QDN e-News Update - 1 August 2023 - Queenslanders With Disability Network

Free flu vaccines for Queenslanders

From July 22 to August 31, pharmacies and GPs across the state will be giving out these vaccines to anyone aged 6 months and older. Influenza is spreading in our community. But here's the good news: getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from serious illness and avoid ending up in the hospital.

For more details, visit the Queensland Health website here: https://www.vaccinate.initiatives.qld.gov.au/what-to-vaccinate-against/influenza

Let your friends, family, and neighbours know.

Because when it comes to our health, we're all in this together.

Make Renting Fair in Queensland – share your story

What would you do if your rent went up tomorrow? Would you struggle to afford the increase? Would you be forced to look for a new place to live? That's the reality for Queensland tenants every day. The Queensland Government is considering stage 2 rental reforms, but it’s not too late to have your say.

You can send a letter to your MP using this link: https://makerentingfairqld.org.au/get-involved/writing-to-your-mp

QDN is looking for your stories and experiences as a tenant. If you have a story you would like to share, please contact QDN at qdn@qdn.org.au or 1300 363 783.

Introducing Q2032: Your Gateway to Games and Beyond!

We’re excited to announce the Queensland Government has launched the Q2032 website. The website provides updates and news on the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympic Games planning, and information about the benefits and opportunities the Games will bring to Queensland, from tourism and trade to accessibility and sustainability.

For more details, visit the website here: https://q2032.au/.

Nominations Open: 2023 Australian Human Rights Awards!

Nominations are open for the 2023 Australian Human Rights Awards. Let's recognise those who make a difference in advancing and defending human rights. This year’s Awards also form a key of Australia’s celebration and commemoration of the 75^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To submit your nomination or to download an accessible nomination form, visit the website here: https://humanrights.gov.au/get-involved/2023-australian-human-rights-awards?mc_cid=cb349b76ab&mc_eid=5a15cbbd65 or email the form to aushumanrightsawards@humanrights.gov.au.

Nominations close on Monday 4 September.

Bruce Bonyhady keynote speech from Australia’s Disability Strategy - Queensland Forum

Read or listen to the keynote speech from Professor Bonyhady at the recent Australia’s Disability Strategy Queensland Forum. QDN will share more information from the forum, including video recordings, as soon as they are available.

Read or listen here: https://www.ndisreview.gov.au/resources/speech/everything-and-everyone-us

Read the latest blogs from our QBloggers

Did you know QDN has its own blogging community? Being a QBlogger is a chance to grow and learn from one another's experiences and expertise and help generate ideas for future policy and advocacy work.

You can create a blog by filming a video, recording a podcast, or writing a post, with the QDN communications team available to support you if you need.

Read the latest posts here: https://qdn.org.au/membership/qbloggers/

Stay up to date with NDIS news

The NDIS eNewsletter is a fortnightly general email that brings you the latest NDIS news, events and participant stories. Sign up to this mailing list and keep up to date.

Principles to determine the responsibilities of the NDIS and other service systems

All governments have agreed that our vision is for an inclusive Australian society that enables people with disability to fulfil their potential as equal citizens. The below principles will be used to determine the funding and delivery responsibilities of the NDIS in achieving this vision:

People with disability have the same right of access to services as all Australians, consistent with the goals of the National Disability Strategy which aims to maximise the potential and participation of people with disability.
The NDIS will fund personalised supports related to people’s disability support needs, unless those supports are part of another service system’s universal service obligation (for example, meeting the health, education, housing, or safety needs of all Australians) or covered by reasonable adjustment (as required under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act or similar legislation in jurisdictions).
Clear funding and delivery responsibilities should provide for the transparency and integrity of government appropriations consistent with their agreed policy goals.
There should be a nationally consistent approach to the supports funded by the NDIS and the basis on which the NDIS engages with other systems, noting that because there will be variation in non-NDIS supports funded within jurisdictions there will need to be flexibility and innovation in the way the NDIS funds and/or delivers these activities.
In determining the approach to the supports funded by the NDIS and other service systems governments will have regard to efficiency, the existing statutory responsibilities and policy objectives of other service systems and operational implications.
The interactions of people with disability with the NDIS and other service systems should be as seamless as possible, where integrated planning and coordinated supports, referrals and transitions are promoted, supported by a no wrong door approach.

