It is with great pleasure that we introduce Jeremy Muir as PDA’s CEO and welcome him to the team.
Jeremy’s credentials positioned him as a perfect fit to steer Physical Disability Australia to even greater growth, success and recognition as a leading Australian disability representative organisation.
A dedicated professional with over 40 years of lived disability experience and extensive expertise in disability advocacy, policy development and leadership, Jeremy is focused on creating positive change and improving services for people with disabilities.
A strong background in advocacy and policy work, has seen him work closely with government leaders to shape disability policies and raise awareness of key issues. He has led national submissions on disability standards and facilitated workshops on social inclusion, presenting outcomes to federal decision-makers and driving meaningful change.
Leadership roles, both within government and community services, have shown Jeremy successfully manage a variety of disability programs, bringing teams together, streamlining operations and improving support for clients. Within the non-profit sector, he successfully grew an organisation by 300%, significantly increased its budget, and introduced new programs to support rural communities.
With over 15 years of experience in the higher education sector, he has also supported students with disabilities by developing tailored solutions, promoting inclusive practices and contributing to campus accessibility improvements. This helped drive a university-wide Disability Employment Strategy and played a key role in fostering a more supportive environment for students and staff.
As an advisor to government ministers, he has provided strategic advice, engaged with communities and contributed to the design and implementation of programs supporting people with disabilities.
A keen sports and music fan, Jeremy has traveled extensively across the globe and gained a broad perspective and appreciation for diverse cultures and experiences.
Through both professional expertise and lived experience, Jeremy’s name is synonymous with driving change, building strong teams, improving disability services, launching new programs, and influencing policy at a national level.
PDA’s President, Sharon Boyce, looks forward to working with Jeremy in his role as CEO to ensure PDA grows even stronger to support the organisation and its members. “This is a time where we need strength and are able to show leadership in our efforts to help all people with physical disability across Australia. On behalf of the PDA Board and it’s staff, I welcome Jeremy and am excited that together with his help and leadership we can achieve real inclusion for all.”
Welcome Jeremy. We look forward to a bright future for PDA with you at our helm.
Content warning: This article mentions sex, relationships and ableism.
Melanie Hawkes is PDA’s WA Director and she helped to kickstart open conversations around sexuality and disability.
In a Women’s Agenda article she shares her personal experiences and thoughts around her sexual journey, and provides a real insight into why intimacy, love and self growth is important for everyone.
In supporting our members and Australia’s disability community, Physical Disability Australia understands the importance of being kept up to date with news, opportunities, events and important issues.
We also value hearing the thoughts and experiences that give perspective on what’s truly happening and affecting our people.
That’s why we encourage you to stay in the loop in a number of key ways:
You’re also invited to join our monthly online catch-ups via Zoom:
Join us!
Together we are a voice that will be heard and a force that will continue to steer positive change for Australia’s #disability community.
We look forward to working with you to bring about positive change for Australians living with disability in 2025 and beyond.
If you need assistance please call 1800 732 674 and leave a message. Someone will return your call as soon as possible.
If you have an emergency, please call triple zero (000) or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or headspace on 1800 650 890.
Wishing you and your loved ones a very festive season and wishes for a wonderful 2025.
On Tuesday we held our final Social Hour for 2024.
It was a fun night with a wonderful crowd coming together to kick start the festive season.
Online Christmas bingo was part of the fun – with Tammy, Natasha, Trevor and Robert taking home something to put under their Christmas trees.
PDA’s Interim Executive Officer, Andrew Fairbairn, also awarded Talecia a prize for the most festively dressed.
Our first Social Hour for 2025 is scheduled for Monday 6th January at 6pm AEDT and we’d love to see you there.
To register, please go to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqc–qqjkjG903J2KoieI9ASVSig7b4mxr
We hope that you can join us.
