Author: Natasha Nobay

October is Australia’s Mental Health Month, a dedicated time to raise awareness about mental health and remind us of the importance of prioritising mental health – especially during moments of difficulty or high stress.

With everyone dealing with the challenges of life, it’s sometimes difficult for us to allow time to focus on our own wellbeing and to put ourselves first.

Use today to give yourself a break, to just breathe and to give self-care and support to your mental health.

If you, or someone near you, is needing help today or any day, please speak with a healthcare professional, family member or friend or contact

• * Lifeline on 13 11 14 (www.lifeline.org.au)
• * Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 (www.beyondblue.org.au)
• * headspace on 1800 650 890 (www.headspace.org.au)

because we’re all worth it.

We also invite you to join us TONIGHT (at 6pm AEST) at our free webinar highlighting the connection between physical disability and mental health challenges, and providing information and support.

To register, please go to:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rly2wyx3RaKD53KiY3CL0Q?

Physical Disability Australia is deeply concerned with recent changes made by South Australia’s Access Taxis and their new policy to remove customers’ abilities to request specific drivers.

Our understanding behind this policy change is related to a lack of Access Cab drivers on the road when needed and a desire to share the load to ensure drivers have more reason to be working. However, we believe that this approach removes the choice and control of the person utilising the taxi service. It is an understandable fact that people utilise regular drivers because of a built rapport, trust and feelings of safety. 

We believe that this situation reached a critical point when 11-year-old Oliver Sandy and his mum Jodie were left stranded and subsequently missed an important medical appointment at an Adelaide Hospital due to a lack of Access Taxis on the road, despite booking in advance.

Concerning feedback has been shared from within our community about how these changes have negatively impacted the lives of people with disabilities. Many disabled people feel less safe using taxi services due to the lack of choice and uncertainty about drivers. This apprehension has led to reduced willingness to access the community, attend events, or go to medical appointments. These reforms have contributed to increasing social isolation among disabled individuals, as the new system does not adequately account for their need for reliable and familiar transportation support.

To our knowledge, there was no consultation process offered to the users of Access Taxis or their drivers preceding this policy change. It is our understanding that many Access Taxis drivers are also unhappy with this policy change as decent drivers who have regular customers are now losing work. Additionally, non-verbal participants and their families are no longer comfortable with not knowing who their driver will be or the quality of service they or their loved ones will receive. They feel as though they must take support workers with them when using Access Taxis as a safeguarding mechanism. We believe that if this approach is widely utilised, it will result in increased cost to the NDIS which is not a viable outcome. 

We have written to The Hon Emily Bourke MP (SA Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) and are calling for stronger training and upskilling requirements for all drivers on disability awareness and safety practices to ensure a consistent standard of service delivery. 

Further recommendations from PDA:

• * Investigate the impact of eliminating direct driver bookings on wait times for Access Taxis, specifically for people with disabilities.
• * Assess whether this change has led to any improvements in service quality for these users.
• * Explore alternative methods to expand and improve transport options for people with physical disabilities in South Australia.
• * Undertake a review to improve the current experience of users of Access Taxis.
• * Consider conducting a co-design development process involving people with disabilities who use these services daily, ensuring their feedback shapes service improvements. 
• * Improve the knowledge base of accessible taxi drivers and increase safeguarding measures so all members of the Community can feel confident in any drivers ability.
• * Integrate these suggestions into the State Authority’s Disability Access and Inclusion Plan, aligning with reporting requirements to the Department of Human Services.
• * Ensure that all actions contribute to broader efforts in improving social inclusion for South Australians with disabilities.

PDA’s CEO, Jeremy Muir, wants to see the South Australian Government, Access Taxis and those actually utilising disability transport work together to truly address the issues impacting safe, reliable and trusted service provision for the disability community. “People living with disabilities reliant on Access Taxis for inclusion and participation are sick and tired of being seen as second class citizens when it comes to accessible transport. Involving people with disabilities in both the conversation and problem solving will help to ensure that a fair and balanced outcome is achieved and that the safety and wellbeing of those accessing disability transport services are viewed as the priority.”

It is with great excitement that we introduce our final speaker at our upcoming webinar on the impact of disability on mental health – Wednesday 1st October at 6pm AEST.

Liel Bridgford is a proud disabled Psychologist, writer and educator.

In her 36 years living as a disabled person, with over 14 years working in the mental health and disability space, she has become very familiar with the struggles that disabled people face when trying to live well.

Her work involves supporting disabled people who struggle with discrimination and prejudice in every aspect of their lives.

“Too many disabled people are led to believe that their mental health is inevitably going to suffer just because of their disability. Our society tells us that if we can’t walk, talk or communicate as everyone else, we’re not as worthy, and that means we ought to be miserable” Liel explains. This is why she wanted to be involved in this webinar.

She hopes that this discussion achieves greater awareness and understanding of the human needs disabled people have, and more importantly, our ability to thrive mentally with the right support, information, education and connection. “Life can be good with disability – so long as barriers are removed, and support and connection are provided. Disabled people in leadership and genuine co-design engagement is our key to making the mental health care system equitable, safe and actually effective for everyone.”

To join the conversation and to hear Liel and our other esteemed speakers talk about disability’s impact on mental health, make sure that you register for our webinar by going to:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rly2wyx3RaKD53KiY3CL0Q

We look forward to you joining us.

Many of you will recognise the beautiful Chithrani Palipana as loving Mum to Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM – PDA’s Ambassador, emergency department doctor, lawyer, disability advocate, researcher and all round great guy.

But did you know that Chithrani is also a Rehabilitation Counsellor, Board member and patron with a number of disability focused organisations, a dedicated disability advocate and successful business owner?

As the woman behind her son’s remarkable accomplishments, lies Chithrani’s unwavering love, strength, and determination. Her experiences in supporting Dinesh throughout his disability journey led her to a professional career in the areas of counselling and disability advocacy.

A guest speaker at our upcoming webinar (“The Impact of Disability on Mental Health” – Wednesday 1st October), Chithrani’s expertise and lived experience will provide insight around the importance of looking after mental health when living with disability – whether as a person living with disability or as a carer.

When we approached Chithrani to be a speaker for our webinar “The Impact of Disability on Mental Health”, she quickly agreed to be involved.

When we asked her why she thought the topic was important, she answered:

“I have witnessed many gaps in the mental health and adjustment-to-injury space, particularly for individuals newly affected by traumatic injuries and acquired disabilities. In the early stages, people often face profound challenges as they navigate a new identity. They are sometimes paired with others who have had similar injuries or experiences, but this does not always lead to positive outcomes. In fact, it can sometimes create preconceived expectations that limit their ability to achieve truly person-centred goals.

I have also seen situations where severe mental health challenges are dismissed or treated as inconveniences by service providers. Support workers are sometimes advised to “not take much notice,” which discourages fresh perspectives and genuine support. This approach fails the individuals who most need compassionate, tailored assistance.

I am passionate about seeing systemic change, one that recognises and responds to the unique needs of each individual. Recently, I was deeply affected by two tragedies: a client who lost their life after being drawn to people seeking only financial gain, and another dear client who passed away alone from a massive heart attack, who was under enormous stress. He was found dead on the floor between his bed and the wheelchair. These experiences have further strengthened my commitment to driving meaningful change in how we approach mental health and support in the disability and injury rehabilitation space.”

So whether you are a person living with disability, a family member, friend, carer or support provider who would like to learn more about the impact of disability on mental health, available support or personal journeys to overcome challenges, we encourage you to join us to hear Chithrani and our other speakers via Zoom on Wednesday 1st October at 6pm AEDT.

around the impact of disability on mental health to highlight the issue and to provide advice and support both to Australians living with disability and their support networks

Register by going to:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rly2wyx3RaKD53KiY3CL0Q

Please join us in this important conversation.

In our latest Member Update, Jeremy Muir (CEO), Sharon Boyce (President) and our recently appointed Policy/Project Officer, Sarah McInnes, share what they’ve recently been up to in the systemic advocacy space and how PDA is punching above its weight in participation, input and output.  

You can read it by going to:

https://www.pda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/September-2025-PDA-Member-Update-3.pdf

These are just a few areas of mental health that can surface when you also live with physical disability – or any disability, or even life itself.

It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone goes through times of personal struggle. The stigma unfairly attached to mental health comes from not understanding, often making people feel distressed, alone and not wanting to ask for help.

Whilst this is slowly changing, there is still so much that can be and needs to be done to support people who experience mental health concerns.

With October being Mental Health Awareness Month, and with mental stress being an unwanted visitor in the lives of many within our community, on Wednesday 1st October (6pm AEST) we are hosting a webinar around the impact of disability on mental health.

With a panel of experts with both lived and professional experience and knowledge on the subject, this presentation will highlight the issue, provide advice and support and bring together Australians living with disability and their support networks to better understand and combat mental challenges.

So whether you are a person with disability, a carer, family member, friend or service provider who has experienced mental health issues or supported someone who has, if you want to know what help is available, learn how others dealt with difficult times or just want to feel heard, understood and supported, this webinar is for you.

You can read about our esteemed panelists by going to:

www.pda.org.au/2025/09/12/youre-invited-to-our-webinar-the-impact-of-disability-on-mental-health/

We encourage you to register for the webinar, by going to:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rly2wyx3RaKD53KiY3CL0Q

To address questions and experiences of those attending our webinar, we invite attendees to share these on registering. Anonymous contributions are welcome if preferred.

The opportunity to ask questions will also be made available during the webinar. However, these questions will be answered dependent on time constraints.

Please join us in this important conversation.

It’s a group that includes 24 participants and carers from across Australia.

Together, they help to ensure that the NDIA hears and understands real experiences of the disability community which works to help improve the NDIS.

This collaboration includes:

• * providing feedback on policies and systems
• * helping shape how services are delivered
• * making sure the participant voice is heard and understood.

They’re looking for new members to join the group for 2026 and 2027.

Some current members are finishing their 2-year term.

Most of the group will stay the same.

The group runs online meetings (using MS Teams) for up to two hours, once a month from February to December each year.

The group also meets in-person up to 4 times a year. However, if you are unable to travel, you can choose to attend this meeting online.

The in-person meetings are usually held over 2 days in different capital cities around Australia.

Payments and supports

Members of the Participant Reference Group are paid for their time.

Members who attend a meeting will be paid for their contributions in line with the Australian Government’s Remuneration Tribunal determination.

Any supports needed to help you to take part will be provided (including translation and interpreting, live captioning and a support person).

Membership of the Participant Reference Group will be for 2 years.

So who can apply?

This opportunity is open to:

• * NDIS participants
• * Plan nominees
• * Carers
• * Child representatives
• * Family members of NDIS participants

For more information or to register your interest in being involved, go to:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=ZYt3zS11SkWHz7mZD-WJk-jAOFg6XhxKm37Twmil4xtUMFhMSUYzWTNOWUpLVVBBSEVEOURFSjFGSiQlQCN0PWcu

To join the group, you must also be a part of the Participant First Engagement Initiative. If you’re not already a member, please fill out a Participant Information form by going to:

https://myform.ndis.gov.au/?src=https://forms.ndis.gov.au/external/participantfirstinformationform

If you have any questions, please email participant.engagement@ndis.gov.au.

Expressions of interest close Sunday, 28 September 2025.

October is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about and breaking the stigma around mental health within our community.

Research has shown that people living with disabilities experience greater and more frequent mental distress than those without disabilities.

A recent PDA survey also revealed that mental health was a dominant theme and area of concern for our members and for the disability community.

In response to this significant, and often overlooked, area of concern, PDA has put together a webinar around the impact of disability on mental health to highlight the issue and to provide advice and support both to Australians living with disability and their support networks.

Scheduled for Wednesday 1st October at 6pm AEST, this webinar panel is comprised of a number of esteemed, experienced and interesting speakers – from the areas of lived experience, professionals within the counselling and mental health fields, researchers and advocates.

We are excited to annnounce our presenters – Dr Chithrani Palipana, Kerry Hawkins, Dr Glenda Bishop, Zoe Aitken and PDA’s own Jeremy Muir.

Chithrani will be sharing her lived experience both as a carer and as a professional working in the areas of counselling and disability advocacy. As loving mother to PDA’s Ambassador, Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM, Chithrani has been dedicated and fundamental in supporting Dinesh in his life journey as a quadriplegic and wonderful achievements as a doctor, lawyer, researcher and disability advocate. Her insights as a carer will explore not only Dinesh’s challenges in coming to terms with his disability, but also looking after her own mental health and the impetus that both of these experiences had in her becoming a rehabilitation counsellor for people with disabilities.

Kerry Hawkins is another of our speakers who has a wealth of experience in the mental health field and providing support to individuals and their families experiencing mental health issues. As CEO of Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA), Kerry brings extensive leadership experience across community, government, and lived experience sectors.

Glenda Bishop is a Research Fellow in the Disability and Health Unit at The University of Melbourne. Undertaking research that works to reduce health inequalities for people with disability, Glenda investigates how societal influences, such as government policies and the access to the health system, affect people’s mental health. As a person with disability, Glenda seeks to focus her research on health issues of relevance to the disability community.

Zoe Aitken also works at the University of Melbourne. Leading a program of research on reducing health inequalities, her work focuses on understanding the poor mental health experienced by people with disability and identifying solutions to address the inequalities by taking action on modifiable social determinants of health.

PDA’s CEO, Jeremy Muir, was left with a spinal injury following a car accident at 19 years of age. Coming to terms with his new life as a quadriplegic brought many mental, emotional, and physical challenges. Struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts and his new reality, Jeremy battled both acceptance of his disability and the black dog, coming out the other side more resilient, much stronger and even more independent. Through the love and support of family and friends, support networks and his own strength of character Jeremy’s story is powerful, deeply human and gives hope to others.

We encourage you to register for the webinar, by going to:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rly2wyx3RaKD53KiY3CL0Q

To address questions and experiences of those attending our webinar, we invite attendees to share these on registering. Anonymous contributions are welcome if preferred.

The opportunity to ask questions will also be made available during the webinar. However, these questions will be answered dependent on time constraints.

Please join us in this important conversation.

PDA’s CEO, Jeremy Muir, was a recent guest on Navigating Disability’s popular podcast.

We admit to being a biased crew here in the PDA office, but we think this interview is so powerful and simply confirms our superfan view of Jeremy.

Interviewed by Kate Read and Jenn Abbott, this podcast explores Jeremy’s life both before and after acquiring his disability, where his life has taken him and how he came to a place where he is proud of what he’s achieved and who he has become.

It’s now available to view on YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQK9C55JbI4) and is particularly relevant to share with you on #ruok day.

We encourage you to check it out.

“At just 19, Jeremy Muir’s life changed forever after a car accident left him with a spinal cord injury. But as Jeremy says, “Why not me?”, a question that became a driving force behind his journey of resilience, reflection, and radical independence.

In this powerful episode, Jeremy opens up about the mental, emotional, and physical challenges of adapting to life as a quadriplegic. From his early struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts, to building a fulfilling life filled with love, purpose, and advocacy, Jeremy’s story is both deeply human and extraordinarily hopeful.

We talk candidly about the gaps in mental health support, life before the NDIS, navigating relationships, and why disability must never be an afterthought in society. His reflections remind us that inclusion isn’t just a policy, it’s a mindset and a responsibility we all share.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses topics related to depression and suicide. If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline at 13 11 14.

🎧 Join us for this emotionally rich episode that will leave you inspired to listen more, judge less, and advocate fiercely.”

Today is R U OK? day, a national day to remind all Australians to ask “are you OK?”

The past few years have definitely thrown curve balls at a lot of us.

With ongoing concerns around COVID, changes to the NDIS, increased cost of living, juggling finances, the stresses of health, relationships, employment, accommodation and general day to day issues, it’s not surprising that life can now be more of a struggle.

Because of this, now more than ever, we need to be checking in on those around us and asking three simple words “are you okay?”

Many of us are good at masking our struggles, both to others and ourselves, so don’t assume that someone is coping just because they appear happy. Just reach out and take the time to show that you care – both today and everyday.

Even just being given time and consideration by someone can make all the difference to a person’s day – regardless of whether or not they’re dong okay.

We all need to feel seen, cared for and made to feel worthy and there’s no shame in needing support with our mental health and wellbeing.

Start a conversation or reach out if you need help.

If you find that someone is struggling with life – listen, give your time and point them towards extra help if they need it.

Lifeline 13 11 14 (www.lifeline.org.au)
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 (www.beyondblue.org.au)
headspace 1800 650 890 (www.headspace.org.au)
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 (www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au)
Relationships Australia 1300 364 277 (www.relationships.org.au)
National Debt Helpline (03) 9421 7640 (www.ndh.org.au)
Gambling Help Online 1800 858 858 (www.gamblinghelponline.org.au)

R U OK?