The WWDA National Forum for Women and Girls with Disability was held in Melbourne on 6 April 2016, at the Medibank Head Office building in Docklands. The Forum was made possible through one-off Project funding from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Australian Department of Social Services, plus extensive in-kind support provided by Medibank and Medibank Health Solutions Telehealth Pty Ltd (MHS).
The National Forum was held to support women and girls with disability from around Australia to identify the issues that affect them, identify solutions, prioritise actions, and engage actively and directly with representatives from the Australian Government on issues relevant to Australian women and girls with disability. Proceedings and outcomes from the Forum is informing the development of WWDA’s five-year Strategic Plan and priorities for 2017 to 2021. In addition, the forum directly informed the development of WWDA’s Human Rights Toolkit, published in December 2016.
The Forum included a specific focus on the strategic priorities affecting women and girls with disability, including:
- Violence against women and girls with disability;
- Leadership, participation and decision-making;
- Economic empowerment;
- Sexual and reproductive rights;
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls with disability; and,
- Young women and girls with disability.
The National Forum provided a critical opportunity for women and girls with disability to come together and ensure that their voices and experiences are heard by decision-makers and other key stakeholders. Supports were made available to all attendees to ensure that the Forum was inclusive, meaningful and empowering for all women and girls with disability. Extensive work was undertaken in the planning phase of the Forum to ensure that the Forum event modelled and showcased best practice in accessibility and inclusion.
The National Forum for Women and Girls with Disability was attended by 45 women and girls with disability from each State and Territory of Australia, along with a range of delegates from Australian Governments.
You can access the full report, along with relevant appendices from the WWDA website or via the links below:
