Join Families Australia, in partnership with CYDA for a policy forum on Young People with Disability’s perspectives on Disability Discrimination in Australia today.
Young People with Disability’s perspectives on Discrimination
Wednesday 19 March 2025 13:00 – 14:30 (AEDT)
Each day people with disability experience discrimination that prevents their participation in everyday activities. This includes going to school, catching public transport, getting a job, accessing health care, going grocery shopping, or eating out with friends and family. It can also mean difficulty in being able to live in accessible and affordable housing, access news and public information’ and participate in sport and recreation. Such is its prevalence, each year the Australian Human Rights Commission receives more complaints and inquiries about disability discrimination than any other form of discrimination.
Young people with disability often experience multiple forms of discrimination, which means their experiences and perspectives must be understood and acted on by decision makers. The upcoming review of the Disability Discrimination Act provides a chance to listen, pause and consider what needs to change – and how. Rosemary Kayes, Disability Discrimination Commissioner, will provide the keynote speech, followed by a panel including young people with disability and an Australian Human Rights Commission representative.
Keynote Speaker:
Rosemary Kayess, Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission
Rosemary Kayess’ five-year term as Disability Discrimination Commissioner began on Monday 29 January 2024. Ms Kayess holds a Bachelor of Social Science, Bachelor of Laws and an Honorary Doctorate in Law.
Previous to her appointment as Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Ms Kayess held senior academic roles with the Faculty of Law and Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and is a Visiting Professor, Centre for Disability, Law and Policy, University of Galway. Ms Kayess was one of the drafters of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). She is serving her second term on the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as Vice-Chair. She was awarded the Human Rights Medal in 2019 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights.
Ms Kayess is a current and former member of a number of disability focused councils and committees. Current memberships include the NDIA Independent Advisory Council and the Australian Discrimination Law Experts Group. Former memberships include the Strategic Engagement Reference Group for the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
Followed by a panel discussion featuring:
Panelist:
Darren Dick, PSM, Senior Policy Executive – Human rights and Strategy, Australian Human Rights Commission
Darren Dick is a legal and policy advisor specialising in human rights. He has worked at the Australian Human Rights Commission since 1998, managing the Commission’s human rights policy agenda and previously as a senior adviser on indigenous and race discrimination issues. Prior to that he worked at the Australian Law Reform Commission (an independent statutory authority that provides legal advice to the federal government on law reform matters).
Darren was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2022 for outstanding contribution to national policy on human rights. In his current role as Senior Policy Executive – Human Rights and Strategy, Darren coordinates the Commission’s policy and research across all areas of activity (indigenous issues, children’s rights, race, sex, age and disability discrimination, immigration and asylum seekers, LGBTIQA+ rights, and rights and freedoms). At present, this includes leading the Commission’s Free and Equal national human rights reform project, and oversighting the development of a National Anti-Racism Framework and the roll out of a positive duty to prevent sexual harassment under the Sex Discrimination Act.
Panelist: Madeleine Gay, Policy & Research Officer, Children and Young People with Disabilities Australia (CYDA)
Maddy (she/her) is passionate about creating policy and research centered on lived experience, by and for young people and strongly believes ‘nothing about us, without us.’ Maddy has experience in the international development and humanitarian aid sector where she worked to reduce barriers to humanitarian deployment, and to increase disability inclusion across humanitarian action. Currently completing a Master of International Development Practice.
Panelist: Emily Sullivan, Project Support Officer, Children and Young People with Disabilities Australia (CYDA)
Emily (she/they) is a proud and passionate advocate, with a background in consultancy and systemic advocacy roles in youth, disability, mental health and LGBTQIA+ community spaces. She holds a degree in Political Science and International Relations, which has informed their passion for working to empower and advocate for marginalized communities.
Panelist: Mac Zamani, Youth Advocate, Children and Young People with Disabilities Australia (CYDA)
Mac (he/him) is a proud queer, trans, disabled, culturally diverse young person from a migrant background. Mac spends a lot of time in the advocacy sector, focusing on his own lived experiences and communities. He is a facilitator, writer, public speaker, modelling, media engagement and participates in a variety of peer leadership, advisory group, steering committees groups. He is a winner for 2021 ABC Takeover Melbourne, 2022 30 under 30 Awards Out for Australia award and a finalist for the national disability leadership awards.
Co Facilitator: Skye Kakoschke-Moore
Skye Kakoschke-Moore (she/her) joined CYDA as CEO in October 2022. After growing up in the Middle East, Skye completed Law and Economics degrees at Flinders University before entering politics. Initially working as an advisor to an independent Senator, Skye was elected as a Senator for South Australia in 2016. After leaving politics Skye worked in disability policy advocacy and implemented multiple co-designed capacity building projects with people with disability, including young people, people with disability in regional areas and people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Co Facilitator: Mr Jamie Crosby, CEO, Families Australia
Jamie brings an extensive network of community sector, government and business relationships and community advocacy experience to his role as CEO Families Australia. Jamie has worked in youth and family accommodation services, juvenile justice, housing and homelessness support programs, and organisations delivering community services management and member-based advocacy. He also has deep experience in the Federal public service having spent the past decade working in Indigenous Affairs within the National Indigenous Australians Agency and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He also convenes the National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing