About The Event
Beyond Labels: Our Families, Our Stories brings together families, persons with disabilities, caregivers, educators, advocates, creatives and community members for a day of lived experiences, conversations and connection.
Through personal stories, creative enterprises, a digital exhibition and an inclusive martial arts experience, the programme explores disability, caregiving, neurodiversity, independence, creativity and inclusion through the people who live these experiences every day.
Visitors are welcome to drop by throughout the day. Admission is free.
Program
| 9:38 AM | Opening Remarks Professor Abhishek Bhati Pro Vice-Chancellor & CEO, Newcastle Australia Institute of Higher Education |
| 9:45 AM | Guest-of-Honour Address Mayor Denise Phua |
| 10:15 AM | Family Journey and JunLeFont Bob Lee |
| 10:45 AM | Caregiving, Neurodiversity and E4PID Bernard Yu • E4PID |
| 11:15 AM | Entrepreneurship and Living with Cerebral Palsy Mary Low • Mary’s Special Gifts |
| 12:00 PM | Inclusive Martial Arts Experience Bernice Liang • Occupational Therapist |
| 1:15 PM | A Family’s Journey with Zayden Tan Li Min |
| 1:45 PM | Independence, Purpose and Visual Impairment Muhammad Hidayat |
| 2:15 PM | Family, Autism, Creativity and Inclusion Shylyn Tan & Benjamin Chang • The Shy Crafter |
| 3:15 PM | Supporting Neurodivergent Children Karina Estiningdyah |
| 3:45 PM | A Mother-and-Son Perspective on Dyslexia Fadhilah & Faidhi Hazim |
| 4:15 PM | Closing Remarks Dr Jarina Peer Associate Director (Teaching & Learning), Newcastle Australia Institute of Higher Education |
Meet Our Speakers
Hear from individuals and families sharing different perspectives on disability, caregiving, neurodiversity, creativity, independence and inclusion.
Inclusive Martial Arts Experience
12:00 PM–1:00 PM
Facilitated by Bernice Liang, Occupational Therapist
This interactive experience gives persons with disabilities and their caregivers or support persons an opportunity to experience martial arts together in an inclusive and supportive setting.
Participants will be introduced to activities including agility and footwork, punching techniques and board breaking, with activities adapted to different abilities and participation needs. No prior martial arts experience is required.
Pre-registration is required for participation in the Inclusive Martial Arts Experience. Registration is currently full. Members of the public are welcome to observe the session.
Meet Our Exhibitors
Explore the booths throughout the day and meet makers, artists and entrepreneurs whose work reflects creativity, family, individual interests and different pathways to participation and independence.
Digital Exhibition: Our Families, Our Stories
Throughout the day, visitors can also experience a digital exhibition featuring personal reflections from individuals, families, caregivers and members of the community.
Presented through photographs, stories and first-person perspectives, the exhibition offers another way to encounter the experiences behind Beyond Labels — from family and caregiving to creativity, identity, belonging and inclusion.
Take a moment to pause, read and meet the people behind the stories.
Come for a story, explore the booths, experience the programme or simply spend some time with us.
Beyond Labels: Our Families, Our Stories is an invitation to meet people as they are — through their experiences, relationships, interests, creativity and possibilities, beyond the labels that may come first.
