With this emerging COVID situation and the challenges this can bring for everyone, we encourage members and supporters to stay updated with information, get tested if have symptoms and get vaccinated if you can. Please check our Covid-19 update in this newsletter for more information.
Queenslanders with disability, their families, supporters and service providers are clear that a sustainable and viable NDIS is important to everyone, but do not support that the proposed NDIS reforms or compulsory independent assessments are the way of achieving this. The NDIS is changing the lives of Queenslanders with disability and the broader community, including 45,000 Queenslanders who are for the very first time getting much needed disability support. Australian’s supported the introduction of the NDIS. We heard that the system needed to change and Australian’s said yes to the NDIS to ensure people with disability can access the individual supports they need and have choice and control over their services.
On Friday 9 July, Disability Ministers from across Australia are coming together to meet with the Commonwealth at the Disability Reform Council (DRC) meeting to discuss the proposed NDIS reforms. There has been broad community feedback the introduction of compulsory independent assessments for NDIS participants and the broader changes are not supported.
It is important that State, Territory and Commonwealth Ministers are listening to people with disability, their families and the sector about what is going to work to deliver a world class, quality and sustainable NDIS. Any changes and reforms must involve people with disability, families and the disability sector in the design and discussion.
As a coalition of seven organisations who hosted the online forum, ”we are pleased that the Queensland Disability Minister, Hon Craig Crawford MP, Minister for Seniors, Disability Services and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships has listened to Queenslanders and is not supporting the reforms at the DRC meeting on Friday 9 July.”
Minister Crawford said, “We are opposed to mandatory independent assessments in their current form. We are not opposed to good ideas, but any changes around scheme sustainability needs to include people with disability, their families and the sector at the table to inform and co-design the approach. The Palaszczuk Government will continue to listen to Queenslanders and does not support the current NDIS reforms.”
On the 19 May 2021, a collaboration of sector peak bodies, advocacy and disability organisations came together to host an online forum – Pause, Reset, Co-design NDIS Reforms. Almost 250 registered participants that included people with disability, family members, supporters and service providers came together to discuss the current NDIS reforms on the table. The clear message from this forum to the Queensland Government was that mandatory independent assessments and a one-size fits all approach was not supported. The message from people was that in their current form, these NDIS reforms will destroy the scheme’s fundamental foundation of support based on individual needs and choice and control around services and supports.
A sustainable and viable NDIS is in the best interests of people with disability and their families. It is in the best interests of the fastest growing sector delivering disability services and supports. It is also in the best interests of the Australian community, delivering not only essential and fundamental supports to people with disability so they can live their day to day lives, but also economic contributions to communities delivering jobs and spending.
It is important that we work together. People and their families who use the services and the people who deliver the supports are best able to inform what changes need to happen to make it work for everyone. A one-size fits all approach is not going to work.
Queenslanders with disability, families, supporters and providers will continue to work with all levels of Government to ensure the NDIS remains focused on people as individuals delivering choice and control and access to essential everyday supports.
Media contacts:
Paige Armstrong, Queenslanders with Disability Network ceo@qdn.org.au 0408 720 099
Collaboration of sector peak bodies, advocacy and disability organisations:
Queenslanders with Disability Network
Queensland Alliance for Mental Health
ADA Australia – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Disability Network of Queensland
National Disability Services
Community Services Industry Alliance
Queensland Advocacy Incorporated
Parent to Parent Queensland
The Queensland Government has issued the following new directives about COVID-19 restrictions. We will keep you updated as information changes.
Parts of Queensland will go into a three-day lockdown after cases of COVID-19 transmission were detected in the community.
QDN held its first meeting in Brisbane South Supported Independent Living complex. The first meeting attracted six enthusiastic residents who contributed many ideas and suggestions of activities and themes they would like to explore in the group. The group will reconvene in a month to pick up the conversation and look to nominate one or two residents to take on the Group Convenor role. The establishment of a Peer Support Group within a supported living environment is an exciting new step for the Power of Peers project.
The group is for the residents, and we bring people together onsite to provide opportunities for members to talk more about topics that are of interest to them like local theme parks, community activities and service like health or transport. We would like to acknowledge and thank the onsite staff for their help to promote the meeting and in supporting residents to attend.
Group Convenor Michael Condon invited Gympie Mayor, Glen Hartwig, to join the Gympie Peer Support Group on Friday 4 June 2021 for a walk through the central Gympie high street, Mary Street. The group took the opportunity to talk with the Mayor about what is great about Mary Street for people with disability as well as where there are some accessibility challenges. Some of these areas include getting around shop signs on the footpath, accessing shops with steps, uneven pavement surfaces and for people using wheelchairs to reach pedestrian crossing buttons.
The Mayor noted the feedback and happily chatted with group members. The Mayor also acknowledged Michael’s leadership within the Peer Support Group in bringing the issues to his attention.This is the second time the Mayor has been joined the Gympie Peer Support Group meeting, it is wonderful to have his support.
The Gympie Peer Support Group meets monthly on the fourth Friday of the month from 10am to 12pm. People with disability in the Gympie area are welcome to join this group, its free to join. The next meeting will be held on: Friday 25 June at Unit 4, 2-4 Horseshoe Bend Road, Gympie Queensland 4570, the meeting will commence at 10am.
Yesterday, Queenslanders with disability, their families, supporters and service providers came together to speak out about a number of proposed reforms to the
Queenslanders with disability and their workers were identified as a priority group to get the COVID-19 vaccine in the Australian rollout, however less than 1% of
This is a brief snapshot for QDN members of the budget initiatives announced on Tuesday 11 May 2021.
QDN welcomes the Federal Government budget announcements, specifically related to people with disability and looks forward to seeing more details about the specific commitments as the budget is rolled out.
QDN will keep members updated with more detailed analysis as we get more information about these budget announcements.
The Hopkins Centre in collaboration with Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) would like to invite you to be a part of an online forum about fitting providers together in your National Disability
Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funded support package.
Come together to hear different views from people with disability, their families and advocates. Share your experiences managing your supports from many providers, to help shape solutions and ensure quality and safety in provision of your supports.
The Caboolture Peer Support Group meets on the last Saturday of every month at the Caboolture Sports Club. Matt McCracken, Group Convenor does a great job bringing people with disability in the Caboolture community to