Have Your Say
Public consultations
Help Keep Livable Housing Design Standards in Place in Queensland
Thank you to everyone who’s spoken up to support keeping the mandatory Livable Housing Design Standard (LHDS) in Queensland. We’ve heard from members who’ve written to their MPs and had meetings. There’s still time to make a difference, and we need your help.
Please let us know:
- If you’ve sent a letter to your MP (and who you sent it to)
- If you’ve had a meeting or received a reply
You can also share your story with QDN by clicking this link or contacting our Policy Lead, Carly Kendall, at 0499 271 035 or ckendall@qdn.org.au.
To learn more, click here: https://qdn.org.au/our-advocacy/campaigns/elections/keep-livable-design-standards/
National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS)
The Australian Government has asked the Productivity Commission to find ways to improve care services. Their first report suggests changes in three areas:
- Making safety and quality rules work better
- Helping care services work together
- Investing in prevention and early support
The Commission wants to hear from the public - including QDN Members. This is a chance for you to share what good care looks like and what needs to change. Your voice can help shape a care system that is fair, inclusive, and meets real needs.
To learn more and have your say, click here: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/quality-care#interim
Disability Discrimination Act
The Australian Government is looking at ways to improve the Disability Discrimination Act. This is happening because of the Royal Commission into the abuse, violence, and neglect of people with disability.
The goal is to make the law easier to understand and more useful for people with disability. It’s about fixing problems and removing barriers that stop people from living their lives fully and equally.
For QDN members, this is an important chance to speak up and help shape a law that protects rights, supports inclusion, and reflects real life. Your voice can help make sure the law works better for everyone – have your say here: https://consultations.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/dda-community-survey/consultation/
Fair Work Ombudsman – Disability Support Services Inquiry
The Fair Work Ombudsman has announced an inquiry into Disability Support Services. The inquiry is scheduled to be the first phase of a larger review into disability support services and aims to identify examples of non-compliance with the Fair Work Act and ensure an improved and sustainable culture of compliance.
QDN will provide more information shortly outlining how member and supporter insights will be gathered to inform this submission.
More about the consultation can be found here: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/compliance-and-enforcement/inquiries/disability-support-services-sector-inquiry
Background on the announcement of the inquiry can be found here: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/newsroom/media-releases/2025-media-releases/july-2025/20250729-disability-inquiry-media-release
What’s on - QDN Events
Upcoming Events
Inclusion Matters Forums – Putting inclusion into action
Join us at QDN’s Inclusion Matters Forum to explore how inclusive communities are built, lived, and strengthened—by everyone.
QDN’s Inclusion Matters Forums bring people with disability, families, allies, and organisations together to share ideas and actions for building more inclusive communities. Each forum is led by local QDN Peer Leaders and focuses on real-life inclusion across the seven key areas of Australia’s Disability Strategy including: housing, jobs, health, education, and community attitudes.
Upcoming forums will be held in:
- Mount Isa: Wednesday 10 September
- Mackay: Wednesday 8 October
- Online session #2: Thursday 18 September
- Online session #3: Thursday 20 November
For more information and to register click here: https://qdn.org.au/our-work/inclusion-matters/
New Free Energy Saving Webinars
These new Bright Sparks webinars offer all people with disability a chance to become experts on energy saving topics that are important to you. Now available online, these webinars are accessible to everyone around Queensland. Industry professionals, Ergon Energy are joining us for webinars 2,3, and 4 as special guests.
Webinar topics include:
1. Understanding Your Energy Rights – The Basics
2. Reading your electricity bill
3. Developing Good Energy Habits
4. Understanding the Energy Market
5. How to Switch Electricity Offers and Provider
Come along to as many webinars as you like!
For more information and to register please follow this link: https://qdn.org.au/our-work/bright-sparks-webinars-2025/
All Abilities JobMatch Showcase
The All Abilities JobMatch Showcase explores what real disability inclusion looks like in the workplace.
Happening on 4 September 2025, hear from people with disability, employers, and employment organisations about:
- Real-life examples of disability-inclusive employment in practice.
- What supports you can access for disability in the workplace.
- The benefits of collaborating with people with disability to enhance your workplace.
- How your organisation can improve its disability confidence to effectively recruit and hire people with disability.
Register now here: https://events.humanitix.com/all-abilities-jobmatch-showcase
All Abilities JobMatch is a partnership between QDN, uLaunch and the University of the Sunshine Coast. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
Calling Caboolture and Gladstone families: Co-design Workshops
Would you like to be more involved in shaping the systems that your family engages with?
Learn about co-design at one of the free co-design workshops for family members of someone with a disability.
As part of this work, CRU is delivering training workshops designed for family members. This is all part of the work QDN is leading in partnership with the Queensland Government to implement disability reforms in Queensland.
