Supported by the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), The Victorian Government, City of Melbourne, VicHealth and Federation Square, the conference aimed to bring a fresh perspective to diversity, participation and collaboration.

The conference provided an opportunity to showcase research, case studies and ways of achieving better health and social outcomes for people with disability. To extend the impact of the mini conference, diversity workshops were conducted prior to the Festival with a main focus on four priority populations including:

o   Indigenous people with disability

o   Women with disability

o   Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities of people with disability

o   People with disability who live in regional and remote Victoria

These workshops provided a platform for the conversation to begin around how best to engage the identified priority populations in greater participation and increased social connectedness. The energy created by all involved on the day was electric and offered educated and in-depth insights on the barriers and enablers to inclusive sport and recreation opportunities. DSR would like to thank all who partook in the discussion groups and a special mention to Michelle Chiller for convening the workshops.

The Strengthening your team through diversity mini-conference was facilitated by Dr Nora Shields. Dr Shields is a senior lecturer and postgraduate coordinator at the School of Physiotherapy, La Trobe University, Melbourne, and has conducted research with focuses on increasing physical activity among people with disability, in particular people with Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.

We were fortunate enough to secure speakers from such diverse backgrounds and experiences which complimented and acknowledge the theme of the day. 

Speakers included:

• Ms Belinda Duarte - Director of Korin Gamadji Institute based at Richmond Football Club
• Aunty Joy Wandin Murphy - The Senior Elder of the Wurundjeri People
• Mr Donald Thomson – Coordinator of Sailability, Albury-Wodonga Yachting Club
• Mr Tarun Kalra – Intake and Advocate Officer, Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities (ADEC)
• Mr James Demetriou – CEO, Sports Without Borders
• Mr Tom Forsell - Lecturer, School of Sport & Exercise Science, Victoria University
• Mr Adam Sharpe – Director, Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Queer and Intersex Disability Support Services (GLBTQI)
• Mr Rob Anderson – CEO, Disability Sport and Recreation