Upcoming Events

To view our upcoming events and seminars, please go to our booking system.

View our events (external link)

We are excited to bring you this conference, our first post-COVID conference!  The theme: “Disability Support – at the Crossroads” reflects the many challenges we face currently, explores those challenges and how we might cope and manage our way through.

Register Here

What to expect: We have chosen four key sub-themes that build on the Crossroads picture:

  • Commissioning services, which includes funding issues, service frameworks, contracts service transformation and Enabling Good Lives
  • Workforce explores the need for a wider Disability Workforce Strategy in addition to recognising the current challenges around supply and demand, qualifications, etc
  • Accessibility and Housing topically explores the drive for a robust accessibility system in New Zealand and the shortage of accessible social housing and facilities to meet the demand for respite, appropriate under-65 facilities and more
  • And finally, Pay Equity explores the two pay equity claims currently on the table, the impact on the wider disability sector and the need for a fully and additionally government funded solution that doesn’t leave providers high and dry!

Programme

 TimeTuesday 18th July TimeWednesday 19th July
0930Powhiri0730Breakfast Session – Political Panel
0940Morning Tea0900Commissioning Keynote #2: Rt Hon Sir Bill English
1000Welcome Minister – Sean Stowers, NZDSN Chair0945Commissioning Panel Discussion
1010Minister for Disability Issues, Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan1045Morning Tea
1040Minister’s Q&A with members1105Commissioning concurrent sessions (per service type)
1115Workforce Keynote: Ben Drew1205Lunch
1215Lunch1300Pay Equity Keynote: Amy Ross (Public Service Commission)
1250Workforce Panel Discussion1345Pay Equity Panel Discussion
1350Workforce concurrent sessions (per service type)1430Pay Equity concurrent sessions (per service type)
1450Afternoon Tea1530Closing Keynote: Red Nicholson
1510Accessibility & Housing Keynote: Paul Gibson1630Closing Remarks (CEO)
1610Accessibility & Housing Panel Discussion1640Karakia Whakamutunga – Closing Prayers
1710Accessibility/Housing concurrent sessions (per service type)  
1800Chairman’s Cocktail Function & Awards  

Concurrent sessions will involve three breakout sessions by service type:

  • Residential services
  • Community services
  • Vocational Services

Sponsors

Details coming soon

Trade Exhibitors

Details coming soon

Speakers

Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Minister for Disability Issues

Workforce Keynote

More details coming soon

Workforce Panellists

Grant Cleland
Creative Solutions
Jade Farrar
NEGL Leadership
Rachel Daysh Whaikaha
Jonathan Mosen NZDSN Board
Riana Manuel
Te Ake Whai Ora

Accessibility and Housing Keynote:

Paul Gibson, Human Rights Commission and Royal Commission into Abuse in Care

Accessibility and Housing Panellists

Mike Potter
Community Connect
Greg Orchard
Accessible Housing
Kainga Ora
Tony Marsden
NZDSN Board

Political Panellists

Maureen Pugh National
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer Maori Party
Greg O’Connor Labour
Toni Severin – ACT
Jan Logie – Greens

Commissioning Keynote:

Rt Hon Sir Bill English

Commissioning Panellists

Amanda Bleckmann
Whaikaha
Margie Apa
Te Whatu Ora
NZDSN Board Member
Ministry of Education

Pay Equity Keynote:

Amy Ross, Public Service Commission

Pay Equity Panellists

Jo Gagan
NZ Health Group
Melissa Smith
CCS Disability Action
NZDSN Board Member
Small Provider

Closing Keynote:

Red Nicholson

Chairperson’s Cocktail Function

The Chair of NZDSN, Sean Stowers, invites you to attend this cocktail function to further enjoy the networking benefits of conference and to celebrate with your colleagues the winners of the following awards, to be presented at the function.

Below prices include GST:

Member – Standard Registration (both days) – $661.25

Member – One Day Registration – $396.75

Non Member – Standard Registration (both days) – $776.25

Non member – One Day Registration – $465.75

Virtual Registration (observe keynote and panel discussion sessions live online) – $661.25

Accompanying Support Person – $143.75Gift Registration (a Gift Registration is for you to sponsor someone unable to otherwise attend the conference due to hardship; awarded on the sponsor’s behalf by NZDSN) – $529.00

Register Here


Regional Networking Meetings

Please see the following dates and times for the regional network meetings being held throughout New Zealand in 2023.
These meetings provide a great opportunity for local providers to connect and network with others in their regions.
These are placeholder notices for members to save these dates, times and locations in your diaries for the Regional Networking Meeting being held around New Zealand.

Northland – please contact Adam.Dade@northable.org.nz for updates

Thursday 15th June

Auckland – please book for these events here www.nzdsn.org.nz/events

Times/dates for these meetings below. These meetings will be face to face where possible but via zoom when necessary.

Wednesday the 5th April 2023 Time: 9.30am – 12.30pm Venue: 74 Epsom Avenue, Auditorium/6EB-113

Wednesday the 28th June 2023 Time: 9.30am – 12.30pm Venue: 74 Epsom Avenue, Auditorium/6EB-113

Wednesday 20th Sept 2023 Time: 9.30am – 12.30pm Venue: 74 Epsom Avenue, Auditorium/6EB-113

Wednesday 29th November 2023 Time: 9.30am – 12.30pm Venue: To Be advised.

Waikato – dates and times as below:

Thursday 10 August 10am – 2pm – venue to be advised

Thursday 16 November 10am – 2pm – Community Living (180 Collingwood Street, Hamilton WAIKATO 3204, New Zealand)

Hawkes Bay – bookings for these events are not open at this time, please contact admin@nzdsn.org.nz for updates
Times/dates and venue will be advised in the new year.  

