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.
Whether you’ve experienced issues voting remotely or in physically accessing polling stations (such as available disability parking, building access), availability of accessible polling booths for wheelchair users and those requiring other assistance (eg. Braille, Easy English, sensory requirements), PDA wants to hear from you.
With your help we hope to improve accessibility in Australian elections, so that people with disabilities are given the opportunity to participate in the same way as everyone else.
In a democratic society, voting is something that is generally taken for granted. However, for an increasing number of people with physical disabilities, local accessibility to vote is not guaranteed.
Following the announcement of an election, a list of polling places are made available by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). Within this list, each polling place is given a rating around accessibility to assist people with disabilities or mobility restrictions (i.e. wheelchair accessible, assisted wheelchair access, or not wheelchair accessible).
However, previously available statistics taken from this list showed that of the expected polling places outlined on the AEC website, as few as 3% of polling places will be fully accessible at the next Federal election.
These grossly inadequate numbers contravene the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 which states that electors are entitled to vote on election day at any polling place in their electorate.
So why should this inexcusably inadequate availability of accessible polling booths be tolerated?
Why should people with mobility disabilities be given no option but to travel (often long distances) outside of their local areas to vote or be compelled to vote outside polling stations or lodge their votes via post or telephone?
All Australians should be given the opportunity to engage in our democratic processes equally and with fair consideration.
We really want to hear about your personal experiences in voting at Australian elections (whether local, state or Federal) so that we can have a better understanding as to whether or not enough is being done to make our elections accessible.
We’ve put together a QUICK but IMPORTANT survey around this issue and encourage you all to participate, so that we can ensure that all members of the community have equal access to the political process.
Please go to the link below and take part in the survey BY 5PM AEDT MONDAY 14th MARCH 2022 and let’s make sure that everyone’s votes are counted at our upcoming elections.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JVYDNNG
Today, on International Women’s Day, PDA’s SA Associate Director Krystal Matthews’ NDIS story has just been shared.
“There are a lot of different issues that affect women with disabilities and there are a lot of particular issues that affect parents who have disabilities.
It’s not easy, it’s not easy for anyone to be a mother, but the fact of me having a disability does not make me a bad mother.”
Check it out:
1800 732 674
