Concurrent Sessions

Concurrent sessions 1

Thursday 22 September, 11.45 am – 12.30 pm 

• All in a Twitter about social media (Kirra Pendergast)
  Ignoring social media use and its potential effects is no longer an option for organisations that want to lead and succeed in today's business environment. Gone are the days of the effectiveness of a simple blanket ban on social media usage in the workplace. Kirra Pendergast will present on the benefits and the risks of social media usage in the workplace.
• What’s right for you? (Barbara Arnold, Towsville Service Manager, Lifetec)
  Assistive technology is expansive and ever broadening, largely due to advances in technology and research across the spectrum, from building concepts to communication devices, environmental control systems and alerting devices, just to mention a few. It is a wonderful thing to have access to an array of assistive technology that can facilitate independence, increase safety and improve quality of life. However, it can also appear as a daunting task to some, given the large number of products, systems and designs that are available. People simply don’t know where to begin. Join LifeTec Queensland as we discuss how to choose what’s right for you.
• Supporting families and children with a disability (Jenny Kastner, Manager, and Angie D’Arcy, President, The Umbrella Network)
  The Umbrella Network is a unique non-government organisation based in Townsville. Created by a group of proactive families, the network uses the old-fashioned concept of 'the grapevine' with a modern twist. Members collect details on all the resources available in our region through a website/Facebook page and email distribution list. We also aim to support families to be a stronger more cohesive unit, creating stronger relationships and a happier environment in which to raise their children.
• Diving for pearls (Sam Leahy, Anne Leahy and Sharyn Pacey, Queensland Parents of People with a Disability)
  Sam will talk about his experience of going to a kindy, primary and secondary school. Sam’s talk will include stories about belonging, welcome, friendship, academic challenge and being recognised for his abilities and achievements.
• Yarning (Byron Albury, Network Facilitator, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Disability Network of Queensland; Romina Fuji, President, Port Kennedy Association)
  This session will be an open conversation about understanding disability in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander context and establishing networks to support individuals and communities.
• Building a liveable community (Wendy Lovelace, Queensland Access for Universal Housing Design; Robert Hannaford, Kyabra Community Association)
  Principles of universal design and how to make it a reality — community by community

Concurrent sessions 2

Thursday 22 September, 1.30 pm – 2.15 pm

*Further sessions will be added as presenters are confirmed.

• All in a Twitter about social media (Kirra Pendergast)
  Ignoring social media use and its potential effects is no longer an option for organisations that want to lead and succeed in today's business environment. Gone are the days of the effectiveness of a simple blanket ban on social media usage in the workplace. Kirra Pendergast will present on the benefits and the risks of social media usage in the workplace.
• Unexpected surprises (Rachael Lavercombe and Karly Green, Autism Queensland)
  This session will examine the use of iPads and similar devices in the provision of services for children with an autism spectrum disorder. With recent technological advances, what is the impact of this new high-technology alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) on best practice in providing educational supports and therapeutic services? Reflections, emerging evidence, best practice guidelines and future directions are considered.
• Engaging employers and empowering individuals (Garry Hooper, Chief Executive Officer, STEPS Disability Employment Service, Maroochydore)
  Meaningful work is a key to social inclusion.  In the right job every individual can prosper. In this session we will look at the challenges, benefits and support available for job seekers with a disability and how service providers can improve job matching to individuals needs. We will also break down some of the myths that employers have about hiring an individual with a disability and highlight the benefits for the employer, the workplace and the individual.
• Smart home technologies (Jennene Buckley, Chief Executive Officer, and Keith Doherty, Telehealth Project, Feros Care)
  This session will explore how telecare and telehealth technologies are being used to enable people to remain independent and safe in their homes. The presenters will demonstrate the technologies and discuss their uses, client and carer outcomes, lessons learnt and financial modelling.

Concurrent sessions 3

Friday 23 September, 12.00 pm to 12.45 pm

*Further sessions will be added as presenters are confirmed.

• Waving not drowning: remaining viable after a National Disability Insurance Scheme (David Barbagallo, CEO, Endeavour Foundation)
  The NDIS presents both a series of challenges and opportunities. In looking to the future we need to ensure that we keep people with a disability at the centre of our planning processes and viability will be assured.
• Australia as an accessible tourism destination (Professor Simon Darcy, University of Technology, Sydney)
  What is accessible tourism, what’s expected and business opportunities
• E-records: what’s possible? (Joanne Jessop, CEO, Multicap)
  Shared Electronic Records create opportunities to link individuals with a disability with their families and carers, their health care providers and their service providers in new ways that enable them to gain more efficient and better quality support, and achieve a better quality of life.
• Disability Action Week Award winners
  Each year, the Disability Action Week Awards recognise individuals and organisations that have contributed to improving the quality of life for people with a disability across the state. Meet some of the 2011 winners and learn more about their projects and initiatives.
• Choice, control and cash: possibilities for self-directed funding (Merrilyn Strohfeldt, Executive Director, Disability Programs and Reform, Disability and Community Care Services, Department of Communities; Kathryn Treston, Senior Consultant, Bespoke Lifestyles; Jane Geltch, Policy and Research Officer, National Disability Services Queensland)
  Self-directed funding has been a choice for people with disabilities for many years in the UK and USA. This session will provide an overview of these programs and introduce a discussion of what would it take to introduce self-directed funding in Queensland.
• Social media in the workplace - the good, the bad and the ugly (Kirra Pendergast)
  Social media within the workplace accounts for endless opportunity for an organisation to be successful. However its rapid uptake is often in breach of written policies and has left many organisations inadequately prepared from many perspectives such as data leakage and compliance.