Supporting Participation Program
The information on this page is duplicated from the Current Grant Opportunity View - GO8604: GrantConnect. Updates to the GrantConnect page and documents will be copied on this page.
In 2026-27, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DHDA) will contribute funding through the Supporting Participation Program (full title: Supporting Participation by Representatives of People with Disability in Key International Forums on Human Rights Program). The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) manages the Expression of Interest (EOI) process.
Supporting Participation Program funding will support people with disability to attend the following key international human rights forums:
- 20th Session of the United Nations (UN) COSP (COSP20) to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), UN Headquarters New York, United States of America (USA), 9 to 11 June 2027;
- 71st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW71), UN Headquarters New York, USA, 8 to 19 March 2027; and
- Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR), Sendai, Japan, 25 to 29 October 2027.
The CRPD is an international human rights treaty which sets out the human rights of people with disability. Australia ratified the CRPD in 2008. These CRPD Articles are relevant to the Supporting Participation Program:
- Article 4.3 for States Parties to closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities through their representative organisations in the implementation of the CRPD.
- Article 29 for States Parties to guarantee participation of people with disabilities in political and public life.
- Article 33(3) for civil society, in particular persons with disabilities and their representative organisations, to be involved and participate fully in the monitoring process.
- Article 40 for State Parties to meet regularly in a Conference of State Parties (COSP) to consider the implementation of the CRPD.
20th Session of the UN Conference of State Parties (COSP20) to the CRPD
Article 40 of the CRPD says that State Parties shall meet regularly in a COSP to consider any matter about CRPD implementation.
COSP is held annually and covers a range of themes and issues in roundtables, interactive dialogues and side events.
The themes for COSP20 have not yet been announced.
Access more information and stay up to date on COSP.
71st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
Every year member states meet for the CSW to review progress on gender equality. This includes identifying challenges, setting global standards and creating policies to support gender equality and advancing women worldwide.
At every meeting member states agree recommendations for governments, intergovernmental bodies, NGOs and other relevant bodies.
CSW71 will focus on growing gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in relation to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This includes consideration of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes, and poverty and the economic empowerment of women.
Access more information and stay up to date on CSW.
Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR)
The Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) promotes regional coordination and cooperation on disaster risk reduction and the implementation of the Sendai Framework in Asia and the Pacific.
Hosted by UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the APMCDRR will bring together member states, intergovernmental organisations, international and national organisations and stakeholder groups, to accelerate progress on disaster risk reduction. The conference is instrumental to strengthening disaster risk reduction in the region by sharing good practice and knowledge and forging partnerships.
Access more information and stay up to date on APMCDRR.
Who can apply for funding?
We can only accept applications for individuals with disability from organisations that:
- have UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Consultative Status; or
- are approved for the specific forum they are applying for, such as having COSP Accreditation.
Applicants must be 18 years or older. Applicants for the Emerging Young Leaders Delegation must be 18 to 35 years old when they apply.
Delegations
Individuals can apply for funding through the Supporting Participation Program to attend an identified forum as part of the General Delegation or Emerging Young Leaders Delegation:
- General Delegation – supports people with disability who have experience in the disability sector to attend. These delegates will represent Australians with disability and advocate for policy change internationally. They are expected to actively support the wider delegation before and during the forum, including by:
- leading informal discussions and prompting delegation considerations
- sharing learnings from any previous international disability advocacy experiences
- supporting group administrative tasks
- participating in and/or coordinating civil society delegation meeting opportunities on the ground.
- General delegates will mentor at least one individual from the Emerging Young Leaders Delegation, with supports to be provided prior to and during forums.
- Individuals applying to the General Delegation must be 18 years or older. Individuals aged 18 to 35 years are welcome to apply to this stream instead of the Emerging Young Leaders Delegation if preferred.
- Emerging Young Leaders Delegation – supports young people with disability, aged 18 to 35 years, who are disability rights advocates and show leadership potential. This stream helps build the next generation’s ability to represent Australians with disability internationally. They will have opportunities to:
- be mentored by a general delegate
- network with advocates involved in international disability rights
- learn about strategic advocacy and its application to domestic advocacy
- participate in important international forum/s.
Application Form and Privacy Collection Notice
Supporting organisations should submit a single application email. This should include a separate section 2 for each individual applying. Each individual application will be assessed separately.
The ‘Application Forum’ and ‘Privacy Collection Notice’ are also available in Easy Read.
