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:
Earlier this month, PDA presented a webinar on “The Impact of Disability on Mental Health”.
The webinar took place on Wednesday October 1st 2025 and marked the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month.
Highlighting the intersectionality between disability and mental health issues, this presentation also provided advice and support and brought together Australians living with disability and their support networks to better understand and combat mental health challenges.
We are very excited to now share that this recording has now gone up on our YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FcSESU48ks&t=4086s
The line up of speakers contributed to the conversation, sharing their respective knowledge, experiences and expertise and addressing areas of concern.
Speakers:
Hosted by PDA CEO Jeremy Muir, the webinar tackled issues surrounding the impact of disability on mental health, featuring lived experiences, statistical knowledge, and professional advice and support for Australia’s disability community.
We hope that you find the information and discussion around mental health issues for people with disability in this webinar useful, informative and interesting.
We will shortly announce our next webinar topic and encourage you to keep an eye out on our socials.
PDA Members will be notified when registration opens. If you’re not already a member, we encourage you to sign up for free membership (pda.org.au/membership/) so that you are kept in the loop.
It is with great excitement that we introduce our final speaker at our upcoming webinar on the impact of disability on mental health – Wednesday 1st October at 6pm AEST.
Liel Bridgford is a proud disabled Psychologist, writer and educator.
In her 36 years living as a disabled person, with over 14 years working in the mental health and disability space, she has become very familiar with the struggles that disabled people face when trying to live well.
Her work involves supporting disabled people who struggle with discrimination and prejudice in every aspect of their lives.
“Too many disabled people are led to believe that their mental health is inevitably going to suffer just because of their disability. Our society tells us that if we can’t walk, talk or communicate as everyone else, we’re not as worthy, and that means we ought to be miserable” Liel explains. This is why she wanted to be involved in this webinar.
She hopes that this discussion achieves greater awareness and understanding of the human needs disabled people have, and more importantly, our ability to thrive mentally with the right support, information, education and connection. “Life can be good with disability – so long as barriers are removed, and support and connection are provided. Disabled people in leadership and genuine co-design engagement is our key to making the mental health care system equitable, safe and actually effective for everyone.”
To join the conversation and to hear Liel and our other esteemed speakers talk about disability’s impact on mental health, make sure that you register for our webinar by going to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rly2wyx3RaKD53KiY3CL0Q
We look forward to you joining us.
Many of you will recognise the beautiful Chithrani Palipana as loving Mum to Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM – PDA’s Ambassador, emergency department doctor, lawyer, disability advocate, researcher and all round great guy.
But did you know that Chithrani is also a Rehabilitation Counsellor, Board member and patron with a number of disability focused organisations, a dedicated disability advocate and successful business owner?
As the woman behind her son’s remarkable accomplishments, lies Chithrani’s unwavering love, strength, and determination. Her experiences in supporting Dinesh throughout his disability journey led her to a professional career in the areas of counselling and disability advocacy.
A guest speaker at our upcoming webinar (“The Impact of Disability on Mental Health” – Wednesday 1st October), Chithrani’s expertise and lived experience will provide insight around the importance of looking after mental health when living with disability – whether as a person living with disability or as a carer.
When we approached Chithrani to be a speaker for our webinar “The Impact of Disability on Mental Health”, she quickly agreed to be involved.
When we asked her why she thought the topic was important, she answered:
“I have witnessed many gaps in the mental health and adjustment-to-injury space, particularly for individuals newly affected by traumatic injuries and acquired disabilities. In the early stages, people often face profound challenges as they navigate a new identity. They are sometimes paired with others who have had similar injuries or experiences, but this does not always lead to positive outcomes. In fact, it can sometimes create preconceived expectations that limit their ability to achieve truly person-centred goals.
I have also seen situations where severe mental health challenges are dismissed or treated as inconveniences by service providers. Support workers are sometimes advised to “not take much notice,” which discourages fresh perspectives and genuine support. This approach fails the individuals who most need compassionate, tailored assistance.
I am passionate about seeing systemic change, one that recognises and responds to the unique needs of each individual. Recently, I was deeply affected by two tragedies: a client who lost their life after being drawn to people seeking only financial gain, and another dear client who passed away alone from a massive heart attack, who was under enormous stress. He was found dead on the floor between his bed and the wheelchair. These experiences have further strengthened my commitment to driving meaningful change in how we approach mental health and support in the disability and injury rehabilitation space.”
