John Chesterman
Public Advocate
John Chesterman is the Queensland Public Advocate.
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A lawyer and historian by training, John was previously Victoria’s Deputy Public Advocate, and before that,he was an academic.
Among other things, John undertook a Churchill Fellowship on the topic of adult safeguarding, and his books include, as co-author, The politics of human rights in Australia (CUP).
Presentation Topic
​Queensland Disability Reform Framework : The Next Chapter: Safeguarding Rights and Strengthening Systems in Disability Housing and Support
Dr John Chesterman, Queensland’s Public Advocate, will deliver a keynote address exploring The Next Chapter framework and its practical and policy implications for the disability housing and support sector.
Drawing on his leadership and long-standing advocacy in areas including cognitive disability, supported decision-making, and restrictive practices, Dr Chesterman will provide a powerful lens on how this reform agenda aligns with the findings of the Disability Royal Commission and the NDIS Review.
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His presentation will examine how the framework reinforces the rights and protections of people with disability, and what this means for SDA and SIL providers amid a landscape of increasing scrutiny and reform.
Key themes will include the sector’s transition away from outdated, congregate models toward smaller, community-based and person-led settings; the imperative for cross-sector collaboration across housing, health, justice, and child protection systems; and the central role of lived experience, co-design, and trauma-informed care in driving future outcomes.
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This session is an essential briefing for any provider, policy leader, or advocate committed to ensuring quality, rights-based disability housing and support into the future.​​​