People with Disability Australia in Sydney, Australia | Charitable organisation

People with Disability Australia

Locality: Sydney, Australia

Phone: +61 2 9370 3100

Address: Level 8, 418a Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills 2010 Sydney, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.pwd.org.au

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25.01.2022 The Disability Royal Commission is asking for people to talk to them about "Safeguards and Quality" in disability services. Essentially, they would like to know what is working when it comes to protecting people with disability from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation from their service providers, what is *not* working, and what must change. *Anyone* can tell their story to the Disability Royal Commission, and it is vital that the voices of people with disability be h...eard. Your submission can be long or short and in any language. It can be written or recorded in audio or video format. It doesn't need to be formal or complicated. You can tell your story in your own way. More information can be found here: https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au//safeguards-and- And in Auslan here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oocneIp-vx0&feature=youtu.be [Image description: Text reads "Safeguards and Quality Issues Paper" over a purple and green background.]

25.01.2022 "The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on Friday released an independent report by Alan Robertson SC over its potential failing in the proper regulation of Ms Smiths disability care provider, Integrity Care SA." https://bit.ly/2ZxhkSP [Image Description: Ann Marie Smith sitting in a garden, holding a small dog in her lap and laughing. She has long blonde hair and wears a pink shirt]

24.01.2022 "Chemical restraint is a serious violation of human rights. It leaves us feeling like were not human, that were really scared and powerless. The effects of these drugs is very serious on our health. It can have an impact on limiting our life expectancy." - Indigo Daya interviewed by Nas Campanella on ABC Radio. You can listen to the full story (or read the transcript) here: https://buff.ly/33N1ch7... [Image description: A white woman with short blonde hair, red glasses, dangling earrings and a big smile. She is in a café setting, holding a coffee.]

24.01.2022 "Many people are feeling more lonely during the coronavirus pandemic, but some say the experience has made them feel "dispensable", compounding a sense of isolation and exacerbating mental health issues." Prominent disability rights acitivist, Rosemary Kayess, discusses the impact of the pandemic on people with disability. Read more here: https://ab.co/32zGnGy... [Image Description: Rosemary Kayess on the set of Q&A. She is speaking and looks serious. She has short blonde hair and is wearing a beige shirt]

23.01.2022 The Greater Sydney Commission is looking for new members to join their youth panel. Theyre looking for expressions of interest from people aged 16-30 who live in the Eastern City District. The Youth Panel provide insights on strategic planning issues affecting young people across Greater Sydney. ... Youth Panel members are paid an hourly rate of $100 for each meeting and/or event they attend. All applicants will be required to submit an Expression of Interest which can be found here. Applications will close at midnight Wednesday 30 September 2020. Submit your EOI here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8QCHKTH

21.01.2022 The Disability Royal Commission is holding its next hearing in two weeks. The subject of the hearing is Psychotropic medication, behaviour support and behaviours of concern. This a very broad subject about which individual people with disability may have very strong feelings and a variety of perspectives. If it's a subject you'd like to speak to the Royal Commission about, remember they are always open for submissions. Submissions can be long or short, submitted in any la...nguage, in writing or on video or audio formats. You can find out more about the process here: https://buff.ly/2Zrwfy1 PWDA are making our submission this week, and we invite you to leave your thoughts in the comments if you would like them to be included. If you would prefer not to be named in the submission, just let us know. If you would prefer not to comment publicly, you can also email [email protected] with your thoughts. This hearing may raise some issues that are upsetting for some people. Support is available from: The Blueknot Foundation: 1800 421 468 Lifeline: 13 11 14

21.01.2022 "The federal department responsible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme did not activate a joint plan to manage the risk of COVID-19 in the Victorian disability sector with the state government until the second wave was near its peak." https://bit.ly/2FQSBSs [Image Description: three people on a path. One of them is using a wheelchair, with the other two people on either side. They face away from the camera, towards a leafy walkway]

