Posted July 14, 2023
There’s a lot of pressure on disability advocates to be mentally strong all the time. As a content creator, there’s this self-inflicted pressure to be happy. I took on the responsibility as the person who was going to cheer other people up and also raise awareness at the time, to challenge this misconception that if you have a disability, you’re constantly miserable. And because of this idea that people with disability are always miserable, their mental health needs get dismissed, the assumption being it’s normal for a disabled person to be depressed.
Posted June 30, 2023
Fewer people with psychosocial disability may be added to the NDIS in the future, as the minister flags that the government expects to divert 27,000 people to outside supports in the next four years, who would have otherwise joined the scheme.
Posted June 13, 2023
The Ready to Go Home resources have been co-designed and co-developed with health consumers with disability, disability service providers and health professionals to improve the hospital experience for a person with disability, and reduce barriers that contribute to discharge delays. The resources include a series of guides for people with disability and their supporters on topics including preparing for a scheduled or unscheduled hospital stay, what to expect while you are there, decision making during your stay, discharge and what happens afterwards. An associated ‘My hospital kit’ is also available.
Posted June 2, 2023
Under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031, federal, state, and territory governments have committed to improving health services to create better health outcomes for people with disability. Notwithstanding this, it was brought to the committee’s attention that people with disability continue to face a range of barriers including accessing appropriate, accessible, responsive and equitable reproductive health services and education.
Posted June 2, 2023
Sexual and reproductive rights are inherent entitlements of every being, regardless of gender or disability. However, the right to parenthood is particularly precarious for people with disability in Australia.
Posted May 26, 2023
But none tried to pose the reality before me bravely and empower me for the future. Even the doctors in my family failed to predict the complications, difficulties and challenges ensuing from this accident. The most difficult part I feel is identifying oneself as disabled and shifting your habits, ways and lifestyle from pre-disability to the post life.
Posted May 20, 2023
My midwife Cherie Desreaux and her team had decades of midwifery experience but they’d never cared for a mum with disability. They didn’t know how to navigate this journey but they were confident together we’d figure it out.
Posted March 31, 2023
But because of her background in Indigenous health promotion, she knew what she was looking for and what others would need. “And one of the first things that we ever did as a family after his diagnosis was basically [say] how can we support our son better and maintain his culture throughout this journey?”. Davis knew there was a gap that needed to be filled, and in 2019 she started the I Am, Movement.
Posted March 17, 2023
Cameron Bloomfield hasn’t had a routine dental check-up since he was in primary school. Apart from learning to brush his teeth from his parents, Mr Bloomfield has never been taught about oral health or supported to maintain it, even while living in a group home.
Posted February 24, 2023
AMA analysis reveals that targeted programs that address hospital exit block could save an estimated $811.6 million to $2.17 billion a year.
Posted February 17, 2023
New report finds reducing hospital discharge delays for NDIS participants has saved up to half a billion dollars so far, as governments meet to set the disability sector’s 12-month agenda.
Posted February 10, 2023
In today’s society, attitudes towards accepting and diagnosing neurodivergent disorders have become a more positive and common practice, but you still might find it hard to obtain a diagnosis.
Posted February 6, 2023
VMIAC CEO Craig Wallace was at the Mental Health Equity and Access Forum in Canberra this week. He met with Minister Mark Butler and Assistant Minister Emma McBride in Canberra this week. He shares his thoughts on the announced $7.5 million in funding to establish two national mental health peak bodies, one for consumers and … Continued
Posted January 24, 2023
Closing date: January 30, 2012
This guide aims to provide some practical tips on safe ways for discussing, reporting and publishing of content, which references mental health or mental ill-health to ensure any risks are managed while increasing the community understanding of mental ill-health. The guide provides support and guidance to media professionals when reporting, portraying or communicating about suicide or mental ill-health.
Posted January 19, 2023
The minister announced earlier this month that the average waiting time across Australia for NDIS participants medically fit for discharge from hospital is now 33 days. This is down from an average of 160 days in Victoria at the time of the federal election.
