Agenda


The 2025 DEA Conference will be focused on the implementation of the New Specialist Disability Employment Program including changes to the program, and centred on evolving disability employment policy, design, models, and practice including employment for NDIS participants.

The Conference program will include relevant debates, research, and innovative practices, with the core focus on quality services for participants and employers as well as achievement of employment goals and intersection with the Disability Employment Centre of Excellence.

The DEA 2025 Conference is the ideal gathering place for you, the people seeking to implement this generational change in policy, planning, and practice in the newly evolved landscape of the disability employment sector.

This is a significant opportunity to engage directly with what is going on in disability and employment. Following an Implementation Masterclass, we will have two days full of the latest and best analysis of the current sector developments, leading edge practice program ideas and thinking about future changes.

In addition to impressive keynote speakers and panels, our breakout sessions have garnered a reputation as some of the most valuable of the Conference. There is always a lot going on during these sessions and DEA is delighted to platform an eclectic range of experts to inform our own thinking.

To that end, we are seeking your contributions and are now calling for papers to be presented at this year’s Conference. We have listed a range of core themes and invite papers on these. Please click here for more information.

We are looking for evidence-based, best practice, results-driven presentations. This is your chance to showcase your initiatives that demonstrate improved employment outcomes for people with disability.

For more information click here.

As you know, the program drives discussions across the event. In breaks and drinks, coffee catchups and the Gala dinner, the pulse of the Conference is networking. So, take your opportunity to network with our peers. Across a lectern or a coffee, this is your chance to be involved and prepare yourself for the new era.

Tuesday 13 May 2025

Workshop & Welcome Reception

10:00 am10:30 am

Exhibition Area

Disability Centre of Excellence Industry Launch Registration & Morning Tea

10:30 am12:00 pm
12:00 pm1:00 pm

Exhibition Area

Implementation Masterclass Registration & Lunch

1:00 pm3:00 pm

Lagoon Room

Implementation Masterclass

Wayne Herbert Director of Progress and Property, LEAD Disability Services

Paul Diviny Chief Executive Officer, Prospert

Dr Darren Coppin CEO & Chief Behavioural Scientist, Azurum

Dan Gavin National Manager – Disability Employment, GenU Training

3:00 pm3:20 pm

Exhibition Area

Afternoon Tea

3:20 pm4:30 pm

Lagoon Room

Implementation Masterclass (continued)

Wayne Herbert Director of Progress and Property, LEAD Disability Services

Paul Diviny Chief Executive Officer, Prospert

Dr Darren Coppin CEO & Chief Behavioural Scientist, Azurum

Dan Gavin National Manager – Disability Employment, GenU Training

6:30 pm8:30 pm

Poolside Lawns

Welcome Reception

Wednesday 14 May 2025

Conference Day 1

8:00 am9:00 am

Exhibition Area

Registration

9:00 am9:10 am

Grand Ballroom

Welcome to Country

9:10 am9:30 am

Grand Ballroom

Welcome – Day 1

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

9:30 am9:55 am

Grand Ballroom

Plenary Sessions

9:55 am10:30 am

Grand Ballroom

The Australian economy in 2025, labour market movements, trends and indicators for disability employment

Callam Pickering Senior Economist APAC, Indeed.com

10:30 am11:00 am

Exhibition Area

Morning Tea

11:00 am11:20 am

Grand Ballroom

State of Play of Discrimination in Australia

Rosemary Kayess Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission

11:20 am12:30 pm

Grand Ballroom

Social Enterprise Panel Discussion

Mark Daniels Chief of Operations, White box Enterprises

Terry Symonds Chief Executive Officer, Yooralla

Jo Barraket AM Professor of Policy Studies and Director of Melbourne Social Equity Institute, University of Melbourne

12:30 pm1:30 pm

Exhibition Area

Lunch

1:30 pm2:15 pm

Grand Ballroom 1

Breakout Sessions

Grand Ballroom 2

Breakout Sessions

Grand Ballroom 3

Breakout Sessions

2:15 pm3:00 pm

Grand Ballroom 1

Accessing Hidden Talent: Practical Disability Employment

Joshua Bamford Human Resources Director, M&H Ward Group

Grand Ballroom 2

Breakout Sessions

Grand Ballroom 3

Breakout Sessions

3:00 pm3:30 pm

Exhibition Area

Afternoon Tea

3:30 pm4:15 pm

Grand Ballroom

Plenary Sessions

4:15 pm5:00 pm

Grand Ballroom

Plenary Sessions

6:30 pm10:30 pm

Grand Ballroom

Gala Dinner & Hall of Fame Ceremony

Thursday 15 May 2025

Conference Day 2

8:00 am9:00 am

Exhibition Area

Registration

9:00 am9:10 am

Grand Ballroom

Welcome & Acknowledgement of Country

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

9:10 am9:45 am

Grand Ballroom

Plenary Sessions

9:45 am10:30 am

Grand Ballroom

Plenary Sessions

10:30 am11:00 am

Exhibition Area

Morning Tea

11:00 am11:30 am

Grand Ballroom

Plenary Sessions

11:30 am12:30 pm

Grand Ballroom

Future of NDIS Panel Session

Graeme Innes

12:30 pm1:15 pm

Exhibition Area

Lunch

1:15 pm2:00 pm

Grand Ballroom 1

Breakout Sessions

Grand Ballroom 2

Breakout Sessions

Grand Ballroom 3

Breakout Sessions

2:00 pm2:45 pm

Grand Ballroom 1

Breakout Sessions

Grand Ballroom 2

Breakout Sessions

Grand Ballroom 3

Breakout Sessions

2:45 pm3:15 pm

Exhibition Area

Afternoon Tea

3:15 pm3:45 pm

Grand Ballroom

Plenary Sessions

3:45 pm3:50 pm

Grand Ballroom

Closing Remarks

Mathew McIntyre Chief Operating Officer – Employment & Enterprises, Disability Trust

3:50 pm4:00 pm

Exhibition Area

Networking