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    1300 363 783

    QDN Policy E-News Wednesday 22 July 2026

    Have your say

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    Public Consultation on Volunteering in Queensland

    The Queensland Government has released a consultation on volunteering in Queensland.  

    A 2024 report into volunteering showed that the number of volunteers had dropped by 10%. In response the Queensland Government has announced a number of new policies aimed at improving volunteering rates.  

    These include: 

    • Establishment of a Ministerial Advisory Panel for Volunteering 
    • Creation of a whole-of-government Volunteering Working Group 
    • Provided a $250,000 funding boost to four regional volunteer resource centres 
    • Streamlined disaster volunteers’ personal injury insurance 

    If you would like to know more about the consultation, please visit the website by clicking the link: 
    https://www.qld.gov.au/community/community-organisations-volunteering/volunteering  

    Domestic and Family Violence and Disability Capability Assessment Tools (DDCAT) Register Your Interest

    QDN along with DVConnect and Ethicol have partnered to co-design a Capability Assessment Tool which can be used to measure the capability of people working in Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) and disabiltiy sectors to meet the needs of people with disability impacted by DFV.  

    Registrations of interest are now open. If you are interested, please fill out the form by clicking the following link: 
    https://ethicol.snapforms.com.au/form/ddcat-register-your-interest-lived-experience  

    QPAC Disability Inclusion Action Plan Survey

    QPAC is currently preparing its first Disability Inclusion Action Plan and would like to hear from people with disability about how they can make QPAC a more accessible place for everyone.  

    Anyone who completes the survey will have the opportunity to enter a draw for a $200 QPAC gift certificate. There are also options to complete the survey in different formats.  

    Responses to the survey are due by 5pm on Monday 27 July.

    For more information, please visit the website by clicking the link: 
    https://qpac.typeform.com/to/OigJeuPg  

    News and Events

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    QDN Small Changes, Big Difference Campaign Highlighted on ABC Brisbane

    On Friday 10 July, ABC Queensland ran a story highlighting the Small Changes, Big Difference campaign which was conducted in conjunction with Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) and highlighted the voices of renters with a disability and property managers.  

    The report also highlighted the Voices of Queenslanders 2025 Report which highlighted that more than one in three people with disability lacked a home that suited their needs.  

    For more information on the Small Changes, Big Difference campaign please visit the website by clicking this link:  
    https://qdn.org.au/home-mods/  

    To read the ABC story please click this link to visit the website: 
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-10/qld-campaign-renters-with-disability-request-home-modification/106817438  

    To see last year’s Voices of Queenslanders Report, please click the link to visit the website: 
    https://qdn.org.au/the-voice-of-queenslanders-with-disability-report-2025/

    Policy Submissions

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    In progress

    Consultation on the Second Action Plan (National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032)

    The Australian Government has announced a consultation for the Second Action Plan (National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032). The action plan will be focused on five key areas: 

    • Victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence 
    • Prevention and early intervention 
    • Children and young people in their own right 
    • People who use violence 
    • System integration and workforce. 

    Submissions are open until 31 July. If you would like to have your say on this consultation, please visit the website by clicking the link:
    https://engage.dss.gov.au/second-action-plan/  

    National Redress Scheme Eighth Anniversary Review

    The Federal Government is undertaking a review into the National Redress Scheme which is for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse.  

    The review will focus on priority areas for improvements as well as measures to support safe closure of the scheme. Please note that applications to the scheme will be closed on 30 June 2027.  

    The review is interested in hearing from the following:  

    • previous and current applicants to the Scheme 
    • families, friends, carers and anyone who has supported someone with their redress journey 
    • survivors who have decided not to apply to the Scheme or who have started an application but did not continue 
    • Redress Support Services and advocacy organisations 
    • institutions. 

    If you are interested in knowing more, please visit the website by clicking the link: 
    https://engage.dss.gov.au/national-redress-scheme-eighth-anniversary-review/ 

    Policy Updates

    Queensland Budget Estimates

    Date Announced for Minister for Disability Attendance

    The 2026/27 Queensland Budget Estimates are due to take place at the end of July. QDN can confirm that the hearing date for the Minister of Disability will take place on 30 July 2026.  

    This is an opportunity to hear from the Minister and the Department about the Budget and what the 2026/27 budget means for Queenslanders with Disability. 

    If you would like to read more about the 30 July hearing, please visit the website by clicking the link: 
    https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-Committees/Committees/Committee-Details?cid=269&id=8598  

    NDIS

    Technical Advisory Group for NDIS Functional Capacity

    The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has announced a Technical Advisory Group for NDIS functional capacity.  

    The group has been tasked with providing expert advice on how to develop consistent and evidence-based approaches to assessing functional capacity for NDIS access.  

    The group will provide feedback in three stages: 

    • Development of an assessment framework 
    • Advice on assessment model options 
    • Advice to support implementation  

    For more information, please visit the website by clicking the link: 
    https://www.health.gov.au/committees-and-groups/technical-advisory-group-for-ndis-functional-capacity

    NDIA Establishes First Nations Connect

    After community feedback, the NDIA has established First Nations Connect, a First Nations specific culturally sensitive phone line designed to help First Nations participants speak to staff who understand identity and community life, respect cultural values and explain the NDIS.  

