2024 First Nations NDIS, Mental Health & Suicide Prevention, and Elder's Wellbeing Conferences

2024 First Nations National NDIS All Abilities Initiatives Conference

The 2024 First Nations National NDIS All Abilities Initiatives Conference is designed to provide NDIS registered service providers, community organisations, service managers, support facilitators, allied health professionals, frontline workers and NDIS participants the opportunity to network, discuss and share information in regard to the successes and challenges experienced in the rollout and implementation of Australia’s largest social policy reforms. The ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) stated that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience disability at more than twice the rate as compared to non-Indigenous Australians. First Nations peoples with disability also experience inequality and prejudice across a spectrum of health, well-being and social indicators, often facing multiple barriers to their meaningful participation within the wider community. Indigenous peoples, nationally and internationally, will come together in an environment that can lead to the sharing of information via their cultural and historical values. This conference is designed to inspire and enable Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander disability and community workers as well as Indigenous peoples living with a disability, NDIS service providers and other community partners to take control, step up and take action to the next level, to ensure the rights and self-determination of First Nations peoples living with a disability are upheld. To honour our Indigenous men, women, youth and children living with a disability, acknowledge their strength and resilience by listening to their stories, learning from their experiences and committing to systemic change to protect the rights of our sisters, brothers, children with a disability and their families and community. To honour also the knowledge of our men, Elders and wisdom of our cultural responses, sharing successes and struggles to chart effective, evidence-informed ways forward. The conference provides a forum to discuss solutions by Indigenous peoples and to connect and acquire knowledge from each other to heal the spirit, heal the earth, and sustain cultural practices for this generation and for future generations to come.

2024 National Indigenous Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Conference

The 2024 National First Nations Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Conference is scheduled to be held at the Hilton Hotel in Cairns QLD on December 10-12,2024 which aims to bring together mental health workers, AOD support workers, Head to Health Aboriginal & Torres Straits Islander mental health practitioners, emotional and social wellbeing workers from Indigenous and Non-Indigenous organisations throughout Australia and present unique opportunities for Mental Health workers to meet and discuss issues specifically centered on First Nations peoples' mental health and wellbeing. The increasing frequency and severity of mental health and wellbeing issues throughout Indigenous Communities has reached a crisis level through the length and breadth of this country. However, this is not news to Indigenous peoples. Communities have proclaimed the need for action to address the needs of many First Nations peoples. The increasing frequency and severity of mental health and wellbeing issues throughout Indigenous Communities has reached a crisis level through the length and breadth of this country. However, this is not news to Indigenous peoples. Communities have proclaimed the need for action to address the needs of many First Nations peoples.

2024 National First Nations Elder's Wellbeing: Greater Choices For Aged Care Conference

The 2024 National First Nations Elders Wellbeing Conference: Greater Choices for Aged Care scheduled to be held in Cairns QLD on December 10-12, 2024. The conference is designed to provide organisations, service managers and front line workers in the aged care sector the opportunity to network, discuss and share information on their preparation and experiences on the implementation of the new aged care reform as well as the success and challenges they have experienced in the roll out of the My Aged Care's consumer-directed care and which aimed to provide frail older persons living in the community better choice and control over their care, independence at home and decision-making to address their needs to stay at home safely. The conference will also be a great resource and avenue to identify models of support and engagement that reflect various cultural practices of our communities, to ensure that First Nations Peoples who are frail aged can live life their way. Sharing stories and story-telling is so strong in Aboriginal communities, in that it leads the way to support healing in our community so we can move forward and get things right. Reflecting the importance of culturally respectful planning resources and tools to adapt the changes in community services, disability and aged care sectors, that is our Elders will have “choice and control” over their own lives and empowered to make decisions for their own care, according to their personal needs and wants.