Application Form and Privacy Collection Notice – PDF and word documents
Access the ‘Application Form and Privacy Collection Notice’ document in PDF format
Access the ‘Application Form and Privacy Collection Notice’ document in Word format
Application Form – Easy Reads
Access the ‘Application Form – Part 1 - Easy Read’ document in PDF format
Access the ‘Application Form – Part 2 - Easy Read’ document in PDF format
Privacy Collection Notice – Easy Reads
Access the ‘Privacy Collection Notice – Easy Read’ document in PDF format
Format of applications
Applications will be accepted in multiple formats, with the following size limits requested when responding to the assessment criteria (section 2.4 of the Application Form and Privacy Collection Notice):
- Written (2 pages)
- Easy Read (no length limit)
- Video (5 minutes)
- Audio file (5 minutes)
Easy Read, video and audio files can be supported by an additional one-page written summary.
Selection and assessment process
Factors considered in the assessment are outlined in the ‘Grant Opportunity Guidelines’ and ‘Expression of Interest Guide’. The ‘Expression of Interest Guide’ summarises key information from the Grant Opportunity Guidelines to help people prepare their applications.
Please read the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document if you need more detail or have questions. This may be updated throughout the EOI open period with relevant information in response to questions received.
The Commission will manage the EOI process and assess applications. The Commission will provide a recommendation report to DHDA. DHDA will decide which delegates are approved to receive funding. COSP20 is expected to be the main funding priority. Funding for CSW71 and APMCDRR is expected to be lower and will depend on the quality of applications for each forum.
DHDA will balance funding across the General Delegation and the Emerging Young Leaders Delegation. It will also consider the diversity of the Australian community. This may include different disability experiences, age, gender, First Nations people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people from regional and remote areas, and people from the LGBTQIA+ community.
Grant Opportunity Guidelines – PDF and word documents
Access the ‘Grant Opportunity Guidelines’ document in PDF format
Access the ‘Grant Opportunity Guidelines’ document in Word format
Expression of Interest Guide – PDF and word documents
Access the ‘Expression of Interest Guide’ document in PDF format
Access the ‘Expression of Interest Guide’ document in Word format
Expression of Interest Guide – Easy Reads – PDF and word documents
Access the ‘Expression of Interest Guide – part 1 – Easy Read’ document in PDF format
Access the ‘Expression of Interest Guide – part 2 – Easy Read’ document in PDF format
Frequently Asked Questions – PDF and word documents
Access the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document in PDF format
Access the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document in Word format
Common Questions – Easy Reads - PDF and word documents
Access the ‘Common Questions part 1 – the Grant – Easy Read’ in PDF format
Access the ‘Common Questions part 2 – Funding – Easy Read’ in PDF format
Access the ‘Common Questions part 3 – Where to find information – Easy Read’ in PDF format
Access the 'Common Questions part 4 – Going to the forum – Easy Read’ in PDF format
Timeline for applications
- 21 September 2026 – Call for Expressions of Interest opens
- 1 November 2026 – Expression of Interest closes
- Late November 2026 – Organisations and individuals advised of outcome
All applications must be submitted to disability@humanrights.gov.au by 11.00pm (AEDT) on Sunday 1 November 2026.
Please contact the Commission at disability@humanrights.gov.au with any questions.
Note: Once funding decisions have been made, questions on funding of delegates should go to DHDA. The Commission will provide these details on request.
Roles and Responsibilities
The roles of the Commission, the Australian Government and Civil Society Organisations participating in the 2026-27 forums are outlined in the 'Roles and Responsibilities' document. This is available in both PDF and Word, and Easy Read versions.
Roles and Responsibilities – PDF and word documents
Access the 'Roles and Responsibilities' document in PDF Format
Access the 'Roles and Responsibilities' document in Word Format
Roles and Responsibilities - Easy Read documents
Access the ‘Roles and Responsibilities - Australian Government - Easy Read’ in PDF Format
Access the ‘Roles and Responsibilities - Disability Organisations - Easy Read’ in PDF Format
Key documents on this page
All documents on this page are copied from Current Grant Opportunity View - GO8604: GrantConnect. Updates to the GrantConnect page and documents will be copied on this page.
- Grant Opportunity Guidelines
- Expression of Interest Guide
- Application Form and Privacy Collection Notice
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Roles and Responsibilities
Easy Read documents
- Expression of Interest Guide - part 1 - Easy Read
- Expression of Interest Guide - part 2 - Easy Read
- Application Form – Easy Read
- Privacy Collection Notice - Easy Read
- Common Questions part 1 – the Grant – Easy Read
- Common Questions part 2 – Funding – Easy Read
- Common Questions part 3 – Where to find information – Easy Read
- Common Questions part 4 – Going to the forum – Easy Read
- Roles and Responsibilities - Australian Human Rights Commission - Easy Read
- Roles and Responsibilities - Australian Government - Easy Read
- Roles and Responsibilities - Disability Organisations - Easy Read
Please contact the Commission at disability@humanrights.gov.au if you would like Word versions of the Easy Read documents provided.