Canberrans with a disability will be coming together tomorrow to discuss the future of discrimination law as part of a pivotal national review that could reshape discrimination protections for people with disability across Australia.
AFI’s Members Forum on Thursday 4 September will focus on the current review of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), providing community members with a crucial opportunity to influence reforms that could strengthen anti-discrimination protections for years to come.
The online forum, running from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, will feature disability rights expert and former Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Dr. Robin Banks, along with an important message from current Federal Disability Discrimination Commissioner Rosemary Kayess.
The Federal Government is conducting two consultations stemming from Royal Commission recommendations that will shape disability rights and advocacy services for many years to come: the design of a new Commonwealth individual disability advocacy program and the review of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
Craig Wallace, AFI’S Head of Policy, said: “We’re bringing the community together to ensure ACT voices are heard loud and clear in these national consultations. There is universal agreement that Australia’s disability discrimination protections are not working and modernising the DDA is one of the few areas where we have a commitment to act on the findings of the Royal Commission.
“This forum is about listening to Canberrans as they tell us what they need from disability advocacy and discrimination protections in 2025. We want to know what’s working, what’s missing, and how we can make the system work better for everyone.”
“Participants will examine everyday discrimination experiences and contribute ideas for modernising the DDA to better address contemporary challenges across areas including NDIS, transport, housing, education, health access, employment, and income support.”
“The DDA hasn’t undergone comprehensive review since its introduction more than three decades ago, and people with disability experience discrimination daily across so many areas of life. We need to hear directly from our community about whether the current laws are useable and effective, and what improvements would make real difference to people’s lives.”
Community input gathered during the forum will feed directly into AFI’s formal submission to the DDA review. The forum will also tackle pressing questions about the future of advocacy in the ACT, including what advocacy should look like, how it should be organised, and how to ensure it remains consumer-controlled and effective.
The forum is free to attend and open to AFI members and disability community stakeholders. Registration is essential via https://events.humanitix.com/afi-member-forum-advocacy
Event Details:
- When: Thursday 4 September 2025, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
- Where: Online via Microsoft Teams
- Registration: https://events.humanitix.com/afi-member-forum-advocacy
Contact: Craig Wallace, AFI’s Head of Policy on 0477 200 755