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Happy New Year! 2023 is upon us, which means it's time for professionals and leaders within the disability support sector to start planning training, development, and campaigns for the year ahead.
To help fill your calendar, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of key dates for the disability support sector in Australia. These dates are in three categories, as listed in the table of contents to the left.
- Training and Development Workshops and Webinars
- Australian Events, Expos and Conferences
- Disability and Accessibility Awareness Days
Please note: These lists were compiled in December 2022 and were accurate at the time of publishing. Please check the website links for further information on the events listed and to check for any recent updates in date or location.
Training and Development Workshops and Webinars for NDIS Providers in 2023
How are you going to upskill and develop your teams in 2023? Training and development can be a great way to start the new year fresh and re-energised.
Programs in the disability support sector are updated regularly throughout the year, so we recommend visiting and bookmarking the following sites to plan your training and development courses or webinars:
National Disability Services (NDS)
The NDS provides regular events, training and conferences for the disability sector right across Australia. You can search the NDS calendar of events here — including learning and development sessions, webinars and conferences.
National Disability Practitioners (NDP)
NDP and NDS work together to provide comprehensive evidence-based learning and development opportunities for the disability sector.
NDP uses learning and development to empower and support the Australian disability workforce, equipping members with the information and tools they need to deliver the best services to people living with disability. Check out the NDP webinars, workshops and online resources at their learning hub.
DSC
Team DSC (formally Disability Services Consulting) are a passionate and highly qualified team of NDIS experts who provide information and training to the disability services sector. More than half of their consultants have lived experience of disability and they put together all kinds of training from consulting and conferences to workshops and webinars. You can find their calendar of training events and webinars here on the DSC website.
GoodHuman
GoodHuman regularly surveys industry members and leadership professionals on how to best manage and provide services on the NDIS, releasing key insights and data at webinar events throughout the year. To stay in touch and be the first to know about these events, please use this link to subscribe to our newsletter.
First Peoples Disability Network Australia (FPDN)
First Peoples Disability Network Australia runs regular free webinars for service providers, with session times and past recordings available on their website.
Disability Leadership Institute (DLI)
The Disability Leadership Institute offers online leadership development and support for disability leaders, including coaching, training, networking, and a range of resources.
DLI has several programs open now for enrollment in 2023, all delivered virtually anywhere in Australia. Learn more or register at the DLI website here.
Calendar of Australian Events, Expos and Conferences for the Disability Support Industry in 2023
If you’re looking for a way for your disability support organisation to connect directly with NDIS participants, their families, and carers, there are some fantastic expos coming up in 2023 right across the country.
To connect with other organisations, leaders, and your peers within the disability support sector, check out our list of conferences and educational webinars for support service providers.
Please note: This list was compiled in December 2022 and was accurate at the time of publication. Links have been provided, so please check with the organisations listed to confirm dates and venues.
February 2023
Event: NDS CEOs' Meeting Workshop
Location: Virtual event
Date: 1 February 2023
Based on the content of the 2022 CEO’s Meeting in December, NDS will host two online workshops for senior leaders and directors from disability service providers. The first workshop is titled “Through the looking glass: avoiding four deep quality governance rabbit holes”.
Event: GoodHuman Presents: The Future of NDIS Support 2023
Location: Virtual event
Date: 1 February 2023
Event: NDS Workshop: Working with Auditors in the NDIS Approved Quality Auditors Scheme
Location: Virtual event
Date: 21 February 2023
This NDS workshop covers how to prepare for and lead your organisation through an external NDIS Certification audit. The workshop has been developed for senior leaders and quality managers from Australian disability service providers.
Event: Having a Say Conference 2023
Location: Deakin University, Waterfront Campus, Geelong, Victoria and available virtually
Date: 20 to 21 February 2023
This conference gives people an opportunity to 'have a say' about issues that affect their lives and to celebrate ability and achievement. A great opportunity for leaders in the disability support sector to listen and learn from.
Event: Adelaide Source Kids Disability Expo
Location: Adelaide Convention & Exhibition Centre – Hall H
Date: 25 to 26 February 2023
After success in other states in Australia, Source Kids Disability Expo is coming to Adelaide for the first time in 2023. This expo focuses on children, youth and young adults living with a disability, giving service providers the opportunity to connect with families, guardians and carers.
Not in Adelaide? This national expo has dates across the country:
- Sydney Source Kids Disability Expo will take place on 25 to 26 March.
- Melbourne Source Kids Disability Expo will take place on 7 to 8 July.
- Brisbane Source Kids Disability Expo will take place on 29 to 30 July.
- Perth Source Kids Disability Expo will take place on 28 to 29 October.
March 2023
Event: Brisbane Disability Connection Expo
Location: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Date: 3 to 4 March 2023
This expo is designed to connect NDIS Providers, Allied Health, Early Intervention and Disability/Complex Case Services, Aged and Children’s Services with their customers. There’s an opportunity for people to book face-to-face meetings and attendees are encouraged to spend quality time getting the answers they need from human services organisations.
Not in Brisbane? This national expo has dates across the country:
- Melbourne Disability Connection Expo will take place on 21 to 22 April.
- Sydney Disability Connection Expo will take place on 16 to 17 June.
- Perth Disability Connection Expo will take place on 25 to 26 August.
Event: axe-con 2023
Location: Virtual event
Date: 15 to 16 March 2023
Based on ‘building accessible experiences’, axe-con is a virtual conference that welcomes developers, designers, business users, and professionals of all experience levels to focus on building, testing, and maintaining accessible digital experiences.
