Often it can take time to find answers, let alone the right support. Finding the right medical professional who works with you and understands enough, and being able to access appropriate support, can take years. Or maybe answers and support are available in good time. Either way we all have questions. When the disability or long term answers are newly acquired, life will never be the same again. The more answers we get the more questions we have – and there is always something that accompanies those questions – fear and uncertainty. So we ask, can we use that fear to our advantage?
What is fear? 1: An unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger 2: anxious concern 3: reason for alarm.
Fear can interrupt processes in our brains that allow us to regulate emotions, read nonverbal cues and other information presented to us, reflect before acting and act ethically. This impacts our thinking and decision making in negative ways, leaving us susceptible to intense emotions and impulsive reactions (Louise Delagran, MA, Med).
Fear in this state becomes our enemy. The high level of cortisol causes long term damage to our physical health and when left unchecked we become controlled by our emotions and instincts – which never works in our favour – within ourselves, family or when working with the medical profession. But fear can be my friend, and we work together for my good.
I have learned to sit with fear and pain. Don’t fight them. Fighting makes it worse. Just sit with them and breathe. This creates a still place. Yes, you may be enveloped by fear, but this is good because now it’s not attacking you. In this state you can ask how your fear and pain can guide you. There is a strength in being able to exist alongside them. We may be afraid of the unknown, but we become empowered by listing the unknowns and seeking information about them to be more prepared. One benefit to this is having a better idea of what questions to ask doctors etc. This is your life, so become comfortable with seeing yourself as the boss. But accepting that we may not have complete control over every aspect of each stage is also important. We can still live a full life in whatever way that manifests for us individually.
So take slow breaths, seek information, find the little things each day to delight in, celebrate all the little wins and take breaks from advocating. And challenge your idea of what living a full life means. This looks different for each of us.
The company breached the Fair Work Act by terminating, or threatening to terminate, the employment of three workers in order to employ them as independent contractors – a less beneficial employment arrangement for the workers when they were essentially doing the same work.
Nearly $200,000 in penalties for sham contracting involving workers with disability – #FairWorkOmbudsman
There is a significant power imbalance between employers and workers; if you are concerned that you may not be receiving your correct entitlements you can contact FWO for free and confidential advice.
FWO ensures compliance with Australia’s workplace relations system and prioritises people with disability given their heightened risk of exploitation.
PDA may also be able to help. Let us know if you need guidance through the process of checking your employment arrangements.
Over the past weekend Physical Disability Australia’s Board met in Brisbane to guide the organisation’s work into the future.
As the first face-to-face meeting since 2019, it provided a valuable opportunity for the team to discuss and consolidate strategic plans, goals, responsibilities and objectives moving forwards.
With so many plans in the pipeline, PDA continues to look forward to making a real difference for our Members and Australia’s wider disability community through driving positive change.
We’re excited to have you join us on this exciting journey.
If you’re not already a PDA Member, sign up for free by going to
pda.org.au/membership/.
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: PDA’s Board Members posing for a group photo. Front row (left to right) Sharon Boyce – Co-Vice President/QLD Director, Nick Schumi – SA Director, Sarah Styles – QLD Associate Director, Robert Wise – VIC Associate Director, Krystal Matthews – SA Associate Director. Back row (left to right) Tim Harte – Treasurer/VIC Director, Mark Pietsch – NSW Director, Talia Spooner-Stewart – Co-Vice President/ACT Director, Andrew Fairbairn – President/WA Director, Paul Williamson – ACT Associate Director, Melanie Hawkes – WA Associate Director, Paul Watson – NT Director
Shaun Bickley is an autistic person in Brisbane who is working hard to change this discriminatory injustice by organising an open letter against subminimum wage along with other disabled people across Australia.
Physical Disability Australia has proudly joined over 34 national organisations, 166 state/local organisations & businesses and over 2100 people who’ve signed on in support of ending this archaic practice.
We encourage you to join the charge for fair change by signing your support at:
https://forms.gle/FGJX8GUUaH4QzePd6
Together let’s bring about change that is way overdue.
Tamsin Colley PLY shares her thoughts on finding connection within the disability community and how Physical Disability Australia Ltd (PDA) has played a role in this in her time as a PDA Member.
After you’ve watched her video, head across and sign up for FREE PDA MEMBERSHIP at pda.org.au/membership/.
We look forward to you joining us, Tamsin and the rest of the PDA community.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9v_FXfvn6d/?igsh=MTJheWxuYzBoOXgyMg==
This refusal to sign up to a set of design standards that ensures that basic accessibility needs for all people are met on new housing developments, is beyond understanding.
Modelling based on these standards has shown that these amended requirements will add a mere 1% to the cost of a new build.
But in failing to adopt this new code, these rogue states are ensuring that fewer houses are available for people with disability and older people.
In turn, this potentially leads to thousands of Australians unable to live in homes built to accommodate their needs, thereby forcing more people into specialist disability housing and aged care, and putting greater pressure on the NDIS and state governments.
Building Better Homes Campaign is working to pressure the NSW Government to do the right thing, to join Australia’s forward thinking Governments and end discriminatory housing.
To get behind this important push, sign the open letter to NSW State political leaders by going to:
www.buildingbetterhomes.org.au/new-south-wales/
And WA, pull your finger out. You’re next!
PDA is now recognised as an independent Disability Representative Organisation (DRO) with equal standing to the big movers, having contributed to Disability Advocacy Network Australia’s joint submission on the NDIS Bill.
Our organisation has worked hard to earn its place at the table and to stand equally with the major forces on Australia’s disability landscape.
We do this for, and with the help of our Members, and are incredibly grateful for our community and what we together bring to the conversation in our efforts to defend, uphold and support the right to live equal, inclusive and (extra)ordinary lives.
Not yet a PDA Member, but want to sign up for free?
Go to pda.org.au/membership/
We look forward to welcoming you to our community.
On Wed 21st Aug 2024 at 6:30pm AEST, Physical Disability Australia invites you to attend a free online information session around the new Housing Roadmap that will be launched later this month.
Presented by the HousingHub, this online event will explore the Housing Roadmap, explain how to use it, and give an insight into supports available to those looking to begin their housing journey.
As Australia’s largest disability housing platform, Housing Hub is the trusted, go-to website for those looking to access the accessible housing market.
Over the past year, Housing Hub has worked closely with people with disability and their supporters to redesign their information resources around the disability housing market.
Their upcoming information will be run via Zoom with accessibility options available (please share your access needs when you register).
To register for this free event, go to:
If you have any questions, please email the housing options team at housingoptions@housinghub.org.au or call their Advice Line on 1300 61 64 63
We look forward to you joining us for this information session.
One of the areas included in the report was around satisfaction in how often individuals took part in social activities over the last 3 months.
The figures were:
Are you happy with your social life and your connections with friends, family and your local community?
Do you socialise face-to-face, online or a combination of both?
Are there barriers to you taking part in these social opportunities (such as getting there, accessibility etc)?
What sort of things are you regularly involved in?
We’d love to hear from you.
If you’re local to Brisbane, head along to South Pines Indoor Sports Complex in Brendale to hear her sing and to watch Queensland battle New South Wales in what’s sure to be an exciting game.
You can also watch it livestreamed on the NRL Official app.
The game kicks off at 3pm with Sarah singing at 2:45pm.
1800 732 674
