Australia’s first National Youth Disability Summit will be held entirely online from Tuesday September 29 to Saturday October 3, 2020.

This free event, designed by a group of 20 young people with disability, is open to all young Australians (under the age of 30) with disability. It will address issues of education, employment, mental health, the NDIS and housing, as well as access, awareness and inclusion.

Summit participants will:

  • Learn more about disability justice (past, present and our future) and young people’s rights;
  • Have an opportunity to inform policy-makers and governments about what needs to change for young people with disability;
  • Enhance their practical skills (like learn how to pitch to a Member of Parliament); and
  • Learn how to be a better advocate or ally (by making organisations and communities accessible and anti-ageist).

Guest speakers include Senator Jordon Steele-John, Elise Muller and Chloe Hayden and many more young people with disability. Other guests attending include Senator Anne Ruston, broadcaster Nas Campanella and Bill Shorten MP.

Participants can attend all five days of the summit or join particular sessions of interest.

Thursday October 1 is ‘Open Day’ for policy and decision-makers, non-young people with disability, advocacy organisations and the wider community are invited to join, to consider the theme of: Awareness, Access and Inclusion. The day will allow the wider community to hear from young people with disability as they talk about the issues they care about.

“The summit is a great platform for young leaders to pave the way for social change,” National Youth Disability Summit chair, Melanie Tran (pictured) said. “It’s about connecting like-minded people across the country, to collaborate and address some of the toughest social challenges today, so that we can shape a better tomorrow. But most importantly, it’s about co-designing a future that truly embraces equality, diversity and inclusivity. We want the summit to help young people to be more confident to speak their minds and empower them to keep fighting for the changes they want to see,” she said.

The summit is presented by Children and Young People with Disability Australia.

The event will be held online via Hopin and Zoom. For more information or to register: https://www.cydayouth.events/