Our Working Principles

Strategy

Our strategic direction is formed around a centre of four key pillars: Inform, Connect, Lead and Influence.

These elements are core to everything that we do. Our strategic goals are:

To promote and maintain active, vibrant local networks that inform our work and build local capacity
To enhance the leadership and influencing capability of people with disability
To let people know about the lives of people with disability and how to best engage with us
To influence governments and others to bring about full and equal participation, citizenship and protection of rights for all
To grow an independently sustainable, effective, accountable and rights based organisation that reflects our vision, mission, values and principle

Our Values

Authentic Voice

We are with, and for, all people with disability and ensure those with limited or no voice are heard and valued.

Collaborative Action

We work together to learn from the collective experiences, values and wisdom of people with disability.

Rights

We believe in, and model, a human rights approach that recognises disability as a social issue.

Respect

We value human difference and diversity and build mutual respect through openness and fellowship.

Resilience

We are hopeful, even about the most complex challenges and are here for the long term.

Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan 2024 - 2028

Queenslanders with Disability Networks Strategic Plan 2024-2028.

Co-Design Principles

QDN's Co-design Principles

In our 20 years as an organisation, QDN’s motto ‘nothing about us without us’ is central to who we are and the work we do. Co-design is an important element of how we do our work. When done well and effectively, people with disability are engaged in a meaningful, equal, and authentic way to co-design solutions that deliver quality outcomes for the end–user.

Overview of QDN's Co-design Principles

Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) is a state-wide network of people with diverse disability from communities across Queensland. Our motto is ‘nothing about us without us’ and this is central to the way we work and codesign. We believe that people with disability need to be included from the beginning in the planning, design, delivery and evaluation of services, policy, and products.

Peer Leadership

Our Own Voice - QDN's Leadership Principles and Framework

The purpose of this framework is to make visible and accessible, the focus and pathways for leadership by and for Queenslanders with disability. QDN’s principles of co-design guide and inform effective, quality and authentic engagement of people with disability as end users of services, products, policy and laws in their design. It is important that leaders with disability are involved from the beginning, leading and infuencing innovation, improvements and impact.

Supporting Queenslanders with disability

Find out how QDN supports and advocates for people with disability across Queensland, and how you can get involved.