Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this release contains names and references to people who have died.

New court filing has exposed a pattern of fatal restraints for First Nations people with disability that has been hidden.

This information surfaced after court documents revealed a young Aboriginal man died of acute respiratory failure, the result of being held in a bear hug with a knee to his back whilst in the care of registered NDIS provider Life Without Barriers in Alice Springs.

FPDN’s statement tells of the devastating pattern of preventable deaths, and sets out Non-Negotiable Demands for Immediate Action.

“ ‘FPDN asks all allies to elevate the voice of Mob in recognising that too many First Nations people with disability are on a predictable pathway to premature death, created by catastrophic and intersecting failures across Australia’s disability, guardianship, and justice systems.’ “

https://fpdn.org.au/hidden-for-three-years-new-court-filing-exposes-pattern-of-fatal-restraints-for-first-nations-people-with-disability

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) is currently being reviewed by the Attorney-General’s Department, and your input is needed.

The review will look at the 15 recommendations which were highlighted in the 2023 Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

You can read more about the review by going to:

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

Public consultation on the review is now open and there are 3 ways to share your views:

• * you can make a submission in response to the questions in the Issues Paper,
• * you can take part in the community survey, or
• * you can attend an in-person engagement events.

Consultation is open until 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.

This consultation process is the first stage of public engagement and there will be further opportunities to participate.

More information can also be found at:

https://consultations.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/dda-issues-paper

PDA’s CEO, Jeremy Muir, states “we believe that QLD’s opting out of the Livable Housing Design Standard (LHDS) would be a giant step backwards not only for Queenslanders living with a disability, but for the community in general – whether at this time or in the future.

With an ageing population, the Brisbane Paralympics being held in 2032, and QLD’s population growth heavily influenced by people from the southern states moving to QLD to enjoy our lifestyle, this move appears counter-productive, bad business and not forward thinking.

We stand by QDN’s statement that “accessible housing isn’t a luxury, it is a basic human right”. “

qdn.org.au/our-advocacy/campaigns/elections/keep-livable-design-standards/

We recently ran our 2025 Membership Drive.

As part of this, we had 2x $100 Prezzee gift card prizes up for grabs: one for new members and the other for existing members who updated their membership details.

Thank you to everyone who took part in this annual event.

We have drawn our 2 category winners by random generator and are proud to announce that Nicholas and Linda are the lucky winners in our prize draw.

A big congratulations to you both.

For those of you who are not yet PDA members, you’re invited to sign up for our free membership by going to pda.org.au/membership.

We look forward to welcoming you as part of our community.

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: