E-News Wednesday 7 May 2026
Key Updates
Minister Butler’s announcements 22 April 2026
QDN recognises that the recent announcements outline a significant set of reforms that will have impact on the everyday supports people with disability need to live and be part of their communities. This includes supports that enable people to get to work, attend appointments, and maintain connections with family and friends. These are not unreasonable supports – they are fundamental to living day to day ordinary lives, inclusion, independence, and wellbeing.
The NDIS remains one of Australia’s most important rights-based social policy reforms. There continues to be strong community support for the Scheme, and people with disability are clear that they want to see it sustained and strengthened. A sustainable NDIS is critical to ensuring that people with disability can exercise choice and control in their lives.
At the same time, QDN acknowledges that governments are seeking to reset the Scheme over the next four years, including measures to reduce costs, changes to planning timeframes, and adjustments to participant supports. This includes reductions in social and community participation funding, changes to eligibility based on functional capacity, and the introduction of new planning and assessment approaches. These changes will have real impacts on people’s daily lives and must be carefully considered.
A key element of these reforms is the proposed development of a foundational supports system. QDN supports the intent to strengthen community-based supports; however, it is critical to recognise that building an effective and accessible foundational system will take time. During this transition, it is important that people are not left without access to supports they need.
QDN emphasises that a rights-based approach must remain central to all reforms. This means ensuring that people with disability are not disadvantaged through changes to eligibility, funding, or access, and that the voices of people with disability are actively included in the design and implementation of reforms.
These announcements represent the beginning of a reform process. Legislation has not yet been passed, and many details remain to be determined. QDN will continue to work with members, government, and stakeholders to ensure that the outcomes of these reforms uphold the rights of people with disability and access to reasonable, necessary and ordinary supports people need to live their day to day lives.
Have Your Say
Online NDIS check-in
QDN will be holding an online check-in for members on Friday 15 May 2026 at 9.00AM. The session will be a chance for members to receive up-to-date information about the NDIs and the proposed changes announced by Minister Mark Butler at the National Press Club on 22 April 2026. Members will be able to share how they feel about the latest NDIS announcements and hear about QDN’s strategies moving forward.
Event details are as follows:
Date: Friday 15 May 2026
Time: 9.00AM to 10.00AM
Join the online forum to discuss the proposed NDIS changes by registering at the link below:
https://events.humanitix.com/ndis-check-in
Support
If you feel like you might like to speak with someone about this, here is a list of support services you can connect with.
Lifeline
Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 – available 24/7 for crisis support and suicide prevention services.
Text support is also available – 0477 131 114.
Beyond Blue
1300 224 636 – Call Beyond Blue 24/7 for advice, referral and support from a trained mental health professional.
13 Yarn
13 92 76 – 13 YARN is a 24/7 national crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
QLife
1800 184 527 – QLife offers phone and online anonymous LGBTIQA+ support and referral. 3pm-midnight local time every day.
DVConnect
1800 811 811 – DVConnect offers a 24/7 domestic violence helpline for Queenslanders to find a pathway to safety.
Blue Knot
1300 657 380 – 7 days a week between 9am – 5pm AEST/AEDT
Accessible Courts Workshops
QDN Disability Reforms Team is currently working with the Department of Justice on a co-design workshop focused on Accessible Courts and Tribunals. This work is taking place as part of the Stakeholder Engagement and Co-design Strategy, in response to a specific recommendation made in the Disability Royal Commission (DRC).
By co-designing with people with disability, the workshop will help QDN make recommendations to the Department of Justice that are practical, informed by lived experience, and aligned with the recommendations of the DRC.
If you have lived experience of disability and have used courts or tribunals and would like to be involved, please contact the Disability Reforms Team before Monday 11th May at admin@qdn.org.au to find out more.
“The Answer is Human Rights” Seminar
A seminar will be held in person in Brisbane, as well as online, to explore what can be done to better protect human rights at the national, state and territory level. The seminars are being presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission in partnership with the peak human rights and anti-discrimination agencies in each state and territory. The seminars will involve presentations, panel discussion, and question time. Everyone is welcome to attend, but places are limited, so secure your place as soon as registrations open.
