Posted September 21, 2015
This is the final report from the inquiry looking into the impact on service quality, efficiency and sustainability of recent Commonwealth community service tendering processes by the Department of Social Services. Additional recommendations have been added since the interim report was released in May with this one being most welcome to the disability advocacy sector: … Continued
Posted March 30, 2015
School principals say they are facing an urgent crisis in funding students with a disability-and most have been forced to dip into other budgets to support their disabled students. The survey by the Australian Education Union found most principals say they don’t have adequate funding to support children at their school with special needs.
Posted March 2, 2015
Federal government delays a 40 per cent funding cut to the disability sector amid allegations it was in breach of United Nations convention. The federal government has made a partial backflip on its cuts to disability groups, granting a temporary reprieve to eight bodies whose funding was due to run out on Saturday. Last month … Continued
Posted February 16, 2015
Michael Sullivan has his own name for the NDIS, one that he believes better explains the scheme’s purpose. Speaking at a disability conference earlier this month, he said a National Disability Insurance Scheme “sounds like something might go wrong”. “How would that make you feel?” he asked the crowd at Geelong’s Deakin University, to boos … Continued
Posted February 16, 2015
The new arrangement threatens eight peak bodies, with 200,000 members. The former chairman of the United Nations committee representing people with disabilities has added his voice to the chorus of anger over the government’s shake-up of the sector, challenging its claim it is in acting in accordance with the UN convention. Ron McCallum, who is … Continued
Posted February 9, 2015
The Federal Government’s cuts to the disability sector are a “catastrophic” blow and breach the United Nations convention on the rights of disabled people, advocacy groups and one of the architects of the convention says. The Department of Social Services announced yesterday it would fund an alliance of six groups representing disabled people by demographic … Continued
Posted January 13, 2015
In the final days of 2014, the meagre funding granted to disability advocacy groups was cut. It ended an annus horribilis for the sector When there’s cricket on the radio, the sun is shining, and boats and beaches beckon, it’s easy to forget how tough last year was for Australians with disabilities. The final blow … Continued
Posted May 24, 2013
Indigenous people with disability will benefit from a $900,000 funding package announced today to improve access to national disability support services. The First People’s Disability Network Australia will receive the funds over three years to assist Indigenous Australians to understand and access support from the newly-created DisabilityCare Australia. Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda said the … Continued
Posted May 20, 2013
DisabilityCare Australia may be Julia Gillard’s enduring legacy. In a budget week of deficits and billion-dollar figures, of cuts and thrusts across the body politic, there was a moment of unifying commendation. Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Julia Gillard rose to give the second reading of the Medicare Levy Amendment (DisabilityCare Australia) Bill 2013. It was … Continued