    If you would like to reach out to First Nations Connect, the number is 1800 411 640.  

    If you would like to read more about the announcement, please visit the website by clicking this link: https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/11604-phone-service-established-first-nations-people-disability  

    2026 Census

    Support Materials now Available for 2026 Census 

    The 2026 Census is scheduled to take place on 11 August 2026. In preparation, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has released a series of fact sheets and information on the Census available across different community groups, including people with disability and their carers.  

    Apart from information sheets there are also fact sheets available in easy read formats.  

    If you would like to access these fact sheets before the Census, please visit the website by clicking the link: 
    https://info.census.abs.gov.au/help/resources  

    Employment

    Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Return to Work Study Published

    Members of the Hopkins Centre have published research concerning the importance of assessing communication skills for returning to work after brain injury.  

    The study explores how clinicians assess cognitive-communication skills when supporting people with ABI and what can be improved in terms of improving rehabilitation services and employment outcomes.  

    For more information on the report, please visit the website by clicking the link: 
    https://www.hopkinscentre.edu.au/news-view/new-publication-highlights-the-importance-of-581  

    To access the report, please visit the website by clicking the link: 
    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1460-6984.70265  

    From our friends

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    Policy updates regarding other peak bodies

    Children and Young People with Disability Australia Launch Take Charge of Change

    Children and Young People with Disability Australia have launched their Take Charge of Change resources to assist children and young people with disability, parents and caregivers to navigate major life changes such as going to school and moving into employment. 

    The resources were co-designed with children and young people with disability, as well as their parents and caregivers and are available for free.  

    If you would like access to these resources, please visit the website by clicking the link: 
    https://cyda.org.au/takecharge/

    Guided Eyes: Community for Low Vision or Blindness

    Guided Eyes, a community that links people living with low vision or blindness with businesses, organisations and volunteers to assist with improving accessibility and creating inclusive and connected communities is looking for people who would like to join their program.  

    If you are interested, they have created a form which allows you to decide on whether you would like to be a member or would like to partner with the Guided Eyes community.  

    If you are interested, you can access the form at the following link:
         https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=sCfz6gUkQUWsJ0wnbJACgcCfTpl9fotLmwf8WdFRtnBUMUMwVTBISzVFTjI4Rlg4Mk9HUjRGVEQ4WC4u&route=shorturl  

    National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health Releases Roundtable Report

    The National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health held a roundtable on 4 February 2026 with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and other stakeholders to discuss the need for improved services for people with intellectual disability.  

    The report from this roundtable has now been released and includes discussion on: 

    • What needs to happen  
    • Next steps  

    If you are interested in reading the report, please visit the website by clicking the link: 
    https://nceidh.org.au/news/roundtable-report-models-support-and-sedation  

    Every Australian Counts: NDIS Campaign

    Every Australian Counts has developed an online campaign that allows people to reach out to their representatives to express their concerns over the changes to the NDIS.  

    People who are interested can send an email expressing their concerns through the online portal. The webpage also provides background on the issues the changes to the NDIS will cause for people with disability on the NDIS.  

    If you are interested in adding your voice, please visit the website by clicking the link: 
    https://eac.good.do/stopfixprotect/email-decision-makers/  

    ARAFMI Mental Health Carer Forum

    ARAFMI is hosting its annual Mental Health Carer Forum on Tuesday 28 July at the Brisbane Convention and Entertainment Centre from 9am until 3:30pm. 

    This is an opportunity for carers, family and kin who support someone experiencing mental health challenges to hear insights from people with lived experience.  

    This year’s focus is the Carer Journey and is designed to hear from people experiencing the early days of mental health challenges to recovery and stability.  

    If you are interested in attending the event, please visit the website by clicking the following link: 
    https://arafmi.com.au/events/2026-arafmi-mental-health-carer-forum/  

    Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Expression of Interest

    Mental Health Lived Experience Peak has opened an expression of interest to join its Brighter Future Project. This project is designed to produce a report focused on psychosocial supports.  

    The report is aimed to focus on:  

    • Key values, practices and models of service that characterise lived experience-led psychosocial supports   
    • the views of mental health consumers as well as families and carers on the value of lived experience-led psychosocial supports   

    If you are interested in joining the project, please visit https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=ocRvRId2hEie5bE1aujAYj81rFiaqJJKjPTLki57S5dUNFUzRExFNUFVSDI4RjlUTkgzMUFIRE1BQyQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl 

    Stories

    QDN’s policy team wants to hear about the issues impacting your lives.  

    If you have a story to share, follow the link below to fill out a story form on our website: 
    https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=pN22SPKKGkecMSBHox1OyJbhb2Rfc4BBj97rFvpKHtlUQTFEQzg3WEY1VjhLMFI5NkZOQ0RETlhNSiQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl