Disability, Education & Work: COVID19- where to now for policy & practice

* Captioning services and sign language interpretation will be provided for this event

The Education and Work Research Theme at Western Sydney University welcomes you to Research Week at Western. For further events during this week, please visit the website at www.westernsydney.edu.au/researchweek

The COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent government management strategies, resulted in significant changes and uncertainties for the education and work of people around the world. These impacts were considerable for people with disability, their families, their education and work settings, and the professionals and organisations that support people with disability.

Western Sydney University will host a public discussion with a panel of experts to explore the issues, challenges and opportunities that have emerged as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions include:

-what are the experiences of people with disability as students and workers?

- what are the experience of their families?

-what are the experiences of people and organisations that support, educate, employ and/or partner with people with disability?

-what are the opportunities arising from this pandemic to improve education and work for people with disability?

-what are the opportunities for research to inform policy and practice improvements?

The session will commence with a dialogue between the panel of experts to share their experiences and perspectives addressing these questions. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and contribute to the evolving ideas. The session will conclude with reflections from panel members about what next positive actions can be taken in the areas of research, policy and practice to capitalise on the experience of COVID-19 pandemic to improve the education and work of people with disability.

The session will be hosted by Associate Professor Christine Johnston, Western Sydney University.

Panel members include:

Kerry Stubbs: Director of Northcott Innovation, Former CEO of Northcott, Deputy Chancellor of Western Sydney University

Dr Melanie Heyworth: Autistic mother of Autistic children, and CEO and founder of Reframing Autism, an Autistic-led NFP