To stay up to date as more information is released, follow the link below to the Australian Human Rights Commission website:
https://humanrights.gov.au/about-us/40-years-of-the-commission/the-answer-is-human-rights-national-seminar-series
NDIS Commission Stakeholder Sentiment Survey
The NDIS Commission has published its annual Stakeholder Sentiment Survey to gather feedback from NDIS participants, family members, carers, representatives, and service providers.
The survey asks participants about their awareness of the NDIS Commission and its responsibilities, as well as their experience with the Commission, the preferred method of receiving information about disability issues, and more.
The survey is available in the following formats:
- Easy English
- Easy Chinese
- Easy Vietnamese
Telephone assistance to complete the survey is available on request.
Complete the survey by following the link here:
https://surveydau.pureprofile.com/survey/selfserve/5e1/260428#$
The survey closes 22 May 2026.
Expressions of Interest – Shaping NDIS for First Nations Children and Young People
The NDIS is looking for First Nations families, young people, carers and community representatives to help make NDIS better for children and young g people. The project aims to:
- Help keep the NDIS culturally safe and inclusive
- Build new pathways that work for First Nations people
- Explore what is not working
- Try new ideas
To register your interest, click the link below:
https://engage.ndis.gov.au/projects/shaping-ndis-for-first-nations-children-and-young-people
Cairns Regional Council Survey
The Cairns Regional Council is developing a Placemaking Strategy to improve the planning, design, development and operation of the local parks and public spaces.
The Council is seeking feedback from the community to understand what matters most to the community.
Learn more and complete the survey by following the link below:
https://haveyoursay.cairns.qld.gov.au/placemaking-strategy
The survey closes 31 May 2026.
Understanding NDIS Funding Periods Webinar
The NDIA is hosting a series of webinars to help participants better understand changes to NDIS funding periods.
The webinar will explore:
- What funding periods are
- Why funding periods have changed
- How funding periods work in practice
Participants will also learn tips for managing their budgets.
To learn more about the webinar or register, follow the link below to the NDIS website:
https://www.ndis.gov.au/events/11162-understanding-ndis-webinar-funding-periods
Stafford State By-Election
On 16 May 2026, residents of Stafford will be required to vote on a new Member of Parliament.
Voting will be open between 8am and 6pm at 12 polling places across the electorate.
You can find the locations of voting centres and their accessibility on the ‘Find My Polling Booth’ website or by visiting:
https://fmpb.elections.qld.gov.au/EventID=648&EventType=256&StreetName=Stafford%20QLD,%20Australia&electorate=STAFFORD
Those who require telephone voting due to accessibility reasons can call 1300 912 782.
For more information about how to vote, early voting, or updating your enrolment, visit:
https://event.elections.qld.gov.au/Events/EventDetails?EventID=648&EventType=256
Rapid Survey: Psychosocial Lived Experience Views on Proposed NDIS Changes
MHLEPQ is calling on people across Queensland to share their lived experience perspectives on recent changes to the NDIS and the supports that matter most. The survey is open not only to individuals with psychosocial support needs, but also to unpaid carers, recognising the significant impact that gaps in quality support have on those providing care. Insights gathered will play a vital role in shaping advocacy efforts, with stronger participation helping to amplify the collective voice of the community.
Current data highlights the urgency of this work. An estimated 92,000 Queenslanders with significant psychosocial support needs are unable to access the NDIS, and successful approvals on a psychosocial basis have dropped by 62% nationally since 2020. MHLEPQ encourages people to contribute their own experiences and share the survey widely to ensure these realities are heard. While the survey will remain open for a short time, responses will begin being collated from 7 May, so early participation is strongly encouraged.
To take the survey, visit the link below:
Rapid Survey: Psychosocial Lived Experience Views on Proposed NDIS Changes
QDN News/ Events
Small Changes Big Differences Campaign Launch & Member Forums
The Small Changes Big Difference home modifications campaign officially launched on 1 May 2026. Hosted at the DWF lawyers offices, the launch event was attended by representatives of the Queensland Government, real estate peak bodies, and members of QDN.
