Minister’s message

I convened the inaugural Shared Visions — Exploring the future for disability in Queensland conference to provide the state’s first ever sector-wide forum to discuss the issues and trends that will shape the lives of Queenslanders with a disability during the next 20 years.

The conference was designed to provide opportunities for all people with a commitment to disability to share their ideas, aspirations and unique perspectives on the important issues. It was a place to be inspired by others, to be challenged in our world views, and to articulate the elusive but essential future vision.

It was my hope that we would come away from the conference with a greater understanding of our common goals and an increased capacity to work together toward a positive future for people with a disability.

What I hadn’t anticipated is the effort that so many people made to be at the event, tell their story and be so creative in sharing their visions for the future. This was truly inspirational. Throughout the conference, I was touched by the spirit with which delegates took up the challenge to leave the past behind and be so creative in their visions for the future.

Overwhelmingly the messages I was given about people’s visions for the future were ones in which people are acknowledged for their abilities and not their disabilities.

Together we aspire to an inclusive community where each is valued for their unique contribution; where there is open communication on issues relating to disability; and which provides, for people experiencing disability, the same opportunities and choices in education, jobs, community participation and relationships as everybody else.

This is a vision for which we all share responsibility. It can only be achieved when all areas of the community — government, the non-government sector, the private sector, and the broader community — shift their perceptions and take action.

I challenge us all to embrace this vision, and to encourage strategies and initiatives across all aspects of government, community and business to keep this outcome in mind.

I won’t pretend this is an easy task and I want to thank all those who contributed to delivering these messages. I assure you that I am committed to continuing the journey with you to build a strong, supportive and positive disability sector that works towards realising our shared visions.

Warren Pitt MP

Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniors.

Table of Contents

Minister’s message 2

Executive summary 4

Purpose 5

Program 6

Format 6

Keynote speakers 7

Information sessions 8

Networking 8

Opportunities for engagement 9

Outlook – shared visions though workshops 9

Visionary pod 11

Feedback from delegates 11

Operational Overview – Attachment 1 14

Disability conference reference group 14

Venue logistics 15

Delegate Statistics 16

Promotional materials 17

Sponsorship and in-kind support 17

Registration fees 18

Analysis of delgate feedback – Attachment 2 19

Summary of conference workshops – Attachement 3 22
Executive Summary

On 22 and 23 July 2005, 523 people from all areas of the disability community in Queensland converged on the Gold Coast for the inaugural state disability conference, Shared Visions — Exploring the future for disability in Queensland.

The conference was the first of its kind in Australia and the first time the Queensland disability sector had come together to exchange ideas and develop a vision for the future of disability in this state.

Five hundred and twenty-three delegates, representing all areas of the disability sector registered to attend the conference.

The self-identified profile included:

·  people with a disability (76)

·  family member (45)

·  carer (66)

·  service providers — government (58)

·  service providers — non government (241)

·  advocacy group (70)

·  academic (37)

·  speakers, facilitators, and departmental staff (64).

More than 50 per cent of delegates came from outside the Greater Brisbane area and more than 30 per cent came from outside the South East corner.

Conference logistics and event management were vital to facilitating meaningful engagement. Careful attention was paid to accommodation, meals and transport requirements, to enable all delegates to participate equitably in the conference. This report highlights the program and outcomes of engagement occurring at the conference.

The Minister for Disability Services, the Honourable Warren Pitt MP was present throughout the two-day conference, along with his senior policy advisors. Also in attendance were senior executives from both Disability Services Queensland and the Department of Communities.

The formative structure of the conference and the presence of so many citizens, service providers and government representatives enabled the development of collaborative relationships and open discussion on disability issues of concern to both government and community.

The conference content and format was developed with the aim of providing an opportunity to develop a shared understanding of the future direction of disability services and disability issues, share the latest developments, current research and innovations in the disability field and respond to the diverse networking, information sharing and learning needs of the disability sector.

Workshops enabled delegates to share ideas, anecdotes and innovative stories about the future they envisaged for disability in Queensland. The details of those workshops are summarised in this report along with outcomes from feedback received via evaluation forms and correspondence.

Key messages from the presentations in the final plenary session were:

·  the need for individuals to empower themselves to create the desired future

·  the need for changes to the system — to remove barriers and invest in effective infrastructure; to ensure the provision of accessible and relevant housing, education, and childcare; and to recognise that sustainable solutions come from early investment in prevention and early intervention approaches

·  the need for changes to the “world view” — those deeply held attitudes and cultures across our community — to create a community where there is open communication on issues relating to disability; a greater focus on social justice; and the same opportunities and choices for people with a disability in jobs, volunteering, community participation and relationships as everybody else.

Some groups chose to highlight their message through story telling. Their stories highlighted a future in which access and equality, inclusion and community acceptance were the norm. The presentations included a community barn dance; a song about access and inclusion; a depiction of the Olympic rings; a role play of “The voice” from the 25th anniversary conference at Cooktown; voices past, present and future; and a 2030 closing ceremony for the disability conference of that year.

Key phrases used included “nothing about us, without us”, deliberative, multi-layered, combined efforts, working together, and “communities for all”.

The key themes that emerged from the 2005 conference were:

·  Supporting inclusive communities

·  Sustainable informal networks

·  Enhancing service provision through technology and collaboration.

Purpose

The Shared Visions Conference: Exploring the future for people with a disability was a Ministerial initiative that was delivered as part of the Disability Action Week 2005 program.

The Department of Communities developed the conference in partnership with Disability Services Queensland as part of a three-year initiative to enhance innovation in engagement with the disability sector.

The conference brought together government representatives and stakeholders from all areas of the disability sector to engage with each other on what is required to improve the lives of people with a disability in Queensland over the longer-term.


