Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) is the peak body network for advocacy organisations; operating to provide advocates with the tools and resources necessary to effectively assist people with disability. We would like to advise you that our Conference is being held soon in Brisbane. A draft program is available on our website.

The DANA National Conference will be held on 31 October-1 November at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The conference is one of the most important opportunities for disability advocacy agency staff, board members and associates from all parts of Australia, and from widely varying backgrounds, to share experiences, knowledge and understandings with each other, with disabled persons’ organizations and with representatives from government, business and academia. This in turn allows for more responsive and effective advocacy and significant flow on improvements in the circumstances of people with disabilities.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Kevin Cocks AM - Queensland’s Anti-Discrimination Commissioner
• Dr Fiona Kumari Campbell – Griffith Law School
• Dr John Brayley – The Public Advocate, South Australia and Flinders University School of Medicine
• Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine – Deputy CEO, Australian Council of Social Service
• Dr Donna McDonald – Disability Studies, Griffith University
• Dr Paul Harpur – TC Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland
• Cher Nicholson – Office of the Health & Community Services Complaints Commissioner, South Australia
• Joana d’Orey Novo – Senior Investigator – Australian Human Rights Commission
• Ian Parsons – Centre for Rural Regional Law and Justice, Deakin University

The earlybird rate will not be available after Monday, 30 September 2013.