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

Centre for Inclusive Employment industry launch, Implementation Masterclass & Welcome Reception

Centre for Inclusive Employment industry launch

10:00 am – 10:30 am

Lagoon Terrace

Centre for Inclusive Employment industry launch Registration & Morning Tea

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Lagoon Room

Centre for Inclusive Employment industry launch

Implementation Masterclass

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Lagoon Terrace

Implementation Masterclass Registration & Lunch

1:00 pm – 1:10 pm

Lagoon Room

Introduction of DEA Implementation Workshop

Wayne Herbert – Director of Progress and Property, LEAD Disability Services

1:10 pm – 1:40 pm

Lagoon Room

From Tender to Transition

Mr Paul Diviny – Founder and CEO, Prospert, Australia

1:40 pm – 2:20 pm

Lagoon Room

Navigating change in turbulent times

Dr Darren Coppin – CEO & Chief Behavioural Scientist, Azurum

2:20 pm – 3:20 pm

Lagoon Room

World Cafe

3:20 pm – 3:40 pm

Lagoon Terrace

Afternoon Tea

3:40 pm – 4:40 pm

Lagoon Room

The future of professional development

Dan Gavin – National Manager – Disability Employment, genU Training

4:40 pm – 4:50 pm

Lagoon Room

Close of DEA Implementation Workshop

Wayne Herbert – Director of Progress and Property, LEAD Disability Services

Welcome Reception

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Poolside Lawns

Welcome Reception

Wednesday 14 May 2025

Conference Day 1

8:00 am – 9:00 am

Exhibition Area

Registration

9:00 am – 9:10 am

Grand Ballroom

Welcome to Country

9:10 am – 9:30 am

Grand Ballroom

Conference Welcome & Elly discusses: Aiming higher for disability employment

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

9:30 am – 9:55 am

Grand Ballroom

The future of disability employment in Australia

Peter Bacon – Chief Executive Officer, Disability Employment Australia

9:55 am – 10:30 am

Grand Ballroom

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

Callam Pickering – Senior Economist APAC, Indeed

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Exhibition Area

Morning Tea

11:00 am – 11:20 am

Grand Ballroom

The State of Disability Discrimination in Australia Today

Rosemary Kayess – Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission

11:20 am – 12:30 pm

Grand Ballroom

Panel Discussion: The role of social enterprise in disability employment

Mark Daniels – Chief of Operations, White box Enterprises

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

Andrea Comastri – Co-founder and CEO, Hotel Etico

Saraya O’Connell – General Manager, Hotel Etico Australia

Melissa Cofre – Executive Director, Disability Services, Yooralla

Roksolana Suchowerska – Senior Lecturer, Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne University

Myron Mann – Chief Executive Officer, Bedford Group Ltd

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

Exhibition Area

Lunch

1:30 pm – 2:15 pm

Grand Ballroom 1

Presentation TBC

Grand Ballroom 2

Building organisational practices to employ young people with disability

Jo Ingold – Professor of Human Resource Management, Peter Faber Business School, Australian Catholic University

Dr Qian Yi Lee – Postdoctoral Research Associate, Australian Catholic University

Jason McCurry – Programs Manager, Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA)

Grand Ballroom 3

Evidence to Practice: Transitioning to employment – part 1

Roksolana Suchowerska – Senior Lecturer, Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne University

Liz Willis – Project Manager, Down Syndrome Australia

Melanie Sennett – CEO, Stepping Stone Clubhouse

Will McKinlay – Peer Worker, Stepping Stone Clubhouse

2:15 pm – 3:00 pm

Grand Ballroom 1

Assisting First Nations Peoples with mental health conditions develop vocational confidence and knowledge of work to pursue their employment and other vocational goals

Preetha Sivakumaran – Mental Health Occupational Therapist, WISE IDEA, WISE Employment

Shannon Lang – Director, WISE IDEA, WISE Employment

Grand Ballroom 2

Accessing Hidden Talent: Practical Disability Employment

Joshua Bamford – Human Resources Director, M&H Ward Group

Grand Ballroom 3

Evidence to Practice: Transitioning to employment – part 2

Roksolana Suchowerska – Senior Lecturer, Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne University

Liz Willis – Project Manager, Down Syndrome Australia

Melanie Sennett – CEO, Stepping Stone Clubhouse

Will McKinlay – Peer Worker, Stepping Stone Clubhouse

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Exhibition Area

Afternoon Tea

3:30 pm – 4:15 pm

Grand Ballroom

How we can all be better allies in employment

Elizabeth Wright – ABC, Paralympian and Journalist

4:15 pm – 5:00 pm

Grand Ballroom

Inclusive Employment in the Screen and Media Sector

Tracey Corbin-Matchett OAM – Chief Executive Officer, Bus Stop Films

Jackson Hughes – Employment Member, Bus Stop

6:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Grand Ballroom

Gala Dinner – including Hall of Fame Ceremony and DEA Awards presentations

Ellie Cole – Paralympian, Speaker and Disability Advocate

Suzanne Colbert AM, GAICD – Advisor, Non-executive Director, Business Owner and Mentor

Thursday 15 May 2025

Conference Day 2

8:00 am – 9:00 am

Exhibition Area

Registration

9:00 am – 9:10 am

Grand Ballroom

Welcome & Acknowledgement of Country

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

9:10 am – 9:45 am

Grand Ballroom

Plenary Sessions

9:45 am – 10:30 am

Grand Ballroom

Building Neuro-Inclusive workplaces

Geoff Smith – Chief Executive Officer, Australian Spatial Analytics

Aron Mercer – Chief Growth Officer, Xceptional Academy

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Exhibition Area

Morning Tea

11:00 am – 11:30 am

Grand Ballroom

To Pursue Happiness

Dr Dinesh B. Palipana – Emergency Physician, Researcher and Lecturer and Lawyer, Gold Coast University Hospital, Griffith University

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Grand Ballroom

Panel Discussion: The Future of Employment and the NDIS

Graeme Innes – Lawyer, author, and company Director

Sam Bennett – Program Director, Grattan Institute

Catherine McAlpine – CEO, Inclusion Australia

Kelly Treloar – NDIS Policy Manager, Disability Employment Australia

Colin Entwistle – Head of Employment, National Disability Services

Kirsten Deane – Deputy Director, Melbourne Disability Institute

12:30 pm – 1:15 pm

Exhibition Area

Lunch

1:15 pm – 2:00 pm

Grand Ballroom 1

Andrew Radford: A Journey of Resilience and Achievement

Andrew Radford – Board Member, The Disability Trust, Australia

Rebecca McIntyre – Employment Services Manager, The Disability Trust, Australia

Grand Ballroom 2

The Power of Business Intelligence in Employment Services

Paul Diviny – Chief Executive Officer, Prospert

Jason Russell – CEO, CVGT Employment, Australia

Grand Ballroom 3

Evidence to Practice: Working effectively with employers – part 1

Jo Ingold – Professor of Human Resource Management, Peter Faber Business School, Australian Catholic University

Sharon Kumar – Executive Manager, Member Services, Australian Disability Network (AusDN)

David West – Director of Human Resources, W Melbourne

Prof Byron Keating – Co-Director, QUT Vulnerability Research Group

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm

Grand Ballroom 1

Update from Disability Employment Australia – DES, NDIS and Training

Hanif Mohamed – Professional Membership & Development Manager, Disability Employment Australia

Kelly Treloar – NDIS Policy Manager, Disability Employment Australia

Sally Karandrews – DES Policy Manager, Disability Employment Australia

Grand Ballroom 2

Transforming disability employment: insights from a Paralympian’s journey

Matthew Levy – Author, Matthew Levy OAM, Australia

Grand Ballroom 3

Evidence to Practice: Working effectively with employers – part 2

Jo Ingold – Professor of Human Resource Management, Peter Faber Business School, Australian Catholic University

Sharon Kumar – Executive Manager, Member Services, Australian Disability Network (AusDN)

David West – Director of Human Resources, W Melbourne

Prof Byron Keating – Co-Director, QUT Vulnerability Research Group

2:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Exhibition Area

Afternoon Tea

3:15 pm – 3:45 pm

Grand Ballroom

Interview with a Hall of Fame recipient

Graeme Innes – Lawyer, author, and company Director

3:45 pm – 3:50 pm

Grand Ballroom

Closing Remarks

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

3:50 pm – 4:00 pm

Exhibition Area

Networking