To read more information about this and to register your spot please visit: https://qldcodesignstrategy.qdn.org.au/event/community-forums-introduction-phase-february-2025/
More workshops will keep getting rolled out so please come back to this webpage for future dates and locations that suit you.
Caboolture
- Thursday 4 September, 9:30am – 4:00pm
Gladstone
- Thursday 23 October, 9:30am – 4:00pm
Policy Submissions
Completed
Construction Productivity Inquiry
QDN is working hard to keep the Livable Housing Design Standard (LHDS) strong in Queensland.
QDN brought together 52 organisations for a joint statement titled “Building homes for all Queenslanders – Now and for the future”. The organisations representing people with disability, older people, families/carers and the disability, housing and community sectors came together to advocate for accessible housing for everyone.
QDN has also written a submission to share facts and real-life stories showing why LHDS is important and must stay.
QDN wants to make sure every Queenslander can live in a home that suits their needs. Together, we can make a difference. You can learn more about the inquiry here: https://qpc.qld.gov.au/content/inquiries/construction-productivity.html
In-progress
National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (third edition)
There is a consultation on the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHS) to develop a framework for improved quality of healthcare. The purpose is to ensure that there is consistent, high-quality and safe healthcare for all Australians.
Our submission into this consultation will be key to ensure people with disability have their voices heard about how they receive safe, high-quality healthcare that meet their personal needs.
Find out more about the consultation here: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/standards/nsqhs-standards/nsqhs-standards-third-edition-engagement-hub
Policy Updates
NDIS
NDIA Quarterly Report
The NDIA has published its latest Quarterly Report for the Tuesday 1 April to Monday 30 June 2025 period.
Some of the key insights from the report include:
- 1 in 6 boys aged 6, are now on the NDIS.
- 69% of participants who received a NDIS plan in the 2024- 25 financial year were children younger than 15.
- Participation in community and social activities for people aged 15 years and older has increased by 21%.
- Participants aged 15 to 24 years old and have been on the NDIS for over two years have shown an increase in employment from 10% to 23%.
The NDIA have also said that they will:
- Develop a First Nations Consultation Group and co-design framework.
- Update its LGBTIQA+ Strategy
- Develop a new early intervention pathway for children aged 9 or younger.
You can find more information and download the Q4 2024 – 25 Quarterly Report here: https://ndis.gov.au/publications/quarterly-reports
Thriving Kids Program Announced to Support Children with Autism and Developmental Delays
On Wednesday 20 August, the Minister for Disability, the Hon Mark Butler MP addressed the National Press Club where he announced the new ‘Thriving Kids Program’. This program will move children with mild autism and developmental delays to a new foundational support rather than being on the NDIS. The Minister is aiming to launch the program in July 2026 and wants to reduce the budget of the NDIS.
Over the coming months, QDN will provide updates from the Department of Health, as well as Federal and State governments, to ensure QDN members have access to information on the program when it becomes available.
Learn more here: https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/speech-from-minister-butler-national-press-club-20-august-2025
QDN Director Appointed to NDIS Reform Advisory Committee
On Tuesday 19 August the Hon Senator Jenny McAllister, Minister for the NDIS, announced the members of the NDIS Reform Advisory Committee. The committee is made up of 11 members, one from each state and territory plus three community representatives.
QDN director Nigel Webb was appointed as the Queensland representative. QDN congratulates Nigel on his appointment. Nigel has been a strong advocate for the disability sector. QDN looks forward to the Committee working with the Government and stakeholders over the coming months on any proposals from the Reform Advisory Committee.
Learn more here: https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/senator-the-hon-jenny-mcallister/media/disability-community-to-shape-implementation-of-ndis-reforms?language=en
Prominent QDN Members Appointed to Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Health Panel
QDN founding member Karin Swift and long term QDN member Ilan Ivory have been named as public members for the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) health panel.
Both Karin and Ilan have a long history as disability advocates and will be able to provide their years of experience to the QCAT health panel in matters concerning medical misconduct.
QDN congratulates Karin and Ilan on being named on the health panel and wish them all the best in their work with the QCAT health panel.
NDIS Commission Releases ‘What We Heard’ Reports
The NDIS Commission has released its reports ‘What We Heard’ based on feedback on bringing in mandatory registration of platform providers, supported independent living and support coordination.
QDN will bring you updates once the Government decides on a timeframe for action on these reports. The NDIS Commission and key findings of the consultation will inform these decisions.
Learn more here: https://nds.org.au/news/mandatory-registration-reform-ndis-commission-releases-what-we-heard-reports
Other Policy Events / News
New Phone System Trial to Improve Service Delivery
The NDIA is trialling a new phone system for participants to improve your experience by reducing missed calls and delays. a
During the trial you may receive an email from myNDIS@ndis.gov.au or SMS from myNDIS asking you to return a missed call if you have missed a call from a staff member. The return call will be sent to the staff member who attempted to contact you.
