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.
A number of members have identified a range of challenges and issues around the e-scooters. QDN is holding a forum to identify how to minimise risks of e Scooters and what action is needed. There will be guest speakers that are yet to be announced.
The forum will be held on Wednesday 4 August, 4.00-5.30pm.
To register please head here.
People with disability and their support workers remain a priority for vaccination bookings. You can find information on how to register here.
If you haven’t yet had your first dose we encourage you to make arrangements to get one – the online booking system can take some time, so you can also call the COVID phone line on 134 268. Be prepared to sit on hold for a while, but they are operating 24 hours a day and they are very helpful.
QDN’s Peer Support Groups are run by people with disability for people with disability and are an inclusive place for people to talk about things important to them. New members are welcome.
Peer Support Groups meet monthly both face to face and online.
Upcoming meetings include:
The NDIS has released two consultation papers recently – one is for Home and Living and the other is around Supported Decision Making. QDN will be making submissions and we are keen to hear members views to inform our responses. We are holding an online consultation and invite QDN members or supporters to take part.
Thanks to everyone’s hard work and lobbying, the Minister for the NDIS Senator, the Honourable Linda Reynolds, announced last Friday 9 July 2021 that the plan to introduce Independent Assessments will “not proceed”. Her press release after last Friday’s Ministers meeting can be found here.
The Disability Reform Minister’s meeting have released the communique from their meeting on 9 July 2021. You can read the summary of the meeting here.
There have been three new community cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. Mask-wearing restrictions will be extended for seven days until 6am on Friday, 23 July. People in the local government areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Logan City, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and the Gold Coast must continue to wear masks whenever they leave home (with exceptions if you are unable to wear one). Restrictions will ease in the local government areas of Townsville and Palm Island at 6am tomorrow as planned.
Overview
QDN members have consistently raised concerns about the housing rental market and QDN has strongly advocated for an accessible, affordable, and fair housing rental market.
To further our advocacy, QDN has joined the Make Renting Fair Alliance which supports reform of our renting laws so that all Queenslanders can feel safe in their home, whether they rent or own. The alliance has been led by Tenants Queensland, which is the peak body funded in this state to represent the interests of people in the social, community and private rental market.
Home and Living consultation – An ordinary life at home
The NDIS is developing a new Home and Living policy to inform the way they support participants to pursue their home and living goals. The aim is to give participants more choice and control over where they live, who the live with and the support they use.
The NDIS has released its NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits for 2021-22 (previously known as the NDIS Price Guide). Price limits have increased for basic weekday supports from a disability support worker, but capacity building supports such as therapy, psychology and nursing have not been indexed. You can see the full detail in the document here.