On Sunday 2nd February we celebrated Physical Disability Awareness Day with events throughout Australia and also enjoyed a great turnout at the popular online DisabiliTEA event.
As part of the day’s activities, PDA was invited to be part of a podcast hosted by Kayla Gatt – aka the Natural Naturopath.
PDA’s Melanie Hawkes, Laura Scurr and Robert Wise spoke about Physical Disability Awareness Day and why such days are important in educating, celebrating and bringing together both the physical disability and wider communities.
You can listen to this podcast by going to:
If you haven’t already registered for the online DisabiliTEA event at this Sunday’s Physical Disability Awareness Day, make sure that you head across to do it now
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/FLTklhA9TLmT3Up8Hcu_VA
Great speakers:
As well as hearing from these incredible speakers, this free event will feature a fun trivia event with cash prizes.
Join us to celebrate Physical Disability Awareness Day.
On Sunday February 2nd 2025, Physical Disability Australia will be hosting the third Physical Disability Awareness Day.
Established in 2023 after seeing a gap in the awareness calendar for highlighting physical disabilities, this very special day brings attention to people living with physical disability, their contributions and the many conditions that fall under the physical disability umbrella.
The day also provides a wonderful opportunity for people to come together and be united in their support for Australia’s physical disability community.
A number of face-to-face events have also been scheduled, including Strolls & Rolls around local parks, morning and afternoon tea and a lunch.
Face to face Events
The ever popular online DisabiliTEA event will once again also be held, this time with a fun Trivia session (with some fantastic prizes) and some amazing guest speakers who will share their stories. The Trivia host and adjudicator will be Laura Scurr, Physical Disability Awareness Day Committee member and PDA Board representative.
NSW/VIC/ACT/TAS – 2pm
SA: 1.30pm
QLD: 1pm
NT: 12.30pm
WA: 11am
Feel free to pour yourself a cold drink or make yourself a cuppa as you enjoy a fun line up of guests and challenging trivia questions.
To register for the online DisabiliTEA event, please go to https://us02web.zoom.us/meetin…
We look forward to having you join us to celebrate Physical Disability Awareness Day 2025.
Together let’s grow and strengthen Physical Disability Awareness Day by making some noise, being seen, being recognised, being considered and being celebrated.
For news and updates on what’s happening near you and how you can be involved, please continue to visit this page or email promotion@pda.org.au to be sent updates via email.
If you would like to run your own Physical Disability Awareness Day event or would like to be involved in the organising committee for next year, please email Natasha at promotion@pda.org.au or call 1800 732 674.
Today is International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), a day which promotes community awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.
This year’s theme is “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future”.
It’s significance lies in not only recognising the important role that people with disabilities play in creating a more inclusive and sustainable world for all, but also highlights the need and importance of persons with disabilities being actively involved in making decisions that affect their lives.
Being heard, seen and included in conversations, being involved in true co-design and simply being part of the disability community all play a role in bringing about positive change.
PDA is grateful for its Board and those it represents.
We thank and salute our members and those who play a role (big or small) in making a true difference.
For more information about this important day, go to:
ONLINE EVENT
Tomorrow (Wednesday 27th November 2024) 11am-12pm AEDT, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission will be hosting an online Ministerial Town Hall event on Bill No. 2 Consultations.
This is an opportunity for you to hear directly from the Minister for the NDIS, the Honourable Bill Shorten, who will be joined by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner Louise Glanville and Associate Commissioner Natalie Wade.
The reforms are focused on address emerging and long-standing issues of quality and safety within the National Disability Insurance Scheme, with the townhall discussing these changes with the community and getting feedback.
The Disability Royal Commission’s Final Report highlighted the quality and safeguarding challenges that still exist for people with disability in the Australian community. NDIS participants, their supporters and the broader community need a regulator with stronger powers to increase the safety and quality of NDIS services and supports.
