Key Facts:
Brisbane 25 - Over 6000 visitors
Sydney 25 - Over 6000 Visitors
Melbourne 25 over 6000 Visitors
Perth 25 Over 11 000 Visitros
Event Photos Link
Developing Australian Communities | Facebook
As a man living with disability, juggling the role of carer, father, national advocate and leader, River describes the loneliness at the centre of one of Australia's biggest disability communities, the fight and uphill work that it takes to achieve what he has over the past 5 years with the support of sponsors and people that are real and passionate.
"Since the first event in Brisbane and each year for 5 years, we have broken records, delivering the biggest disability events and community celebrations every year in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Western Australia without fail", said Mr Night, National Disability Sector Advocate and Founder.
"As well as working 7 days a week on Australia's biggest disability events for his community nationally, River is also a full-time-carer for his wife and father. My wife was a powerhouse in the disability sector working with some of Australia's most extreme cases in forensics and complex behaviour settings before her health deteriorated rapidly.
"Several years ago my wife was diagnosed with FND and a number of neurological and mental illnesses following some extreme and tragic events resulting in seizures and an inability to do most daily functions at times. This has been frustrating for her after she was such a passionate leader in our sector for decades and super energetic.
"I don't recall having a day off or a holiday in at least 13 years. My working role bringing to life Australia's biggest disability events is a privilege I don't take lightly. It means 7 days a week I am working on our events plus my full-time role as a carer and father doing school runs and all that comes with a son that has just turned 13yo.
"What I would like Australia, the government and our amazing community to remember is that at the heart of this for 5 years has been a human being, try to do good from decades of personal experience, usually sitting alone in the dark at midnight posting and planning because of passion, not a faceless corporate entity or business and our events have been amazing and continue to grow because they are created, shaped and delivered by people living with disability for people living with disability.
"We have quite literally saved lives which I find terrifying but a motivational force beyond all others. I have had advocate groups almost in tears saying they intervened in several cases that came to them on our expos days where people were planning to end their lives and did not due to the opportunity to connect. They say quite sincerely, what would have happened if we weren't here today?
"On top of the crazy life we live, recently, my wife and our family went through a time where a stalker that has since received jail time, stalked my wife while she was pregnant and sent dozens of men to our house to attempt to assault her. It wasn't until I personally went to the Minister and Chief of Police and media and demanded action at the highest level that we finally had police take action after 4 years of a living nightmare.
"I am daily chasing sponsor partnerships that are essential to afford the events costs, doing TV, radio and print news interviews as a National Disability Sector Advocate and juggling the role of a full-time-carer.
Where is a good-hearted mining magnate when you need one to help support Australia's biggest disability events?
"No one sees the loneliness and fight that exists when you are leading and pushing to make such a huge and critical event a reality in a sector that is so busy and going though so much reform. I get support from advocate groups and amazing organisations that help through sponsorship but we get no government support or grants. At times even our own community is at odds when people don't want to help because they more focused on promoting their own image than the priorities of the community.
"I remind people that you do the good work you do because it is good work and nothing more. You do not do this work for praise, recognition or for celebration because it is far between and rare to see.
"Even at venues that are government owned like the Melbourne Convention Centre, the Government won't talk to me about, at the very least, a discount on venue hire costs to support Victoria's biggest disability event in history each year.
"I have reached out to every Government, state and federal, we have had over the years and none have been open to supporting the event in anyway but they will spend far more than we ask on smaller internal events or projects with little, broad community value. "We provide a crucial service and community function. We provide information and capacity building which buffers and supports the unmet needs that exist in each state.
"We cannot use any venue other than the top, major venues in each city as they are the only venues that have good access for our community which is essential. Each year the cost of hiring one hall for 4 days is over $100,000.00 and the build cost is at least $70,000.00. We often need more than one hall and in Perth we hire 3 as it is the biggest event in the country with over 11 000 visitors this year over two days.
"What saddens me most is that our own community has such divisive and political issues. Some advocates and community leaders simply wont help or go out of their way to demonstrate tall poppy syndrome as they think what we do might take some of their light away. The opposite is the reality as all are welcome and we are the biggest community of people living with disability and providers in Australia so it is a huge opportunity to help create a disability sector we can be proud of. I ask everyone to join in and take advantage of our huge platform and do good.