20.01.2022 Today the Australian Government responded to the Tune Review, supporting or supporting in principle all 29 recommendations. We look forward to working with the Australian Government on continually improving the NDIS by implementing the recommendations. These recommendations are a step in the right direction, providing key changes that will go a long way to making the NDIS less complex, and ensuring people with disability have more advocacy support to fairly access and navigat...e the Scheme. We particularly want to work with the Australian Government on reforming the Supported Independent Living (SIL) program, to make it a fully person-centred approach to the provision of housing and supports. Read our full statement here: https://bit.ly/32yAYyo

19.01.2022 CN: Descriptions of severe neglect. PWDA's Romola Hollywood spoke to the ABC about a major barrier we face reporting to the Royal Commission. "Speaking out about abuse or exploitation isn't an easy task.... "But advocates say that experience has been made harder for people wanting to share their stories with the Disability Royal Commission because their information won't necessarily be kept confidential." https://ab.co/2F8JiNJ [Image Description: person looking towards camera, smiling. They wear a black dress and bright red glasses with long silver earrings]

19.01.2022 Do you want to join the PWDA team? We currently have three vacancies across different teams in the organisation. Part-time and full-time roles are available, and are based in different areas. Advocate (Queanbeyan)... The Advocate role provides advocacy support to individuals or groups of individuals with disability, and their associates, to promote and protect their human, legal and service user rights in accordance with the National Standards for Disability Services. More info: https://bit.ly/377ApOa Project Officer / Advocate Redress Project (Sydney) The Project Officer/Advocate will, in collaboration with the Manager & Specialist Advocate, conduct research, stakeholder and community engagement to support people with disability who face barriers to access the National Redress Scheme. More info: https://bit.ly/2KDi4kB Project Officer / Advocate Redress Project (NSW) The Project Officer/Advocate will, in collaboration with the Manager & Specialist Advocate, conduct research, stakeholder and community engagement to support people with disability who face barriers to access the National Redress Scheme. This role will be focused on community engagement within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and is an identified position for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person. More info: https://bit.ly/33eCVBk Applications will be closing within the next few weeks, and we encourage people to apply as soon as possible. PWDA is a proud employer of people with disability, and people with disability are strongly encouraged to apply for these positions.

18.01.2022 "It is really important for the Royal Commission to look at how the government, or all services, can increase the skills of the Aboriginal workforce, so that there’s more Aboriginal workers to support people with a disability ... But also to educate mainstream services as well, so that people have more choice about services that they want to go to and that mainstream services have a better understanding and awareness of the needs of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islande...rs with a disability." Guest blogger and 3CR programmer Gavin Moore interviews Connecting Home CEO Lisa Zammit on disability services for the Stolen Generation and the Disability Royal Commission. The Disability Royal Commission starts its first hearing on the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people with Disability next week. https://buff.ly/3lRYUoM [Image description: Lisa Zammit (left) and Gavin Moore (right) in the 3CR radio studio. We can see the back of Lisa's head. Her dark hair is in a ponytail. Gavin wears a backward cap and is operating a radio panel. Both are wearing headphones and speaking into microphones. The wall behind them is a deep red colour.]

18.01.2022 "An outstanding field of 14 Finalists across 7 categories is announced today in the leadup to the National Awards for Disability Leadership, to be held via Global Webcast on 3 December 2020, International Day for People with Disabilities. In 2020 the Awards are focussing on the work done by disabled people and our organisations to support the Australian disability community through several challenging events including the pandemic, and bushfires and other natural disasters. ...We asked what work has been done by disability leaders in these difficult times to advance equality for disabled people, and to protect and promote our rights in rapidly changing situations. The finalists illustrate the broad diversity of disabled people including Indigenous peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, from the LGBTIQ communities, young and older people, and those from a range of genders. " You can see the list of finalists for the 2020 National Awards for Disability Leadership here: https://bit.ly/2GK8FpO

17.01.2022 Paid Blogging Opportunity The Disability Royal Commission will he holding two very important hearings this month. One on disability and the criminal justice system, and one on the experiences of First Nations people with disability. It's important that we centre the voices of people with disability, and our stories, during these hearings, and as such, we invite people with disability with experiences of the criminal justice system, and First Nations people with disability, to... contribute to the PWDA blog. Blogs can be written or recorded anonymously if you like, and contributors will be paid $200 for their work. Blogs can be creative, or personal, or an opinion piece - as long as they relate to the topic of the hearings, anything goes really. More information on how to pitch your blog can be found here: https://buff.ly/33jBC4l Please share if you know someone who would be interested. [Image description: White text reads: "Call out for bloggers with disability". Black text reads: "Nothing about us without us". The background is blue and white and the PWDA logo sits in the bottom-right corner.]

17.01.2022 "Ever since it kicked off earlier this year, Isol-Aid has helped to close the gap between musicians and fans. Now, a new edition of the weekly festival is set to shine a light on accessibility within the music industry, as it showcases Deaf and disabled musicians from around the world." Isol-Aid Festival are hosting an accessible virtual music festival this coming Saturday. Read more here: https://bit.ly/2ZEWNf3... You can find more info about the festival here: Isol-Aid Presents - Accessible All Areas https://www.isolaidfestival.com/ [Image Description: graphic text that reads "Isol-Aid!" in curly light orange letters, against a dark orange background]

17.01.2022 We're hiring a part-time Executive Assistant to our CEO. The Executive Assistant (EA) will provide executive level support and coordination for the CEO. They will have the ability to manage competing deadlines, think on their feet and anticipate requirements ahead of time. The EA will present professionally at all times, and have a keen eye for detail and exceptional organisational skills. Ideal candidate will have a positive attitude, energy and drive. You can read the full... position description here along with application details: https://bit.ly/2ZGv5P7 PWDA is a proud employer of people with disability, and people with disability are strongly encouraged to apply for these positions. We are an EEO employer and we embrace the diversity of our people, such as diversity in disability, race, cultural background, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation or intersex status. [Image Description: two women sitting a table, they are reading a PWDA brochure and smiling. There is a PWDA banner in the backgroud. There is a light green border around the photo, with text that reads "Come work with us!" in white letters, with a small PWDA logo in the bottom right corner]

16.01.2022 CW: Detailed descriptions of sexual assault, some from the perspective of the abuser, which are likely to be triggering for some people. This is an impactful article regarding the #LetUsSpeak campaign and violence committed against women with disability. It is vitally important that survivors of domestic violence have the freedom to choose when and how they tell their own stories, and that their advocacy work is not undermined by the law. The article also addresses some very ...serious problems with the way women and people with disability are framed in discussions around violence; how violence committed against us by our carers can be excused or minimised because carers are viewed with empathy, regardless of their behaviour, while people with disability are talked about in terms of the "burden" we represent. This must change. A difficult but recommended read: https://buff.ly/38rXaPb

14.01.2022 "There are calls for urgent improvements in the way people with disabilities are treated in mandatory quarantine, after a West Australian man spent two weeks in a non-accessible hotel room and was left in severe pain." https://ab.co/3ixpKko [Image Description: man looking directly at the camera, looking serious. He has long hair and a long beard, and is wearing a gray jumper]

14.01.2022 "Just one fine has been issued and only one provider banned by the disability watchdog despite more than 8000 complaints being lodged in the past two years. The scandal-plagued disability sector will get $22 billion from the federal government this financial year, but an independent review found the system left vulner able people open to harm and neglect." https://bit.ly/3kpa2s1... [Image Description: two people using wheelchairs, both wearing black clothes.]

13.01.2022 Need help to make your service more accessible and inclusive for women with disability? PWDA is excited to be offering a comprehensive program introducing domestic and family violence (DFV) services to better accessibility and inclusion for women and children with disability. What does the Building Access project do?... Assess a services access and inclusion and provides a comprehensive report Provides templates and resources for creating Disability Inclusion Action Plans (DIAPs) Hosts a community of Practice provides disability awareness and NDIS training Is developing resources for participating services to help meet access and inclusion goals The program is running from October 2020 to June 2021. If you are interested or want further information, please contact Freya Higgins at [email protected] or call 0434 692487. Expressions of interest welcome up until 30 September 2020. This is a free program for services and is funded by Women NSW. It requires an investment of time and dedication towards better access and inclusion in the domestic and family violence sector. Who are we? People with Disability Australia (PWDA) is a Disabled Persons Organisation (DPO) which means we are run by and for people with disability. We are a peak organisation advocating for the rights, needs and interests of people with disability and their associates. Why are we offering the project? The rates of violence against women with disability are alarmingly high, but the domestic and family violence sector is not always accessible for women with disability. This project is a step towards changing that. We want DFV services to be safe and accessible for all women. [Image Description: A lilac box with white text that reads "Need help to make your service more accessible and inclusive for women with disability? Contact our Building Access Team" with the words "Building Access" highlighted in dark purple. There's a white PWDA logo in the bottom right corner]

12.01.2022 We have two opportunities for our members in NSW to get involved in our projects and campaigns. The first is in supporting our campaign for NSW-Funded Disability Advocacy, it is under threat. The second is a call for Women With Disability In NSW to Join Our Expert Advisory Group.... More information on both can be found online: https://pwd.org.au/opportunities-for-nsw-members-to-get-in/ [Image description: Calling on NSW Members]

12.01.2022 From ABC News "Thelma Schwartz, the principal legal officer at the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service, has told the Commonwealth inquiry the child protection system is "bleak" and in "crisis". Giving evidence in Brisbane, Ms Schwartz said she had witnessed the removal of Indigenous babies first hand. "I would call it a heinous practice," she said."... The 8th public hearing for the royal commission continues today. Follow along on our twitter: https://twitter.com/PWDAustralia https://ab.co/35ZPDp1

12.01.2022 CW: violence, suicide Human Rights Watch has released a report on the risks of self harm and death for people with disability who are incarcerated. "Human Rights Watchs analysis of coroners inquest reports between 2010 and 2020 found that about 60 percent of people who died in prisons in Western Australia had a disability. Of the 60 percent, 58 percent died as a result of lack of support provided by the prison, suicide, and violenceand half of these deaths were of Aborigi...nal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners with disabilities." Read the report here: https://bit.ly/2ZD2Bp5 You can also read the article here: https://bit.ly/2GY0d5W [Image Description: the outside of Broome Prison in Western Australia. There is a large fence and a gate in the background. There is a lot of trees and a large blue sign that says "Broome Regional Prison"]

12.01.2022 In the lead up to tomorrow's International Day of People With Disability, Nas Campanella, ABC News national disability affairs reporter "writes about a shocking interaction on a Sydney train": "Once again, it cast a revealing light on just how much work was needed to change perceptions around disability and that many people still thought of disabled lives as not worth living." [Image description: a person standing side on in front of a dark blue curtain looking slightly down. They are wearing a blue dress and holding a cane with a red and white cane]

11.01.2022 "People with Disability Australia spokesman El Gibbs said it was disappointing there might not be an increase [to the DSP] as surveys showed pandemic-specific costs, including healthcare, had increased for households receiving these payments. ""People with disability need recognition of these higher expenses, not further tightening of income support," Ms Gibbs said."

11.01.2022 Right now is a very important time for the disability justice movement and for setting the agenda for the future. If you want to join us in our advocacy work and help guide the organisation, become a member of PWDA today: https://pwd.org.au/get-involved/membership/

11.01.2022 Disability advocates fear new NDIS assessment process will be traumatic and limit access to the scheme "There's still so many questions that need to be answered so we can work through this process," "People with disabilities who have undergone assessments through other schemes like workers compensation have found independent assessments have been very stressful."... Read more here: https://bit.ly/2F5VrT3 [Image Description: Man wearing a suit, sitting at a table looking seriously at the camera. He is using a wheelchair, and is holding a pen and a binder]

10.01.2022 CN: Implications of self-harm. "Some Doctor (plural: Doctorii) looked at me, looked at a chart, and said in his mind: A man in the trial takes 2000mg of this drug. This woman is the same height and weight, and she might even have blood and guts inside her too. What the heck? "He scribbles 2000mg nocte on the script.... "Needle in the butt, pills down the throat. "Heidi goes to sleep and wakes up at 40." _____________________ The Disability Royal Commission hearing on "Psychotropic medication, behaviour support and behaviours of concern" starts on Tuesday. Our blog series by people with lived experience of the mental health system starts today with "I Used To Know, And Love, My Mind" by artist, musician, writer and advocate, Heidi Everett. [Image description: Photograph of Heidi Everett, a middle-aged white woman with a bright smile, wearing a red vest and scarf. Behind her is a brick wall.]

