QDN e-News Update - 17 May 2024 - Queenslanders With Disability Network

Welcome back to another edition of the QDN e-News.

2024-25 Budget announced

On Tuesday 14 May 2024, Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the Federal Budget for 2024-25 with a range of key elements affecting people with disability. Some of the key areas in the budget include easing cost-of-living pressures, building more homes, and creating new jobs and opportunities for Australians.

Read the 2024 Federal Budget here: https://budget.gov.au/

The Parliamentary Budget Office has also released the 2024-25 Budget snapshot. This is an interactive and graphical summary of information contained in the 2024-25 Budget.

Access the Snapshot here: https://www.pbo.gov.au/publications-and-data/publications/budget-charts/2024-25-budget-snapshot

Read the key points of the 2024-25 Federal Budget here: https://qdn.org.au/2024-25-federal-budget-key-points/

COVID-19 vaccination advice

In 2024, all adults can consider one or two COVID-19 doses depending on age and health status. People are encouraged to seek vaccination advice from their healthcare providers, specific to their circumstances.
A primary course of vaccination against COVID-19 for people aged 5 years or older, and a booster dose for those eligible are still recommended.
Life-saving oral antiviral treatments are available for people at risk of severe illness from COVID-19. You will need to speak to your GP, nurse practitioner or pharmacist about getting a prescription for oral treatments.
It is recommended that people with disability develop their own personal plan of what to do during a COVID-19 outbreak.
You can be COVID-safe by wearing a mask, physical distancing and practicing good hygiene.
If you test positive for COVID-19, you should stay at home while you are sick.
In 2024, those aged over 65 years of age, and adults with severe immunocompromise, continue to be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine dose every 6 months.
All other adults are eligible to receive a single dose this year.
Children aged 5 to 17 who are severely immunocompromised can receive a single dose this year.
The COVID-19 booster can be administered at the same time as the annual influenza shot.
People are encouraged to seek vaccination advice from their healthcare providers, specific to their circumstances.

Visit the Disability Gateway for more information: https://www.disabilitygateway.gov.au/coronavirus/covid19-support

Find out more information on COVID-19 vaccines and eligibility by visiting: http://www.health.gov.au or talking to your healthcare provider.

COVID-19 booster eligibility checker

The Department of Health and Aged Care has also launched a new online tool to help people work out if and when they are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination in 2024. This tool does not replace advice from health professionals and people should still speak with their health professional regarding their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Explore the tool here: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/covid-19-vaccines/getting-your-vaccination/covid-19-booster-eligibility-checker

All Australians deserve accessible housing standards - help get WA and NSW on board

The Building Better Homes campaign is trying to get the NSW and WA governments to agree to mandatory accessibility standards for new homes. They are the only states that have not committed to adopting the 7 liveability and accessibility standards for new homes as mandated in the revised National Construction Code (NCC). 

Without fit-for-purpose accessible housing, many Australians are unable to live in a home that is appropriate to their needs across their lifespan.

The Disability Royal Commission and the recent NDIS Review recommended the NSW and WA governments sign up immediately to the standards. 

You can help show the NSW and WA governments that adoption of the Liveable Housing Design Standard as mandated in the NCC is critical for every Australian.
 
Sign the NSW petition: buildingbetterhomes.org.au/state/new-south-wales/
 
Sign the WA petition buildingbetterhomes.org.au/state/western-australia/
 
Read more about the Building Better Homes campaign here: https://buildingbetterhomes.org.au/

Share your experiences of floods and other disasters

QDN is seeking feedback from people with disability about the impact that floods and other disasters have had on their lives in recent years.

QDN is interested in stories from people with disability to inform our response to the 2023–24 Severe Weather Season Review, which will identify enhancements to improve Queensland's disaster management arrangements.

Please share your story using the form here: https://forms.office.com/r/QJqKtJuue7

More information about the review can be found here: https://www.igem.qld.gov.au/submissions

Policy submissions

QDN members are encouraged to reach out to the policy team to be involved in our submission writing. Email qdn@qdn.org.au or call 1300 363 783.Email qdn@qdn.org.au or call 1300 363 783 to have a conversation with the policy team.

