The Disability Dialogue, Open Dialogue event 2025: Unlocking potential, support for children with disability

This Open Dialogue event was held on Monday 25 August 2025.

This event was about targeted foundational supports for children, which are supports for children who are not part of the NDIS. We wanted to know what good support looks like for children, their families and their supporters.

The event was hosted by Todd Winther, who is a policy expert in the disability sector,  and Sara Gingold who is a writer. They both are people with disability.

Todd and Sara briefly talked about the recent Federal Government announcement about the Thriving Kids Program, which is a program to support children with mild to moderate developmental delay and autism, but we still don’t know how the program will be rolled out.

We also heard from Gretchen Young from SNAICC, which stands for Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care. SNAICC is the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. 

Gretchen talked about the need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have access to culturally safe support. Culturally safe support means people feel safe, respected and feel like they belong to a community based on shared ideas. 

Then we heard from Akii Ngo, who shared their experience growing up without any support. They spoke about stigma and lack of understanding within their culture. They talked about the importance of sharing experiences, even when they are traumatic, if it helps others have the knowledge they need to get the right support. They talked about how important it is to have community. They speak up for themselves because they feel safe and supported.

The event closed with an invitation to the audience about the next Open Dialogue about how people with disability can prepare and stay safe during weather-related disasters.

*TRIGGER WARNING* This recording contains a discussion that touches on self-harm and spousal abuse at the one hour mark (around 1:05:00). Listener discretion is advised and for support you visit beyondblue.org.au or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

This episode was produced by Powered Media and Vision Australia for The Disability Dialogue in 2025