Event: 2023 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference
Location: Sea World Resort Conference Centre, Gold Coast
Date: 20 to 22 March 2023
This conference is designed to provide practical skills, insight, and strategies for professionals assessing, treating, and providing ongoing mental health support for young people and their families.
April 2023
Event: Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Conference in the Asia-Pacific
Location: Hybrid event, venue to be confirmed
Date: 28 April 2023, with a virtual event to follow on 11 May 2023
This tourism conference is focused on travelling with a disability and includes information for businesses, policy makers and destination marketing organisations to cater for accessibility and inclusivity. There will be a one day in-person event at a venue to be confirmed, followed by a virtual event in May.
May 2023
Event: Round Table Conference: Universal Information Access
Location: Rydges Sydney Central
Date: 6 to 9 May 2023
The Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc is hosting its first in-person conference since 2019. The theme for 2023 is “Universal Information Access: Pathways to an Equitable Future” and will explore opportunities presented to adults and children who cannot readily access standard print, including individuals with vision impairment, learning disability and dyslexia.
Event: Australian Network on Disability Annual Conference
Location: Sydney, venue to be confirmed
Date: TBC, late May or early June
Connect with business leaders, industry experts and influencers from the public, private, and for-purpose sectors who are passionate about issues related to the inclusion of people with disability. The 2023 conference will be held in Sydney in either late May or early June, with the venue and date not published at the time of writing.
Event: Disability Services Digital & Technology Transformation Forum
Location: Sydney, venue to be confirmed
Date: 23 to 24 May 2023
Connect with NDIS providers and solutions vendors to explore the latest innovations which aim to help businesses achieve greater operational efficiency, scalability and customer satisfaction in disability support.
This will be a co-located event, with the Aged Care Digital & Technology Transformation Forum taking place at the same venue across the same dates. The venue is not published at the time of writing.
June 2023
Event: DSC Annual Conference
Location: Online and ICC Sydney
Date: 1 to 2 June 2023
DSC is currently planning their annual conference event, with details and venue to be released later in the year. This will be a hybrid event taking place in Sydney and online, focusing on the future of NDIS and big picture operational issues for the disability support sector.
Event: 24th International Mental Health Conference
Location: RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast
Date: 7 to 9 June 2023
The International Mental Health Conference is a three day conference with over 70 expert speakers covering key challenges in mental health. The event is designed for professionals, workers and volunteers to learn best practice, grow meaningful connections and implement real solutions to mental health care.
August 2023
Event: Care Expo
Location: Melbourne Showgrounds
Date: 11 to 12 August 2023
Discover and connect with providers from aged care, disability and in-home support through to education, mobility, mental health, social, recreational services and more.
Not in Melbourne? This national expo has additional dates on the east coast:
- Brisbane Care Expo will take place on 1 to 2 September.
- Sydney Care Expo will take place on 10 to 11 November.
Event: National Disability Summit
Location: Crown, Melbourne
Date: 21 to 22 August 2023
At the National Disability Summit, NDIS service providers, community care organisations, government agencies, NDIS representatives, independent carers, and aged care providers are invited to come together in one room. The event will review the progress and initiatives supporting people with disability and their families, working together to maximise independence and participation by creating greater choice.
November 2023
Event: Melbourne Disability Expo
Location: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Date: 17 to 18 November 2023
The theme of this year’s Melbourne Disability Expo is “My Future, My Choice”, with a focus on empowering people to control how they want to live their lives now and plan for the future. This will link human services organisations and government agencies directly with their customers.
Still to be announced for 2023
There are a number of great annual events, expos and conferences that have yet to announce their dates or venues for 2023. Keep an eye out for the following events to return later in the year:
- Australian Disability Service Conference and Awards
- Ramping It Up! Home Modifications Conference
- Alter State Disability Arts Festival
- Focus on Ability Film Festival
- NDS CEO’s Meeting 2023
After a hiatus in 2021, Ability Fest, the country’s only completely inclusive, fully accessible music festival is also set to return, with the Victorian Government confirming via this media release they will be supporting the event in 2023. Details will be announced later in the year.
2023 Disability and Accessibility Awareness Days
Whether your organisation is looking to plan a campaign or mark the day with a celebration, here is a list of awareness days in 2023 that highlight and champion the lives of people living with disability.
World Braille Day – 4 January 2023
International Epilepsy Day – 13 February 2023
Rare Disease Day – 28 February 2023
International Wheelchair Day – 1 March 2023
Zero Discrimination Day – 1 March 2023
World Hearing Day – 3 March 2023
World Glaucoma Day – 12 March 2023
World Down Syndrome Day – 21 March 2023
Brain Injury Awareness Month – March 2023
World Health Day – 7 April 2023
World Autism Awareness Day – 2 April 2023
International Guide Dog Day – 26 April 2023
Cystic Fibrosis Month – May 2023
Dementia Awareness Week – 15 - 21 May 2023
Global Accessibility Awareness Day – 19 May 2023
World Autoimmune Arthritis Day – 18 May 2023
World MS Day – 30 May 2023
Motor Neurone Disease Global Day – 21 June 2023
National Week of Deaf People (NWDP) – 19 - 25 September 2023
World Alzheimer's Day – 21 September 2023
World Sight Day – 12 October 2023
World Diabetes Day – 14 November 2023
International Day of People with Disability – 3 December 2023
Human Rights Day – 10 December 2023
Free Resources for NDIS Service Providers
Now your calendar is full, we have some more ways to inspire and support your planning goals. Our free resources and 2-minute demo can show you how to scale your disability support organisation and focus on support (not paperwork) in 2023.
