Queensland Disability Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Design Strategy

On 30 September 2024, the Disability Minister Charis Mullen released the Queensland Disability Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Design Strategy. Developed by QDN, in consultation with people with disability and the disability sector, this new engagement and co-design strategy will ensure the voices of Queenslanders with disability and the disability community are at the heart of significant disability reforms, leading to innovative solutions and improved outcomes.

QDN has been funded to lead the implementation of the Strategy to ensure people with disability and the disability community are engaged at all stages of state-wide reforms, including design, testing, transition and implementation of the Queensland Disability Reform Framework and the Queensland Government’s response to the Disability Royal Commission.

Find out more about the Strategy

Queensland Disability Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Design Strategy - Click here

Accessible version of the Queensland Disability Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Design Strategy - Click here

User-friendly version - Click here

Important Update Regarding Our Office

We want to let you know about some upcoming changes at our Turbot Street office as we prepare for the next phase of our work on the Queensland Disability Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Design Strategy. These changes will help us create a more welcoming and member-focused space.

Starting from 8 October, we’ll be making improvements to ensure the office is set up for collaboration and innovation. The renovations are expected to take about 4 weeks, during which the office will be closed.

If you have any meetings scheduled at our office during this time, we will reach out to you soon to make alternative arrangements.

You can still contact QDN as usual on 1300 363 783, and our operating hours will remain the same.

We will keep you updated as the work progresses and appreciate your understanding and support during this time.

Accessibility and Inclusion Program Advisory Group Brisbane 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games

The Games Venue and Legacy Delivery Authority responsible for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games has opened nominations for people with disability to join the Accessibility and Inclusion Program Advisory Group.

The program seeks to put together the disability community across vital topics in the planning and preparation for the Games. In parallel, to drive accessibility and inclusion towards economic, sports and recreation participation.

Click here for more information.

Cost of Living Rebate for Households

Overview Eligible vulnerable households, including seniors, pensioners and concession card holders can get up to $372 off their electricity bills each year through the Queensland Electricity Rebate. This is on top of the $1000 Cost of Living Rebate which will be automatically credited as a lump-sum to eligible residential customer accounts from 1 July 2024. The Department of Energy and Climate is running a small advertising campaign during 2024 to promote the rebate to vulnerable households. This campaign will run across Meta, Spotify, YouTube and Reddit. A range of resources are available in this pack to help spread the word about the Queensland Government’s cost of living support to help vulnerable households with their electricity bills. We encourage you to share this message.

Key messages

Seniors, pensioners and concession card holders could save up to $372 on electricity bills this financial year, thanks to the Queensland Electricity Rebate.
This is on top of the $1000 Cost of Living Rebate which is being automatically credited as a lump-sum to eligible residential customer accounts from 1 July 2024. You don’t need to apply for this rebate.
To find out if you’re eligible for the Queensland Electricity Rebate, visit the rebate web page or call 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
If you’re eligible for the Queensland Electricity Rebate, contact your electricity retailer to apply. You’ll find their contact details on your electricity bill.
Once you’ve been approved, the rebate will be automatically credited to your electricity bill on a quarterly basis.
If you already receive the Queensland Electricity Rebate, you don’t need to reapply.
Tell your friends and family who may be eligible for the rebate to help them save more on their electricity bills.

The Voice of Queenslanders with Disability Report 2024

The Voice of Queenslanders with Disability Report 2024 is available in our website, this is the second year collecting stories across all seven outcome areas of Queensland’s Disability Plan 2022-2027. Please visit our website and have a read through the Final Report.

For more information click here.

QDN's 2024 Queensland Government Election Platform

As many of you will know, the 2024 State Government election is on Saturday 26 October 2024. QDN has developed an election platform and an advocacy kit for members.

The election platform outlines our priorities for an accessible and inclusive Queensland through the following seven priority areas:

Employment and financial security including cost of living
Inclusive homes and communities
Safety, rights and justice
Personal and community support
Education and learning
Health and wellbeing
Community attitudes

In total, we have included 54 key priorities we are calling on candidates to action if elected.

The advocacy kit includes information on how members can engage candidates and share their voices in the lead up to the election, with some helpful tips.

