uchalla and Dee Jones. Associate Professor Irena Veljanova, Clare Nakazibwe and Professor Andre M.N. Renzaho.
Panel discussion 2
Inclusive Education in Australia: Rights, Reform and Reality.
Graham Blaxell- Education/ Organisational Development Leader, Tiffany Papadakis- Disability Advocate, and Noel Dixon- School Principal, Granville Boys High School
Afternoon tea
UTS Next Gen Research presentation
Dr Erin Turbitt. Supported by MDAA.
Presentation
Moon Luo, Multicultural Liaison Officer, Auburn Local Police Area Command.
Reflection activity, evaluation and wrap up
Official closing remarks
MDAA ED Yvonne Munce.
Implementing Supported Decision-Making: Evidence, Models and Lessons from Across Australia.
10:30am–12:20pm
Rekha Khatri
Influences on seeking gender-based violence supports among people with disabilities from multicultural backgrounds.
Melek Ucak
Restricted choices: disability housing and domestic violence in refugee settlement.
Luna Wu
Know your choices, decide your ways: a multicultural advocates reflections on supported decision making.
Rana Karakus and Manon Bilawczuk
My Health Matters in my language.
Julian Laurens
“What could you do better next time?”: The importance of applying an evolving capacity framework to supported decision-making practice for children and young people with disability.
Ahilan Croos - VALID, Fatemeh Abbassi, Lisa Weingartner, and Julian Vaz - CID
Supported decision-making (SDM) in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
Sid Chandran
My journey towards autonomy.
Bridging Research and Practice: Disability Inclusion in Australian Education.
1:00pm–2:30pm
Dr Jacqueline Small and Dr Santuri Rungan
School Clinic Model of Health Care: Working Together Has a Lot Going for It.
Dr Joanne Danker and Dr Adrian Chew
Educational experiences and outcomes of students from multicultural backgrounds with intellectual disability and/or autistic students.
Isabel Ramirez, Alison Maunder and Jill Hellemans
From voice to practice: supporting inclusion for multicultural families.
Yangi Uchalla and Dee Jones
Field education coordination as a critical component of anti-oppressive practice, social justice and equity in social work and human service education.
Associate Professor Irena Veljanova, Clare Nakazibwe and Professor Andre M.N. Renzaho
Educational challenges for children with disabilities in humanitarian context in Sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Rwamwanja and Nakivale refugee settlements in Uganda.
Speakers and Session Leaders
Jeff Smith
NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner Jeff Smith is a leading voice in safeguarding the rights of older people and people with disability, and a champion for dignity, inclusion and protection from abuse.
Jordan Steele-John
Senator Jordan Steele-John is an influential national advocate for disability rights, inclusion and social justice, bringing lived experience and a powerful voice to Parliament.
Melanie Suzanne Wilson
Melanie Suzanne Wilson is a seasoned public speaker with over a decade of experience. As founder of The Motivate Collective, she brings energy, insight and a deep understanding of community and not-for-profit leadership to guide conversations throughout the day.