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?“
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.
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:
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:
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:
or by
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:
“There are a lot of things that need to change in the Australian healthcare space, but the change we find ourselves fighting for the most tends to revolve around honoring lived experience as expertise, streamlining bureaucratic processes, and making healthcare more accessible and affordable for everyone – regardless of income, post code or any other identities they may hold.”
~ Senator Jordon Steele-John
Jordon Steele-John is a Greens Senator for WA and a proud disabled person. He advocates disability rights, a fair and fully-funded NDIS, and equitable healthcare for all Australians. Jordon’s goal is to challenge the boundaries of political norms, both in the Senate and the community and create a more accessible and inclusive society for all.
Jordon decided to be involved in our “Fair and Accessible Healthcare” webinar because of the shared values between himself, PDA, our members and his office. He hopes it will provide an opportunity for disabled community members, adjacent professionals and advocates, and our allies – to connect and share knowledge.
Join us on Tuesday 5th August (6pm AEST) to hear Jordon & other noteworthy speakers explore what is & isn’t working in the provision of healthcare for PWD.
Register at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6zzLprNATDeWu1GD8ARb5A
It is with great pleasure that we announce our final speaker for our “Fair and Accessible Healthcare” webinar:
SENATOR JORDON STEELE-JOHN
Since being elected in 2017, Jordon has been focused on fighting for the rights of people – including those of disabled people.
He is passionate about improving systems that fail to meet the needs of all Australians, including healthcare and medical systems, and creating change through community, advocacy and determination.
Jordon’s understanding of government and his personal experiences as a person living with disability, will provide an interesting and informative insight into healthcare in our country and what can be done to make it truly fair and accessible for all Australians.
To register for this event, please go to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6zzLprNATDeWu1GD8ARb5A
As it comes to end of Disability Pride month for 2025, I wanted to reflect on what ‘Pride’ means to me as a person who has lived with their disability for over 40 years.
Every July, Disability Pride Month offers an important opportunity to honour the dignity, achievements, and vibrant diversity of the disability community. It is a time to celebrate the unique contributions, creativity, and resilience of people with disabilities, whilst also recognising the ongoing efforts for equity and accessibility.
Disability Pride Month reminds us that disability is an important part of human diversity, deserving of visibility, respect, and pride. By embracing inclusion and dismantling barriers, we move closer to a world where everyone can fully participate and thrive.
As I have always worked in the disability sector in one role or another, I have had the privilege to meet, to know and to learn from some of the most committed, most talented and just straight-out wonderful individuals living with disabilities or those without disabilities who have worked for the cause. For this I am forever grateful and extremely proud that I have had the opportunity to learn from the best.
Fortunately, I still get the opportunity to meet and learn from people with disabilities and those who work in our community who are new to my life, and I am constantly reminded by how resilient, dynamic, intelligent and committed they are to fighting the good fight for people with disabilities. I am often humbled to call them colleagues, to call them friends and further humbled that they consider me the same.
I am proud of our disability movement, I am proud of everyone I work alongside, I am proud of our history, and I know I will be proud of our future.
More importantly and often difficult to acknowledge, I AM proud of myself.
“Public Services International (PSI), in conjunction with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), has launched a comprehensive Guide on the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Public Services.
The guide highlights successful case studies where public services unions have made meaningful progress in disability inclusion, while also offering clear pathways for improvement where gaps remain. As organisations representing public services workers, unions hold a strategic position to champion decent work for persons with disabilities—not only benefiting these workers directly but also contributing to more accessible and inclusive public services for all.
The guide reinforces that disability inclusion in the workplace is not merely an ethical obligation but a crucial component of social justice and decent work—principles that both PSI and the ILO have championed for decades. By providing practical resources for public service unions, we aim to accelerate progress toward workplaces that are open, safe, stable, inclusive and accessible for all workers.”
To read the Guide in its entirety, please visit:
PDA’s Vice President/ACT Director, Paul Williamson, was part of this project.
We’re in the process of updating our records so that we have our members’ current details. And we’re always happy to welcome new members who are looking for a friendly and supportive disability community.
So, whether you’ve moved, changed your phone number or are you now using a new email, or whether you’d like to join as a new member, take advantage of our current promo and you could wina $100 Prezzee gift card.
For existing members:
Even if your details haven’t changed, YOU WILL STILL BE ENTERED IN TO THE DRAW IF YOUR DETAILS ARE THE SAME…AS LONG AS YOU UPDATE BY visiting www.pda.org.au/membership/.
Make sure that you click on the “I am an existing member updating my details” box.
For new members signing up:
Take advantage of our annual membership update and sign up now? New members will go in to a separate draw for a $100 Prezzee gift card.
To become a member you MUST BE AN AUSTRALIAN RESIDENT.
As well as Australians living with physical disability, we also welcome their families, friends, carers, support workers, providers and anyone with a positive interest in supporting our country’s disability community.
SIGN UP for FREE MEMBERSHIP NOW by going to www.pda.org.au/membership/ and we’ll throw your name in the entry bucket.
Make sure that you click on the “I am a new member” box.
One person from each category (existing and new members) will be drawn by random generator on Monday 18th August 2025, with winners announced on PDA’s socials.
Thanks for your help and good luck!
““Fair and Accessible Healthcare”.
True stories help explore what is and isn’t working in Australia today.
A webinar organised by Physical Disability Australia features contributions from people who have encountered challenges and unfairness, professionals, government representatives and academics in the disability access space.
Carol Taylor might have thought nothing could be worse than suddenly finding herself quadraplegic after a terrible car crash 24 years ago.
In 2001 the car she, and her newlywed husband Robert, were driving in hit some black ice and rolled twice. On that second roll, the roof collapsed, severing her spinal cord. In that split-second Carol’s life utterly changed. She was quadriplegic, completely paralysed from the chest down and unable to use her hands.
Through incredible determination and supported by the strong love of a wonderful husband – and later a child – a family emerged from that wreckage. Carol began a career as a mother, lawyer, and later entrepreneur. But, of course, she always remained in that wheelchair . . . and that still continues to frame who she is, for so many people she interacts with.
This is the story Carol brings to Physical Disability Australia’s special webinar.
How simple, yet vital, it was for her to overcome the unconscious bias that could have prevented her – as a ‘cripple’ – from receiving the mammogram that identified the cancer that was beginning to creep through her body and that could have killed her.”
Thank you to Nic Stuart for putting together this article and to Carol Taylor for sharing her story.
https://www.abilitynews.org/p/fair-and-accessible-healthcare-b882
