QDN e-News 14 November 2023
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Board updates
After the recent AGM the Board had a meeting. It was not a voting year but they still hold an election for positions on the Board every year and there are a few changes.
Stacy Miller our Appointed Director who is our lawyer on the Board has agreed to stay on for another year whilst we recruit for the position of appointed Director/s through the work of the NPC. Jane Britt has retired from her position of Board Director.
Below are the Board positions for 2023/2024:
- Chairperson – Sharon Boyce
- Deputy Chair – Gary Matthews
- Chair of Audit and Compliance Committee – Des Ryan
- Chair of Nominations and Performance Committee - Talitha Kingsmill
- Appointed Director – Stacy Miller
- Director – Peter Tully
- Director – Nerine Williams
- Company Secretary – Mark McKeon
Disability Action Week 2023 - Access ignites: it’s good business
Find out how the skills of people with disability, both as business owners and employees, are driving commercial success. Featuring an exciting line-up of speakers and panellists, this free online webinar showcases the wide-ranging benefits of workforce diversity, inclusion and accessibility. The webinar is part of Disability Action Week, from 25 November to 2 December 2023. Disability Action Week celebrates the contribution of Queenslanders with disability to our families, communities, workplaces and economy.
Date: Friday 1st December
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Register here: https://bit.ly/3MyfIjV
More information: https://www.qld.gov.au/disability/community/awards-events/disability-action-week
Details:
Opening Forum:
- The Honourable Craig Crawford MP, Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Seniors and Disability Services
- The Honourable Di Farmer MP, Minister for Employment and Small Business, Minister for Training and Skills Development and Minister for Youth Justice
- Julie Saunders, Director, Urbis – What’s possible – Brisbane 2032
Panel Discussion - What’s possible - “Access ignites: it’s good for business”
- Australian Defence Force & Endeavour Partnership – Robert Chandler and Madisen Ward
- Australian Spatial Analytics – Geoff Smith
- Our microbusiness – Thinking of You Gift, Queensland Children’s Hospital – Donna and Freya Toussaint
QDN Disability Royal Commission member forums – November & December
QDN is hosting a range of QDN member conversations about the Disability Royal Commission in November and December. The forums will cover the Disability Royal Commission Next Steps, Housing, Health, and Employment and are an opportunity to come together to discuss recommendations and member feedback.
Dates and details can be found under the ‘What’s on’ section of the e-news.
Easy Read Guide for Disability Royal Commission Recommendations
Inclusion Australia has released an Easy Read Guide of the recommendations made by the Royal Commission in their Final Report.
More information is available here.
The Easy Read Guide is available here.
Disability Royal Commission Health Recommendations:
Key themes of the Health Recommendations in the Final Report from the Disability Royal Commission include:
- Improved access to quality health care including specialised health and mental health services particularly for people with cognitive disability.
- Improved training and workforce development in cognitive disability healthcare.
- Expansion of the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability.
- Introduce and audit disability health navigators that support people with cognitive disability and complex health needs access health services.
- Studies on impacts of positive behaviour support and reduction of restrictive practices.
- Annual reports on inappropriate use of psychotropic medications with follow up actions.
- State-based prohibition of non-therapeutic sterilisation.
Access the Final Report here.
QDN Member Survey
The QDN member survey is open - this survey follows the format of our previous surveys, aiming to gather your feedback regarding what is currently functioning effectively, areas that require change, and suggestions for potential improvements. The 2023 Member Survey also incorporates a series of questions designed to solicit your input on QDN's strategic priorities and direction.
Take the survey here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=pN22SPKKGkecMSBHox1OyCL6-yvIkYtDtNGPbQT6Zt5URDVIUUlaRFBSRjEyNUEzWlZRUFg5V0kwUC4u
2023 Ted’s Wheelie Challenge (Deception Bay Mobility Scooter Convoy)
To celebrate International Day of Older Persons With Disabilities on December 3, we are holding a Mobility Scooter and Electric Wheelchair convoy to promote the safe use of these devices for mobility and independence.
Date: 3 December 2023
Timing: Meet at the Deception Bay PCYC at 9am, start at 10am and finish with a FREE community BBQ at the area opposite the Deception Bay Library.
Location: 100 Maine Terrace, Deception Bay (Deception Bay PCYC)
Call Ted on 0458 955 170 for more information.
Human Rights Week
The Queensland Human Rights Commission run Human Rights Week each year in Queensland from 1-10th of December, it includes events, training and resources. The theme is “Universal means everyone.”
More information is available here.
National Human Rights Awards Finalists
21 finalists were chosen from over 260 nominations for the national Human Rights Awards. The Awards will be taking place in Sydney on Friday the 8th of December.
More information is available here.
