Apply for Financial Support to Attend the 2026 Australian Disability Strategy National Forum
Thursday 18 December
On this page:
About the Forum
Australia’s Disability Strategy National Forum is a 2-day event. The 2026 Forum will be on 24 and 25 February 2026.
The event will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre. You can attend in person in Adelaide or online. It is free to attend with no registration fee.
The Forum is for:
- people with disability
- community leaders
- allies, family members, carers, supporters
- governments.
Everyone who is coming to Australia’s Disability Strategy Forum needs to register.
To learn more and register for the event got to AUSTRALIA’S DISABILITY STRATEGY 2021-2031 NATIONAL FORUM 2026 website.
About Financial Support
PWDA is administering a funding program that will provide up to $500 to eligible individuals with disability to remove the cost barriers associated with attending the 2026 Australian Disability Strategy National Forum in Adelaide on 24 – 25 February 2026.
Who can apply
People with disability, aged 18 years or older who are currently living in Australia.
Applications open on Thursday 18 December 2025 and close on Tuesday 20 January 2026 at 5:00pm AEDT.
Those who apply will be told of the outcome on Friday 23 January 2026.
How to apply
Applications are now closed
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Identify as a person with disability.
- Reside in Australia.
- Wish to attend the February 2026 Australian Disability Strategy National Forum.
- Be able to demonstrate financial need or travel cost barriers that the program funding will meaningfully reduce.
- Commit to submitting a limited report/acquittal process after the conference.
Applicants must agree to:
- Use funds only for approved purposes.
- Retain receipts for up to three years.
- Return any unused portion of the funds.
- Approved Use of Funds (up to $500 total)
Applicants may request support for:
- Travel (flights, fuel, taxi/ride share, public transport)
- Accommodation
- Carer or support worker travel costs (not covered by other sources including NDIS if applicable)
- Short-term supports needed for travel or attendance
- Accessibility-related adjustments (communication support, mobility support etc.)
Applicants must provide a brief cost breakdown of how the funding support will be used for flights/travel costs, accommodation, transport/taxi, etc.
Your identity
The application process involves you confirming who you are.
Choose from the following options:
- Contact person / organisation who can confirm my identity (name and contact)
- Statutory declaration
- Upload ID document in the online application form (may redact personal details)
- Identity confirmation phone/video call.
Your privacy
PWDA’s Privacy Policy contains further details about our privacy practices, how you may access and correct the personal information we hold about you, how you may make a privacy complaint and how we will deal with any complaint.
Please review our Privacy Policy and Privacy Collection Statement for more information. An Easy Read version of both documents is available at the above link.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the application process please contact PWDA
- Email pwd@pwd.org.au
- Call 1800 422 015
Please note: PWDA will be fully closed from 12:00PM on Wednesday 24 December until 10:00AM Monday 5 January 2026. No phone calls or emails will be answered during this time.