The DSS is currently developing processes for the National Disability Conference Initiative in 2015-16. The Federal Government provides funding to a number of organisations to maximise participation of people with disability to attend affiliated conferences that have a national disability focus and are held in Australia.
The Assistant Minister for Social Services, Mitch Fifield, told F2L that 25 organisations have benefited from the $250,000 investment in the current financial year with each receiving $10,000. “Funding being provided to conference organisers may be used for activities ranging from assisting with the cost of attendance to broader accessibility measures including the provision of Auslan interpreters,” he said.
“The funding helps to facilitate open discussion of important issues facing people with disability and the organisations that support them,” he said
In the 2014-15 round, to be successful, applicants needed to provide satisfactory responses to two selection criteria which covered the following topics:
- Provide information about the conference they were hosting and demonstrate this had a national disability focus
- Demonstrate an understanding of why it was important that people with disability participate in their conference
- Outline the specific ways which the grant funds would be used to assist people with disability to participate in the conference
- Explain how the organisation’s use of the grant would achieve the Department of Social Services objectives for people with disability and carers
- Explain how value for money would be achieved
For more information visit: www.dss.gov.au/grants
For a list of organisations offered funding and current projects go to: http://www.dss.gov.au/grants/national-disability-conference-initiative-2014-15