Policy update
Additional support for Community Sector Organisations
The Australian Government is rolling out increased indexation and supplementation payments to more than 700 Community Sector Organisations, infusing an additional $315.7 million over four years, with $25 million allocated in the current financial year. These funds will enable Community Sector Organisations to continue their services, including support for people with disability, services for caregivers, initiatives to combat violence against women and children, and other family and community support programs.
More information is available here.
Wellbeing index for people with disability
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is working with Monash University Centre for Health Economics to develop a new way to measure the wellbeing of people with disability, including NDIS participants. As part of this work, NDIA is inviting NDIS participants and other people with disability to take part in a survey collecting information about what is important to participants and other people with disability when thinking about wellbeing.
This will allow NDIA to monitor how the NDIS and other services are improving the wellbeing of NDIS participants and other people with disability. NDIA wants to hear from as many participants and people with disability as possible.
More information is available here.
New PACE system for the NDIS
The NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) has decided to delay the full rollout of its new customer relationship management system, PACE, until February 2024. Initially planned for September, the rollout was postponed to the end of October. However, due to concerns raised by NDS (National Disability Services), providers, and participants, the NDIA will now adopt a staged approach to the transition, with the full national rollout starting in February of the following year. This decision comes after issues and concerns were raised during a trial in Tasmania that began in November the previous year. NDS welcomes the additional time taken by the NDIA to improve the system for the benefit of both participants and providers.
More information is available here.
Good Practice Guidelines for Engaging with people with People with Disability
On October 18, 2023, a new set of recommendations was released to assist governments and organisations in effectively working with people with disability. The Guidelines represent a commitment within Australia's Disability Strategy 2021-2031 and have been formed based on the insights and expertise provided by people with disability. The Guidelines serve as a practical resource for engaging and including people with disability into community consultation, policy development, and governmental decision-making.
The primary objective of the Guidelines is to enhance the design, planning, and execution of engagement efforts, thereby enabling more people with disability to voice their opinions on matters that affect them directly. Extensive input from community members, encompassing with lived experience, First Nations with disability, and people with disability from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, has played a crucial role in the development of the Guidelines.
Access the Guidelines here.
Resources to boost employment opportunities for job seekers with autism
The Australian Government has invested in the Autism Co-operative Research Centre (Autism CRC), dedicated to assisting and enhancing the employment prospects of people on the autism spectrum.
With the backing of the Commonwealth, Autism CRC has recently launched an array of updated resources aimed at facilitating the employment of people with autism. Among these resources is an improved version of the myWAY Employability tool. Additionally, a new online resource package called Self-Advocacy@Work will be accessible to users starting from November. These resources complement the existing suite of tools created by Autism CRC, all of which are designed to promote a better understanding of neurodiversity in the workplace, benefiting both employees and employers.
The myWAY Employability resource assists people on the autism spectrum in setting and achieving their employment objectives, effectively communicating their needs and strengths in the workplace, and successfully interacting with employers and service providers. There will be future opportunities for the public to provide feedback on the draft National Autism Strategy.
More information is available here.
Cutting NDIS Appeals Cases
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is achieving faster decision-making in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) through targeted alternate dispute resolution efforts. Over the past year, the time it takes to resolve AAT matters has nearly halved, from 31 to 18 weeks, for matters received during that period. This progress is part of the ongoing efforts to enhance the NDIS experience for participants and their support networks.
The establishment of an early resolution team to identify cases suitable for early resolution has also contributed to reducing the caseload. As of October 1, 2023:
- 7,282 NDIS cases have been resolved at the AAT.
- The overall caseload has decreased by 35.5% since May 2022, down to 2,909.
- 90% of the 4,501 legacy cases awaiting an AAT hearing by June 2022 have been resolved.
The Independent Expert Review trial has been a trialled program, involving legal and disability experts to help resolve matters before they reach the AAT. The trial provided valuable insights and will guide the NDIA in improving dispute resolution processes in the future. The NDIA remains committed to enhancing its approach to working with people with disability to ensure they receive the necessary support for a fulfilling life. The IER Program Evaluation Report will be accessible on the NDIS website later this month.
More information is available here.
Flinders University toolkit empowers people with disability
Flinders University has introduced a new supported decision-making toolkit and published practical resources on its website for people with disability and those who assist them. The toolkit aims to ensure that people with disability actively participate in decision-making processes that affect their lives, ultimately enhancing their quality of life and allowing for personalised support from practitioners. Additionally, the toolkit will offer practical guidance to service providers to enhance the quality of their support for people with disability in the context of Supported Decision-Making regarding behaviour support plans.
The Australian Government has provided funding to Flinders University to develop these resources, with the goal of empowering NDIS participants to have more influence, choices, and control in the creation of their behaviour support plans.
More information is available here.
Toolkit available here.
Support for older people with disability
The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) as released a discussion paper that explores the importance of adequate support for older people with disability, who often face complex challenges in accessing necessary services. It is a collaborative effort by OPAN and the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) and aims to:
- Provide an overview of critical issues related to services for older people with disability in Australia.