In response, the Minister for the NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme and Government Services Bill Shorten MP announced the second part of legislative reform for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (NDIS Act) to be introduced through the NDIS Amendment (Getting it Back on Track No. 2) Bill (Bill No.2).
Proposed quality and safeguarding measures will amend the NDIS Act to strengthen the monitoring and compliance powers of the NDIS Commission and introduce stronger information gathering and banning powers.
If you are interested in attending this online event, please register by going to:
https://events.humanitix.com/ministerial-round-table-on-bill-2-consultations-ndis-commission
PAID OPPORTUNITY
Do you shop at Woolies and have a disability?
Want to work at Woolworths or have previous work experience in retail as a person with disability?
If you answered yes to one or both of these questions, you’re invited to share your thoughts and ideas to help shape the future of inclusion and accessibility at Woolworths.
AFDO – Australian Federation Of Disability Organisations is working with Woolworths to develop their Disability Action Plan and keen to hear from people with a physical disability about what makes for a ‘great’ retail and employment experience. So come along and share your insights and ideas for better inclusion.
Sessions will be run online via Zoom from mid-November to mid-December 2024, with times available during and after business hours (AEDT).
Selected Participants will be paid $60 per hour for their time.
If you or someone you know would like to join, please complete the Expression of Interest form by going to:
https://buff.ly/4ebOgUl
Spaces are limited, so we encourage you to register your interest as soon as possible.
With everyone dealing with the challenges of life, it’s sometimes difficult for us to allow time to focus on our own wellbeing and to put ourselves first.
Use today to give yourself a break, to just breathe and to give self-care and support to your mental health.
If you, or someone near you, is needing help today or any day, please speak with a healthcare professional, family member or friend or contact
because we’re all worth it.
“Hello,
I’m writing to give you more information about the changes to NDIS supports that started on 3 October 2024.
I understand change can cause concern for some participants, families and carers.
I want to assure you the purpose of the NDIS is staying the same. It will continue to provide NDIS participants with funding for disability related supports.
This email outlines how these changes will impact you as a participant, or as the nominee for an NDIS participant.
Easy Read and Auslan translations of this email will be available on the NDIS website in the coming days.
You will be able to access those translations on this page of the NDIS website [http://click.e.ndis.gov.au/?qs=2af4d665ff9643f867cd5a048319cf1928823154901c71c15c48cd1347a848abd4be80d31fbd438a907d2c5bdcbc2dfac915f4b4b4db6f50].
We are here to help you understand these changes and how they affect you.
We will keep sharing information with you to help you understand what is changing and how it affects you.
What’s changing and what it means for participants?
From 3 October 2024, there is a new definition of NDIS supports.
This means that starting on 3 October, participants:
These lists are available at the page below:
What does NDIS fund? [http://click.e.ndis.gov.au/?qs=2af4d665ff9643f85628163f026085f3adfeb5e42716db01703e8109e4abab7a6f0b58bbd3898100723cda0dee7ccea07d4827393dfeb328]
This change affects all participants.
From 3 October, participants, plan nominees and plan managers must only spend NDIS funding on items in the list of NDIS supports.
This change makes it clear what NDIS funding can be spent on, and will help participants make informed choices about using their NDIS funding.
The definition of NDIS supports is based on current guidance.
Participants who use a plan manager or support coordinator should talk to them about what this means for current service agreements and supports. We are also working with providers to make sure they understand the lists, too.
What happens if you buy non-NDIS supports?
There will be a 12-month transition period for the NDIS support lists.
During this period if a participant makes a mistake and purchases a non-NDIS support, the NDIA will not raise a debt:
This transition period does not apply if a participant purchases illegal items with funding from their plan.
This transition period gives participants time to learn and change supports where needed.
If a participant accidentally spends their NDIS funding on something that is not an NDIS support, we will work with them to understand the new rules and access supports. If incorrect claims are repeated or fraudulent, we will take further action.
