This monthly newsletter will provide updates on the issues that matter the most to our community and the work that we are doing to create positive change.
We hope that you enjoy this new format and find it valuable and interesting.
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If you’re not yet a PDA member and want to sign up for our FREE MEMBERSHIP, please head across to www.pda.org.au/membership/ to become part of our community and to be kept in the loop around what we’re doing.
With the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability having commenced an inquiry in regards to this subject, we are putting together responses from our members and the wider disability community to support our submission.
If you have a story or concerns to share around the accessibility and affordability of medical specialists, we encourage you to get in touch with us by emailing team@pda.org.au or by leaving a comment below.
Together let’s work towards positive change.
PDA recently made a submission to the QLD Government’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) as part of the review of the Disability Parking Permit Scheme.
You can read this by going to:
With so many people asking “what does this actually mean for me?”, we broke it all down in a practical, easy-to-understand way – cutting through the noise and focusing on what really matters.
Presented by PDA CEO Suzanne Gearing and PDA President Paul Williamson, the session also included live Q&A, shared community concerns, and provided valuable feedback to help strengthen our advocacy to government and media.
The recording is now live on our YouTube channel:
Take a look to see how the Budget may impact you.
And while you’re there, don’t forget to subscribe – it’s free and you’ll be the first to know when new webinar recordings are released.
To help make sense of it all, we’re hosting a FREE WEBINAR tomorrow, Thursday May 14 at 4:30pm AEST:
Presented by PDA CEO Suzanne Gearing and PDA President Paul Williamson, this practical and easy-to-understand session will break down the key Budget measures and explain what they could mean for you.
We’ll cut through the complexity so you don’t have to.
Join us, ask questions, share your concerns, and help shape the message we take to government and the media.
FREE for PDA Members and Friends.
We look forward to having you with us.
To register, please go to:
Drawing on responses from 798 Australians affected by partner income testing over a two-week survey period, the report reveals that this policy is far more than an administrative Centrelink measure.
Respondents described experiences of financial dependency, hardship, fear of disclosure, relationship strain, and safety concerns – highlighting the significant personal impact of a system that can create barriers for those who genuinely need support.
Findings included:
Sophia’s report makes an evidence-based recommendation to abolish the Partner Income Test across affected Centrelink payments and assess adults as financially independent individuals, regardless of their relationship status.
To read the report, go to:
If you would like to share your stories around this topic, please leave a comment or email us at promotion@pda.org.au.
A relationship should not come at the cost of financial independence.
Presented by PDA’s CEO, Suzanne Gearing, and PDA President, Paul Williamson, this webinar will work through the Budget so you don’t have to.
Join us for a fast, practical webinar where we cut through the headlines, unpack the key measures, and spotlight the areas where the detail is still vague or missing.
Why attend?
Because the Budget shouldn’t be something you have to decode on your own.
We’ll help you understand what’s been announced, what’s still unclear, and how the Budget could affect you personally.
Just as importantly, we want to hear from you. We’ll gather your views, reactions, and concerns to help shape our message to government and the media.
Register by going to:
Millions Face Financial Exclusion and Bureaucratic Nightmares as Mobility Barriers Turn Everyday Essentials into Impossible Hurdles
In a nation that prides itself on inclusivity, a hidden crisis is unfolding: Australians with physical disabilities who cannot drive or fly are being systematically excluded from opening bank accounts, accessing government services, and even verifying their identity. With a driver’s license or passport often unattainable due to mobility limitations, these individuals are trapped in a cycle of frustration and inequality, according to a new report from Physical Disability Australia due for public release on June 1st.
The report, titled Barriers Beyond Mobility: The ID Crisis for People with Disabilities, reveals that over 5.5 million Australians live with disabilities, many of whom cannot obtain standard photo IDs due to chronic pain, limited transport options, or geographic isolation.
This “ID gap” creates insurmountable obstacles in a digital-first world, where anti-money laundering laws demand rigorous verification for banking, and government portals like MyGov require in-person or travel-dependent setups.
“Imagine needing a bank account to receive your disability pension, but being unable to prove who you are because you can’t drive to a Service NSW centre or fly for a passport interview,” said Suzanne Gearing, CEO of Physical Disability Australia. “This isn’t just inconvenience, it’s discrimination. People with disabilities are being denied financial independence, access to Centrelink benefits, and even basic information, all because our systems weren’t built with them in mind.”
Key challenges highlighted in the report include:
The report calls for immediate action, including:
Disability advocate Dr George Taleporos shared his concerns, “People with disability are once again being shut out by government systems that are built around able-bodied assumptions. Requiring a passport or driver licence to access essential identity checks ignores the reality that many of us cannot drive, do not fly, or do not have those documents. This is not a minor administrative problem. It is a serious access and equity failure that affects all areas of our lives. The government must make this verification system accessible and inclusive to people with disability.”
George Taleporos is concerned that the government’s verification systems do not consider accessibility and equity for Australia’s disability community.
pdapressreleaseidsystemsmay2026
Funded through their Dr Jennifer Fitzgerald Research Grant, a grant of up to $30,000 is available to support researchers with disability to conduct research that aims to improve the lives of people living with disability.
The grant is offered in recognition of Dr Jennifer Fitzgerald AM, Chief Executive Officer of Scope from 2012 until 2022 and champion for people with disability and their families.
Established to recognise her significant contribution to Scope and the disability sector, this backing also highlights her ongoing commitment to research and evidence-based practice.
Applications for the 2026 grant are now open to early-career researchers who completed their PhD up to five years ago (excluding career disruptions) and are employed at an Australian university or other setting, such as a community service organisation.
The grant is for a 1–2 year research project that aligns with Scope’s research priority areas. Funds can be used to support a new project or an existing project where there is a funding gap.
For information on how to apply, and to explore past grant recipients, go to:
If you have any questions, please contact Dr Caroline Hart at chart@scopeaust.org.au.
Applications close on Friday 12 June 2026.
Physical Disability Australia is calling for urgent action to fix inaccessible charging infrastructure before inequality is further embedded into the nation’s transport system.
As petrol prices climb and fuel security becomes more volatile, Australia’s move to electric vehicles is accelerating. But for many people with disability, the nation’s EV charging network remains inaccessible, unreliable, and unequal.
The recent Austroads’ “Enabling Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging” report confirms what drivers with disability already know: accessible charging is still not being treated as essential. A “minimum bays” approach may meet basic requirements on paper, but in practice it leaves people with disabilities facing longer waits, fewer options, and greater uncertainty every time they need to recharge.
Physical Disability Australia says that must change.
“If Australia is serious about an electric future, it must be a future that includes everyone,” said Suzanne Gearing, CEO of Physical Disability Australia. “Accessible charging cannot be an afterthought. It is essential infrastructure. When disabled drivers are forced to rely on one bay being available, and not misused, that is not equality. It is exclusion by design.”
Physical Disability Australia is calling on governments, councils, developers, and charging operators to adopt an equity-first approach by making universal design the standard, retrofitting existing sites, and introducing enforceable measures to protect access.
“This is a chance to build the right system from the start,” Ms Gearing said. “We need leadership, urgency, and a commitment to dignity, safety, and equal access. This innovation will, like the curb cut, become a welcome addition to recharging stations, and benefit not just to people with disability, but a significant portion of the community.”
As Australia builds the transport network of the future, accessibility must be built in, not bolted on.
https://newshub.medianet.com.au/2026/05/australias-ev-future-is-leaving-disabled-drivers-behind/
pdapressreleaseelectricvehiclesevmay2026
Melanie Hawkes, PDA’s WA Director, shares her frustration around accessibility of her local EV charging infrastructure.
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