Canberra – A cohort of Australians with lived experience of disability have stepped into the spotlight at one of the world’s pre-eminent forums for disability rights — the 18th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP18), held from 10-12 June 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Under the auspices of the Australian Department of Social Services, 11 Australians with disability — together with their support persons — were funded through the Supporting Participation Program (SPP) to attend the gathering alongside about 60 other Australians representing civil society, advocacy organisations, human rights bodies and government.
The conference, recognised as “one of the most important meetings of people with disability in the world,” aimed to raise public awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities and to highlight their contributions to social development.
Delegates bring diversity, lived experience and leadership
The funded delegates, distinct from government representatives, brought first-hand insights and community leadership to the event, representing Australia’s diverse disability community. Topics of discussion included national and international research, data-driven policymaking and co-designed programs led by people with disability.
During the conference, Australia hosted an official side‐event focusing on the value of disability-led and co-designed research — featuring contributions from the National Disability Research Partnership (NDRP) and the National Disability Data Asset (NDDA).
Why it matters
In a global context where the rights of persons with disabilities are still unevenly realised, Australia’s participation underscores a commitment — symbolically and practically — to ensuring that people with disability don’t just have policies made for them, but are present at the table where those policies are shaped. The fact that government funding via the SPP enabled independent delegates to participate is an important step in broader international representation.
Looking ahead
The discussions and outcomes from COSP18 are expected to feed into Australia’s ongoing disability policy framework and advocacy efforts. By elevating voices of people with disability and supporting disability-led research and data assets, the government signals it intends to align national efforts with global momentum.
For those looking to delve deeper, the Department of Social Services has made available the recording of the side-event and associated materials.
Source Link: Department of Social Services