The campaign focuses on the critical role that property managers play in improving rental access and experiences for people with disability, as well as empowering and supporting tenants having minor modifications requested and installed.
As part of the campaign, QDN is also running a forum with the goal of making it easier for people with disability to understand tenants’ rights around home modifications. The forum will discuss myths around modification requests and will draw from the perspectives of people with lived experience.
To access information about the campaign or to download campaign resources, follow the link below:
https://qdn.org.au/home-mods/
To register for the member forum visit the link below:
https://events.humanitix.com/small-changes-big-difference-forum
2026 Inclusion Matters Forums – Rockhampton Putting Inclusion into Action
Featuring local QDN Peer Leaders, the first of the 2026 Inclusion Matters Forums launched in Rockhampton to a filled room of people with disability, family members and careers, community and peak organisations, members of local and regional councils and community members and advocates.
From its beginnings in 2025, the Inclusion Matters forums, have grown and are being driven by a need for community collaboration to tackle the inclusion barriers we are facing in our local communities.
Speakers included:
Damon Morrison, General Manager of Communities and Lifestyle at Rockhampton Regional Council, Dan Smith from Communities for Children Initiative, Anthony Clements from the Fitzroy Local Jobs Program, Des Ryan who is a Board Director of QDN, John Clayton from QShelter, Ruve Kent from Sport4All and Stephen Coulter who is General Manager of QDN.
To learn more about 2026 Inclusion Matters Forums, and upcoming online forums, please visit:
https://qdn.org.au/ourwork/inclusion-matters/
2026 Voice of Queenslanders Survey has closed
Thank you to the hundreds of Queenslanders who took the time to share your views and experiences through this important survey.
It is important to capture the lived experience of Queenslanders with disability so we can ensure that their voices are included.
The survey results now will be put together by Griffith University, and we look forward to sharing the results with you as soon as they are released.
Policy Updates
Policy Submissions
Completed
Integrity of the National Disability Insurance Scheme
QDN provided a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme on the Integrity of the NDIS. The inquiry is focused on four key areas, specifically exploring the nature and extent of non-compliance— including fraud and “sharp practices”. Our submission also focused on the impacts that non-compliance has on participants and their families, as well as the effectiveness and adequacies of previous policies.
For more information about this inquiry, follow the link to the Parliament of Australia website:
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/National_Disability_Insurance_Scheme/NDISIntegrity
In progress
Consultation on court and tribunal users with disability
The Department of Justice is seeking feedback on how the court and tribunal system can be more accessible for people with disability.
This consultation is a result of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (volume 8) report, which revealed that people with disability, especially those with cognitive disability, are significantly over-represented in all stages of the criminal justice system. QDN’s submission will be informed by feedback from our members, as well as the current work conducted by our disability reforms team outlined above.
For more information about this consultation, and to have your say, follow the link to the Department of Justice website:
https://www.justice.qld.gov.au/community-engagement/community-consultation/current/consultation-on-court-and-tribunal-users-with-disability
Other Policy News
NDIS
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill
On 22 April 2026, the Minister for Disability and the NDIS, the Honourable Mark Butler MP, announced that he will be introducing The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill.
The Bill will be introduced during the budget sitting week in May, with the government aiming to pass the Bill by 30 June.
Some of the outcomes of the Bill if passed include:
- Access to the scheme will be determined by a standardised assessment that measures a person’s functional capacity (or lack of functional capacity)
- The list of disabilities that enable a person to be automatically eligible for the scheme will be removed.
- Social and community participation funding will be reset for all participants.
- Mandatory registration will be expanded to include providers that deliver personal care, daily living supports and supports provided in closed settings.