If the staff member cannot answer, you will have the option to leave a message and the staff member will be notified of your call.
Learn more here: https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/10859-new-phone-system-trial-improve-service-delivery
$45million To Boost Quality Supports For NDIS Participants
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers of therapy support, supported independent living and support coordination will share $45million in funding to support providers of disability services.
The funding will be split between three pilot programs. One is for therapy support that will review best practice service provision. The other pilots focus on supported independent living and support coordination.
In Queensland, Aruma and Multicap have been selected to be part of the supported independent living and support coordination pilots.
Learn more here: https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/10856-45-million-boost-quality-supports-ndis-participants
Debt Review to Strengthen Debt Approach into the Future
The NDIA has finished a review of how it determines NDIS debt and will pay back money to some participants. The NDIA reviewed 475 debts between 2017 and 2024 and revoked 115 of these.
Refunds are being provided by the agency if the debt was paid, and removed from client records if it was not. If the debt was not revoked the agency will be checking in on participants who still have to pay a debt.
Learn more here: https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/10858-debt-review-strengthen-debt-approach-future
If you are concerned about your plan or spending, you can contact the National Contact Centre on 1800 800 110 or to learn more about your rights if a debt is raised visit here: https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/improving-integrity-and-preventing-fraud/debt-assessment-management-and-recovery
Surveys and Report into the Experiences of Children with Disability at School
Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) has published a report on the challenges children with disabilities face in the school system. The report is made up of two surveys completed by 400 family members and carers of children with disability in 2024 and early 2025, along with research led by the University of Melbourne and the University of New South Wales. The survey data showed 60% of children with disabilities faced physical, cyber, psychological or social bullying.
29% reported that restrictive practices were being used, and only 18% of respondents stated that they felt satisfied with the outcomes from making a complaint.
The report provided multiple recommendations to foster a safe and inclusive learning environment for children with disabilities including the requirement for a nationally recognised individual learning plan, a national roadmap to Inclusive Education and improved training for teachers. Read the report and case studies here: https://apo.org.au/node/331800?utm_campaign=Policy-Pulse-21-August-2025&utm_content=apo.org.au%2Fnode%2F331800&utm_medium=email&utm_source=comms.apo.org.au
New Wellbeing Tool to Improve the Lives of People with Disability
Monash University has developed a new Disability Wellbeing Index (DWI) which aims to measure what matters most for people with disabilities who are aged 15 years and above. The DWI was developed over four years in consultation with 3,500 Australians with disabilities, family members, carers and support workers. The index will be used to measure outcomes across multiple areas including personal care, relationships and finances.
Learn more about the DWI here: https://www.monash.edu/business/events/launch-of-the-disability-wellbeing-index
OpenHome - Queensland ‘s Housing Dashboard
The Queensland Government has promised to deliver safe, secure and affordable places for Queenslanders to call home. They plan to increase the housing supply, make building homes easier, boost home ownership, ease rental market pressures and provide greater support to vulnerable Queenslanders in need.
The Housing dashboard is a source of information that gives an overview of Queensland's housing and homelessness system with updates every 2 months.
Read more here: https://www.housing.qld.gov.au/news-publications/housing-dashboard
Walk My Queensland
August is Queensland Walks Month, and everyone is invited to ‘walk, run, roll or stroll’ their neighbourhoods. Queenslanders are encouraged to share photos and get involved in online discussions to improve the ‘walkability’ of your local area. Discover how you can get involved here: https://queenslandwalks.org.au/queensland-walks-month-2025/
The National Men's Health Gathering is back - Moving Men's Health Forward
The Australian Men’s Health Forum (AMHF) is the peak body for the men’s health sector. The AMHF have highlighted that the 2025 Federal budget confirms that men's mental health is not a priority. AMHF invite QDN members to attend and represent QDN at the Australian Men's Health Forum Gathering to advocate for men with a disability for their diverse health and accessibility needs in Queensland. The event will take place in Brisbane on Wednesday 22 October until Friday 24 October 2025.
To find out more about the Forum please visit: https://www.amhf.org.au/
To find out more about the Federal budget report please visit: https://www.amhf.org.au/federal_budget_confirms_men_s_health_is_not_a_national_priority
Stories
QDN’s policy team wants to hear about the issues impacting your lives. If you have a story to share, fill out a story form on our website: https://qdn.org.au/our-advocacy/
QDN Membership – Spread the word
Do you know someone who should be a QDN member? Share this link them so they can have their voice heard and connect with peers and support networks across Queensland.
QDN Membership Application: https://qdn.org.au/membership/qdn-member-application/
