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From the desk of the One-Legged Sax Player, AKA the Interim Executive Officer, Andrew Fairbairn

Celebrating International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD): A Focus on Physical Disabilities

As December 3rd 2024 draws to a close on the West Coast of Australia, I wanted to put some very simple thoughts down regarding our day.

Today is all about celebrating the amazing achievements of people with disabilities and spreading awareness, and I would like to share some thoughts.

What’s IDPwD All About?

Every year on December 3rd, we celebrate IDPwD. It’s a day to recognise the rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities in every part of life. Whether it’s at work, school, or just out and about, this day reminds us to push for accessibility and inclusion.

Understanding Physical Disabilities

Physical disabilities can include things like using a wheelchair, crutches, or having conditions that affect stamina or dexterity. These disabilities might be visible or invisible, but they all come with their own set of challenges and strengths.

Breaking Down Barriers

One of the biggest challenges for people with physical disabilities is accessibility.

Think about it – how many times have you seen a building without a ramp or an elevator? Simple things like this can make a huge difference. Here are a few ways we can help:

• Ramps and Elevators: Making sure buildings are accessible to everyone.
• Accessible Transportation: Buses, trains, and taxis that can accommodate wheelchairs.
• Inclusive Workplaces: Creating job opportunities and work environments that are accessible and supportive.

Celebrating Achievements

People with physical disabilities achieve incredible things every day. From athletes competing in the Paralympics to advocates fighting for disability rights, their contributions are invaluable. Let’s take a moment to celebrate these achievements and recognise the strength and resilience it takes to overcome barriers.

How You Can Help

Want to make a difference? Here are a few simple ways to support people with physical disabilities:

• Educate Yourself: Learn about different types of disabilities and the challenges people face.
• Be an Advocate: Speak up for accessibility and inclusion in your community.
• Support Organisations: Donate to or volunteer with organisations that support people with disabilities.

Final Thoughts

IDPwD is a reminder that we all have a role to play in creating a more inclusive world. 

By understanding and supporting people with physical disabilities, we can help break down barriers and celebrate the diversity that makes our communities stronger.

So, let’s get out there and make a difference! 

Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with us at Physical Disability Australia.

Let’s keep the conversation going and continue to support each other. 

Happy IDPwD

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:

www.idpwd.com.au

A new NDIS rule is being developed (a DSS collaboration with the states and territories) under section 44(5) of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (NDIS Act).

The rule will assist the NDIA to understand whether a person is likely to spend in line with their plan, and if not whether a different plan management arrangement should be considered.

Recent changes to section 44 of the NDIS Act require the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to make decisions about whether a person (including a participant, nominee, and registered plan manager) is likely to spend NDIS funds on NDIS supports in accordance with a participant’s plan (as required by section 46 of the NDIS Act).

Currently there is no legislative guidance about how the NDIA should make this decision.

To find out more about the proposed new management of funding rules:

• Plain English summary (s.44(5)) – https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers-programs-services-ndis-reforms-changes-to-the-ndis-act/s445-management-of-funding-rule-plain-english-summary
• Easy read (s.44(5)) – https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers-programs-services-ndis-reforms-changes-to-the-ndis-act/new-ndis-plan-management-rules-easy-read-version

What engagement has there been with the disability community about this new rule?

The rule has been developed following co-design work and engagement on plan management decisions led by the NDIA.

Since July 2024, the NDIA has been leading codesign and engagement sessions on how decisions are made about plan management and how supports and safeguards can be used to reduce the risk of harm to participants if there is inappropriate spending. While this rule has not specifically been co-designed it has been informed by this earlier co-design work about the broader NDIS reforms.

Governments remain committed to codesign and consultation with the disability community in the development of new rules under the NDIS Act and are working to develop an engagement plan with the disability community.

What will the new rule do?

The new rule will assist the NDIA in identifying risks, applying appropriate safeguards, and making fairer and more consistent decisions about whether a person is likely to meet the requirements of section 46.

It is based on current policy and practice, and was informed by consultation with self‑managers about the current Self-management policy | NDIS – https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/using-your-plan/self-management/self-management-policy

It will introduce greater fairness in decision making across plan management types including participants, nominees, child representatives and registered plan management providers.

Implementation of the rule by the NDIA will include capability building supports for participants to support spending in accordance with their plan and reduce the risk of inadvertent or unintentional spending.

If you have any questions or feedback about how the rule should be implemented, please email NDISConsultations@dss.gov.au.

Due to preparations for our upcoming online info session on recent changes to NDIS legislation, we have moved our popular Christmas Bingo Social Hour to Tuesday 17th December at 7pm AEDT.