So whether you are a person living with disability, a family member, friend, carer or support provider who would like to learn more about the impact of disability on mental health, available support or personal journeys to overcome challenges, we encourage you to join us to hear Chithrani and our other speakers via Zoom on Wednesday 1st October at 6pm AEDT.
around the impact of disability on mental health to highlight the issue and to provide advice and support both to Australians living with disability and their support networks
Register by going to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rly2wyx3RaKD53KiY3CL0Q
Please join us in this important conversation.
These are just a few areas of mental health that can surface when you also live with physical disability – or any disability, or even life itself.
It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone goes through times of personal struggle. The stigma unfairly attached to mental health comes from not understanding, often making people feel distressed, alone and not wanting to ask for help.
Whilst this is slowly changing, there is still so much that can be and needs to be done to support people who experience mental health concerns.
With October being Mental Health Awareness Month, and with mental stress being an unwanted visitor in the lives of many within our community, on Wednesday 1st October (6pm AEST) we are hosting a webinar around the impact of disability on mental health.
With a panel of experts with both lived and professional experience and knowledge on the subject, this presentation will highlight the issue, provide advice and support and bring together Australians living with disability and their support networks to better understand and combat mental challenges.
So whether you are a person with disability, a carer, family member, friend or service provider who has experienced mental health issues or supported someone who has, if you want to know what help is available, learn how others dealt with difficult times or just want to feel heard, understood and supported, this webinar is for you.
You can read about our esteemed panelists by going to:
pda.org.au/youre-invited-to-our-webinar-the-impact-of-disability-on-mental-health/
We encourage you to register for the webinar, by going to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rly2wyx3RaKD53KiY3CL0Q
To address questions and experiences of those attending our webinar, we invite attendees to share these on registering. Anonymous contributions are welcome if preferred.
The opportunity to ask questions will also be made available during the webinar. However, these questions will be answered dependent on time constraints.
Please join us in this important conversation.
October is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about and breaking the stigma around mental health within our community.
Research has shown that people living with disabilities experience greater and more frequent mental distress than those without disabilities.
A recent PDA survey also revealed that mental health was a dominant theme and area of concern for our members and for the disability community.
In response to this significant, and often overlooked, area of concern, PDA has put together a webinar around the impact of disability on mental health to highlight the issue and to provide advice and support both to Australians living with disability and their support networks.
Scheduled for Wednesday 1st October at 6pm AEST, this webinar panel is comprised of a number of esteemed, experienced and interesting speakers – from the areas of lived experience, professionals within the counselling and mental health fields, researchers and advocates.
We are excited to annnounce our presenters – Dr Chithrani Palipana, Kerry Hawkins, Dr Glenda Bishop, Zoe Aitken and PDA’s own Jeremy Muir.
Chithrani will be sharing her lived experience both as a carer and as a professional working in the areas of counselling and disability advocacy. As loving mother to PDA’s Ambassador, Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM, Chithrani has been dedicated and fundamental in supporting Dinesh in his life journey as a quadriplegic and wonderful achievements as a doctor, lawyer, researcher and disability advocate. Her insights as a carer will explore not only Dinesh’s challenges in coming to terms with his disability, but also looking after her own mental health and the impetus that both of these experiences had in her becoming a rehabilitation counsellor for people with disabilities.
Kerry Hawkins is another of our speakers who has a wealth of experience in the mental health field and providing support to individuals and their families experiencing mental health issues. As CEO of Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA), Kerry brings extensive leadership experience across community, government, and lived experience sectors.
Glenda Bishop is a Research Fellow in the Disability and Health Unit at The University of Melbourne. Undertaking research that works to reduce health inequalities for people with disability, Glenda investigates how societal influences, such as government policies and the access to the health system, affect people’s mental health. As a person with disability, Glenda seeks to focus her research on health issues of relevance to the disability community.
Zoe Aitken also works at the University of Melbourne. Leading a program of research on reducing health inequalities, her work focuses on understanding the poor mental health experienced by people with disability and identifying solutions to address the inequalities by taking action on modifiable social determinants of health.
PDA’s CEO, Jeremy Muir, was left with a spinal injury following a car accident at 19 years of age. Coming to terms with his new life as a quadriplegic brought many mental, emotional, and physical challenges. Struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts and his new reality, Jeremy battled both acceptance of his disability and the black dog, coming out the other side more resilient, much stronger and even more independent. Through the love and support of family and friends, support networks and his own strength of character Jeremy’s story is powerful, deeply human and gives hope to others.
