Author: Office of the Public Advocate
Posted March 12, 2021
The report focuses on matters relevant to people with cognitive disabilities, including mental health and neurological disabilities, which may affect their ability to make decisions without support. The 25 recommendations support reform to improve laws and practices and reduce the impact these laws have on people with cognitive disabilities. Such reforms will enable Australia to meet its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Author: VCOSS on behalf of Empowered Lives Network
Posted March 12, 2021
This Issues Paper is specifically prompted by concerns that the NDIA’s proposed model of mandatory independent assessments will reinforce the growing inequalities in the Scheme. Instead of improving access and reducing out-of-pocket expenses, independent assessments will present another hurdle for people with disability. This hurdle will be higher and harder for people who experience multiple and intersecting forms of disadvantage, and will add another layer of stress, complexity and anguish for people with disability seeking support.
Author: NDIS Appeals Advocacy National Network
Posted March 11, 2021
The signatory organisations urge the National Disability Insurance Agency to commit to halting the currently proposed reforms and rebuilding them with an end-to-end process directly involving people with disability, in line with Australia’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability and the objects and principles of the NDIS Act itself.
Author: DARU
Posted March 4, 2021
Advocates stand alongside the person with disability to make sure that their voices are heard in all matters that affect them. However, skilling up people with disabilities to utilise choice and control, takes time and is not currently recognised under current advocacy funding models. Circles of Support are a process where intentional networks of people are built around a person with disability to assist them in the creation of a good life in community and support their decision making through developing trusted relationships. Teresa Micallef is responsible for Building Community Networks at Belonging Matters. In this session, she shares her experience of the Circles of Support initiative including the positive outcomes for all involved in promoting decision making support, as well as the limitations and challenges she encounters.
Author: DARU
Posted March 3, 2021
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission released the Regulated Restrictive Practices Guide in November 2020 that supports a contemporary positive behaviour support framework and explains what a restrictive practice is. It was developed for registered NDIS providers and NDIS behaviour support practitioners. As a volunteer advocate, Julie Phillips has supported people with disability with behaviours of concern over many years. She brings her experience to explain what the regulations cover and highlight what advocates need to know in order to keep people with disability under a Positive Behaviour Support Plan free from abuse.
Author: DARU
Posted March 2, 2021
Dr Cathy Kezelman, President at Blue Knot Foundation and Mary Mallett, CEO of Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA), talk about counselling,support and referral pathways and where advocacy fits into this crucial work. The important work of the Disability Royal Commission is bringing to light the deeply rooted systemic abuse facing people with disability. As we have heard, the abuse is happening in all areas of life – in the home, in education and employment settings, and within the health and services systems. Almost more confronting than the abuse itself is the apparent indifference of people in power and the general public more broadly who have allowed the abuse to continue. Despite lifetimes of not being heard, people with disability are being asked to step up and tell their stories in the hope that this time they will be believed and that things will change. To do this, people with disability need support.
Author: Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety
Posted March 1, 2021
The Final Report calls for fundamental reform of the aged care system. Royal Commissioners Tony Pagone QC and Lynelle Briggs AO make 148 wide-ranging recommendations in their Report, which comprises 5 volumes. The report finds that the extent of substandard care in Australia’s aged care system reflects both poor quality on the part of some … Continued
Author: Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Posted February 26, 2021
The Government supports, or supports-in-principle, 26 of the recommendations made in the Committee’s report. Given the ongoing reforms to the planning process being progressed by the NDIA, the Government notes the Committee’s remaining 16 recommendations and provides information on the key initiatives underway and planned to address them.
Author: Victoria Government
Posted February 26, 2021
This free website is set up to provide information, tools and training resources to ensure that people with significant disabilities can confidently choose the allied health services needed to improve their skills and independence over time. It also offers a range of resources for allied health professionals working in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Source: ABC AM
Author: Nas Campanella
Posted February 18, 2021
Disability advocates are worried not enough is being done to help members of their community to navigate through Australia’s justice system – that includes victims, witnesses and perpetrators. It’s the latest focus of the Disability Royal Commission, which resumes hearings for the year this morning.
Author: Disability Royal Commission
Posted February 12, 2021
The Third Progress Report summarises the work carried out by the Royal Commission during the period 1 July to 31 December 2020 including conducting six important public hearings, despite the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, through the use of remote technology The Progress Report notes that the Chair of the Royal Commission wrote to the Prime Minister on 30 October 2020 requesting a seventeen-month extension to the Royal Commission. If the request is granted, the Final Report and recommendations will be due by 29 September 2023.
Source: RN Life Matters
Author: Hillary Harper
Posted February 12, 2021
There are some big changes coming this year for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. A legislative update is due later in the year, including a service guarantee aimed at providing better service to participants, and the arrival of what is called independent assessments. But not all the changes are being welcomed by those living with a disability.
Author: DA Disability Advisory Council
Posted February 12, 2021
Data provides useful information for designing supports and services that meet the situations, needs and goals of people with disability. However datasets are largely disconnected. The National Disability Data Asset (NDDA) is a pilot that aims to link datasets across government departments and jurisdictions to improve data quality and comparability, creating a wide range of new insights through analysis. The NDDA maintains highest standards to ensure data integrity and privacy through the process.
Source: Black Ink
Author: Carly Findlay
Posted February 5, 2021
A rich collection of writing from those negotiating disability in their lives – a group whose voices are not heard often enough Contributors include senator Jordon Steele-John, paralympian Isis Holt, Dion Beasley, Sam Drummond, Astrid Edwards, Sarah Firth, El Gibbs, Eliza Hull, Gayle Kennedy, Carly-Jay Metcalfe, Fiona Murphy, Jessica Walton and many more.
