“When academic, author and disability advocate Sharon Boyce contracted COVID-19 in April, she and her doctor were scared about what might happen.
“I do have lots of issues with breathing, lots of issues with my health and [an] auto immune [condition], and I’m on high level cortisone and have diabetes,” she said.
The Toowoomba resident was being monitored in a virtual hospital ward and had antiviral medication delivered to her door by paramedics.
“It was very scary about the what if [of having COVID-19], but once I got the antivirals and started them, I didn’t have major problems,” she said.
“I did have issues with breathing and coughing, especially, which was very difficult for me with my neck, but the antivirals seemed to stop and calm that down and maybe not get as bad as what it may have done.”
Dr Boyce said more awareness was needed about the potential benefits of the medications.
“I think there really needs to be a lot more information out there about what antivirals are, what they do, how good they can be and what they can do for people to break down those barriers of fear.” “
To read the full article go to:
It’s a great watch.
Enjoy hearing from Fran and her fellow panelists (Angie Ballard and Cain Beckett) by going to:
https://players.brightcove.net/6015111615001/nTwZ5mi4b_default/index.html?videoId=6309652466112
Following its election win, the Australian Labor Party has reiterated its commitment “to ensuring that no Australian with a disability is left behind”.
The Hon. Bill Shorten MP’s assigned portfolio as Minister for the NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme has been widely applauded and appears to be a significant move in the right direction for an Australia working to look after its disabled population.
This overhaul includes review of the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency), steps being taken to get the NDIS working properly and ensuring that disability is “no longer an afterthought”. Reassuringly too, steps are seemingly being put in place for policy to be evidence based and those actually reliant on the NDIS being given a place at the co-design table.
However, whilst the NDIA has certainly been a hive of promising activity since our new government took office, there is still a glaringly incongruous demographic in the way that the scheme is being run and managed.
With 1 in 6 Australians living with disability and with rates of disability being shown to be on a rising trajectory, it is crucial that the NDIS addresses the need for representation and inclusion of scheme participants and those with lived disability experience on its Board, Executive and in the role of NDIA CEO.
In the same way that senior roles within indigenous organisations are reserved for applicants of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, policy must be put in place to ensure that “the NDIS puts people with disability at the centre of the Scheme and includes families, carers, service providers and workers” (wording taken from the ALP’s own website).
But this should just be the beginning of necessary reform in our country.
In an SBS News article, it was highlighted that, of the total 227 parliamentarians today, only one person (or less than half a percent) presents a visible disability – in the form of WA Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John.
Whilst our new parliament embraces the diversity and beauty of our country, this representation of disability is certainly not something to be celebrated.
PDA’s TAS Associate Director, Tammy Milne, has written another interesting article for The ”Tasmanian Times”.
Check it out by going to:
www. tasmaniantimes.com/2022/06/rural-health-struggle-to-service-people-with-disabilities/
PDA’s TAS Associate Director, Tammy Milne, has had an article published in the “Tasmanian Times” about her wheelchair journey.
It’s a great read.
You can check it out by going to:
Did you vote at an AEC Polling place either as an early voter or on Election Day?
If so, we would really appreciate your help to ensure that Australia’s democratic process is truly accessible to all Australians living with disability.
We’d love to hear just how accessible your chosen location was and whether reasonable adjustments were in place to support your needs in placing your vote.
This will provide us with a better understanding of issues that are and aren’t being adequately addressed to make future voting in person possible, stress free and a choice for those who require additional consideration and support.
We will then provide AEC with our findings to work towards improved polling place accessibility moving forwards so that Australia embraces the importance of everyone’s vote.
To take part in this important process, please provide your feedback in our short survey by going to:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TSHXNH8
Many thanks for your help.
A recent Disability Support Guide article (https://www.disabilitysupportguide.com.au/talking-disability/unemployment-rates-released-but-not-for-people-with-disability) has highlighted the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ exclusion of unemployment rates of people with disability in their April Labour Force Participation figures (https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia/apr-2022).
In spite of disability employment being a topic of discussion and (supposed) action, this statistical ostracism does little to make people with disability feel as though they are included in the conversation.
With unemployment and underemployment rates of people with disability much higher than national figures, national statistical collection on this topic has not been actioned by the ABS since 2018 with the release of their Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/disability/disability-ageing-and-carers-australia-summary-findings/latest-release).
These findings revealed
an unemployment rate of people with disability of 10.3% and more than double the period’s comparative rate for people without disability which stood at 4.6%, and
that just 28.3% of people with disability of working age were in full-time employment – compared to 54.8% of people without disability in the same age group.
If statistical collection and analysis excludes 20% of Australia’s population (in that of our disabled citizens), how is it truly a measure of our country’s employment numbers and how does it not perpetuate feelings of exclusion and discrimination for our country’s largest minority group.
If the Australian Government is committed to ensuring “inclusive workplace cultures where people with disability thrive in their careers” (https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers/disability-employment-strategy) through initiatives such as the Disability Employment Advisory Committee (DEAC) and Employment My Ability, surely there needs to be greater attention on the bigger and comprehensive picture so that all stakeholders can be better equipped and truly committed to bringing actual positive change!?
In PDA’s push to ensure that Australia’s democratic process is accessible to all Australians living with disability, we would appreciate your feedback on your experience on voting at an AEC polling place as an early voter or on Election Day.
This will provide us with a better understanding of issues that are and aren’t being adequately addressed to make voting in person possible, stress free and a choice for those who require additional consideration and support.
We will then provide AEC with our findings to work towards improved polling place accessibility moving forwards so that Australia embraces the importance of everyone’s vote.
To take part in this important process, please provide your feedback in our short survey ONCE YOU HAVE VOTED AT A PHYSICAL POLLING PLACE LOCATION.
To access this survey please go to:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TSHXNH8
Many thanks for your help.
Tammy Milne talks to the ABC about the virtual care she received under COVID@home in Tasmania.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-27/covid-at-home-tasmania-extended-to-flu-patients/10101646
PDA’s Ambassador, Dinesh Palipana OAM, helped to narrate this piece that recently awarded a Special Prize on Health Innovation in the World Health Organization (WHO)’s “The Health For All” Film Festival.
The Griffith University’s Inclusive Futures team submitted a documentary about the incredible work being done to improve accessibility and inclusion through technological advances and retraining society’s views.
A great watch. Congratulations to all those involved.
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