10.01.2022 CN: Mentions of suicidal ideation and descriptions of restrictive practices in hospitals. "I dont know why they deemed me safe to go home; why they didnt believe me when I said I had a seizure (its right there in my file that I have seizures regularly); why I was left alone, unable to communicate, in a hospital emergency waiting room, crying, unable to call my mum to tell her I was alive. "I dont know why they dont believe disabled people when we talk."... ________________________________ The next in our series on lived experience of the mental health system in the lead up to the Disability Royal Commission hearing happening this week, "Visits to the Hospital" by Pippin Latham. Look after yourselves this week everyone, and remember, if you feel impacted by anything you have read here, you can always call Lifeline on 13 11 14. You can also call the National Counselling and Referral Service on 1800 421 468. This service is set up specifically to support people impacted by anything related to the Disability Royal Commission. https://buff.ly/2FOL0DL [Image description: A bare, drab room with a small window, peeling paint and a hospital wheelchair.]

10.01.2022 [Content Note: contains descriptions of abuse and neglect] The Disability Royal Commission has released its latest report with 22 recommendations relating to how people with disability were "forgotten and ignored" during the pandemic. ABC News reports:... Disability royal commission Chair Ronald Sackville said the Government was responsible for a "serious failure" in its communications with people living with disability. A big thank you to all the PWDA members and people with disability who filled out our COVID-19 survey earlier this year. Your voices have had a direct impact on these recommendations. [Image description: a person wearing a black shirt floating in a blue tiled pool]

09.01.2022 "Documents obtained under Queensland's Right to Information laws show in late March this year, there were 296 patients in Queensland Health beds who were eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and ready to be discharged. The acting senior policy officer... said on average, these patients 'usually wait two-to-three months to leave hospital and sometimes years.'" Read more here:... https://ab.co/34VBHfT [Image Description: Person with disability using a wheelchair.]

09.01.2022 [CN: descriptions of abuse and neglect] From Croaky: "The latest report from the Disability Royal Commission (DRC) makes clear what many disabled people already knew: we were invisible during the pandemic; overlooked, forgotten" [Image description: Public hearing report. Public hearing 5. Experiences of people with disability during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.]

09.01.2022 "Women with disability are far more likely to suffer domestic and sexual abuse than non-disabled women. Despite that, many women’s shelters and domestic support services are physically inaccessible or don't have enough funding or support to accept women with complex care needs." https://bit.ly/3m6dERb Our Building Access Project Officer, Freya Higgins, says We know from a number of different research projects that domestic and family violence services have historically not b...een built or designed or planned for women and children with disabilities," The Building Access project audits domestic violence services and provides guidance and support in making these services more accessible to people with disabilty. You can learn more about the project here: https://pwd.org.au/our-work/projects/building-access/ [Image Description: woman sitting in a wheelchair with her arms folded on her lap, she is smiling at the camera. She wears a patterned dress and cardigan. There is a field and wood fences in the background, with lots of greenery]

09.01.2022 "A bad experience with medication can leave lasting trauma and close us off to truly helpful and positive use later", writes Ashley Waite. The third in our blog series on lived experience of psychotropic medication and restrictive practices in the mental health system. It is so, so important that people with disability are being heard on these issues, especially as we are seeing a distinct lack of people with disability giving evidence during this week's Disability Royal Com...mission hearing. https://buff.ly/3mO5VrC [Image description: Red blue and white, and pink pills on a textured pink surface.]

