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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for VALID
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250616T090000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250617T150000
DTSTAMP:20260613T223936
CREATED:20250324T034326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260611T082713Z
UID:27993-1750064400-1750172400@valid.org.au
SUMMARY:Advocacy in Action conference
DESCRIPTION:Register Now:  https://events.humanitix.com/advocacy-in-action-conference-2026\nProgram now available\nVoices must be heard. The future must include us. \nIn response to growing concern across the disability community\, VALID will reframe our 2026 Advocacy in Action conference to focus squarely on current and planned changes to the NDIS. \n																										 \n  \n“The conference is a powerful opportunity to help plan and drive VALID’s defence of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. \nOur self advocates fought long and hard for inclusion – and will fight to keep it! \nTheir families also fought for adequate supports and freedom from lifetimes of caring – and we will not allow them to go back in the box!”  \nFionn Skiotis\, CEO of VALID \nJoin us for an action-focused event featuring a great line-up of speakers\, plus debate\, info sharing and strategising for the struggle that clearly lies ahead. \n  \nVALID invites members of the disability community\, the advocacy sector\, people with and without disability\, their families and supporters to participate in this critical forum for the future of the NDIS and lives of people with disability. \n																										 \nThe 2026 Advocacy in Action Conference will be held on \nJune 22 & 23\, 2026 from 9.00am to 4.30pm each day \nat the Novotel Hotel Function Centre (formerly Rydges Bell City) 215 Bell St. Preston VIC. \nAn optional Social Event will also be held from 4.30pm – 5.30pm on the Monday afternoon. More details below. \n  \nFollow the link to register: https://events.humanitix.com/advocacy-in-action-conference-2026 \nFor more information\, please contact Christine on Phone: 0475 698 884 or Email: christine@valid.org.au or the VALID Office on Phone: (03) 9416 4003 or Email: info@valid.org.au \nKey Themes\nAfter robust consultation with self advocates and sector experts\, the upcoming Advocacy in Action Conference will now directly respond and prioritise conversations around the NDIS and proposed changes. \n																										 \nAs part of the Conference’s updated line-up Maeve Kennedy\, CEO of Inclusion Australia will share the National representative organisation’s position on the proposed NDIS changes and how our community can coordinate our concerns and mobilise our impact. \n																										 \nThe Conference will also welcome VALID founder and former CEO Kevin Stone AM. As a powerful figure who relentlessly advocated for the implementation of the NDIS\, Kevin will critique what the NDIS has become\, where it went wrong and the changes that will gut what people with disability and their allies fought so hard for. \nMore information about the evolving Conference will be shared in the coming days. Follow VALID’s on Facebook and LinkedIn for updates as they happen. \nGuest Speakers \nGuest Speakers will include: \n\nMaeve Kennedy – CEO of Inclusion Australia\nKevin Stone AM –  VALID Founder and Disability Advocacy and Policy Expert \nSara Gingold – Disability Services Consulting\, Editor-in-Chief\nIwan Walters MP – Parliamentary Secretary for Disability\nDan Stubbs – The new Victorian Public Advocate\nNaomi Anderson – Villamanta\, Legal Practice Manager\nJulia Hawkins – National Centre for Excellence in Intellectual Health\n\n  \nThe Program\nThe Advocacy in Action Conference Program is now available. Download the full program here: Program.  \nMonday Afternoon Social Event\nThis year we are hosting social event on the first day of Novotel Hotel Function Centre the conference. This is optional. \n\nHeld from 4.30pm – 5.30pm on Monday June 22\nIncludes drinks and nibbles\nCost $40 per person\nMust be booked when you register\n\nRegistration Information   \nAll 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. \n\nCatering: lunch and morning and afternoon teas are provided\nPlease advise of your dietary requirements when you register\nRegistration is not confirmed until it is paid\nRegistrations not paid by June 15th 2026 will be cancelled\nPlease advise of access and support needs upon registration\n\nTicket Types\nWe’re extending the Early Bird discount\, and adding significant discounts for NDIS participants and family members to attend. We also have some sponsored (free) tickets – but you need to be quick! \nFor more information\, please contact Christine on Phone: 0475 698 884 or Email: christine@valid.org.au or the VALID Office on Phone: (03) 9416 4003 or Email: info@valid.org.au \nConcession \nMonday June 22                            Early bird $100 / Regular $150 / NDIS Participants $20 \nTuesday June 23                           Early bird $100 / Regular $150 / NDIS Participants $20 \nBoth Days not inc. Social Event   Early bird $180 / Regular $280   \nSocial Event Only                          $40 / NDIS Participants $20 \nConcession registration fees are available to people who have Pension Concession Cards or Health Care Cards. \nFull Rate \nMonday June 22                            Early bird $150 / Regular $200 \nTuesday June 23                             Early bird $150 / Regular $200 \nBoth Days not inc. Social Event   Early bird $280 / Regular $370 \nSocial Event Only                           $40  / NDIS Participants $20 \nCatering Only (Support Worker or Family Member) \nMonday June 22                            $40 \nTuesday June 23                             $40 \nBoth Days not including Social Event           $80 \nSocial Event Only                           $40  / Family members $20 \nSupport workers do not pay a registration fee\, only a catering fee of $40 per day. \nPlease Note: to be eligible for Support Worker catering only 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. \nParking\nParking is available in the Novotel underground carpark during conference hours as part of your registration fee. \nTo make sure you go into the correct carpark\, please read the parking info sheet. \nPublic Transport \nTram \nYou can take the Number 86 tram to 45 Bell St/Plenty Road Preston\, which is a 5-minute walk to the hotel.  \nTrain \nBell Station is the closest train station\, a 10-minute walk from the Novotel hotel\, or Preston Station is a 17-minute walk. \nBus \nBuses like 251\, 513\, 514\, 552\, and 553 also stop near the Novotel \nMore Information\nFor more information\, please contact Christine on Phone: 0475 698 884 or Email: christine@valid.org.au or the VALID Office on Phone: (03) 9416 4003 or Email: info@valid.org.au \nFollow the link to register: \n https://events.humanitix.com/advocacy-in-action-conference-2026
URL:https://valid.org.au/event/advocacy-in-action-conference/
LOCATION:Rydges Bell City Hotel\, date215 Bell Street\, Preston\, Victoria\, 3072
CATEGORIES:Building Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://valid.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AIA.jpg
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