Up to $10,000 is available from NDIC to support national and international disability focused conferences around Australia.
National Disability Conference Initiative (NDIC)
The National Disability Conference Initiative (NDCI) is provided under the Disability and Carer Support Activity. The NDCI aims to assist conference organisers to maximise the inclusion and participation of people with disability at nationally focused disability-related conferences in Australia. The funding can be used for a range of assistance types such as accessible materials, live captioning service loops, conference fees etc.
Background
The National Disability Conference Initiative (NDCI) has been administered by FaHCSIA since 1999. Funding is provided each year to assist people with disability to attend disability conferences with a national focus held in Australia.
The Australian Government helps to support people with disability, their families and carers, through programs and services, benefits and payments. The Services and Support for People with Disability Program provides support to people with disability, their families and carers, through grants and funding to organisations that deliver services for people with disability.
Under Services for People with Disability, the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) funds a number of services for people with disability and their carers, including supported employment services, advocacy, a national booking service for Auslan interpreting services, print disability services, support services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families, support services for children with Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, cerebral palsy, moderate or greater vision or hearing impairments, respite services, accessible communities and supported accommodation for people with disability.
FaHCSIA is also working closely with the state and territory governments on 10 key priority areas under the National Disability Agreement.
Objectives
The National Disability Conference Initiative (NDIC) aims to assist eligible conference organisers to support the inclusion and maximise the participation of people with disability (including family members or carer(s) supporting them) at nationally focused disability conferences in Australia.
Disability and Carers aims to provide an adequate standard of living, improved capacity to participate economically and socially and manage life transitions for people with disability and/or mental illness and carers through payments, concessions support and care services.
The Services and Support for People with Disability program aims to provide access to improve access to information, advocacy and services for people with disability so they can develop their capabilities and actively participate in community and economic life.
Services for People with Disability
To provide social support and community-based care for people with disability, their carers and their families, to promote independence, self-reliance and participation in the community.
Services for People with Disability (Special Account)
The purpose of the Services for People with Disability (Special Account) is to manage receipts and expenses on projects which relate to the National Disability Agreement.
Funding
A total of $315,000 is available under the 2018-19 National Disability Conference Initiative.
A maximum of $10,000 per conference is available for this grant opportunity.
The maximum grant period is one financial year. Your conference must be held within the financial year specified in the funding round. In exceptional circumstances an extension may be approved by the Grant Agreement Manager.
Eligible Projects
Eligible organisations may apply for NDIC funding for disability-related conferences with a national focus planned for 2017-18 to:
- assist people with disability with the costs of attending conferences, (for example, conference fees, accommodation, travel for domestic participants); and/or
- assist family members or carers providing support to a person with disability attending a conference (for example with costs associated with conference fees, accommodation, travel for domestic participants); and/or
- facilitate access so that people with disability can participate in conferences (for example, by funding accessible materials, Auslan interpreters, assistive computer devices or software, aids or appliances or other costs of ensuring venue accessibility).
Eligible Applicants
To satisfy eligibility requirements, applicants to the National Disability Conference Initiative (NDIC) 2017-18 must fall into one of the following categories:
- Incorporated Associations (incorporated under State/Territory legislation, commonly have ‘Association’ or ‘Incorporated’ or ‘Inc.’ in their legal name);
- Incorporated Cooperatives (also incorporated under State/Territory legislation, commonly have ‘Cooperative’ in their legal name);
- Companies (incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (may be a proprietary company (limited by shares or by guarantee) or a public company);
- Aboriginal Corporations (incorporated under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006);
- Organisations established through a specific piece of Commonwealth or state/territory legislation (public benevolent institutions, churches, universities, unions etc.);
- Partnerships; and
- Trustees on behalf of a Trust.
Timing
Applications close 20 March 2018.
