Disability Inclusion

Phase 2 has started for the National Disability Inclusion Project  

This 2-year project aims to help local government put disability inclusion plans and strategies into practical, measurable outcomes for people with disability in their communities.  

The project is led by Community of Practice members from 38 local governments in metropolitan, regional, rural and remote local government areas across Australia. Meetings with Community of Practice members are designed to help share real-world examples of disability inclusion initiatives and resources, so that can be applied in other local government areas.  

The Community of Practice have developed six priority areas for the project:  

• Community inclusion 
• Access and mobility 
• Communication and information accessibility 
• Disability inclusion planning and implementation 
• Inclusive employment and procurement 
• Emerging issues, reform and evaluation of outcomes 

The Community of Practice will also use the Disability Inclusion Guide for Local Councils and resources developed in Phase 1 of the project to help strengthen disability inclusion capability for other local government and councils that are not represented in the Community of Practice.  

You can learn more about the project by clicking on the following link:
https://alga.com.au/disability-inclusion-project-commences-phase-2/ 

Employment  

Fairer pay for health, disability and community services workers  

The Australian Government is investing $630 million to deliver fairer pay to over 460,000 health, disability and community services workers. This investment is a result of the Fair Work Commission’s findings and the Australian Government’s reforms to put gender equality at the centre of the Fair Work Act. The investment will mean that over 128,000 organisations funded under 92 programs will receive extra funding to help better support the workforce and therefore bring higher quality services to consumers.  

You can learn more by clicking on the following link:
https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/landmark-funding-to-address-historic-gender-undervaluation-in-care-sectors?language=en 

Health  

Draft National Safety and Quality Standards for Virtual Care Webinar  

Public consultation on the safety and quality standards for virtual care will open in late October.  

To help consumers, health care workers and other stakeholders better understand and prepare for the consultation, the Commission of Safety and Quality in Health Care is providing webinars on Wednesday 21 October from 5pm to 6pm, and Friday 23 October from 1pm to 2pm.  

Register to attend by clicking on the following link:
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/news-and-media/consultations/consultation-draft-national-safety-and-quality-virtual-care-standards 

Clinical Excellence Queensland Announces Queensland Clinical Senate 

The Queensland Government has announced a Queensland Clinical Senate to bring experts across the health care system to discuss key issues in Queensland health care. The Clinical Senate will also encourage connection between clinicians and consumers.  

The Senate will be guided by the following principles. 

• Value consumer perspectives 
• Focus on quality patient outcomes and experiences 
• Connect clinicians from all disciplines across the health system in Queensland 
• Encourage and support stakeholders to empower clinicians to be actively involved in decision making 

If you would like to know more about the Queensland Clinical Senate you can do so by clicking on the following link: 
https://www.clinicalexcellence.qld.gov.au/committees-and-networks/queensland-clinical-senate 

Trust Guide Launched to Support People with Intellectual Disability  

The National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health has released the Trust Guide; a co-designed guideline for trauma-transformative practice in health care. The resource was developed in response to reports showing two out of every three people with intellectual disability aged 15 years and over have experienced at least one incident of violence. Co-designed with people who have lived experience, the Trust Guide aims to help health workers, services and systems provide safe, effective and collaborative care with people with intellectual disability. 

Read the full report by clicking on the following link:
https://nceidh.org.au/news/trust-guide  

Housing  

New homes at Southport for older Australians and people with disability  

Do you live on the Gold Coast?  

30 new homes have been completed at Southport to help older Australians who are already living in social housing and want to downsize, older women and people with disability. The project consists of 27 social homes and three specialist disability accommodation homes and is called ‘Skyline View’.  

Other affordable and social housing projects such as the ‘Supportive Housing Project’ will support people at risk of homelessness, women who have experienced domestic violence, and older women,  are still underway. No further updates or an expected completion date for the supportive housing project has been released.  

Read about Skyline View by clicking the link below:
https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/106202  

NDIS  

NDIS Support Items Price Increase From 1 December  

Following the Fair Work Commission’s decision to increase wages for employees under the Social, Community, Home Care, and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 the NDIA has announced that the maximum price for supports across four items will be increased. The support items include: 

• House or Yard Maintenance, increasing from $59.01 per hour to $63.42 per hour. 
• House Cleaning or Other Household Activities. Increasing from $60.10 per hour to $64.59 per hour. 
• Assistance with Personal Domestic Activities, increasing from $61.16 per hour to $65.73 per hour.  
• Specialised Home-Based Assistance for a Child, increasing from $61.16 per hour to  $65.73 per hour.  

These changes will begin to be implemented from 1 December. If you would like to know more please click on the following link: 
https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/11733-ndis-price-increase-1-december-2026-gender-based-undervaluation-priority-awards-review

More NDIS support for First Nations people in remote communities  

The NDIA is expanding the Remote Community Connector program to help more First Nations people with disability better understand and use their NDIS plan. This program allows First Nations people who live in remote communities to receive local, in person support. The expansion will result in another 8 community Connectors being established in Far North Queensland and delivers on feedback from First Nations communities and the Disability Royal Commission for more services that are local, trusted, culturally safe and easier to access. 

Fo more information, go to the NDIS website: 
https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/11721-trusted-local-ndis-support-expands-across-remote-australia 

Webinar – An overview of changes to the NDIS laws 

The NDIA is continuing to hold weekly webinars to help NDIS participants understand changes occurring to the NDIS after the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill passed in Parliament.  

Some of the topics include: 

• Changes to plan reassessments 
• Support determinations 
• How decisions may be made under the updated legislation 
• What participants need to know when using their plan 
• Where to access information, guidance and support. 

The next webinar sessions are available on Thursday 28 October and Wednesday 4 November.  

Please note that each webinar will explore the same content.  

To learn more or register, head to the NDIS events webpage by clicking the following link:
https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/events 

Transport 

Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport Amendments are now in effect 

On 13 October 2026, the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (DSAPT) and its supporting guidelines were amended. The amendments mean that there are new requirements for operators and providers across all public transport networks including buses, trains, trams, ferries, taxis, and aircraft.   

Some of the amendments include:  

• Access paths must be designed to minimise the distance that a person with disability needs to travel between accessible facilities of premises or infrastructure.
• The requirement that if a public transport service is disrupted as part of a planned disruption, an operator or provider must be able to provide information about the disruption and (if possible) alternative travel options:  

1.  in a variety of formats; and  
2.  with as much notice as can be reasonably provided in the circumstances.  

An operator or provider must provide staff with the following training:  

1. initial disability awareness training;  
2. annual refresher training

The training must also be:  

1. tailored to meet the roles and responsibilities of each staff member; and  
2. developed and reviewed in consultation with people with disability, or groups representing people with disability, to ensure the content is appropriate; and  
3. delivered by a qualified trainer.  

For more information, or to view an overview of a summary of the changes, head to  the Department of Intracultural, Transport, Regional Development, Communication, Sport and the Arts website:  
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/transport-accessibility/reform-disability-standards-accessible-public-transport-2002-transport-standards