Submissions the policy team is working on:

Draft National Autism Strategy submission – due 31 May 2024
Automated vehicle safety reforms – due 11 June 2024
National Construction Code 2025 Public Comment – due 1 July 2024
NDIS — General Issues Inquiry – due 30 June 2024

Submissions the policy team has completed since the last e-news

NDIS Bill – due 17 May 2024
Queensland Community Safety Bill 2024 – due 15 May 2024
Draft Guidelines for Access and Inclusion in Residential Development - due 14 May 2024
Public Trustee Fees and Charges Reform – due 8 May 2024
NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce
National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions
Queensland Cancer Strategy consultation survey
Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation and Other Legislation Bill 2024
Education (General Provisions) and Other Legislation Bill
Anti-Discrimination Bill submission

NDIS Cultural and linguistic diversity strategy 2024-2028

The NDIS Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (CALD) Strategy 2024-2028 has been developed to respond to the needs of the almost 60,000 participants from CALD backgrounds, including participants from the deaf community, and proposes to implement 28 actions over four years to make the NDIS more inclusive and accessible.
Read the strategy here: https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/strategies/cultural-and-linguistic-diversity-strategy

QDN members encouraged to express your interest in policy network

QDN is calling on members who are interested in policy and systemic advocacy to be involved in our policy network. This is your chance to be involved in deeper level discussions about policy issues that impact people with disability

Express your interest by completing the form here: https://forms.office.com/r/dQ7ZC2efpp

New initiatives to drive better supported employment outcomes

The Australian Government has announced a $26 million boost to help Australians with disability with high support needs build confidence and better facilitate control over their employment options.

Social housing pathways by policy co-design: opportunities for tenant participation in system innovation in Australia

This AHURI research examines the participation of social housing tenants in developing social housing policy. With tenants increasingly presenting with more complex health, housing and social care needs, developing ways they can participate in social housing policy can lead to a range of positive benefits: from improving the way housing and associated essential social services are provided to giving tenants a heightened sense of autonomy and a stronger sense of belonging within their communities.

Publication of the 2024 Young Person CHAP

The Young Person Comprehensive Health Assessment Program (CHAP) for people aged 12-18 with intellectual disability has been released. The Young Person CHAP can be accessed on the Department of Health and Aged Care website here: health.gov.au/chap-yp.

An Easy Read document about Yearly Health Checks has been updated to include information about the Young Person CHAP, available here: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/yearly-health-checks-easy-read

People with disability in Australia 2024 – AIHW report released

The 2024 People with disability in Australia brings together information from a range of national data sources to contribute to a greater understanding of disability in Australia.

Download here: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/disability/people-with-disability-in-australia/contents/about

Upcoming Forum and Events

NDIS bill public hearings

The first Public Hearings on the new NDIS bill are happening on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 May 2024.

You can watch the hearings via livestream here: https://www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Read_Listen

NDIS Community Catch Ups with Minister Shorten

You are invited to a morning tea with Minister for the NDIS, Bill Shorten. This is your opportunity to ask him your questions about the upcoming NDIS reforms, and how you can be involved.

When: Friday 24 May at 10:45 am

Where: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre 

DSS Webinar: NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce - What we have heard

Attend this public webinar with the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce. The Taskforce will be providing an overview of what they have heard during consultations on the new graduated risk-proportionate regulatory model proposed in the NDIS Review Final Report.

When: Friday 24 May, 12pm-2pm

Catch up on previous forums

Disability Royal Commission - Education member forum - Summary report and recording

On Tuesday 9 April 2024, QDN held a member forum to discuss recommendations made in the Disability Royal Commission specifically around education.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this forum, we appreciate you sharing your insights and ideas.

We encourage members to watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/tz9_a_sfgEc

You can read the summary report here: https://qdn.org.au/our-advocacy/rights-and-advocacy/disability-royal-commission/

NDIS Review member forum - Summary report and recording

On 25 March 2024, QDN held a member forum to discuss recommendations made in the NDIS review.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this forum, we appreciate you sharing your insights and ideas.

We encourage members to watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/uM7caBRP7eU

You can read the summary report here: https://qdn.org.au/our-advocacy/ndis/

40 Symposium Attendance Grants Available

Woman's & Leadership Australia is offering full attendance grants to women and gender-diverse people who play active leadership roles in their community but are unable to attend due lack of funding or employer support.

