Findings from a recent review of NDIA capabilities have led to speculation that the NDIS rollout could be delayed beyond 2019. Dr George Taleporos says although the review is useful in alerting us to current challenges, it should not be used to justify a longer timeline for implementation. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) recently … Continued
Lawyer Richard Bernstein joins Michael Short in The Zone. Australia’s fledgling National Disability Insurance Scheme is widely seen as a fair and decent public policy that’s long overdue in one of the world’s wealthiest nations. It is in the trial phase and once fully operational will cost billions of dollars each year. Only about half … Continued
The Australian Human Rights Commission this week called for an urgent audit of justice services to people with disability, as Rosie Anne Fulton, a woman detained in WA because she her disability meant she was deemed unfit to plead, became the latest person to highlight this type of human rights breach. The Disability Discrimination Commissioner … Continued
The National Disability Insurance Agency must match the task and be built to last, says Craig Wallace. Recently, Senate Estimates heard that the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) was involved in not one, but at least three reviews looking into a range of issues work on the full scheme rollout, work on agency capability and … Continued
Disability advocates say the indefinite detention of an Aboriginal woman in a West Australian jail is not an isolated case. The ABC’s Lateline program last night has revealed 23-year-old woman, who suffers from foetal alcohol syndrome, has spent the past 18 months in a Kalgoorlie jail without a conviction. The Aboriginal Disability Justice Campaign says … Continued
Expect some nervous laughter during this year’s Melbourne Comedy Festival, as disability and mental health issues skewer the mood. Proving that humour might well be the best medicine, three comedians share their tales from the front line. Stella Young ”Special”, ”differently abled” and – worst of all – ”inspirational”. Stella Young, disability activist, journalist and … Continued
Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes has slammed suggestions the disability support pension is being rorted. Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes has hit back at the idea that there are too many people on the disability support pension, slamming claims that the system is being rorted as “completely unhelpful”. In the wake of fresh reports that … Continued
Ten years ago I was wondering if I was ever going to return to work, or whether my role was going to be the full-time care of my son who had multiple and complex disabilities. My goals just after his birth were to manage getting out of the house and to maybe make it to … Continued
Discrimination against people with a disability is widespread in Australia’s justice system, according to a damning report soon to be released by the Human Rights Commission (HRC). It will recommend that each state urgently develop a strategy to ensure people with a disability are treated fairly before the courts and their rights are respected. One … Continued
As Australian authorities urge the general community to prepare and plan for bushfires, the early warning systems and public awareness campaigns are often failing to consider the needs of persons with disabilities. Advice on the ground specifically for people with disabilities is pretty slim, and for bushfires is centred on the message of “leave early”. But recent research by the Bushfire Collaborative Research Centre finds many people instead choose the “wait and see” option. In fact, less than 1% would leave their house on days of extreme or catastrophic fire danger.
Lawyers acting for thousands of underpaid intellectually disabled workers will lodge a court application on Monday seeking to block the federal government’s scheme to tackle the underpayments. Legal firm Maurice Blackburn will file a Federal Court action in an attempt to stop 10,000 intellectually disabled employees at sheltered workshops signing away their legal rights to … Continued
A former child protection worker in Victoria says juvenile offenders are being put in the same residential care facilities as disabled children who are under state care. The whistleblower, who wants to be known only as Steve, says the situation has had devastating consequences for the state’s most vulnerable children. Steve worked for the child … Continued
MARK COLVIN: The Victorian Government is denying that there’s a problem putting juvenile offenders in care homes with vulnerable wards of the state. A former Department of Human Services whistleblower has told the ABC that he’s intercepted numerous sexual assault attempts, and physical assaults, because the housing mix is volatile. But the Community Services and … Continued
A vision impaired member contacted the Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) office for support in a case against his local post office. During a visit to the post office to have his passport photos taken, he was advised that he would need to go elsewhere to have his photos taken as the computer system was detecting an … Continued
In 1981, Lesley Hall and some mates stormed the Miss Australia Quest. They actually strategically bought tickets, but to imagine them storming through the doors of the St Kilda Town Hall is too delicious. But Lesley definitely stormed the stage. She stands right in the thick of the ceremony, flanked by madly grinning beauty contestants … Continued