- Explore definitions of disability-related and aging-related needs.
- Offer essential statistics on unmet needs and reliance on informal support among older people with disabilities.
- Highlight the shortcomings of the Australian policy framework in meeting the needs of older people with disabilities.
- Initiate a discussion on solutions to address these needs.
More information and access to the paper here
Bundamba Station accessibility upgrade
Demolition has started as part of the $59 million Bundamba station (in Brisbane) accessibility upgrade, which is set to provide improved services and access for commuters. The station has served the community since 1878 and will now undergo works to become more accessible.
A first of its kind temporary rail overpass has been built over the train tracks, which will maintain cross-corridor access for the community during the construction of the upgraded station.
More information is available here.
Stronger Vilification Laws introduced for Queensland
Reforms have been introduced through the Criminal Code (Serious Vilification Hate Crimes) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 and have been passed by the Queensland Parliament last week with bipartisan support. They will strengthen protections and support police to better address serious online vilification. A date is yet to be set for the laws to come into effect.
More information is available here.
What's on
Peer Support Groups
- Tuesday, 14 November 2023, Gladstone, 12:30-1:30pm, Phillip Street Family and Community Precinct
- Wednesday, 15 November 2023, Brisbane, 10:30-12:30pm, QDN office and online with Zoom
- Wednesday, 15 November 2023, Deception Bay, 10:30-12:30, Deception Bay Darts Club; 32 Bayview Terrace, Deception Bay
- Friday, 17 November 2023, Cairns Yarning Circle, 12:30pm-2:00pm, MaraWay Community Hub, 86 Anderson St, Manunda
- Friday, 17 November 2023, Unique Parenting (UP), 11:00am-1:00pm, QDN Office and Online via Zoom
- Friday, 17 November 2023, Brisbane Hot Topics, 09:00-12:00, QDN office and online with Zoom
- Saturday, 18 November 2023, Ipswich, 10:00am-12:00pm, Club Services Ipswich (CSI), 5 Lowry St, North Ipswich
- Monday, 20 November 2023, QDN Statewide Online, 5:30pm-7:00pm, Online via Zoom
- Thursday, 23 November 2023, Emerging Leaders, 11:00am-12:30pm, Online with Zoom
- Friday, 24 November 2023, LGBTQIA+, 4:30pm-6:30pm, Online via Zoom
QDN Disability Royal Commission Forums
Disability Royal Commission Housing Conversation
Join QDN for a conversation about the housing recommendations outlined in the Disability Royal Commission Final Report at an online forum, part of a series for QDN members.
The conversation will centre on housing, information about the DRC Recommendations related to housing will be shared, followed by small group discussions to collectively talk about the recommendations from the perspective of people with disability.
You can access the report here.
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Date: Wednesday, November 15th
Link to Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89256878438?pwd=DnZ8ZocfkZkFqujQkz1zUbcu3KDr8s.1
Find more information and register here.
Disability Royal Commission Health Conversation
Join QDN for a Disability Royal Commission health discussion. This online forum, part of our series for QDN members, will focus on the health recommendations highlighted in the Disability Royal Commission Final Report.
During this online event, we will explore the DRC Recommendations related to health, providing valuable insights and information. The session will be followed by small group discussions, offering a platform to collectively discuss these recommendations from the perspective of people with disability.
You can access the report here.
Date: Monday, December 4th
Time: 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Link to Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81790839680?pwd=CuYqmC0Aj9zFAzB2qtLcN6qfEh1qDD.1
Find more information and register here.
Disability Royal Commission Employment Conversation
Join QDN for a conversation about the Disability Royal Commission Employment recommendations. This online forum, part of our series for QDN members, will focus on the employment recommendations highlighted in the Disability Royal Commission Final Report.
During this event, we will explore the DRC Recommendations related to employment, providing comprehensive insights and information. Subsequently, small group discussions will be held to collectively explore these recommendations from the perspective of people with disability.
You can access the report here.
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Date: Thursday, December 14th
Link to Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87073609657?pwd=TFyTgzm8K83hqb4LjsKTPKcTSWu1tF.1
Find more information and register here.
For further information please contact QDN at qdn@qdn.org.au or call us at 1300 363 783.
Get Ready, Plan Ahead Workshops in Logan
These free workshops are specifically designed to support people with disability how to prepare for emergencies, including floods, cyclones, bushfires, and heatwaves. These workshops are presented by people with disability, for people with disability. Workshops are designed to be inclusive and accessible to everyone. The Logan workshops are delivered in two parts (Part A and Part B) across six different locations between October 2023 and March 2024.
Register here: https://www.logan.qld.gov.au/pcep-workshops
QDN Membership
If you or someone you know would like to be a QDN member apply here: https://qdn.org.au/membership/qdn-member-application/
