‘Let’s talk about it’: Intellectual disability and care the focus of Community Conference

This year’s conference will feature presentations and discussions around making healthcare more inclusive and accessible, including hearing from people with lived experience, and information stalls showcasing supports and resources.

WNSWLHD Community Engagement Lead Jennifer Coote said the conference is an opportunity for communities to come together with healthcare staff to learn, network, and continue to build a shared understanding of how care is delivered.

“We know people with intellectual disabilities can often experience poorer health outcomes and face significant challenges accessing care, especially in rural areas. We want to work with our communities to change that,” Ms Coote said.

“This year’s Community Conference is a great opportunity to do so by bringing together community members, stakeholders and service providers to build stronger connections and explore new ways we can work together.

“It’s a free event designed to encourage open discussion and shared learning, and we hope community members will not only attend but actively take part to share their experiences and help us better understand their needs.

“By having these conversations openly and honestly we can continue building trust but also design and deliver health services that better meet the needs of people with intellectual disabilities.”

Ms Coote said this year’s Community Conference has been co-designed by healthcare staff, people with intellectual disabilities, carers, and key partners, including the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health and the Council for Intellectual Disability.

“Our working group has shared their own unique experiences to shape the conference’s program and ensure it truly reflects their priorities, which helps to make sure we can have the right discussions from the very beginning,” Ms Coote said.

“That has been vital to the development of the Pre-Conference Masterclass Sessions, which will be held the day before. The first is for our clinicians to hear from people with lived experience, and the second provides a chance for people to learn more and share resources.”

For more information or to register for the 2025 Community Conference events, visit the Engage Western NSW Health website.

Event details: 

• Pre-conference Masterclasses: Wednesday, 5 November 2025; Dubbo Convention Centre, 155 Darling Street, Dubbo
  • Session 1 - 2.00pm to 4.30pm; Voices of experience: Listening to people who use our services; for WNSWLHD clinicians
  • Session 2 – 5.30pm to 7.30pm; Partnering to provide care across communities and systems; for GPs, families and carers, and WNSWLHD clinicians
• 2025 Community Conference: Thursday, 6 November 2025: 9.30am to 3.30pm; Dubbo Convention Centre, 155 Darling Street, Dubbo