08.01.2022 CN: Reference to misuse of medication in hospital settings and death. One of the stories to come out at the Disability Royal Commission yesterday. "Oliver died in 2016 of a combination of pneumonia and hypoxic brain injury after having a severe reaction to the psychotropic drug olanzapine. ... "[His mother] said the 18-year-old had been given the drug while having a seizure because of behaviour that was perceived as challenging. "But she said she believed his behaviour was the very same that any other person, who was rightly frightened and anxious, would experience while in seizure." https://buff.ly/3iY9EAG [Image description: Orange pills dropping onto a pale surface.]

08.01.2022 CN: Description of chemical restraint. "The [Disability Royal Commission] is examining the use of psychotropic drugs such as anti-depressants and mood stabilisers to influence the behaviour and emotions of people with disability. "Glen Hardwick lived in a group home in regional Victoria. Mrs Atherton told the hearing Mr Hardwick loved window shopping and joking around with people, but it was clear all was not well with her brother when he arrived at a Christmas gathering in 2...017 and "looked like a zombie". "It was at that point Mrs Atherton realised her brother's medication now included more than the Ritalin he had always taken for his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder." Thanks to the ABC for their coverage of the Disability Royal Commission this week: https://buff.ly/3kILbQi If you want want to follow PWDA's coverage we are live tweeting again today from here: https://buff.ly/32WA1kM [Image description: A woman with curly dark hair wearing a wedding dress and pearls with a young boy in a bowtie and vest. They are outside in a wooded area. Both are smiling.]

07.01.2022 Pathways and barriers to open employment for people with disability will be the subject of the next public hearing of the DRC starting Monday 7 December. We have for a long time campaigned for real access to the open employment market for all of us. Earlier in the year we released a proposal for a National Jobs Plan for people with disability, that looks at every barrier, and every part of the employment picture.

07.01.2022 "Australias interpretative declarations restrict implementation of the CRPD [Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities], prevent reform, and allow for human rights violations including the denial of legal capacity, arbitrary and indefinite detention, and forced treatments and medical interventions." The first report in the Disability Royal Commission's research program has been published. Written by Rosemary Kayess and our former CEO Therese Sands. The report inv...estigated the early rights movement of people with disability from the 1960s and 1970s through to the present day. https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au//australia-allow [Image description: Text reading: "Research Report. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Shining a light on." Text sits on a green background with a bit of purple in the lower right corner.]

06.01.2022 "Mandatory independent assessments of those using or wanting to access the NDIS from next year have those with disabilities and their advocates fearing they could be kicked off the program or left ineligible." Read more here: https://bit.ly/2I9dJF3

06.01.2022 Want to stay up to date? Sign up to our fortnightly newsletter to get updates on the latest news in the disability justice movement, and opportunities for you to have your say. You can sign up for our newsletters here: https://pwd.org.au/news/newsletters/

06.01.2022 A minister was not told of an assault on a disability client in a state-run home for six months. "The case is among a string of critical incidents where state disability accommodation clients have been injured some by physical or sexual assault and lengthy delays in reporting and notifying police have shocked advocates." https://bit.ly/2YOd5lr... [Image Description: zoomed in photo of person using a wheelchair. The chair is blocked by concrete steps. The person wears dark blue jeans and brown shoes]

05.01.2022 We are live tweeting the 6th hearing of the Disability Royal Commission into the use of "psychotropic medication, behaviour support and behaviours of concern" this week using the hashtag #DisabilityRC. Today's proceedings start at 10am, and you can come join us on twitter if you'd like to follow along: https://twitter.com/PWDAustralia/status/1308189965772181504... You can also watch the livestream from here: https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/ The Royal Commission will be addressing topics which may be confronting or upsetting for some people this week, so let's look after each other, and be sure to take a break from it all if you need to. If you feel impacted by anything you hear this week, remember you can always call Lifeline on 13 11 14. You can also call the National Counselling and Referral Service on 1800 421 468. This service is set up specifically to support people impacted by anything related to the Disability Royal Commission. [Image description: The Australian coat of arms (a kangaroo and and emu holding a shield in front of a wattle) on a purple background.]

04.01.2022 We Are Now Hiring! We are looking for a Manager for the Speak Up Project, a joint project of People with Disability Australia (PWDA), First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN) and Australian Centre for Disability Law (ACDL). 21 hours per week, flexible hours, contract until July 2023. ... This is an identified position for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. In this role, an applicant’s race is a genuine occupational qualification and is authorised by section 14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1997, as amended. Applications close at 9am, Monday 16 November 2020. More information can be found here: https://pwd.org.au/about-us/employment/ [Image description: Two women in an office, smiling and reading a pamphlet. The image has a green border. White text reads: "Come work with us". The PWDA logo sits in the bottom corner.]

04.01.2022 "If we are not able to provide information to the Disability Royal Commission in complete confidence, there is a risk that the most severe cases of systemic abuse and neglect will not be exposed. It is vital to the success of the Royal Commission that the appropriate changes to the legislation are made as soon as possible." Organisations representing people with disability (including PWDA) have written an open letter calling upon the Attorney-General to introduce legislation ...into the Australian Parliament to protect the confidentiality of information given to The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. You can read our full letter here: [Image description: Logos for the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations, Children and Young People with Disability Australia, Disability Advocacy Network Australia, First Peoples Disability Network, Inclusion Australia, the National Ethnic Disability Council, People with Disability Australia and Women with Disabilities Australia]

04.01.2022 The Senate Committee Final Report into NDIS Planning has been released with "More than 40 changes to the [NDIS] are needed to make plans better for Australians who need support, the government has been told" reports Australian Associated Press and Riverine Herald [Image description: a person sitting on a green bench with a microphone and desk in front of him. The person is wearing a suit and tie and has a serious look on his face]

04.01.2022 Nominations for the PWDA Board are open! More information on our website: https://pwd.org.au/g/elections-and-agm/2020-board-election/ The Board of Directors of PWDA is the voice of our members. The Boards job is to speak with and for people with disability and to govern the organisation. [Image description: Nominations are open for the PWDA Board]

03.01.2022 "The NDIS is meant to champion the choice and control of people with disability. As it stands, we struggle to see how a compulsory program of independent assessments is compatible with the stated objects of the NDIS Act." More on our concerns regarding the introduction of independent assessments. https://pwd.org.au/we-are-concerned-about-independent-asse/

03.01.2022 CN: Descriptions of restrictive practices and trauma. More evidence at the Disability Royal Commission yesterday: "Victorian woman Dariane McLean gave emotional testimony about her son's 13-year ordeal in supported accommodation and his experience on psychotropic medication.... "Mr McLean, now 42 years old, lives with an intellectual disability and as a result of his time in group homes has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)." This is why we are calling for the closure of group homes and boarding houses. This mans story confirms living independently in the community is entirely possible with supports. This man is now an artist. https://buff.ly/3i21Vjq [Image description: A white man with a short beard, wearing a red plaid shirt and tracksuit pants, standing in the front yard of a house with a tree and letterbox behind him.]

03.01.2022 "An autism awareness advocate is calling on schools across the country to ensure they properly treat children with a disability, after revelations a Sydney school is under investigation for installing locks on rooms for students who misbehave." Read more here: https://ab.co/2V6a6Cp [Image description: mother hugs her son, resting her chin on his head. they both smile at the camera]

03.01.2022 PWDA has been reading in detail the Federal Governments response to the Tune Review, released on Friday. We share many of our communitys concerns about the proposed across-the-board introduction of independent assessors for everyone with an NDIS plan. This goes well beyond the scope of the small pilot trailing the use of functional assessments that was intended to move away from a reliance on medical assessments and give people with disability better access to the NDIS b...y covering the costs of gathering evidence, and getting reports. We are going to be in touch with the NDIS and Minister Robert to find out more about this, and let them know how worrying a step this is for people with disability. We will update as soon as we know more. If you are concerned about the independent assessment, please let us know in the comments. You can also contact Minister Robert here: https://ministers.dss.gov.au/stuart-robert/contact You can read more about the proposal on the NDIS website: https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/independent-assessments [Image description: Hand holding a highlighter pen, ticking boxes. Text overlay that says Independent Assessments for the NDIS? PWDA logo in the bottom right corner.]