Manawatu – please contact Mike mike@options.org.nz for more details.

Monday 29 May

Wednesday 28 June

Monday 31 July

Monday 28 August

Monday 25 September

Monday 30 October

Monday 27 November

Lower North Island – please book for these events Here www.nzdsn.org.nz/events

Venue: Community Connections 5 Sheffield St, Paraparaumu or Zoom if required
Times/ Date as below:

  • Thursday 8 June 2023 10:30am – 12:30pm
  • Thursday 7 September 2023 10:30am – 12:30pm
  • Thursday 16 November 2023 10:30am – 12:30pm

Nelson – bookings for these events are not open at this time, please contact Karen.Bailey@nmdhb.govt.nz for updates
Times/dates for 2023 as below. These meetings will be via zoom. Please email Karen Bailey Karen.Bailey@nmdhb.govt.nz for the links

  • Monday 13 February 11.30am – 1.00pm
  • Monday 11 April 11.30am – 1.00pm
  • Monday 12 June 11.30am – 1.00pm
  • Monday 14 August 11.30am – 1.00pm
  • Monday 9 October 11.30am – 1.00pm

Canterbury Networking Meeting – dates and times Please contact Canterbury Providers cantdpn@gmail.com for more information.

Wednesday 5 July

Wednesday 6 September

Wednesday 1 November

Otago Networking Meeting – bookings for these events are not open at this time, please contact info@cct.org.nz for updates
Times dates and venue will be advised in the new year.

Any queries regarding the above events should be directed to admin@nzdsn.org.nz or 04 4734678


International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPwD)

In Person

Tiaho Trust

Friday 2nd December 2022 10am – 2pm, Whangarei

For more information: 0800 430 3406
https://tiaho.org.nz or email arlene@tiaho.org.nz

Both In Person and via Zoom

APM

Throughout November and December, either in person or on Teams, you can hear from:

Peter Sim: What you can do as a colleague of a person with autism to make the workplace more inclusive

When: Monday 21st November 2pm AEDT / 11am AWST

Where: APM South Melbourne office

REGISTER HERE

Ellie Cole: What employers can do to support the employment of para-athletes

When: Monday 28th November 1pm AEDT / 10am AWST

Where: APM West Perth Office (56 Ord Street)

REGISTER HERE

Ben Johnston: What are the barriers in the workplace that are faced by people with vision impairment and how can we overcome them?

When: Thursday 1st December 2pm AEDT / 11am AWST

Where: APM North Sydney office

REGISTER HERE

Read more about our presenters here

Blind Low Vision NZ

Blind Low Vision NZ will be marking International Day of Disabled Persons through an article in our client newsletter, Kōrero (published on Thursday 24 November), a news article on our website, an intranet piece and through content on our social media channels. We will link back to the IDPWD website on all of these so that people can find out more information if they need.

Be sure to register for any event you are able to attend! If you can, get into the office to see the presentation in person!

Access Advisors

We are getting together with some friends to discuss the language used around disabilities. Even IDPWD can be problematic. Come along and hear some different perspectives on Disabled People vs People with Disabilities, access needs vs special needs, wheelchair user or wheelchair bound.
This free webinar will provide insight onto the complexities of language and the impact words can have.
Date: Monday 5th December
Time: 12 – 1.30pm
Tickets are available through Humanitix.

Parafed

The TrailRider Fun Day is being held in association with Parafed Bay of Plenty on Saturday, 3 December 2022 to celebrate the International Day of People with Disabilities.
People will be taking the trip on the day with friends and whānau or with the help of volunteers from our community, including the Bay of Plenty Volcanix development squad and Priority One.
There will also be some fun activities for all the family on the day. Come along to Hopukiore – Mount Drury Reserve from 10am to 5pm and check out how Te Kaiwhakatere – TrailRider works, along with some live music, adaptive yoga and CrossFit, and ocean activities and beach games on Mount Maunganui Main Beach.

Event Link : https://fb.me/e/2mOktkuX3

Spectrum Care

To celebrate International Day of People with Disabilities, Spectrum Foundation Group and Spectrum Care’s Advisory Team (aka ‘The A Team’) of people with lived experience of disability will be hosting a ‘Kōrero and Kai’ session for our head office staff.
The theme this year is ‘Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world’, with a special focus on disability inclusive developments in employment, reducing inequality, and sport as an exemplar for inclusion.
It’ll also be an important opportunity to acknowledge that ‘not all disabilities are visible’.
Disabilities come in all shapes and forms, and just because something isn’t visible, doesn’t mean it’s not important or impactful.
An example of an invisible disability is neurodiversity. Neurodiverse people see, experience and interact with the world differently.
Our staff will be congregating on the day to hear from our Advisory Team about their disabilities and how they see the world, as well as some of their hopes for the future.
In line with Spectrum Foundation’s promise to ‘leave no one behind’, we’re also using the session to do our part in finding innovative solutions for and with disabled people to make the world more accessible and equitable.
We’re looking forward to having an open kōrero with our colleagues to discuss their innovative ideas! Ngā mihi, Spectrum Care

Care On Call International Day of Disabiled Persons

This year, would love to celebrate our clients and staff with lived experiences of having a disability. To prepare for this, we are opening a discussion about how we can improve the experience of our clients and supports workers with a disability – particularly from an accessibility point of view. 
See more in the attached flyer.
See more in the second attached flyer