The Coalition Government has announced up to $315,000 in grant funding to make conferences more accessible for people with disability. The National Disability Conference Initiative grants assist eligible conference organisers to include people with disability at nationally-focussed, disability-related conferences in Australia.

Country Liberals Senator for the Northern Territory, Nigel Scullion, said the grant funding will help to assist people with disability, their families and carers to attend conferences.

“Grants of up to $10,000 are available to organisations to help people with disability participate in disability-related conferences from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020,” Senator Scullion said.

The grants are designed to assist people with disability with the costs of attending the conference—assisting them with conference fees, accommodation and travel costs.

They can also be used for accessibility purposes such as funding AUSLAN interpreters, assistive computer devices or software, aids or appliances or other costs relating to venue accessibility.

“I encourage organisations in the Territory planning to hold a disability-related conference during this period to apply for a National Disability Conference Initiative grant,” Senator Scullion said.

The Government anticipates the funding will enable over 30 conferences across the country to be more inclusive of people with disability, their families and carers to attend conferences about issues that affect them.

Applications are open and close at 2pm (AEDT) on 20 February 2019. To apply for a grant or for more information on the National Disability Conference Initiative grant round, go to Australian Government Community Grants Hub at communitygrants.gov.au or Grant Connect at grants.gov.au.