People with Disability Australia (PWDA)

PWDA welcomed the opportunity to respond to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters on how to increase voter engagement and confidence in our electoral system. The overarching theme of this submission is that elements of the voting process require reform to improve accessibility, engagement and access. This will improve the accessibility, engagement and trust in the process, by people with disability. Read our full submission: https://buff.ly/3MBfWXq ID: Text reads New submission Increasing voter engagement, participation and confidence with an image of people lining up to vote.

This week 16-22 September is Dementia Action Week. In 2024, it's estimated there are more than 421,000 people living with all forms of dementia in Australia. From that 421, 000 almost 29,000 are people living with younger onset dementia. This can include people in their 30s, 40s and 50s. Learn more and take action during Dementia Action Week at: https://buff.ly/3MSXOrP ID: Text reads Act Now for a Dementia Friendly Future. Dementia Action Week. 16-22 September 2024 with Dementia Australia logo.

The Department of Social Services has today released the Disability Reform Roadmap 2024-2025. The roadmap highlights key actions that federal, state and territory governments will take in 2024 and 2025 to deliver the disability and NDIS reform agenda. Federal, state and territory governments have committed to working with disability stakeholders to design and implement the reforms. We welcome the release of the roadmap as it allow us to plan the best way forward for our community. PWDA will continue advocating for genuine co-design of all reforms with people with disability. Find the full roadmap at: https://buff.ly/4gz7gP1 ID: Image shows the disability reforms roadmap for 2024 -25 with details of goals, foundations and deliverables that can be found via the link.

Join the Department of Social Service's Foundational Supports webinar this Friday 20 September. Foundational Supports are supports that would be available to people with disability outside of the NDIS. This could include supports through mainstream or community services, like early childhood education, schools and community mental health. Governments still need to design and deliver these Foundational Supports. Government is hosting a webinar on 20 September where you can find out more about the different types of Foundational Supports and how you can have your say. Consultation so you can have your say on how these supports should work to meet your needs is open until 30 November 2024. For more information https://buff.ly/3XdEoCO ID: Text reads Have your say on Foundational Supports

Have your say on the City of Sydney's new inclusion (disability) action plan for 2025–2029. People with lived experience of disability, family, carers, and disability service providers and disability representative organisations are invited to provide feedback and share their experiences to inform and co-design the plan. Take the survey https://buff.ly/3XDhwOP Available in English, simplified and traditional Chinese, Thai, Spanish and Indonesian. An Easy Read version of the survey is also available. Printed copies can be requested at any City of Sydney library, community or customer service centres. The survey closes at 5pm on Tuesday 17 September. ID: Shows people riding bikes at the Activate Inclusion Sports Day at Perry Park Recreation Centre

PWDA has deep concerns about today’s proposal for all NDIS platform providers, support coordinators and Support Independent Living providers to be registered. PWDA President Marayke Jonkers is calling for genuine co-design with people with disability so any changes to registration are done right. “We can’t compromise people with disability’s access to reasonable and necessary supports or choice and control over their providers. Co-design is the only way we will get this right. The government has only committed to consultation which far too often is a one-sided conversation. This could result in unintended consequences that have very real impacts on our day-to-day lives,” Ms Jonkers said. Read more: https://buff.ly/3XImh9K ID: Blue background with blue and green circles. Text reads Media release.

Our Redress Team have been on the road with Wattle Place visiting services including Warra Warra Aboriginal Legal Service to share information about how we support people with disability to access the National Redress Scheme. PWDA's Redress Team support people with disability who have experienced childhood sexual abuse in an institution to access and navigate the National Redress Scheme. We can also refer you to other free and confidential supports and services. To find out more go to: https://buff.ly/4coOVl7 ID: Shefali Atwall - Warra-Warra Legal Service, Nicholas Sharke – Warra-Warra Legal Service, Linda Wiseham - PWDA, Sarah Morrow – Wattle Place, Shivani Rupani – Warra-Warra Legal Service, Cassie Shepley – PWDA.

This week Acting CEO, Megan Spindler-Smith and Policy Projects Lead, Michelle Keogh met with Minister for Disability Inclusion, Kate Washington MP and members of the NSW Disability Advocacy Network yesterday to discuss NSW action on the Disability Royal Commission. PWDA appreciated the opportunity to discuss government commitment and action on a range of issues including education, health, employment, regional and remote communities, housing and accessible information. PWDA will continuing advocating for the 19 positions in our response to the Disability Royal Commission to be adopted in full by the NSW Government. ID: Representatives of the NSW Disability Advocacy Network stand together in a room with Kate Washington MP and other members joining online showing on screens behind.

NSW Local Government elections are being held tomorrow. Reminder that applications for telephone assisted voting will close at 6pm, Friday 13 September. Telephone assisted voting closes at 1pm on Saturday 14 September. Find out more: https://buff.ly/4e10VcV ID: NSW Electoral Commission staff on polling day facing away from camera helping a voter. Text reads Telephone assisted voting. Applications close 6pm Friday 13 Sept.

PWDA Training & Facilitator, Janel Manns was proud to contribute to the codesign of 'Our Watch' resources. The videos, audio and infographics were codesigned with women with disability to centre their lived experience and support the prevention of violence against women and girls with disability. Find resources for practitioners, government and disability professionals https://buff.ly/4c2FTJv ID: A green tile featuring a quote from Christine, an equality advocate, in navy blue text: Challenging ableism is hard. It takes bravery and courage. The bottom left side of the tile features a picture of Christina. Underneath, a cream rectangle at the bottom of the tile with the Our Watch and Women with Disabilities Victoria logos.