To find more information, follow the links below:
- Minister Butler’s speech:
https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/minister-butler-speech-at-the-national-press-club-22-april-2026?language=en - Minister Bulter’s media release:
https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/securing-the-future-of-the-ndis-for-future-generations?language=en - The Department of Health, Disability ad Ageing’s fact sheet:
Securing the NDIS for future generations | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
To provide feedback on how these changes will impact you, please complete our policy story form:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=pN22SPKKGkecMSBHox1OyJbhb2Rfc4BBj97rFvpKHtlUQTFEQzg3WEY1VjhLMFI5NkZOQ0RETlhNSiQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl
NDIS Framework Planning Rollout Delayed
The New Framework Planning rollout has been delayed from July 2026 to 1 April 2027.
This decision was made due to the feedback received from people with disability and their families, carers and advocates. The new timeframe will allow the government to have more time to listen to feedback, test the proposed rules and processes, and to communicate more effectively about the changes to participants, providers and the public. QDN provided a submission on the New Framework Planning Rules, which will be uploaded to the QDN website shortly.
To learn more about the Framework Planning rollout, follow the link below to the NDIS website:
https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/11168-securing-ndis-future-generations
Health
Urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Equity Dashboard Launch
A new dashboard has been launched to provide reliable, region‑level data on the health and wellbeing of First Nations people living in urban areas. The Urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dashboard was developed by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in partnership with the University of Queensland. The dashboard aims to advance the health equity of Fist Nations people living in cities and help communities, practitioners and decision makers have access to timely and accurate information about health and welfare issues.
View the dashboard at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website:
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/indigenous-australians/urban-first-nations-health-equity-dashboards/contents/about
Transport
E-mobility Hearing
On 27 April 2026, QDN’s CEO Michelle Moss appeared at Queensland Parliament or a hearing on the inquiry into the Transport and Other Legislation (Managing E-Mobility Use and Protecting Our Communities) Amendment Bill 2026.
During the hearing, Michelle reiterated key positions from QDN’s submission which highlighted the need for the Bill to consider the potential impact on people with disability who use e-mobility devices, particularly if the Bill removes the right to have some custom designed devices and adds new licensing requirements that could impact many people with disability.
To read QDN’s submission, visit our website at the following link:
https://qdn.org.au/our-advocacy/e-mobility-safety/
To learn more about the inquiry, please visit here:
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-Committees/Committees/Committee-Details?cid=272&id=8575
Central Station Lift Upgrade
The lifts at central station will be closed between platforms 5 and 6 from 27 April 2026 to early 2027 due a new lift being installed.
Four new escalators will also be installed. However, this will be completed in phases to ensure that one escalator remains available at all times.
Queensland Rail has advised that if passengers need to use a lift to access platform 5 and 6, they will need to catch a service from platforms 1, 2, 3 or 4 and change trains at Roma Street or Fortitude Valley to continue their journey.
Learn more at the Queensland Rail website:
https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/inthecommunity/projects/centralstation
From our Friends
Understanding the NDIS Changes Forum by PWDA
A national online forum is being hosted by PWDA to help participants understand the proposed NDIS changes, and what it will mean for the disability community.
The forum is being held online from 4.00pm to 5.30pm on Thursday 7 May 2026.
To learn more or register for the event, go to PWDA’s website:
https://forms.pwd.org.au/civicrm/event/register/?reset=1&id=47
New NDIS App Launched by Down Syndrome Australia
A new app has been developed by Down Syndrome Australia, after receiving funding from the NDIS Commission Grants program. The app is called ‘Supporting My Rights’ and was created to help people with disability better understand their rights and to feel more confident about using the NDIS. The app has:
- Easy read content
- Activities, videos, podcasts and other resources
- Information for service providers
The Supporting My Rights app was codesigned with people with down syndrome and intellectual disability to ensure that it is accessible.
Learn more and download the app here:
https://www.downsyndrome.org.au/resources/apps/supporting-my-rights-app/
Stories
QDN’s policy team wants to hear about the issues impacting your lives. If you have a story to share, fill out a story form on our website by following the link below:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=pN22SPKKGkecMSBHox1OyJbhb2Rfc4BBj97rFvpKHtlUQTFEQzg3WEY1VjhLMFI5NkZOQ0RETlhNSiQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl