Author: Natasha Nobay

JOINT STATEMENT

Physical Disability Australia, in collaboration with other Disability Representative Organisations has released a Joint Statement in response to the Australian Government’s recent surprise announcement around changes to the NDIS.

NDIS Minister Mark Butler’s speech on Wednesday came as a major surprise to the disability community and DROs.

Whilst we welcome the investment in supports for children with developmental delay and autism, together we call for further information on how this will be achieved in such a short timeline and how it will sit within the move to Foundational Supports.

To read the full statement, go to:

https://www.pda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Nothing-about-us-without-us-Joint-Statement-Disability-Representative-Organisations-August-2025-2.pdf

PDA’s CEO, Jeremy Muir, recently wrote to VIC Minister for Transport Infrastructure/Public and Active Transport, The Hon Gabrielle Williams MP, voicing concern over accessibility failings of Metro Tunnel stations.

Flagged as a major concern by PDA’s VIC Director, Robert Wise, and VIC Associate Director, Sean Tyrell, safety and accessibility ramifications of uneven heights between platforms and trains needs to be urgently addressed and rectified – not just for those with disabilities, mobility issues and people travelling with children in prams, but for all commuters.

You can read PDA’s letter to The Hon Gabrielle Williams MP below:

“The Hon Gabrielle Williams MP
VIC Minister for Transport Infrastructure/Public and Active Transport

RE: Wheelchair Access on/off New Metro Tunnel Trains

Dear Minister,

Physical Disability Australia (PDA) is a national peak Disability Peoples Organisation (DPO) run by people with physical disability for people with physical disability. PDA exists for its members, who fuel our mission to “enable every Australian living with a physical disability to realise their full potential”.

On July 4, The Herald Sun ran a story stating that “New station platforms in the $15bn Metro Tunnel that were designed to allow wheelchair access do not line up with the height of train floors, posing a potential hazard. A raised gap of up to two-inches was identified during train testing at CBD platforms in the new tunnel.”

In 2025, it is hard to conceive that, if true this fact could be accurate and been allowed to occur. The story includes a quote from a government official that states “The brand new Metro Tunnel stations will be some of the most accessible stations on our network and passengers with wheelchairs will be able to directly roll on and off the new platforms without using a ramp,” he said.

The above statements are not aligned and if there is a belief that a two inch height difference allows independent and safe access, then that is a misconception.

On behalf of our Victorian members and our members who travel to Melbourne and Victoria, could you please confirm for me which of the statements above is correct. Plus, if there is a current height differential between the train and the platform, how will this be rectified, when will it be rectified and when will people with disabilities be able to independently and safely access the trains?

I visit Melbourne at least twice a year, with my next visit in October this year. Once open and if the stations are accessible and safe, I am looking forward to utilising the new Metro tunnel network.

I and our members look forward to your response. I would be very happy to meet with you and your office to further discuss

Yours Sincerely,
Jeremy Muir
CEO
Physical Disability Australia “

Earlier this month, PDA presented a webinar on “Fair and Accessible Healthcare”.

This has now gone up on our YouTube channel:

We encourage you to hear from the expert panel of speakers who contributed to the conversation, shared their respective knowledge, experiences and expertise and addressed areas of concern around Australia’s healthcare system and where it is failing those living with physical disability.

Speakers included:

• Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM — Principal Medical Officer, Gold Coast University Hospital Emergency Department; frontline doctor and disability advocate
• Carol Taylor — Lawyer, world’s first quadriplegic fashion designer, and passionate advocate for accessible, patient-centred care
• Mandy Frier — Manager at CheckUP Australia’s ‘Access for All’ disability awareness program; nutritionist, researcher, and lived experience leader
• Dr Yi Yang — University of Melbourne Research Fellow; expert in disability health inequalities and policy impact
• Senator Jordon Steele-John – Greens Senator, disability advocate

Hosted by PDA CEO Jeremy Muir, the webinar tackled healthcare inequalities, the need for policy and training reforms, and how equipment and service accessibility can be improved.

During the webinar, Mandy Frier spoke about the free online course Access for All, developed to improve disability awareness among health providers and increase understanding about the barriers people with disability experience when accessing healthcare. For more information, go to: https://checkup.org.au/what-we-do/online-training/access-for-all/

Senator Jordon Steele-John also put a call out for people to share stories around their lived experiences accessing dental care as people with disability. This will help guide one of his current projects. If you are able to help, please email him at senator.steele-john@aph.gov.au.

We hope that you find the information and discussion around healthcare for people with disability in this webinar useful, informative and interesting.

We will shortly announce our next webinar topic and encourage you to keep an eye out on our socials or to sign up for free membership (pda.org.au/membership) so that you are kept in the loop.

Following the Disability Royal Commission, the Australian Government made a $4.4 million commitment to drive nationally consistent approaches to state and territory operated disability Community Visitor Schemes (CVS).

What is this Community Visitor Scheme?

Community Visitor Schemes are in place to provide protection for people with disability living in group homes or other closed settings – visiting sites, speaking with residents, and raising red flags (hopefully before abuse or neglect becomes an issue).

Unfortunately, existing schemes currently operate inconsistently across states and territories, with WA and Tasmania not even having disability CVS in place. This patchwork approach to safeguards is dependent on where you live.

How can you help?

The Government is undertaking a consultation to gain insight and views on CVS from people with disability across Australia, and the disability sector more broadly.

Feedback will directly inform the ongoing work of considering opportunities to drive nationally consistent approaches for CVS across Australia.

They want to hear from:

• people with disability
• families, friends and carers
• disability accommodation and service providers
• representative organisations
• advocates and supporters of people with disability
• community visitors
• peak bodies and government agencies.

Facilitated by independent expert supplier, WhereTo Research, on behalf of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, this consultation will close on 12 September 2025.

For more information and details on how to get involved, please go to:

https://consultations.health.gov.au/community-visitor-schemes-cvs/community-visitor-schemes-public-consultation

In response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, the Australian Government is reviewing the Disability Discrimination Act.

On Friday 15th August an Introduction Webinar for the review of the Disability Discrimination Act will take place.

All members of the public who are interested in the Disability Discrimination Act and what to learn about the review are invited to attend.

This webinar will include information about the review, what is being considered and also provide information about how you can have your say.

A recording will be made available on the Attorney General’s Department website at some stage after the event (https://www.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/human-rights-and-anti-discrimination/australias-anti-discrimination-law/review-disability-discrimination-act).

The webinar will be online via Zoom and will run for 1 hour.

Auslan interpreters and live captioning will be available. For other accessibility requirements, please email engage@thesocialdeck.com or phone 0458 228 142 (business hours, AEST).

To register for this event, please visit:

https://events.humanitix.com/ddar-introduction-webinar

Hybrid community forums will also be held in each state and territory, and you can join in-person or online.

Public consultation is now open. You are encouraged to share your thoughts, insights and suggestions to help make sure the Act upholds the rights of people with disability.

When registering, please select whether you would prefer to attend in-person or online.

*Please note tickets are limited.

To register for an event, please click on the relevant link:

Hobart – Tuesday 19th August (1:30pm-5pm AEST) – https://events.humanitix.com/disability-discrimination-act-review-tas-hybrid-community-forum-hobart

Melbourne – Thursday 21st August (1:30pm-5pm AEST) – https://events.humanitix.com/disability-discrimination-act-review-vic-hybrid-community-forum-melbourne

Adelaide – Monday 25th August (1pm-4:30pm ACST) – https://events.humanitix.com/disability-discrimination-act-review-sa-hybrid-community-forum-adelaide

Brisbane – Thursday 28th August (1:30pm-5pm AEST) – https://events.humanitix.com/disability-discrimination-act-review-qld-hybrid-community-forum-brisbane

