by FilmInk Staff
Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th November 2024 – The two-day event will unite the disability, advertising, broadcast and production sectors to drive change.
Bus Stop Films is excited to announce the official program for the inaugural Driving Change Summit, taking place this November in Bondi. The two-day event will host a variety of panels, in-conversations, and discussions that unite the disability, commercial advertising, broadcast, and production sectors in a shared mission for change.
In addition to the program, a host of new speakers has been confirmed, including Australian Paralympic swimmer and TV host Ellie Cole. Cole will participate in the panel Disability and Streaming, Live Production, and Broadcasting, where she will discuss the employment of people with disabilities across the news, sport, and entertainment sectors. The panel will be led by Liana Dubois, CMO of Nine, the official broadcaster of the Paralympics, which for the first time will include deaf, disabled and neurodivergent crew in its production, supported through Bus Stop Employment.
CEO of Bus Stop Films, Tracey Corbin-Matchett OAM, says, “Bringing together policymakers, thought leaders, and a diverse group of esteemed speakers with lived experience under one roof is truly inspiring. A summit like this has never been done before, and we are excited to lead an event that invites crucial conversations aimed at driving change and enhance inclusivity across the disability sector. We want to maintain the amazing momentum of the Paralympics in how we recognise the contribution of people with disability on both sides of the camera.”
Kicking off on Monday, 18th November, the first day will feature six sessions and conclude with a screening of the feature film Audrey, followed by a Q&A with lead actress Hannah Diviney, producer Michael Wrenn, and General Manager of Job Access Daniel Valiente-Riedl, hosted by disability advocate Steph Dower.
Day 1 will cover a range of critical themes and issues facing disability employment in the industry, including:
First Nations & Disability – A panel presented by the First Peoples Disability Network Australia.
Where It All Began – An in-conversation where Lousie Yates (nee Phillip), the first disabled star on Australian TV, will speak with Andrew Mercado.
Hollywood and Inclusion – A discussion on the importance of creating space for disability on the red carpet.
Who Pays for Access? – A session on how production crews can budget for disability access.
The Role of Government, Screen Agencies, and Broadcasters – Avoiding “death by a thousand initiatives.”
Bus Stop Films will also present real-life case studies to showcase best practices.
The second day of the summit will begin with a ministerial address by The Honourable Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Social Services. Day 2 will tackle crucial sector issues by fostering open dialogue and connecting creatives with policymakers, including:
Disability and Streaming, Live Production, and Broadcasting – A panel on the inclusion of people with disabilities in news, sport, and entertainment broadcasting.
Access and Inclusion on Set – An exploration of the role of Access Coordinators and other support networks available on set.
Disability & Casting – A panel presented by the Casting Guild of Australia.
Celebrating the Deaf Community and Culture – A discussion on how to best celebrate Deaf culture, emphasising its value beyond captions.
Disability and Advertising – A panel presented by the Unstereotype Alliance.
In addition to Ellie Cole, the lineup now includes, Leigh Sales AM, Host of The Assembly, Joanna Agius OAM, founder of Deaf Aboriginal Services; Matt Deaner, CEO of Screen Producers Australia; and Deb Richards, Director, Studio & Production Affairs, APAC. Netflix. These incredible speakers will participate in discussions focused on driving meaningful change.
Global change-maker, Disability Advocate Keely Cat-Wells will also be in attendance for the Driving Change Summit to deliver the keynote address.
Forbes 30 Under 30, Keely recently struck a deal with Reese Witherspoon’s production house Hello Sunshine for unscripted content to put talent with disabilities front and centre.
Keely’s Making Space venture has seen her establish partnerships with NBC, Netflix and Amazon, to identify on and off-camera opportunities for disabled talent across their streaming channels.
The Driving Change Summit will take place at Bondi Pavilion on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th November 2024. All in-person tickets include access to the Welcome Reception on Sunday, 17th November, at the North Bondi Surf Club, catered by The Depot, Bondi Beach.
For the full program and further information on each of the sessions, please visit drivingchangesummit.com