7pm Melbourne/Hobart/Sydney/Canberra
6:30pm Adelaide
6pm Brisbane
5:30pm Darwin
4pm Perth

This gives you more than enough time to put together your festive outfit, buy or bake your Christmas fruit mince pies and chill your favourite Christmas tipple.

This Member Only event is FREE to join, will be great fun and as usual there are some incredible prizes up for grabs.

These include Prezzee gift cards, a copy of Dinesh Palipana’s “Stronger” (either in physical book form or audio) for the most festively dressed attendee, and a major prize valued at $200 for the final (of the 4) Bingo games.

But to join us YOU MUST BE A PDA MEMBER!

If you are not yet a member (and are an Australian living with physical disability or a friend, family member or carer of someone who does, or if you work in the disability sector) you can quickly and easily sign up for FREE MEMBERSHIP by clicking on the link in our bio or by going to www.pda.org.au/membership/.

Following registration for our Christmas Bingo event (and confirmation of your PDA Membership) you will be emailed through your recorded Bingo Cards.

To register go to:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqc–qqjkjG903J2KoieI9ASVSig7b4mxr

Join us for a fun kickstart to the festive season!

You just might end up with some early presents under your Christmas tree.

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

Confused by recent changes to the NDIS legislation and want to better understand how they affect you?

On Thursday 5th December at 6:30pm AEDT, a team from the National Disability Insurance Agency will be presenting “The New Legislation. NDIS and PDA in conversation”.

This will be an informative session for PDA members to learn about changes to NDIS legislation.

NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme staff will join PDA to talk about the NDIS legislation changes and answer your questions in a Q&A.

This community forum will provide an overview of changes that will impact participants, including

• * NDIS Supports (In and Out lists)
• * Replacement supports
• * Budget amounts and funding

Hear the facts from the NDIA, ask questions and clear up the confusion.

To register for this free event head across to:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsf-uhrDsoEt0JUCZ8FtcjXUE7L8wAp7kh?os=ipad#/registration

Not a PDA Member? You can be simply by going to:

www.pda.org.au/membership

These were:

• Melanie Hawkes stepping in to the WA Director role
• Talia Spooner-Stewart becoming ACT Associate Director
• Liz Reid returning as NT Associate Director
• Laura Scurr joining as QLD Associate Director
• Trevor Jones becoming WA Associate Director and
• Katherine Reed being welcomed as TAS Associate Director.

We look forward to them being a part of the PDA Board and bringing their combined skills and experience as we move into 2025 and beyond.

It was wonderful to see so many faces join via Zoom and to help steer PDA into 2025 and beyond.

Following the AGM, the Board met to elect its Executive Team.

It is with great pleasure that we introduce:

• Sharon Boyce as PDA’s President
• Paul Williamson and Mark Pietsch as Vice Presidents, and
• Tammy Milne as Treasurer.

Congratulations to these four incumbents.

We look forward to you leading Physical Disability Australia into a successful 2025.

The Australian Government is currently working with states and territories on the development of a new NDIS rule relating to the management of funding.

It is important that you and the rest of the disability community are kept up to date on the progress of NDIS Reforms.

You can read about these by going to:

https://www.dss.gov.au/changes-to-the-ndis-act

and

https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers-programs-services-for-people-with-disability/national-disability-insurance-scheme-frequently-asked-questions

Please direct any enquiries, comments or input to:

NDISConsultations@dss.gov.au

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in partnership with the state sports institutes and academies, Paralympics Australia and over 40 sports have joined forces to conduct their greatest ever talent search to identify the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

Over the coming weeks, Paralympic Talent Search testing sessions will be running in ACT, VIC, SA and QLD in search for the next wave of future Paralympic athletes.

They are looking for individuals of all abilities aged 13+ years to register for this program via the AIS website:

https://www.ausport.gov.au/talent

No previous sporting experience is required – the talent search is designed to help guide individuals towards a sport they may be best suited to.

Please note that consent from a parent or guardian is required for individuals under 18 years of age.

Once registered via the above link, individuals will be invited to a Paralympic Talent Search testing session in their state.

Athletes who demonstrate potential for a particular sport will be offered the opportunity to attend a Talent Development Phase in that sport.

Paralympic Talent Search testing sessions:

• ACT: 30 November, Australian Institute of Sport, Bruce
• VIC: 1 December, Melbourne Sports & Aquatics Centre, Albert Park.
• SA: 7 December, South Australian Sports Institute, Mile End
• QLD: 8 December, Sleeman Complex, Chandler.

For further information or questions please email: futuregreenandgold@ausport.gov.au.