"I cannot thank those leading organsiations enough, that show they really care by sponsoring the events. As providers they cannot afford much and we appreciate what they can give. While it doesn't not cover the costs associated it certainly helps with such massive venue fees.
"One venue (you know who you are) charged us recently $2000 each to hang one small 9kg fabric banner off the ceiling. A job that took them 30 minutes tops and we had to hang 5 of them as a minimum to help people with visual signage. Other venues charge us $300 each for the exact same thing, same machines, same staff requirement and same equipment but the air is more expensive in some cities. This is what we struggle with and why we need so much support from sponsors and Government.
"I have had business partners and supporters come and go. It is hard for me to find anyone with the same personal passion and I think that unless you do this with personal, lived experience of disability and a real connection and commitment to our community it is hard to find people that can truly help long term. An angel investor would be a blessing.
"Even with the disability sector and events space itself we face struggles of self-discrimination or a struggle representing our community. I often don't get invited to many panels or for speaking events because I don't look 'disabled enough' because they want someone that uses a wheelchair to be the token face sadly. This is frustrating given physical disability is a smaller group in the disability sector, but of course no less important and if anything access for those with physical disability is number one. Even our NDIS Minister has steps to get into his office.
"I have faced attacks at times from within the disability sector space myself with people saying we are just doing this for the money. Someone may come to an event that others do not like, takes a picture and suddenly we are the bad guys for letting them in. All are welcome and anyone that needs educating I want there to influence change and make people see what is real.
"Our events barely cover costs. I haven't paid myself for over a month after the Melbourne Expo because every cent goes to the venue costs, builders, staff and now we have completed 4 huge events breaking records again, I have to find deposits for all 4 venues again for next year.
"I love seeing entrepreneurs and those doing things that are government backed or receiving massive investment and corporate sponsorship talking about work life balance and seeing photos of lovely get aways and holidays to recharge. I love what I do and that is why I work 7 days a week because it is the only way to make these events a reality and the lives of people living with disability do not stay within a Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm time.
My life this week and it's only Wednesday, has so far been
- another hospital admission for my wife and her birthday away from home
- a child home sick
- following up the amazing sponsors that have offered to come on board to support the 2026 events
- driving sales and our huge response and influx of exhibitors for next year
- media
- doing all our social media work, graphics and video
- doing the roles of several senior staff that are away this week due to illness
- renegotiating venues and plans
- responding to several personal cries for help from participants in distress
- doing our website
- cutting cost and dealing with over priced services
- email campaigns and reminder to exhibitors that often register and then take month to process invoices which makes our venue deposits and build payments tricky
- inviting Premiers and Minister once again to please meet and discuss any way they can support Australia's biggest disability events
And you know what? I am loving every minute of it because I see the smiles on the faces of kids and people that come to our events. I hear people's stories and the impact we make on their lives and providers who we are working with.
"I have colleagues and friends that ask how you cope when you don't get thanked or you get attacked despite doing good. I remind people that you do the good work you do because it is good work and nothing more. You do not do this work for praise, recognition or for celebration. With or without government, support myself and Developing Australian Communities is delivering an amazing and essential service and the biggest disability events every year.
"The only thing I hope for is our government sees the work we do to support them and fill the gaps at state and federal levels as we reform our space. I hope they may provide some minor funding to help us with the cost of venues. I would hope the Government owned and operated Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre might provide in-kind support by giving us a substantial discount as they do for other events instead of commercial pricing. I have asked and been told a simple no already sadly.
"Like all those that live and work in the disability sector I do have to try and look after myself. I have not been to the beach or gone surfing for a very long time and I was an avid surfer previously. If I don't get into the salt water regularly I go a bit crazy and that is way overdue.
"When those of us working the sector with personal passion like I do and juggle massive personal and professional commitment, time off, friends and personal life takes a big blow. I can't recall the last time I spent time with a friend not working as most of my friends are the same as me and super passionate. I haven't had breakfast for 3 weeks as my day is starting so fast right now with so much enthusiasm for the 2026 events from the sector.
"2026 is going to be a massive year for the disability sector and I look forward to it. I am loving how much support we are getting from sponsors and I enjoy working with advocate groups as they are all underfunded and over stretched doing essential jobs.
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