We know most participants do the right thing. The lists are not being introduced to make things harder for people, or to catch people out.
Our priority is participant wellbeing.
We will work with participants to make sure everyone understands the lists, and can get the NDIS supports they need.
Replacement supports process
Participants can ask for an NDIS support to be replaced with certain non-NDIS supports. These are called replacement supports.
Replacement supports must be from the pre-approved list.
You can find this list of replacement supports on the same page as the NDIS supports list:
What does NDIS fund? [http://click.e.ndis.gov.au/?qs=2af4d665ff9643f87ad852a1d6c01bb9d6085322756038da5e86c647da7ed6eb3f2894dd3950b79d50807b0c92fea29731af299204f629ba]
To get a replacement support approved, participants need to show that the replacement support will lead to the same or better outcomes, and be the same or better value for money, compared to the current NDIS support.
Participants must follow this process before purchasing the replacement support. It cannot be done after purchasing a non-NDIS support.
If an application for a replacement support for an item is not approved, the participant can’t apply for that same replacement support again for 12 months.
Where to go for more information
We are committed to making sure everyone has the information they need about these changes. We will continue sharing resources on our website and across our communications channels. You can find that information at the sources below:
Lists of NDIS supports and non-NDIS supports [http://click.e.ndis.gov.au/?qs=2af4d665ff9643f8ba64b4c7406a6a6b0b9eb3b9c952f8bc87c207fee65f918cbdc56e18a06652324e5494088daec58cc58e49cd958e811f].
Easy Read and Auslan versions of the lists will be available on that page in the coming days.
Latest information and news about changes to the NDIS [http://click.e.ndis.gov.au/?qs=2af4d665ff9643f892ca1975754b40fcd221f075be7dfa89b9e2c6d5a0e4c8f1a9981e036e1290c1e6cace89cca57e8d6af0de7517f0265a].
Subscribe to the NDIS newsletter [http://click.e.ndis.gov.au/?qs=2af4d665ff9643f8eda541581f2b368d9f0f80498253e6c1d9d8f285dbd2cf463d757925d30a68accf19171259cb57ea5c813596074e35db].
For opportunities to give feedback on the NDIS, we encourage you to join Participant First [http://click.e.ndis.gov.au/?qs=2af4d665ff9643f82985bca68a4d7a9ee957c27657b02ee53b5da2920e7f5cebc0ba56b83ea8c6fd6478685a5325667de46af0ee40645f7d].
Kind Regards,
Rebecca Falkingham
Chief Executive Officer “
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
https://view.e.ndis.gov.au/?vawpToken=HPYV2X3Q3WQUFKBCBAXXZA4AOA.510001
The Department of Social Services is leading consultation with the disability community on foundational supports.
Initial consultation and engagement will focus on general foundational supports, available for all people with disability, families and carers, including things like information and advice and capacity building (individual, family and community).
Registrations are now open for four online consultation sessions on general foundational supports:
Face to face consultations sessions will open shortly and take place between October and November 2024.
For registration and more information on how to get involved please visit the DSS website:
PAID OPPORTUNITY
Are you interested in getting involved in the Australian Human Rights Commission’s IncludeAbility project as an Ambassador or Expert Advisory Group?
The IncludeAbility project has been established to increase meaningful employment opportunities and promote employment equality for people with disability. You can read more about it by going to https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/disability-rights/includeability-equality-work.
“IncludeAbility Ambassadors are people with disability who promote the IncludeAbility project and [its] goal of achieving equality at work for people with disability.”
“The Expert Advisory Group will provide lived experience of disability and subject matter expertise to the IncludeAbility project. It will work with the IncludeAbility project team and Steering Committee to support the project to meet its goals.”
To learn more about these exciting roles, go to:
Applications Friday, 27th of September 2024.
Please contact includeability@humanrights.gov.au if you have any questions or need help to apply.
1800 732 674
