As is ever the case, the DEA Conference program will get to the heart of the issues facing disability employment sector now and into the future.

To do that, we’re bringing together people who are prepared to engage with complexity rather than avoid it.

Thematically, we’ll reflect on what we’re seeing on the ground, explore the bigger policy and labour market forces shaping our work, and spend some time thinking seriously about how we improve the system — not in theory, but in practice.

Monday 15 June 2026

Welcome Reception

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Welcome Reception

Tuesday 16 June 2026

Conference Day 1

8:00 am – 9:00 am

Registration

9:00 am – 9:10 am

Welcome to Country

9:10 am – 9:30 am

Welcome

Wayne Herbert – LEAD Disability Services

Elly Desmarchelier – Speaker, writer, event facilitator and disability rights advocate

9:30 am – 10:00 am

Minister’s Address

Minister Tanya Plibersek – Minister for Social Services of Australia

10:00 am – 10:30 am

Address

Michael Lye – Secretary, Department of Social Services

10:30 am – 10:50 am

Morning Tea

10:50 am – 11:00 am

The case for reforming the Disability Support Pension

Matt Wright – Partner, Deloitte Access Economics

11:00 am – 11:10 am

What’s it like to deal with the DSP?

Damien Porter – Disability Advocate, Freelance Consultant, and Co-Host of the Ability Podcast

11:10 am – 12:00 pm

Panel Session: The case for reforming the Disability Support Pension

Michael Lye – Secretary, Department of Social Services

Matt Wright – Partner, Deloitte Access Economics

John Burn – Chief Executive Officer, DEInvestments

Damien Porter – Disability Advocate, Freelance Consultant, and Co-Host of the Ability Podcast

Catherine McAlpine – Inclusion Australia

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm

Transforming the Disability Employment Ecosystem

Peter Bacon – Chief Executive Officer, Disability Employment Australia

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm

Labour Market Update

Callam Pickering – APAC Senior Economist, Indeed

1:00 pm – 1:55 pm

Lunch

1:55 pm – 2:40 pm

Breakout Session 1

Breakout Session 2

Breakout Session 3

2:45 pm – 3:30 pm

Breakout Session 4

Breakout Session 5

Breakout Session 6

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Afternoon Tea

4:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Presentation of Blended Transitions Findings

Ann Nevile – Hon Associate Professor, ANU

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Interview with 2025 DEA Hall of Fame honouree

Prof Alastair McEwan AM – Disability and human rights consultant

Sally Karandrews – IEA Policy Manager, Disability Employment Australia

6:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Gala Dinner
Including Hall of Fame Ceremony and DEA Awards presentations

Wednesday 17 June 2026

Conference Day 2

8:00 am – 9:00 am

Registration

9:00 am – 9:10 am

Welcome & Acknowledgement of Country

Wayne Herbert – LEAD Disability Services

Elly Desmarchelier – Speaker, writer, event facilitator and disability rights advocate

9:10 am – 9:35 am

Lessons from the UK and an Introduction to the Supported Employment Quality Framework

Laura Davis – Chief Executive Officer, British Association of Supported Employment

9:35 am – 10:15 am

Panel – how could the Supported Employment Quality Framework apply to Australia?

Peter Bacon – Chief Executive Officer, Disability Employment Australia

Dr June Alexander – Lecturer, Flinders University

Laura Davis – Chief Executive Officer, British Association of Supported Employment

Dr Jenny Crosbie – Interim Director, Centre for Inclusive Employment

10:15 am – 11:00 am

Lightning Panel from providers on inclusion

11:00 am – 11:30 am

Morning Tea

11:30 am – 12:00 pm

Creating a ‘pull’ in disability employment: a focus on the demand side

John Burn – Chief Executive Officer, DEInvestments

12:00 pm – 12:50 pm

Panel session: Future developments on the ‘demand side’

Amy Whalley – Chief Executive Officer, AusDN

Prof Alastair McEwan AM – Disability and human rights consultant

John Burn – Chief Executive Officer, DEInvestments

Don Intine – Programmed

12:50 pm – 1:45 pm

Lunch

1:45 pm – 2:30 pm

Breakout Session 1

Breakout Session 2

Breakout Session 3

2:35 pm – 3:20 pm

Breakout Session 4

Breakout Session 5

Breakout Session 6

3:25 pm – 3:35 pm

Conference Summary

Wayne Herbert – LEAD Disability Services

Elly Desmarchelier – Speaker, writer, event facilitator and disability rights advocate

3:35 pm – 3:40 pm

Conference Wrap Up

Mat McIntyre – Chair, Disability Employment Australia

3:40 pm – 4:00 pm

Afternoon Tea

4:00 pm

Conference Close