NDIS regulator faces fresh allegations
As minister Bill Shorten prepares to release the findings from a sweeping review of the NDIS, the head of its regulator faces allegations she was aware or should have been aware of abuse exposed by the media
News and blogs
Report: Urgent Need for Inclusive Domestic Violence Services for Disabled Women
A new report from People with Disability Australia (PWDA) has revealed the significant barriers women and children with disability face when accessing domestic and family violence services. The report, produced as part of the national peak body’s Building Access Project, outlines the roadmap forward to ensure these essential services are safe, inclusive and accessible to … Continued
Tipping misconceptions about disability on its head has become the ethos for my comedy
I stumbled into comedy in 2019. I enrolled in a six-week workshop in Byron Bay, to challenge myself creatively. In the first week, the teacher asked why we were there. I said: “I’m disabled, and I have stuff to say.”
Minister Shorten doorstop interview at the opening of a Hearing Australia office at Figtree
Minister for the NDIS and Government Services, Bill Shorten talks about Disability Royal Commission, NDIS and other issues at this door stop interview.
International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) – NDIS stories and experiences
Recognised on 3 December, IDPwD aims to increase awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability. Our IDPwD theme for 2023 is ‘We’re better together’. It highlights that as a community, workplace, team, friendship group or family – we’re better together. By recognising the talents, skills, experience and ideas of all ensures better outcomes for all. … Continued
Shorten flags autism changes, says NDIS ‘can’t be surrogate school system’
A diagnosis of autism is unlikely to be enough to guarantee future access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme as the government prepares to clarify that individualised packages were designed only for Australians with profound disabilities.
Australia’s rates of autism should be celebrated – but real-life impact, not diagnosis, should determine NDIS support
Ahead of the release of the government’s review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the topic taking centre stage is the diagnosis of autism. Over one third of people accessing the scheme list it as a primary disability. NDIS Minister Bill Shorten has flagged changes to NDIS access, shifting the emphasis from diagnosis to … Continued
Pilot Program to Boost Career Growth for Disabled Individuals
The Albanese Labor Government remains focussed on boosting employment opportunities and meaningful careers for people with disability, with the official launch of the Career Pathways Pilot today.
My accessible parking bay is a right for people living with disability, not your loading zone
“You want to park here?” The truck driver honestly seemed perplexed by my daughter’s question as we pulled up next to his open window. I suppose having a 19-year-old yelling at you from a passenger car window wasn’t something he’d come across before. But the fact that his truck was perfectly parked in the accessible … Continued
Australians with disability tell their stories for International Day of People with Disability
The ABC is featuring stories by and about people with disability leading up to and beyond December 3, the International Day of People with Disability. From November 19 to December 10, the ABC is partnering with International Day of People with Disability to feature stories across all platforms to celebrate the wins, highlight the struggles, … Continued
If special schools close, students with disability need more inclusive mainstream education, experts say
In its final report handed down in September, the disability royal commission called for the phasing out of segregated education by 2051. It’s a call that has sparked deep debate. Even the six commissioners disagree. Only three — including the two who live with disability — recommended phasing special schools out. The other three did … Continued
People with disability more vulnerable to climate change
People with disability have the ‘right to the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms’, in accordance with Australia’s international obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The increased occurrence and severity of extreme weather events occasioned by climate change, as the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) … Continued
The unique factor that could explain why autism rates in Australia are growing faster than the global average
Autism rates in Australian children are among the highest in the world, leading a senior researcher to suggest the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) could be driving steeper than average growth in diagnoses. A paper by Australian National University scholar Maathu Ranjan, who is on study leave from her role as a senior actuary at … Continued
Senate inquiry hears from advocates pushing for sexual expression policy within the NDIS
When a mixed martial arts accident five years ago left New South Wales south coast man Kyle Montgomery with an acquired disability, there was one part of his life he was determined to maintain. “I have always loved talking about sex and exploring sex,” he said. But the 35-year-old said discovering his new-found sexuality as … Continued
Social Futures disability advocates encourage school students to embrace all abilities
A pair of disability advocates with very different lived experiences are helping young people be more accepting, one school at a time. Scott Jones and Maree Jenner, who work with NDIS partnering organisation Social Futures, have been running disability inclusion programs at regional primary schools for more than two years.