Registration is Now Open

The 2026 Advocacy in Action Conference will be held on             

       June 22nd & 23rd 2026

       9.00 am to 4.30 pm each day at

       Novotel Hotel Function Centre,                                                                                                                  (formerly Rydges Bell City) 215 Bell St. Preston

Optional Social event 

•  held from 4.30pm – 5.30pm on Monday 22nd June 
•  include drinks and nibbles 
•  cost $40 per person
•  must be booked when you register

The Advocacy in Action conference is going to be an amazing opportunity to dive into important discussions about disability advocacy and key issues impacting people with disabilities. We’ll have a fantastic lineup of topics, including:

•  Perspectives on the changes to the NDIS
•  Disability issues and the Victorian State Election
•  Funding systems in the disability sector
•  Health care for people with intellectual disability

Speakers will include:

•   Kevin Stone, VALID Founder
•   Sara Gingold – Disability Services Consulting, Editor-in-Chief
•   Iwan Walters MP – Parliamentary Secretary for Disability
•   The new Victorian Public Advocate, Dan Stubbs
•   Naomi Anderson – Villamanta, Legal Practice Manager
•   Rod Carracher – NDIS Commission, Deputy Commissioner
•   Julia Hawkins, National Centre for Excellence in Intellectual Health 
•   also featuring a live VALID Voice webinar

Final program will be available in May 2026.

Registration Information   

All the details including refunds are available in the Easy Read info in the  Terms & Conditions so don’t forget to read or download this doc.

• Catering: lunch and morning and afternoon teas are provided
• Please advise of your dietary requirements when you register
• Registration is not confirmed until it is paid
• Registrations not paid by June 15th 2026 will be cancelled

Ticket Types include:

• ** Concession registration fees are available to people who have Pension Concession Cards or Health Care Cards
• Early Bird registration fee is only available on or before the 15th May 2026
• ## Support workers do not pay a registration fee, only a catering fee of $40 per day.
• ## To be eligible for  Support Worker
  catering fee the worker or family member needs to be providing direct care, supervision, and support, without which the participant with disability wouldn’t be able to attend

Registration Costs 

Registration EARLY BIRD rate is available until Friday 15th May 2026

Registration Now Open

Parking

Parking is available in the Novotel underground carpark during conference hours as part of your registration fee.

To make sure you go into the correct carpark, please read the parking info sheet. 

Public Transport 

• You can take the Number 86 tram to 45 Bell St/Plenty Road Preston, which is a 5-minute walk to the hotel. 
• Bell Station is the closest train station, a 10-minute walk from the Novotel hotel, or Preston Station is a 17-minute walk.
• Buses like 251, 513, 514, 552, and 553 also stop near the Novotel

For More Information