From the desk of the One-Legged Sax Player, AKA the Interim Executive Officer, Andrew Fairbairn
Celebrating International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD): A Focus on Physical Disabilities
As December 3rd 2024 draws to a close on the West Coast of Australia, I wanted to put some very simple thoughts down regarding our day.
Today is all about celebrating the amazing achievements of people with disabilities and spreading awareness, and I would like to share some thoughts.
What’s IDPwD All About?
Every year on December 3rd, we celebrate IDPwD. It’s a day to recognise the rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities in every part of life. Whether it’s at work, school, or just out and about, this day reminds us to push for accessibility and inclusion.
Understanding Physical Disabilities
Physical disabilities can include things like using a wheelchair, crutches, or having conditions that affect stamina or dexterity. These disabilities might be visible or invisible, but they all come with their own set of challenges and strengths.
Breaking Down Barriers
One of the biggest challenges for people with physical disabilities is accessibility.
Think about it – how many times have you seen a building without a ramp or an elevator? Simple things like this can make a huge difference. Here are a few ways we can help:
Celebrating Achievements
People with physical disabilities achieve incredible things every day. From athletes competing in the Paralympics to advocates fighting for disability rights, their contributions are invaluable. Let’s take a moment to celebrate these achievements and recognise the strength and resilience it takes to overcome barriers.
How You Can Help
Want to make a difference? Here are a few simple ways to support people with physical disabilities:
Final Thoughts
IDPwD is a reminder that we all have a role to play in creating a more inclusive world.
By understanding and supporting people with physical disabilities, we can help break down barriers and celebrate the diversity that makes our communities stronger.
So, let’s get out there and make a difference!
Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with us at Physical Disability Australia.
Let’s keep the conversation going and continue to support each other.
Happy IDPwD
A new NDIS rule is being developed (a DSS collaboration with the states and territories) under section 44(5) of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (NDIS Act).
The rule will assist the NDIA to understand whether a person is likely to spend in line with their plan, and if not whether a different plan management arrangement should be considered.
Recent changes to section 44 of the NDIS Act require the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to make decisions about whether a person (including a participant, nominee, and registered plan manager) is likely to spend NDIS funds on NDIS supports in accordance with a participant’s plan (as required by section 46 of the NDIS Act).
Currently there is no legislative guidance about how the NDIA should make this decision.
To find out more about the proposed new management of funding rules:
What engagement has there been with the disability community about this new rule?
The rule has been developed following co-design work and engagement on plan management decisions led by the NDIA.
Since July 2024, the NDIA has been leading codesign and engagement sessions on how decisions are made about plan management and how supports and safeguards can be used to reduce the risk of harm to participants if there is inappropriate spending. While this rule has not specifically been co-designed it has been informed by this earlier co-design work about the broader NDIS reforms.
Governments remain committed to codesign and consultation with the disability community in the development of new rules under the NDIS Act and are working to develop an engagement plan with the disability community.
What will the new rule do?
The new rule will assist the NDIA in identifying risks, applying appropriate safeguards, and making fairer and more consistent decisions about whether a person is likely to meet the requirements of section 46.
It is based on current policy and practice, and was informed by consultation with self‑managers about the current Self-management policy | NDIS – https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/using-your-plan/self-management/self-management-policy
It will introduce greater fairness in decision making across plan management types including participants, nominees, child representatives and registered plan management providers.
Implementation of the rule by the NDIA will include capability building supports for participants to support spending in accordance with their plan and reduce the risk of inadvertent or unintentional spending.
If you have any questions or feedback about how the rule should be implemented, please email NDISConsultations@dss.gov.au.
These were:
We look forward to them being a part of the PDA Board and bringing their combined skills and experience as we move into 2025 and beyond.
The Australian Government is currently working with states and territories on the development of a new NDIS rule relating to the management of funding.
It is important that you and the rest of the disability community are kept up to date on the progress of NDIS Reforms.
You can read about these by going to:
https://www.dss.gov.au/changes-to-the-ndis-act
and
Please direct any enquiries, comments or input to:
1800 732 674
