Download the Conference Program outline here
Below is a list of the accepted abstracts for Conference Presentations – these are IN ADDITION to those of the Keynote Speakers listed on the Speakers page. Most of the following presentations will be given in parallel session streams, and delegates will need to choose which to attend, from up to six being given at the same time.
Selections are not required in advance – you may decide on the day:
(Title of Abstract – Primary Presenter , Organisation)
1. A Risk-Based, Person Centred Approach to Inclusion of People with Intellectual Disabilities in Faith Communities – Alice Nicholas and Mr Nathan Despott Inclusion Melbourne
3. Stories of Faith and Disability: A Panel Discussion by Speakers Bank – Mimi Laurilla, Speakers Bank
4. Making Information Easier to Use and Understand – Nicolina Newcombe, Enabling Good Lives Waikato
5. Reason, Will, and Theological Anthropology – a Friendly Disagreement with Hans Reinders – Shane Clifton, Alphacrucis College (Dean of Theology)
6. The Spirit of Disability, My Personal Journey of Discovery – Peter Forell
7. Grace and Disability: Biblical Models for Inclusive Leadership – Phil Doecke, RMIT University
8. Deaf Aware: I Can’t Hear You, BUT I Can See You – Katrina Mynard, John Pierce Centre for Deaf People
9. I Connect With You – Rachel Miers, John Pierce Centre for Deaf People
10. Disability, Inclusion and Exclusion in the Gospel of John: An Exegetical Study of John 5:1-18 and John 9:1-41 – Louise Gosbell, Mary Andrews College
11. Students with ‘Other Abilities’ in Higher Education: A Trial Program – Karenne Hills, Christian Heritage College
12. Contested Bodies: Anthropology, the Bible, and Dis/ability – Emmanuel Nathan, Australian Catholic University (NSW)
13. Promoting Church Inclusion of Intellectual Disability Across India – Natalie Tan, Nossal Institute for Global health (University of Melbourne)
14. Outside the ‘Commons of Social Flesh’: Moving Towards a Liberatory Theological Anthropology of Equal Worth and ‘Precarious Vulnerability’ – Mary Caygill, Trinity Methodist Theological College
15. The Luke14 initiative: Addressing Exclusion in Faith Communities – Rob Nicholls, CBM Australia
16. Part 1/ A Practical Resource that Grew From Experiences of Exclusion – and
16. Part 2/ Learning to Embrace—a Small Group that Dreams Big – Trish Harris, Disability, Spirituality and Faith Network (NZ)
18. Round Wheels and a Square Pew: a Wheel-Eye View on God, the World, the Church and Me – Mark Grantham
19. One Body in Christ– Patricia Mowbray, Australian Catholic Disability Council
20. POSTER presentation– Mrs Patricia Mowbray OAM
21. Igniting the Fire: Disabled People Creating Church – Vicki Terrell, Disability Faith Community
22. Accepting Us As We Are: Disability, Impairment and Illness Within Faith Communities and Societies – Susan Stork-Finlay, Uniting Church in Australia
23. The Embracing Innkeeper in the Parable of the Good Samaritan – Jayne Clapton, Griffith University
25. Spiritual Rights, Advocacy & Opportunities with NDIS Rollout for People with Disability and Faith Communities – Susan Stork-Finlay, Uniting Church in Australia
27. Reinterpreting the Healing Narratives in the Light of Progressive Theology – John Smith
28. Coming to the Front of the Chair: Accepting Vulnerability as a Pathway to Mutually Transformative Relationship with People with Intellectual Disability – Trevor Whitney, Uniting Church, SA
29. Gifts and Gains: Toward a Disability-Sensitive Reading of Ecclesiastes – Kirk Patston, Sydney Missionary and Bible College
30. Was Blind and I Still Can’t See: The Impact of the Spiritual Blindness Metaphor on the Physically Blind – Catherine Mahony, Community Disability Alliance Hunter
33. Championing Change – Diana Cousens, Former Vice-Chair of the Buddhist Council of Victoria.
34. ‘Can’t I Just Be Me?’ When the Embrace of Goals is an Act of Exclusion – Damian Palmer, Uniting Church in Australia and Charles Sturt University
35. Reading the Torah (or other Sacred Texts) with a Disability Lens – Melinda Jones
36. What Being Jewish Means to Me – Melinda Jones
37. Judaism Through 12 Objects of Inclusion: to Sensory Aspects of the Jewish Faith – Melinda Jones
39. This is My Life: Jewish, Disabled and the Rest – Miss Eli J-R
40. “They Go Through the Special Door:” The Stigma of Madness in the Jewish Community – S.B. Barak, York University
41. The Utilisation of Church Networks and Pastors to Lead to Improving Sustainability of Wheelchair Distributions– Nicole Hughes and Dr Nathan Grills
42. Rhetoric and Actual Substantive Efforts Towards Inclusion of People Living with a Disability: Reflections from a Qualitative Study in the Australian Catholic Church – Zachariah Duke, The Broken Bay Institute
43. Often It’s Hard to Know What’s the Right Thing to Say or Do – The Everyday Ethics of Providing Support for People With Disability – Keith McVilly, University of Melbourne and David Treanor,National Leader, L’Arche Australia
44. A mid-term process evaluation of community mobilisation through Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) in North India. – Ms Rebekah Young, Final year medical student, The University of Melbourne and Dr Nathan Grills, Public Health Physician, Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of Melbourne
45. Creating Sanctuary through the “Felt Sense” in Worship – Inclusion and Justice in Worship – Josephine Snowdon
47. Aboriginal DreamTime and Western religion/spirituality – Uncle John Baxter. First People’s Disability Network
48. Challenges through an Islamic Lens – Saara Sabbagh, Founding Director of Benevolence and Yasser Soliman, Community Elder.
49. Spirituality: who gives a toss? Andy Calder