For more information please visit: https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/09_2021/ndis-principles-determine-responsibilities-ndis-and-other-service-1.pdf

The Aged Care Reform Roadmap has been released

The Aged Care Reform Roadmap has been released by the Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells. It provides a delivery framework around a number of key changes recommended by the Royal Commission.

Learn more here: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/aged-care-reform-roadmap-2022-to-2025?language=en

Thrive by Five Early Learning and Disability Symposium communique

The Thrive by Five Early Learning and Disability Symposium took place recently. One of the key outputs from the symposium was a communique, developed through a consultation process, where parents of children with disability, people with disability, early childhood educators and the disability workforce were invited to attend two pre-symposium briefings and the Symposium.

You can access it here: https://thrivebyfive.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TB5-Communique.pdf

QDN North Queensland trip

Steve and Nicole from the QDN team recently visited Cairns and Townsville to catch up with some of our North Queensland members! It was a great opportunity to meet and get to know our members – thank you to everyone who was able to come along to our coffee catch ups. Keep an eye out on our Facebook page and e-news to find out when the team is visiting your region.

Seeking people interested in meaningful employment change

2023 QDN Emerging Leader Leanne Watts is looking for like-minded individuals interested in collaborating with her to break down barriers and champion the rights of people with disabilities, advocating for employment inclusivity. As part of her QDN Emerging Leaders project and in her capacity as a Rehab Counsellor, Leanne is seeking meaningful employment changes. If you share her passion for driving employment change for people with disabilities at the policy level, she would be thrilled to hear from you! Your input and involvement are crucial in shaping a more inclusive and equitable future.

Please email hello@iahsupport.com.au to be involved in Leanne’s project.

Wendy Lovelace awarded membership in the General Division of the Order of Australia

We would like to share that QDN Life Member Wendy Lovelace has been posthumously awarded membership in the General Division of the Order of Australia. Wendy, who sadly passed away in 2022, was a passionate advocate for disability rights and inclusion and long-term QDN member. This this award commemorates her significant service to community health and disability advocacy.

Research opportunities & surveys

The Department of Transport and Main Roads Personal Transport survey

The Department of Transport and Main Roads would like to hear from people who use taxis and rideshare services, including wheelchair accessible vehicles, so they can better understand their needs and experiences and improve services for those who have a disability, impairment or may require extra assistance. They also want to hear from people who don't/can't use these services because of their disability or accessibility needs. The survey will take approximately 17 minutes to complete and all responses will remain anonymous and confidential.

The survey is open to anyone who has a disability, impairment or may require extra assistance, and/or their carers or companions. The Department is looking for feedback from a wide range of people with different backgrounds, needs and experiences (both good and bad). The feedback received will help to improve taxi and rideshare services and better understand the needs of people who use these services.

If you have any general questions about the project please contact personalised.transport@tmr.qld.gov.au. If you would prefer to complete the survey in a Microsoft Word format, or for any technical survey questions, please contact surveys@enhanceresearch.com.au.

Host a Conversation with Young People in Darling Downs and West Moreton

Are you aged between 16 and 24? Live in the Darling Downs or West Moreton region? Why not host a conversation with other young people about healthcare? Health Consumers Queensland want to hear the voices of young people and want to better understand young people’s experiences with health services in the Darling Downs West Moreton region. Younger health consumers aged 16-25 years are under-represented in decision-making processes in health services across Queensland.

For more details and to apply visit the website: https://www.hcq.org.au/home-2/consumer-opportunities/

Applications close: Thursday 3 August

Crisis Support Initiative Seeks Collaborators for Mental Health Spaces

Metro South Health wants to hear from health consumers around the Logan and Redlands area to make sure the Crises Support Spaces will be relevant to the needs of people experiencing mental distress, a situational crisis and/or suicidal thoughts and their family members or carers. Click here to download the flyer with more information. If you as interested in participating, please contact:

Logan CSS – Majid Khan, majid.khan@health.qld.gov.au. Tel: 07 3156 9804

Redlands CSS – Belinda Hawxwell, MSAMHS_RedlandsCSS@health.qld.gov.au. Tel: 07 3825 6208

The lived experience voice will be valuable in helping shape our own Logan and Redlands Crisis Support Spaces.

