PRESS RELEASE
Bus Stop Films, global leaders in inclusive filmmaking and advocacy on the employment of people with disability in the screen industry, has announced international speakers Bella Roberts and Laura Winson for the Driving Change: Disability Employment Summit 2025.
Tickets are now on sale for the November Summit. Following the inaugural summit in November 2024, this year's event will be held over one night (Tuesday 25th) and two days (Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th) in November 2025 at the Bondi Pavillion, Bondi Beach, Sydney. Driving Change will bring together the disability and commercial advertising, broadcast and production sectors to explore the employment of people with disability across the screen content industries, on both sides of the camera and above and below the line. The Summit will elevate and celebrate the people and purpose for driving change in policy, production, attitude and storytelling around disability.
With the SDIN’s Everyone Counts 2.0 report released this week, showing that disability representation in the screen sector both on screen (12%) and behind the camera (6.8%) remains well below the level of disability experienced by the Australian population, it’s timely that as a sector that we come together and unpack how we can achieve systemic change.
Over 50 speakers have been locked in, with more to come. Keynote speaker will be Bella Roberts, London based editor, content creator, Editorial Assistant on Netflix's Adolescence and Tik Tok influencer with 550,000 followers and 16.7 million likes; and Laura Winson, founder of Zebedee, inclusive talent agent and advocate for inclusion, will also speak at the Summit. Laura is Honorary Fellow at the Conde Nast College of Fashion and was named Grazia's 'Most Influential Women in Fashion'.
Governor General Sam Mostyn AC will again open the event which will explore topics including AI, tech & gaming; disability and advertising; Blind/Low Vision community and culture; disability and sports broadcasting; unpacking screen agency support and support for employers wanting to hire people with disability. More speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Bus Stop Film’s CEO Tracey Corbin-Matchett OAM says: “Last year’s Summit was such a brilliant celebration and exploration of our amazing deaf/disabled and neurodivergent community and the creative impact and value we add to the screen, media and advertising sectors. I encourage policymakers, producers, creatives, and commissioners to join us at Driving Change 2025, as we continue to foster meaningful employment pathways on both sides of the camera.”
In supporting the Summit, Minister Butler, Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing says: “The Australian Government is proud to support the work of Bus Stop Films as they continue to break down barriers for people with disability in the creative industries. The Summit will be an invaluable opportunity for people with disability to connect with the wider screen industry. Not only will it amplify the creative work of the community, it will also drive opportunities for employment, inclusion and leadership. We look forward to the rich and engaging discussions this Summit will deliver."
Additionally, Susan Templeman MP, Special Envoy for the Arts, who recently visited with the Bus Stop team on set for their feature film Boss Cat, says: “I applaud Bus Stop Films on their mission to make our screen industry more diverse and inclusive of people with a disability. Events like the Disability Employment Summit not only help us imagine that future, they are a powerful catalyst for change. The Summit will bring together great minds and goodwill to generate new ideas and forge new connections. I commend everyone involved for their commitment to expanding access and opportunity within our creative industries.”
Extending the outcomes of the first Summit, Bus Stop Films is also releasing an impact report, facilitated by leading creative industry consultants, Creative +Business, based on surveys and focus groups with both job seekers and employers to research the barriers both groups face around disability employment. The report identified key barriers around income, access, education and representation when it comes to disability employment. The impact report also notes that, while the majority of jobseekers rely on work or financial support outside the screen sector to survive, conversely the industry seeks to better understand what funding is available to support the hiring of people with disability. The full report is available here.
Bringing the energy and sass, advocate April Hélène-Horton and comedian Madeleine Stewart will again host the event. The Summit will also highlight the best of the Bondi Beach precinct, with a fun social program wrapped around the event including a welcome reception overlooking Bondi Beach. QT Hotel Bondi has come on board to be the Summit’s accommodation partner again this year.
Bus Stop Films is funding the Summit through its own resources, together with significant support from the Australian Government, Netflix, ABC, Screen NSW and. Additional sponsors are always welcome.
The event will be fully accessible with live captioning and Auslan interpretation. Tickets for both in person and digital access are available. For more information and book your spot head to https://drivingchangesummit.com/
Key speakers include:
- Opening Address by the Governor General Sam Mostyn AC
- Bella Roberts - Content creator. Editorial Assistant on Netflix's Adolescence and Tik Tok educator
- Laura Winson, Founder Zebedee, inclusive talent agent.
- Carly Findlay OAM - writer and advocate
- Matt Formston - Blind Surfer, advocate and filmmaker
- Dr. Jenny Crosbie - Interim Director, Centre for Inclusive Employment
- Hannah Diviney - writer/actor/advocate
- Kerry Tavrou - Head of Inclusion & Diversity, Tennis Australia
- Elizabeth Wright - Paralympian. ABC Sports Journalist