The conference was designed to provide opportunities for delegates to:

·  develop a shared understanding of the future direction of disability services and disability issues

·  be appraised of the latest developments, current research and innovations in the disability field

·  participate in networking, information sharing and learning.

Program

Format

The content and format of the conference was developed collaboratively with a reference group which included representatives of key disability sector organisations.

The conference was designed as a working conference and delegates were asked to contribute their experiences, thoughts and ideas to a process for mapping the future for disability in Queensland and creating shared visions for this future.

The conference was opened by the Premier of Queensland Peter Beattie MP, the Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniors Warren Pitt MP, and Chair of the Disability Council of Queensland Mr Paul Larcombe.

A futures methodology was adopted to enable all delegates to share their histories, express their ideas, present their visions for the future and participate in panel sessions. Internationally recognised futurist Dr Sohail Inyatullah was commissioned to lead the futures process with his team of 11 workshop facilitators. Dr Inyatullah delivered an opening address, provided an overview of the future-mapping process and set the scene for the conference. He explored the way current systems, attitudes and assumptions shape the future, and challenged delegates to articulate and share their visions for the future throughout the conference.

Delegates were assigned to workshop groups to share concepts over the two days. Panel sessions at the end of each day provided the opportunity for workshop participants to share the outcomes of their discussions with all conference delegates. Facilitated by Dr Inayatullah, the panel session empowered people with a disability to present diverse and challenging views on the key issues to be addressed in achieving their visions for the sector.

A summary of workshop discussions can be found in the “Outlook — shared visions through workshops” section of this report and the attached table (Attachment 3). All comments from each workshop have been compiled and presented to the Minister for Disability Services.

As well as workshop sessions, the conference provided keynote sessions presented by recognised leaders in the disability sector.


Keynote speakers

Graeme Innes AM

Deputy Disability Discrimination Commissioner

A lawyer and mediator, Graeme has been an equal opportunity practitioner for more than 20 years. He was appointed Deputy Disability Discrimination Commissioner with the Commonwealth Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in September 1999. He is responsible for public enquiries, exemption applications and development of standards under the Disability Discrimination Act.

Graeme presented case studies in which people attending university or in employment had their lives altered due to an accident or the onset of disease resulting in a disability. The case studies demonstrated that these people lost the opportunity to continue in their chosen fields of work or do well in studies as a result of lack of accessibility in workplaces, or community attitudes. Graeme challenged delegates to think about how the lives of people with a disability could change if community attitudes were different.

Claire Thorne

Executive Officer, Disability Advisory Council of Victoria

The Council is the only state disability body in Australia to have exclusive representation from people who have direct experience with disability. The membership comprises 13 people with a disability and two parents of children with a disability. The Council is chaired by Dr Rhonda Galbally AO, one of Australia’s eminent community leaders.

Claire reflected on Victorian achievements and challenges in positioning disability within a whole-of-government context and establishing a diversity framework that promotes people with a disability as citizens and not just service recipients.

Mark Bagshaw

Manager IBM A/NZ Accessibility Centre

Mark has been working for IBM Australia for more than 20 years in a variety of technical, marketing, sales and management positions. He is establishing the IBM Australia/New Zealand Accessibility Centre for the development and implementation of accessible technologies and solutions. He was previously the International Marketing Manager for IBM Australasia. Since 2001 he has been working on a special project with the support of the New South Wales Government, IBM and Telstra to establish the Disability Technology Innovation Centre at the Australian Technology Park.

Mark spoke about a whole of life approach to disability reform and the necessity to develop strategic interventions that remove the infrastructure barriers, lift community expectations and empower individuals with a disability.

Keynote presentations can be accessed online at www.disability.qld.gov.au


Information sessions

Four optional lunch box information sessions were held on the first day of the conference. These sessions were:

1.  New disability legislation
Katie Holm, Director, Office of Programs, Policy and Community and Specialist Services, Disability Services Queensland

2.  Consultation outcomes for assessment, prioritisation, service and funding approaches, discussion paper
Claire Smith, Principal Policy Officer, Disability Engagement, Department of Communities

3.  New Zealand’s response to the challenges posed by people with an intellectual disability who offend
Lester Mundell, Chief Advisor, Disability Support Services, New Zealand

4.  Children with a disability
Gill Parmenter, Director, Child Safety, Disability Services Queensland.

Keynote and information session presentations can be accessed online at

www.disability.qld.gov.au

Networking

Delegates had a further opportunity to network at the conference dinner on day one. The evening included dinner speaker, Marayke Jonkers and entertainment by singer-musician Peter Vance.

Marayke Jonkers won two bronze medals for swimming at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. She also holds the world record for 100m butterfly and has broken over 70 Australian swimming records. Marayke shared her experiences of backpacking through Greece, Egypt and Europe after the games. The five month adventure involved the challenges of getting a wheelchair through the ruins of Pompeii in Italy and taking skiing lessons in Switzerland. In 2005, Marayke will graduate from her second university degree. She hopes to become the first female Queenslander in a wheelchair to report on prime time television. Marayke was named 2005 Queensland Young Achiever of the Year.

The evening concluded with entertainment by Peter Vance. Peter’s lifelong passion is singing. Recent performance highlights include an appearance as Tom Jones in the finals of the theatre/film production of Access Idol, 2004 at the Brisbane Powerhouse; singing the Wataboshi Festival theme song at the International Welcome, 2003; and performing his original song, Torch of Life at the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relay Celebrations and on ABC TV’s Stateline in 2000.

Opportunities for engagement

The conference program provided a number of opportunities for engagement between delegates. This section outlines the views shared through two major engagement processes, conference workshops and evaluation forms.