Posted March 30, 2020
Preventative measures such as social distancing and self-isolation are solutions that many First Nations communities do not have the lifestyle to adhere to. “As we know, a lot of our mobs live in overcrowded situations and have limited access to equipment and supplies day-to-day generally before this. So now they are locked into a situation where they’ve got less access to important needs or daily supplies,” said FPDN Deputy CEO, June Riemer.
Posted March 30, 2020
NDIS minister Stuart Robert said the new measures will ensure essential support is in place for NDIS participants, workers and providers through the COVID-19 outbreak. They include advance payments, a 10 per cent COVID-19 loading on some supports and increased flexibility for cancellation policies.
Posted March 26, 2020
People with disability who receive the Disability Support Pension (DSP) urgently need access to the increased Coronavirus Supplement of $550 per fortnight, consistent with the Jobseeker Payment and other payments recently announced.
People with disability who are in receipt of DSP are experiencing and facing additional, unforeseen costs in this time of crisis, which is causing significant levels of distress and anxiety, and only serving to further entrench DSP recipients into poverty.
Posted March 26, 2020
The Morrison government is being urged to extend its coronavirus supplement to the Disability Support Pension, after recipients were excluded from this latest stimulus measure.
Posted March 26, 2020
The NDIA has just announced a sweeping changes to the operations of the NDIS in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These will have a huge (and likely positive) impact on every participant in the Scheme.
Posted March 26, 2020
People with disability who receive the Disability Support Pension (DSP) urgently need access to the increased Coronavirus Supplement of $550 per fortnight, consistent with the Jobseeker Payment and other payments recently announced. People with disability who are in receipt of DSP are experiencing and facing additional, unforeseen costs in this time of crisis, which is causing significant levels of distress and anxiety, and only serving to further entrench DSP recipients into poverty.
Posted March 26, 2020
If you are a parent and you receive Disability Support Pension or Carer Payment, you will currently be entitled to the two one-off payments of $750, but not the fortnightly supplement of $550. This appears to be discrimination against people with a disability and people who care for someone with a disability.
Posted March 24, 2020
Disability advocates say governments across Australia need to better communicate their plans for at-risk groups. A survey of over 200 families by the Australian Coalition for Inclusive Education (ACIE) and Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) found that COVID-19 was causing havoc and fear for the disability community.
Posted March 24, 2020
Unless Governments and communities take action, discrimination against people with disabilities could increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, an expert with the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.
Posted March 24, 2020
Gippsland Disability Advocacy Incorporated chief executive Adrian Terranova said the epidemic of panic buying was causing a huge stress to people with disabilities.
Posted March 23, 2020
While the Australian Government has a targeted response for the aged care sector, Professor Dickinson said this is not the case for the disability sector. “Both sectors have many similarities including congregated settings, a precariously employed and inadequately trained care workforce, and families and carers who may face significant challenges meeting the care needs of people with disability in Australia,” Professor Dickinson said.
Posted March 23, 2020
As a growing number of businesses and services shutdown in response to the COVID-19 the disability sector says it’s increasingly vulnerable. The Australian Greens are calling for an emergency plan for a stand-by workforce for the sector.
Posted March 23, 2020
Following discussions of the COAG Disability Reform Council, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Stuart Robert, today announced new measures to ensure essential support is in place for NDIS participants, workers and providers through the COVID-19 outbreak. These measures include…
Posted March 20, 2020
People with disabilities have had their national disability insurance scheme and other support services cancelled and been unable to get essential medication and supplies during the coronavirus outbreak, according to a survey by peak bodies in the sector.
Posted March 20, 2020
There are concerns the disability sector is being left behind in the national coronavirus response. Disability was absent from Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s public health announcement last week and a webinar for home and community aged care providers held on Friday heard there had been “no specific” conversations regarding the sector.