Darwin – Thursday 4th September (1:30pm-5pm ACST) – https://events.humanitix.com/disability-discrimination-act-review-northern-territory-hybrid-community-forum-darwin-garramilla

Sydney – Monday 8th September (1:30pm-5pm AEST) – https://events.humanitix.com/disability-discrimination-act-review-new-south-wales-hybrid-community-forum-sydney-warrang

Canberra – Monday 15th September (1pm-4:30pm AEST) – https://events.humanitix.com/disability-discrimination-act-review-australian-capital-territory-hybrid-community-forum-canberra-ngunnawal-ngambri

Perth – Friday 19th September (1:30pm-5pm AWST) – https://events.humanitix.com/disability-discrimination-act-review-western-australia-hybrid-community-forum-perth-boorloo

Melanie Hawkes (PDA’s WA Director) was recently interviewed by “In Plain Sight” podcast team of Simon and Abby.

It’s just gone up on their website and is a really great listen.

Covering the many experiences, opportunities and achievements of Melanie’s very full and very exciting life, this conversation celebrates her passion for self-exploration, creativity and embracing life.

Check it out at:

Check out Nas Campanella’s and Evan Young’s video story featuring PDA’s CEO, Jeremy Muir.

“Forget what you think you know about disability.

Many people view disability as something that needs a medical fix, not a societal one. That forces people with disability to work within the limitations of a world not designed for them. Could a shift in mindset help move the dial on accessibility and inclusion?“

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiqCxQB-FOc

The ABC’s Nas Campanella and Evan Young have written a wonderful article featuring PDA’s CEO, Jeremy Muir, who talks about his independence being impacted by his surroundings and the built environment.

It is a really great read.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-08/social-medical-models-disability-accessibility-inclusion/105494462

It is wonderful to see this initiative being implemented – particularly with Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM and Mandy Frier involved, both of whom were guest speakers at our “Fair and Accessible Healthcare” webinar earlier this week.

“Queensland Health has launched an online course to increase health worker confidence, knowledge, and skills to support consumers with disability.

This training is designed for all Queensland Health staff regardless of role, location, level or experience.

People with disability often face significant barriers when accessing healthcare and health services.

The course will provide health staff with:

• * Enhanced awareness of the healthcare barriers
• * An understanding of our responsibilities to provide equitable, inclusive care
• * Practical strategies to support the delivery of inclusive care
• * Insight into unconscious bias, reasonable adjustments, and the impact of restrictive practices
• * Increased knowledge to support accessible, person-centred, and responsive practice.”

The Australian Government is reviewing the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 in a move to ensure that it is working to protect people with disability.

As part of this process, public consultations have now launched and will be open for 12 weeks – closing on 24 October 2025.

The government invites the following groups to share their views on this important area for reform:

• * people with disability
• * families, carers and kin
• * advocates
• * service providers
• * employers
• * unions
• * small business
• * legal professionals
• * education providers
• * academia
• * the broader community.

Consultations will be run both as in-person and online events, with more information available on the Attorney-General’s Department website – https://www.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/human-rights-and-anti-discrimination/australias-anti-discrimination-law/review-disability-discrimination-act

Initially, you can get involved through:

• * making a submission in response to the questions in the Issues Paper – either as an individual or on behalf of an organisation (https://consultations.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/dda-issues-paper/consultation/)

or by

• * completing the shorter community survey. This is ideally for those who do not want to respond to questions in the Issues Paper but would still like to contribute to the review (https://consultations.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/dda-community-survey/consultation/)

To automatically receive updates as the review progresses (including information about upcoming consultation events), you can register at https://app.vision6.com.au/em/forms/subscribe.php?db=875028&s=926311&a=120874&k=ANKRxcAGh1U3b-sExDmfCIjDpnQdzabUvgK7hq_bPY4

For more information, please visit:

https://www.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/human-rights-and-anti-discrimination/australias-anti-discrimination-law/review-disability-discrimination-act