PROGRAM
Caleb Rixon EVENT HOST
Karni Liddell
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Nicole Hurley
INCLUSIVE INNOVATION LEADER & AUTISM ADVOCATE
Melanie Dimmitt JOURNALIST, AUTHOR & ADVOCATE
Dr Amanda Mullin
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST & WELLBEING SPEAKER
8:00AM TO 8:30AM WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
9.00AM KEYNOTE SESSION: BREAKING BARRIERS AND REDEFINING POSSIBILITIES WITH KARNI LIDDELL
Karni Liddell’s journey is one of resilience, determination, and breaking barriers. Born with a neuro-muscular wasting disease and given little chance of survival, she defied every expectation—becoming a worldrecord-holding Paralympian, disability advocate, clinical social worker, and sought-after speaker.
From breaking world records to leading the fight for the NDIS, Karni has dedicated her career to driving change. Her work in disability rights, inclusive employment, and domestic violence advocacy has transformed lives and challenged outdated perceptions. With passion, humour, and powerful storytelling, Karni’s keynote will inspire you to rethink inclusion, push boundaries, and create real opportunities for the next generation.
9.45AM TO 10.15AM FROM DIAGNOSIS TO CARER BURNOUT – SUPPORTING FAMILIES EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
Nicole Hurley – Inclusive Innovation Leader & Autism Advocate
Melanie Dimmitt – Journalist, Author & Advocate
A diagnosis is just the beginning of a complex and emotional journey for families—one filled with uncertainty, advocacy challenges, and systemic barriers. In this session, Nicole Hurley and Melanie Dimmitt bring a powerful blend of professional expertise and lived experience as caregivers, leaders, and advocates.
Nicole draws on her journey as a parent of a child on the autism spectrum and her extensive background in innovation and inclusive leadership. Melanie, a journalist and author of Special, shares the stories and realities of caregivers with honesty, insight, and compassion. Together, they’ll explore how professionals can build more effective, empathetic, and empowering support systems that truly meet the needs of families navigating disability.
10.15AM TO 10.45AM MORNING TEA
10.45AM TO 11.30AM REGULATE, RELATE, THRIVE: CREATING SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN WITH COMPLEX NEEDS
Dr Amanda Mullin – Clinical Psychologist & Wellbeing Speaker
Join Dr Amanda Mullin, Clinical Psychologist and founder of Mindworx Psychology, for an empowering session on supporting emotional wellbeing in children and families. Drawing on over a decade of clinical experience, Amanda will explore a holistic, practical approach to managing stress, anxiety, trauma, and neurodiversity. Learn how to foster resilience, emotional intelligence, and mental wellbeing using evidence-based tools that can be applied across home, school, and therapy settings. With warmth, expertise, and lived experience, Amanda will offer real-world strategies to help professionals and families create supportive, thriving environments for children of all ages and needs.Her perspective will equip professionals with the tools to better support families facing rare and complex conditions.
