Every year we like to reach out to Members and ask them to update their membership details.
As a thank you we run a competition for everyone who takes part, where a name is randomly drawn and a winner chosen.
The prize up for grabs this year was a $50 Prezzee gift card and the winner is…
drum roll please
…NM from Pennant Hills in NSW.
NM, we have emailed you in regards to your prize. Congratulations!
To everyone who took part in our annual membership update or who signed up for membership during the competition window, big thanks. We truly appreciate your help.
Following Saturday’s PDA AGM, elections for the Board positions of TAS Director and VIC Director took place.
It is with great pleasure that we announce that Tim Harte (VIC Director) was re-elected to the position and also voted by the Executive to continue in his ancillary role of PDA Treasurer.
We also welcome Tammy Milne to the role of TAS Director and look forward to seeing both successful candidates’ continued commitments and successes in these roles over the next three years.
On Saturday 18th November, PDA held its 2023 Annual General Meeting, which was well attended and brought together our Board, Members and Ambassador, Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM.
Attendees heard from the PDA Team about the organisation’s efforts in 2023, plans moving into 2024 and beyond and together were part of the Physical Disability Australia conversation.
Dinesh also shared his thoughts around issues affecting the disability community and his hopes for positive reform.
Thank you to all our Members who attended, are an active part of the PDA community and who play an active role in PDA maintaining its place as an active and understanding supporter of Australians living with physical disability.
If you’re not yet a PDA MEMBER and have an interest in making a positive contribution to Australia’s disability landscape, think about signing up for FREE MEMBERSHIP by going to
We look forward to welcoming you to the PDA community.
We invite all our members to join us via Zoom.
3pm Sydney/Melbourne/Hobart/Canberra
2:30pm Adelaide
2pm Brisbane
1:30pm Darwin
12pm Perth
Hear what we’ve been up to in 2023, what our plans are moving forwards and to be part of the Physical Disability Australia conversation.
With updates from PDA Ambassador, Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM, and the PDA Team, our Annual General Meeting will be a great chance for Members to be an active part of the PDA community.
Wherever you are in Australia, you can attend via Zoom.
All you need is a phone, laptop, tablet or computer.
But you will need to register by going to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtcuGhqTgoGdIM26TRQrrr50MmX1PZ-4E9?os=ipad#/registration
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Meeting documents will be circulated ahead of the AGM.
We really look forward to you joining us and saying “hi”.
Join us to hear what we’ve been up to in 2023, what our plans are moving forwards and to be part of the Physical Disability Australia conversation.
With updates from PDA Ambassador, Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM, and the PDA Team, our Annual General Meeting will be a great chance for Members to be an active part of the PDA community.
We hope that you join us and look forward to welcoming you.
Wherever you are in Australia, you can attend via Zoom.
All you need is a phone, laptop, tablet or computer.
But you will need to register by going to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtcuGhqTgoGdIM26TRQrrr50MmX1PZ-4E9?os=ipad#/registration
If you don’t have a Zoom account, signing up is free, quick and easy. Follow the prompts to create an account.
If you experience problems, please email us at promotion@pda.org.au or call 1800 PDA ORG (1800 732 674).
3pm Sydney/Melbourne/Hobart/Canberra
2:30pm Adelaide
2pm Brisbane
1:30pm Darwin
12pm Perth
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Meeting documents will be circulated ahead of the AGM.
We really look forward to you joining us and saying “hi”.
It is with great pleasure that we announce that Andrew Fairbairn (WA Director) and Nick Schumi (SA Director) were re-elected to their positions and we look forward to seeing their continued commitments and successes in these roles over the next three years.
On Saturday PDA held its AGM – bringing together our Board, Members and Ambassador, Dinesh Palipana OAM.
It was wonderful to have so many join us to hear about the work, successes and momentum of 2022 and the plans for 2023 and beyond.
Thank you to all those who attended and all our Members who continue to play a role in PDA maintaining its place as an active, understanding and relevant supporter of Australians living with physical disability.
If you’re not yet a PDA MEMBER and have an interest in making a positive contribution to Australia’s disability landscape, think about signing up for FREE MEMBERSHIP by going to
We look forward to welcoming you to the PDA community.
Join us to hear what we’ve been up to in 2022, what our plans are moving forwards and be part of the Physical Disability Australia conversation.
With updates from PDA Ambassador, Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM, and the PDA Team, our Annual General Meeting will be a great chance for Members to be an active part of the PDA community.
2:00pm Sydney/Melbourne/Hobart/Canberra
1:30pm Adelaide
1:00pm Brisbane
12:30pm Darwin
11:00am Perth
We hope that you join us and look forward to welcoming you.
Wherever you are in Australia, you can attend via Zoom.
All you need is a phone, laptop, tablet or computer.
But you will need to register by going to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvdO6orDkqG9DcjONXLQKDcEUDwdf3P6_N
If you don’t have a Zoom account, signing up is free, quick and easy. Follow the prompts to create an account.
If you experience problems, please email us at promotion@pda.org.au or call 1800 PDA ORG (1800 732 674).
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Meeting documents will be provided ahead of the meeting.
We really look forward to you joining us and saying “hi”.
PDA recently held its AGM, with elections held for the Executive Board positions.
It is with great excitement that we introduce the new PDA Executive Team:
Andrew Fairbairn – President
Talia Spooner-Stewart – Vice President
Sharon Boyce – Vice President
Tim Harte – Treasurer
With such a strong leadership team at its helm, PDA’s future continues to shine bright as it continues to represent and support Australia’s physical disability community.
PDA would also like to thank, recognise and celebrate three incredible outgoing Board Members who have been instrumental in growing and moving forward our organisation:
Liz Reid has completed three successful terms as PDA President and now sits as NT Associate Director. She has played an outstanding role in growing PDA’s presence, recognition and reputation as an important, necessary and valued representative disability organisation on the Australian disability landscape.
Jonathan Shar who did an outstanding job as PDA Treasurer and NSW PDA Director.
Kathryn Lyons who has stepped down from her role as QLD Associate Director.
Both Kathryn and Jonathan have been instrumental as both founding and committee members in the establishment of PDA’s Youth Network and we are grateful that they will continue to be driving forces in its growth.
PDA has big plans moving forwards and looks forward to having its Board and Members play a role in its mission to enable every Australian living with a physical disability to realise their full potential.
Following elections at our recent AGM, we are proud to introduce PDA’s NSW Director Mark Pietsch.
Mark has a a long history of advocacy and lobbying, assisting and leading projects at a grass roots level through to intergovernmental relations.
As a person with a movement disorder, steps are not his friend. As a person who relies on a mix of assistive technology, he strongly pushes for greater consultation with people with physical disabilities in regards to the design of home and living supports funded through the NDIS.
He prides himself on listening, although he is not afraid to speak up for those who struggle to do so themselves.
Mark personally describes himself as “an absolute nerd when it comes to legislation and policy”. With experience in lobbying for change at a ministerial level, his success has been notable in relation to employment supports in the NDIS to assist participants in self-employment and the open market.
He also enjoys collaborating and sharing resources to address equity issues in society.
His personal and business mission is to highlight the abilities of all people and to actively work to reduce barriers faced by the disability community through education, support and connection to resources to assist bridging the equity gap faced by our community.
His values are reflected in the small organisation that he leads, which stands by the mantra and primary values of “integrity, creativity, diversity, community and commitment”.
We are excited to have Mark join the PDA Team and look forward to working with him to make a positive contribution to the Australian physical disability community.
Please join us in welcoming Mark.
1800 732 674
