Day 1, 9:45am – Keynote

Janet Klees

There is no denying the importance of Vision in order to inspire and direct one’s life.

In this keynote address, Janet Klees will speak from her long experiences with families to touch on aspects of Vision that will give yours power and direction. She will speak to Vision’s ability to guide and shape experience, and then the importance of grounding your Vision in principles to keep you on track. As usual, Janet will interweave stories of possibility and offer the outlines of a practical strategy that can act as an engine for your Vision.

Day 1, 10:50am – Keynote

Margaret Ward

Margaret explains the practical implications for people with disability and families in working in “right relationship” with service providers and community.  She will share her experience in changing from an angry defensive parent to working creatively with those who came into her daughter’s life.  She will offer some handy tips on how to remain “on top of things” even in the most dire moments. She maintains that if she can do it, anyone can!

Day 1, 11:40am – Concurrent Session 1A

Margaret Ward

Margaret’s daughter Mena had three circles of support in her life–each with a different task. She will share how these Circles assisted Mena to have a full and inclusive life, even when her life was ending. Margaret has some practical ideas for families that can be used every day to assist their family member with a disability to build important, meaningful relationships over time.

Day 1, 11:40am – Concurrent Session 1B

Deahnne McIntyre OAM, Carl Emmerson and Adrienne Gault

Deahnne McIntyre will share her story of where thoughtful planning prior to her NDIS planning meeting has provided clarity around realising her goals for her future to live a full and meaningful life. NDIS funding has opened up opportunities where equipment and paid support compliments and strengthens her valued roles in her community.

We all want a life full of opportunities and possibilities for our children. Like many recent school leavers, Carl Emmerson is having a gap-year, a year for life-tasting after the narrow focus of school. But the NDIS only provides the funding, we’ve got to find the opportunities for growth and seize them.

In this presentation Carl and his mother, Adrienne Gault, will talk about the strategies we are using to bring new opportunities Carl’s way so that he can explore his interests, find out what is important to him and work towards getting his first job. Carl will also talk about what he has experienced so far.

Day 1, 11:40am – Concurrent Session 1C

Ann Greer

This session will outline the main elements to explore when trying to understand why a person is challenging us with their behaviour.  It will explain how behaviour is a means of communication and, when viewed in this way, it gives us a new paradigm to explore when trying to understand ‘why does he do that?’.  Ann will use stories and share concepts and strategies that may assist the participants to start thinking differently about the person who inspired them to come to this session.

Day 1, 1:30pm – Keynote

Janet Klees

“It is not a shortcoming in a Supporter if she does not become a friend after her time with your family member. However, not providing good connections to others, not leaving something good behind when she leaves, and allowing her relationship with them to impede other relationships from developing IS a shortcoming” 

With these provocative words, Janet Klees opens her keynote about the essential support roles in individualised lifestyle arrangements. The essential role of the paid supporter is to be a bridge to relationship -a unique role that cannot be performed if the supporter is seen as friend. 

A coordinator of such arrangements needs to be a principled thinker, who understands and guides the role of supporter as bridge, and be able to model the effective implementation strategies. She needs to be able to imagine the possibility of natural supports as well as how to shape them.

Day 1, 2:20pm  Concurrent Session 2A

Janet Klees

Building a context for roles, relationship and places of belonging – Based on 25 years of family-informed practice, this is a practical session, focused on the how-to’s of shaping environments and situations so that there are satisfying outcomes for people – engaging roles where their contributions shine, relationships based on mutual respect and places in one’s community where they truly belong. This session will introduce you to the achievable basics of BCR.