The Disability Dialogue, Open Dialogue event 2025: Foundations for a good life.

This Open Dialogue event was held on Wednesday 30th July 2026.

The event talked about General Foundational Supports which are supports outside of the NDIS.

The hosts Sara and Todd presented a model of three “buckets” of support: mainstream services, the NDIS, and Foundational Supports. Each of these supports are different, but they all help people live a better life.

Catherine McAlpine from Inclusion Australia talked with Sonia Hume, a self-advocate and member of Speak Out. Sonia shared her 20-year journey of gaining confidence and skills through her involvement with Speak Out, an organisation that provides information, advocacy, and support.

Her journey began with getting individual advocacy help for a legal issue and progressed to attending and speaking at conferences and self-advocacy groups. Sonia’s story showed that building confidence and skills takes time.

Todd then interviewed Katrina who has worked with VALID and they discussed how you make decisions and the importance of having clear information and talking with family and friends.

Finding people in similar situations, often through peer support, was also discussed.

The event made the confusing topic of Foundational Supports clearer