Disability Services and Inclusion Bill Seminars open to the public

Public information sessions will be held by the Department of Social Services (DSS) to gather final comments about the Disability Inclusion Bill 2023, before the Bill is presented to Parliament. There has been extensive consultation with the disability sector regarding the draft Bill as well as an exposure draft to which many people with disability, disabilities, their families and carers lodged submissions. The Disability Services Act 1986 will be replaced with the new legislation and acknowledge the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability, the NDIS and the National Disability Strategy. The Bill will also:

Include updated terminology reflecting the large changes that have occurred in the provision of disability services.
Have more emphasis on the rights people with disability have to control and make decisions in their lives as well as inclusion of people with disability in general.
Provide a way to continue funding existing supports and services whilst simultaneously allowing the Commonwealth to design any new supports and services that better assist people with disability, their families and carers.

There are survey questions to guide comments that the department has created. Submissions and questions can be submitted before the sessions. More information is available here and sessions times can be found here.

Parents with disability face discrimination in child protection systems

The Disability Royal Commission has released a commissioned report ‘Parents with disability and their experiences of child protection systems’ which has been conducted by University of Technology and Western Sydney University. Interviews with parents with disability, advocates, caseworkers, service providers, Children’s Court clinicians and lawyers in New South Wales and Victoria were held to hear from those who have experience with child protection systems.

The report finds that disability and risk is one of the most obvious forms of discrimination that parents with disability face and is maximised for First Nations parents and that parents with disability are over-represented as subjects of child protection allegations, investigations and proceedings. Twenty-seven recommendations are made in the report.

More information here. Access to the report here.

First Nations people with disability 28% less likely to receive care through the NDIS, says report

The Disability Royal Commission has released a report finding that First Nations people with disability are 28% less likely to receive access to care via the NDIS in comparison with other people with disability as well as have greater levels of need for care and support due to more severe disability, are more likely to reside in areas that are rural and regional which have more service delivery challenges and have experiences of personal and community trauma which can increase the need for care that responds to these needs.

The report made recommendations of having an Intermediary Body appointed, with the Body governing improvements for the First Nations disability sector in service delivery and quality assurance as well as having the Australian Government increase the First Nations disability workforce by 13,000 workers by 2031. More is available information here. You can access the report here.

NDIS release updated Self-Management Guide and Guidelines

The NDIS has updated the NDIS Guide to Self-Management. The guide includes new and improved information such as:

What self-management is
The different supports available to help people learn more about how to self-manage
How to arrange and pay for supports, including an updated ‘can I buy it?’ section
How to make a payment request and avoid common mistakes
What to expect from payment reviews
Information on using the my NDIS app
New participant profiles.

The NDIS have intended to provide a clearer guideline as well which involves:

Plan management options and what they mean
Changing plan management options
What it means to self-manage
How we make decisions about physical, mental, legal or financial risks
How we reduce and address risks.

More information is available here.

New Pathway to Australian Citizenship for New Zealand Citizens

The Australian Government have changed eligibility for citizenship for New Zealand citizens who have been on non-protected Special Category visa (subclass 444), to be able to apply directly for Australian citizenship without permanent residency first, if you’ve resided in Australia for four or more years and arrived after February 26 2001. Citizenship allows access to the NDIS, Centrelink payments and concession cards, Medicare and Child Support. More information is available here.

NDIS wants to work with participants around Home and living innovation ideas

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) are looking to work with participants and providers around developing new home and living supports through the agency. People incited to these consultations include participants, family members, providers and the wider community to share ideals and proposals surrounding innovative ways to deliver housing for people with disability. The Agency aims to provide feedback within 6 weeks. There is currently no grant funding and all ideas and proposals that are submitted to the agency need to use existing NDIS funds and pricing arrangements.

More information is available here. Further detail on how to work with the NDIA to provide your ideas is here.

Next round of briefings: Passing the Message Stick

There has been research released by the Passing the Message Stick project with practical recommendations and advice for your own messaging and tips on how to have conversations within your community. More information is available here.

