WHO SHOULD ATTEND
If you work in, study, fund, shape, or are affected by disability employment systems, the Word Disability Employment Conference is for you.
This Conference is for researchers, policymakers, employment consultants, practitioners, peak bodies, employers, advocates, funders and people with lived experience of disability.
It is also for people who want to connect across sectors and borders: to meet peers, exchange ideas, form partnerships and be part of a global network working to improve employment outcomes for people with disability.
Register here to join us in Brisbane next March.
The best ideas in disability employment do not belong to one country, one system or one profession. They come from many places.
In the tradition begun in Belfast in 2017 and continued in Vancouver in 2023, the 2027 World Disability Employment Conference (WDEC) will create the space to learn across borders, build international partnerships and generate insights the sector can use globally.
Hosted at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from 17 to 19 March 2027 in sunny Queensland, the Conference will be a place to share what works, challenge what does not, and build the relationships needed to create a more inclusive world together.
WDEC will welcome speakers and delegates from Australia and across the globe who are interested in supporting the employment aspirations of all people with disability.
CALL FOR PAPERS
Around the world, disability employment systems are grappling with the same fundamental questions. How do we fund sustainable services? How do we build and retain a skilled workforce? How do we support employers to create genuinely inclusive workplaces? How do we make sure policy and practice are shaped by the voices of people with disability?
We have an abundance of opportunities for speakers to join the WDEC program. We welcome submissions from people with disability, employment support providers, academics, inclusive businesses and others. There are opportunities for panels and workshops as well as traditional presentations. We’d love to hear your ideas.
Check the WDEC website to discover which option fits you best and lodge your submission before 25 September 2026.