These grants cover the full ticket price for the recipient to attend the Symposium

Through this initiative we’re supporting the development of a pipeline of leaders in different communities, and ensuring diverse views are represented at the events.

The grants will be awarded to current and aspiring women and gender diverse leaders.

Brisbane – 19 July 2024

Applications close 7 weeks before Symposium. All applicants will be contacted 6 weeks before the event to be informed of the outcome of their application.

For more information click here - https://www.wla.edu.au/eventgrants/

Mental Health Peer - Work Scholarships

Round 5 open until 11:59pm Tuesday 18 June

Applicants wishing to apply for TAFE mid-year 2024 intake need to apply by 11:59pm Wednesday 22 May The Peer Work Scholarships Program is an initiative of the Australian

Government Department of Health. The Program aims to strengthen and grow the mental health and suicide prevention Lived Experience workforce by funding scholarships to support people to undertake the Certificate IV Mental Health Peer Work.

The Queensland Alliance for Mental Health (QAMH) has been contracted by the Queensland Mental Health Commission to lead the project to deliver the scholarships in Queensland.

This year there are 118 Mental Health Peer Work Scholarship packages available.

An online information session is happening on Wednesday, May 15, from 2pm to 3pm, or on Monday, June 3, from 2pm to 3pm. This will be an opportunity to learn more about the scholarship package and the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work.

To learn more about the Peer Work Scholarship Program and apply today visit the website: www.qamh.org.au/scholarships

Get creative for the Queensland Youth Week 2024 Digital Art Competition!

The competition is open to young Queenslanders aged 12-25 and offers an amazing opportunity to showcase talent and creative flair. The winner will score an Apple iPad and Apple Pencil worth $1,000 as well as their entry to be the face of next year’s Queensland Youth Week.

Digital artworks must be submitted before 5pm on Monday 20 May 2024

To find out more and enter, visit the Queensland Youth Week 2024 Digital Art Competition website: https://www.qld.gov.au/youth/get-involved/qyw-2024-digital-art-competition 

Burnout in disabled activists

Are you a person with disability who plays a role in advocating for change? How does it make you feel every time you have to advocate for disability inclusion or improved access?

Professor Gregor Wolbring from the University of Calgary is an international professor in disability scholarship with personal experience of being a disabled activist.

He is studying the experience of burnout among disabled people, disability activists, and disability allies. If you complete this survey, you will be contributing to international understanding about this important topic.

If you would like to help, please complete a 30-minute online survey on this topic. The survey is completely anonymous and confidential.

Approved by Ethics ID REB23-0605, Calgary

If you have any queries, please contact:

Professor Gregor Wolbring

University of Calgary
Phone: (1-403)210-7083
Email: gwolbrin@ucalgary.ca
https://contacts.ucalgary.ca/info/chs/profiles/1-4840150
Click here to complete the anonymous survey: https://survey.ucalgary.ca/jfe/form/SV_1BnnPtOCjFEkn1Y

Graduated Licensing System Review - Focus Group Invite

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) – Queensland has commissioned the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) to undertake an evaluation of the Queensland Graduated Licensing Program (GLS), including PrepL, PrepL-S course, the New Hazard Perception Test, the 100 hours practical driving requirement and Practical Driving Test. The evaluation is warranted to determine if further interventions can be made based on contemporary research evidence and technological advancements.

The MUACRC are inviting people to participate in a focus group as part of the evaluation of the GLS. Your expertise and insights would be invaluable to the research, and we would greatly appreciate your input. Your participation in this focus group will provide valuable information that will help identify improvement opportunities to better support young drivers and their supervisors in Queensland. More information on research project can be found here.

If after reading the Explanatory Statement and deciding you wish to participate, please confirm your availability to attend at the date, time and location below.

Date: Thursday 23 May
Time: 12 – 2pm
Location: MG.07, 61 Mary St, Brisbane

Participants have the option to join the focus group via video call. Please confirm if you would like to attend via video call. Details on how to join will then be sent to you closer to the date. If the date and time above does not fit within your schedule, an interview can be arranged to enable you to provide your input. Please also reply to this email if this is required. You will be asked to complete a consent form prior to participating. Paper consent forms will be provided for participants attending in person. An electronic consent form will be provided to those attending via video call.

QDN e-News Update – 17 May 2024

QDN e-News Update - 17 May 2024