Families and 'Us': Working alongside parents with intellectual disability, Brisbane

Join the Community Living Association Inc. for an informative and engaging event exploring ways to support families where a parent has intellectual disability. The event will bring together parents, with lived experience, social work and allied and health professionals, legal practitioners, disability workers, and academics to explore what it takes to ensure the rights of parents with intellectual disability are upheld. The program includes presentations from parents with lived experience, a panel with parents with lived experience, practitioners and representatives from Child Safety and NDIA. Dr Margaret Spencer (University of Sydney) will share her work in this field focusing on engagement and supported decision making. Morning tea and lunch will be provided by Nundah Community Enterprise Co-op's amazing Espresso Train.

Date: Tuesday 29 August

Time: 8:45am (for a 9am start) – 4pm

Location: Australian Catholic University, Brisbane Campus, 1100 Nudgee Road, Banyo

DIDRR

Learn how to plan for your support needs in emergencies such as floods, cyclones, bushfires, and heatwaves at a free disaster preparedness workshop for people with disability, presented by people with disability.

Get Ready, Plan Ahead - Fraser Coast

Date: 3 August

Time: 9:30am-3pm

Location: Training Room 1, The Tree House, Urangan Community Wellness Centre Botanical Gardens, 62-105 Elizabeth St, Urangan

Get Ready, Plan Ahead Locker Valley – Laidley

Part A: Thursday 10 August

Part B: Thursday 17 August

Time: 9:30am-12:30pm

Location: Laidley Sports Complex, Whites Road, Laidley

Get Ready, Plan Ahead Somerset – Esk

Part A: Tuesday 15 August

Part B: Tuesday 29 August

Time: 10:30am – 1:30pm

Location: Somerset Civic Centre, the Auditorium, 35 Esk Hampton Rd, Esk

Get Ready, Plan Ahead Somerset – Toogoolawah

Part A: Friday 18 August

Part B: Friday 1 September

Time: 11 am – 2pm

Location: Carinity Our House, 27 Gardner St, Toogoolawah

Peer Support Groups

MAC – Wednesday 2^nd August via Zoom 11am – 1pm via Zoom
Gympie - Friday 4^th August Rusty Rails Café 9:30 – 11:30 Rusty Rails Cafe
Gold Coast Hot Topics – Friday 4^th August Southport Community centre and via Zoom 10:30 – 12:30
Gold Coast Friday 11^th August 10:30- 12.30 pm Nerang Library
QDN Y Monday 7th August via Zoom 4pm -5.30pm
Tablelands PSG Tuesday 15^th August Mareeba Library 10:30 – 12:30
Brisbane PSG Wednesday 16^th August 10:30-12:30 QDN office and via Zoom
Deception Bay PSG Wednesday 16^th August 10.30- 12.30 Deception Bay Darts Club
Unique Parenting PSG Friday 18^th August 11am – 1pm QDN Office and Zoom
Ipswich PSG Saturday 19^th July 10am – 12pm Club Services Ipswich CSI Table 31
QDN Peer Leaders Meeting with Chairperson Tuesday 22^th August 4pm – 5pm Zoom
Toowoomba PSG Wednesday 30^th August 1pm-3pm Toowoomba City Library and via Zoom
Self-Management PSG Wednesday 30^th August 4pm-5.30pm via Zoom
Sunshine Coast Wednesday 30^th August 10:30 – 12:30 TBA
Cairns PSG Thursday 31^stAugust 3.30pm – 5.30pm at Rights In Action or Zoom
Brisbane Hot Topics Friday 25^th August 9am – 12pm QDN Office and Zoom
LBGTQIA+ PSG Friday 25^th August 4.30pm – 6:30pm via Zoom
Caboolture PSG Saturday 26^th August 11am – 1pm Caboolture Sports Club

Regional Disability Expos across Queensland

Regional Disability Expos are happening across Queensland in May and August. Exhibitions will have on offer a range of services, equipment, networks and specialists, giving you the ability to find everything you need in one easy to find location.

Fraser Coast – Friday 18 August 2023
Toowoomba – Friday 6 October 2023
Sunshine Coast – Thursday 19 October 2023

More information here: https://disabilityexposc.com.au/

QDN Membership

If you or someone you know would like to be a QDN member apply here: https://qdn.org.au/membership/qdn-member-application/

QDN e-News Update – 1 August 2023

QDN e-News 1 August 2023