VALID Conversations is a new webinar series led by people with disability.
Each session focuses on real issues, lived experience and practical ways to create change. It’s a space for people to share ideas, speak up and be heard.
Led by lived experience. Focused on real change.
VALID Conversations aims to centre the voices of people with disability and position them as leaders and experts. The series will explore current issues, highlight what’s working and share practical solutions that can make a difference.
It also builds on the conversations started at events like Advocacy in Action, creating an ongoing space for connection, learning and leadership throughout the year.
🔷 Third webinar
Date: Thursday August 27
Time: 12pm – 1pm
VALID Conversations: Building inclusive committees: People with disability as real contributors
Join us for an engaging conversation about being on committees and boards where people with disability are valued as genuine contributors. Hear from people with lived experience as they share their journeys, the challenges they have faced, what meaningful participation looks like, and practical ways organisations can make governance more inclusive and accessible. Whether you are a person with lived experience of disability, work in the disability sector, community services, local government or the not-for-profit sector, this webinar will deepen your understanding of inclusive governance and the value of ensuring people with disability have meaningful opportunities to contribute to leadership and decision-making.
Guest speaker: Janet Curtain Janet Curtain (she/her) is a disability advocate and activist based in Melbourne’s western suburbs, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. Janet is Chinese and has cerebral palsy, giving her unique insight into the barriers and discrimination experienced by people with disability from non-English speaking backgrounds. Janet founded the group Power in Culture and Equality (PCE) in 2019 to empower people to speak up for themselves, saying that, “Self-advocacy is like a muscle. If you don’t use it, you lose it!” She also works at SARU, the Self Advocacy Resource Unit, as the Victorian Self Advocacy Network Coordinator. In her work, she challenges government, provides human rights training, and advocates for a better community for people with disability that stands up against ableism and racism. Janet has a strong background in disability advocacy and community leadership. She has previously served on the Metro Accessibility Committee and is currently on the Disability Advisory Committee at Brimbank City Council where she continues to advocate for greater inclusion and accessibility for people with disability.
Guest speaker: Johnny Riha Johnny is a passionate disability advocate dedicated to promoting inclusion, accessibility, and self-advocacy. He is committed to empowering people with disability, strengthening community connections, and creating positive change. Johnny also has extensive governance experience, having served on a range of boards and committees for more than six years. He has been a member of the Diamond Valley Railway Young Members Subcommittee for the past six and a half years, including two and a half years as Chair. He also serves as Chair of the Young Members Committee at the Cario Bay Miniature Railway, a role he has held for the past four years and is a member of its Board of Management.
This webinar is moderated by John McKenna.
🔷 Second webinar
Date: Tuesday June 23
Time: 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Lived Experience in Action: The Launch of VALID Voices
VALID Voices is a new speaker and community education program led by people with disability.
The program supports people with lived experience to develop their public speaking skills and share their stories, perspectives and expertise with the broader community.
Through presentations, workshops, panels and community conversations, VALID Voices aims to increase understanding about disability, challenge stereotypes and create more inclusive communities.
The program is grounded in the belief that people with disability should be at the centre of conversations about their lives, rights and experiences.
Speakers draw on their own lived experience to talk about topics such as:
- inclusion
- accessibility
- employment
- housing
- independence
- self advocacy
- disability awareness
- community participation
Speakers
This session will feature:
- Raven
- Omar
- Hala
- David
The speakers will share their experiences, perspectives and reflections on why lived experience voices matter and the importance of creating more inclusive communities.
We will also explore how storytelling, public speaking and community education can challenge stereotypes and create change.
🔷 First webinar
Date: Thursday May 7
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
From Lived Experience to Leadership
This webinar will explore how people with disability use their experiences to become leaders, influence change and make a difference in their communities.
We’ll be joined by:
- William Ward-Boas, VALID Chairperson
- Ben Haack, author and Special Olympics Australia leader
- Judy Huett, self advocacy and community leader
- John McKenna, host
We will have Auslan interpreter for the webinar.