02.01.2022 UPDATE: PWDA has a new Acting CEO With the recent departure of PWDA CEO Jeff Smith, we would like to thank Jeff very much for the incredible work he has done to promote the rights and voices of people with disability during his time with us, and announce the appointment of Karin Waldmann as PWDAs Acting CEO. Ms Waldmann has extensive management experience in the not-for-profit sector, and has been managing PWDAs Corporate Services team since June 2019.... We would like to congratulate Ms Waldmann on her new appointment, and thank her for taking on the challenge of her new role, while the PWDA Board embark on a full recruitment process to fill the permanent CEO position in the coming months. Further information on recruitment will become available in the next few weeks.

02.01.2022 There is concern in Australia's disability community that an overhaul of the National Disability Insurance Scheme could make it harder for people to access the program and lead to instances of self harm, including suicide. Read the article here: https://bit.ly/3lI7JSg... [Image Description: banner with the Centrelink, Medicare, and NDIS logos hangs on a window]

02.01.2022 Are you a young person? Are you keen to connect with other young people with disability from around Australia? Keen to hear from speakers on what they are passionate about? Excited to learn about social movements and how to talk truth to power?... If you answered yes to any of the above, then you are in luck! Children and Young People with Disability Australia is hosting the National Youth Disability Summit! It has been designed by and for young people with disability and it's TOTALLY free and online! Head to www.cydayouth.events to register (did we mention it's free?!) and get excited! [Image Description: Logo of the National Youth Disability Summit. The letters NYDS are in the middle of the graphic in black text, with the Y outlined in blue. Below the main logo is the wording National Youth Disability Summit and the Summit dates, September 29 October 3. Below the dates is the website for the Summit, w: cydayouth.events. There are orange, blue and red circle shapes located around the logo and text.]

02.01.2022 Good morning and Happy Monday! Today is the first day of the Disabiltiy Royal Commission 8th public hearing on the experiences of First Nations people with disability and their families in contact with child protection systems. Our friends at First Peoples Disability Network have made a video submission to the commission. You can watch a preview here: https://twitter.com/FPDNAus/status/1330632146860404737 and follow along on their twitter for more updates.... We''ll be live tweeting along all day. You can follow here: https://twitter.com/PWDAustralia/status/1330648735483760642

02.01.2022 We need liveable housing design for *all* Australians. "The major losers in the current model are people with physical disability, who are forced to justify every ramp, every automated blind, the width of each doorframe. Why are we satisfied with such a piecemeal approach? "Do we want to be a society that singles people out and only allocates resources according to what they cant do? When people are tied to a single modified home, what real choice and control does that affor...d them?" https://buff.ly/32Zpg0V [Image description: A white silhouette illustration of a person with a cane walking up a step. The background is blue and purple.]

02.01.2022 A new blog post is up on our website about the final report published by the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales on their research into our Enable In project. The report finds that to support people who do not know about NDIS, or who may find barriers to accessing trusted services, and to build and sustain quality relationships, networks and expertise, it takes time and investment. The focus of our Enable in Project was on people who were home...less or at risk of homelessness, people with psychosocial disability and people living in institutions. You can read the full report here. You can read our blog post here: https://bit.ly/3iaG9LD

01.01.2022 The Board of People with Disability Australia (PWDA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Seb Zagarella as Interim CEO of PWDA. Mr Zagarella will help reposition PWDA as a dynamic, resilient and sustainable organisation which promotes and advances the rights of people with disability. PWDA President Samantha Connor said that Mr Zagarella, who has extensive experience in corporate, not-for-profit and higher education sectors, will bring significant value to PWDA.... ‘It is a challenging time for disabled Australians, especially in a post-COVID environment and with systemic reforms on the horizon,’ she said. ‘We are thrilled to welcome Sebastian Zagarella to the leadership of PWDA to assist the Board with achieving the organisation’s strategic vision.’ ‘Mr Zagarella brings significant experience in developing and executing strategy as well as proven business development, innovative and leadership skills to the role as we continue the recruitment process'.