We encourage you to register for the webinar, by going to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rly2wyx3RaKD53KiY3CL0Q
To address questions and experiences of those attending our webinar, we invite attendees to share these on registering. Anonymous contributions are welcome if preferred.
The opportunity to ask questions will also be made available during the webinar. However, these questions will be answered dependent on time constraints.
Please join us in this important conversation.
Earlier this month, PDA presented a webinar on “Fair and Accessible Healthcare”.
This has now gone up on our YouTube channel:
We encourage you to hear from the expert panel of speakers who contributed to the conversation, shared their respective knowledge, experiences and expertise and addressed areas of concern around Australia’s healthcare system and where it is failing those living with physical disability.
Speakers included:
Hosted by PDA CEO Jeremy Muir, the webinar tackled healthcare inequalities, the need for policy and training reforms, and how equipment and service accessibility can be improved.
During the webinar, Mandy Frier spoke about the free online course Access for All, developed to improve disability awareness among health providers and increase understanding about the barriers people with disability experience when accessing healthcare. For more information, go to: https://checkup.org.au/what-we-do/online-training/access-for-all/
Senator Jordon Steele-John also put a call out for people to share stories around their lived experiences accessing dental care as people with disability. This will help guide one of his current projects. If you are able to help, please email him at senator.steele-john@aph.gov.au.
We hope that you find the information and discussion around healthcare for people with disability in this webinar useful, informative and interesting.
We will shortly announce our next webinar topic and encourage you to keep an eye out on our socials or to sign up for free membership (pda.org.au/membership) so that you are kept in the loop.
“There are a lot of things that need to change in the Australian healthcare space, but the change we find ourselves fighting for the most tends to revolve around honoring lived experience as expertise, streamlining bureaucratic processes, and making healthcare more accessible and affordable for everyone – regardless of income, post code or any other identities they may hold.”
~ Senator Jordon Steele-John
Jordon Steele-John is a Greens Senator for WA and a proud disabled person. He advocates disability rights, a fair and fully-funded NDIS, and equitable healthcare for all Australians. Jordon’s goal is to challenge the boundaries of political norms, both in the Senate and the community and create a more accessible and inclusive society for all.
Jordon decided to be involved in our “Fair and Accessible Healthcare” webinar because of the shared values between himself, PDA, our members and his office. He hopes it will provide an opportunity for disabled community members, adjacent professionals and advocates, and our allies – to connect and share knowledge.
Join us on Tuesday 5th August (6pm AEST) to hear Jordon & other noteworthy speakers explore what is & isn’t working in the provision of healthcare for PWD.
Register at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6zzLprNATDeWu1GD8ARb5A
It is with great pleasure that we announce our final speaker for our “Fair and Accessible Healthcare” webinar:
SENATOR JORDON STEELE-JOHN
Since being elected in 2017, Jordon has been focused on fighting for the rights of people – including those of disabled people.
He is passionate about improving systems that fail to meet the needs of all Australians, including healthcare and medical systems, and creating change through community, advocacy and determination.
Jordon’s understanding of government and his personal experiences as a person living with disability, will provide an interesting and informative insight into healthcare in our country and what can be done to make it truly fair and accessible for all Australians.
To register for this event, please go to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6zzLprNATDeWu1GD8ARb5A
““Fair and Accessible Healthcare”.
True stories help explore what is and isn’t working in Australia today.
A webinar organised by Physical Disability Australia features contributions from people who have encountered challenges and unfairness, professionals, government representatives and academics in the disability access space.
Carol Taylor might have thought nothing could be worse than suddenly finding herself quadraplegic after a terrible car crash 24 years ago.
In 2001 the car she, and her newlywed husband Robert, were driving in hit some black ice and rolled twice. On that second roll, the roof collapsed, severing her spinal cord. In that split-second Carol’s life utterly changed. She was quadriplegic, completely paralysed from the chest down and unable to use her hands.
Through incredible determination and supported by the strong love of a wonderful husband – and later a child – a family emerged from that wreckage. Carol began a career as a mother, lawyer, and later entrepreneur. But, of course, she always remained in that wheelchair . . . and that still continues to frame who she is, for so many people she interacts with.
This is the story Carol brings to Physical Disability Australia’s special webinar.
How simple, yet vital, it was for her to overcome the unconscious bias that could have prevented her – as a ‘cripple’ – from receiving the mammogram that identified the cancer that was beginning to creep through her body and that could have killed her.”
Thank you to Nic Stuart for putting together this article and to Carol Taylor for sharing her story.
https://www.abilitynews.org/p/fair-and-accessible-healthcare-b882
1800 732 674