The kit also includes a letter template that can be used to email candidates

The election platform is available on the QDN website here.

Joint Statement on the Health of People with Intellectual Disability

Nine (9) organisations have joined together to seek commitments for action on the stark health inequalities facing the 100,000 Queenslanders who have intellectual disability. With their close families, this is over 400,000 voters.

This is a joint statement on the health of people with intellectual disability is from Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN), Queensland Centre of Excellence in Autism and Intellectual Disability Health (QCEAIDH), Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability (ASID) Queensland Branch, WWILD Sexual Violence Prevention Association Inc., Parent to Parent Association Inc., Down Syndrome Queensland, Community Living Association, Endeavour Foundation, and Multicap.

Queenslanders with intellectual disability die 27 years earlier than the general population. They also experience over twice the rate of potentially avoidable deaths and around four times the rate of avoidable hospitalisations.

The Disability Royal Commission found that people with cognitive disability experience ongoing “systemic neglect” in the health care system, prompting wide-ranging recommendations for action.

Our nine organisations are seeking commitments from political parties to six immediate priority actions at this state election.

For more information and to see the joint statement, please click here Queensland Election 2024: Joint Statement on the Health of People with Intellectual Disability - Queenslanders With Disability Network (qdn.org.au)

Policy submissions

QDN members are encouraged to reach out to the policy team to be involved in our submission writing. Email qdn@qdn.org.au or call 1300 363 783 to have a conversation with the policy team.

Submissions the policy team is working on:

Establish the Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme - due 17 October.
Housing workplan.
Disability Reforms Stakeholder Engagement Strategy 2024.

Submissions the policy team has completed since the last e-news

QDN Submission to Draft Statewide Spinal Cord Injury Service Delivery Model.

A new specialist disability employment program – Consultation.

Consultation on draft lists of NDIS supports. PDF version. Word version.

Review of Australia’s Disability Strategy (ADS).

Policy updates

There has been a lot happening in disability reforms in the last couple of weeks. If you have any questions or concerns reach out to the QDN policy team at qdn@qdn.org.au or phone 1300 363 783.

Changes to NDIS from 3 October 2024

From 3 October 2024 there will be changes to NDIS supports. There are now two lists of supports - a list of what you can spend you NDIS funding on and a list of what you cannot spend your NDIS funding on. You can view the lists here What does NDIS fund? | NDIS.

There is a 12 month transition period. If you make a mistake and spend your NDIS funding on something that is not on the lists of supports the NDIA will work with you to understand what you can and cannot spend your NDIS funding on.

The NDIA will not raise a debt:

for the first or second mistakes made
if it is under $1500.

There will also be a replacement supports process. You can ask for an NDIS support to be replaced with certain non-NDIS supports. You will need to show that the replacement support will lead to the same or better outcomes and be the same or better value for money. You must put in an application for replacement supports before you buy them.

Find out more about the changes here What does NDIS fund? | NDIS

The Disability Reform Roadmap for 2024 and 2024 in released

Developed in partnership with states and territories, the Roadmap outlines our initial plans for crucial reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the broader disability ecosystem. 

This Roadmap includes the key actions all governments are taking right now to: 

plan and implement reforms arising from the response to the Disability Royal Commission;

prepare for and implement a response to the NDIS Review;

progress legislative and other changes to the NDIS to improve the experience of participants and restore the original intent of the Scheme;

design additional Foundational Supports to support people with disability outside of the NDIS;

review and improve Australia’s Disability Strategy.

Read the Disability Reform Roadmap 

Easy Read version of the Disability Reform Roadmap 

Election advocacy kit

QDN has developed an election platform and an advocacy kit for members for the upcoming State Government election on 26 October 2024.  Our election platform outlines our priorities for an accessible and inclusive Queensland. 

In total, there are 54 key priorities we are calling on candidates to action if elected. The advocacy kit includes information on how members can engage candidates and share their voices in the lead up to the election, with some helpful tips. The kit also includes a letter template that can be used to email candidates.  

The election platform is available here.

Queensland State Election Disability Online Forum

Last month, on the 23 September, QDN, in partnership with the Disability Alliance which is an alliance of 34 disability organisations, hosted the Queensland State Election 2024 Disability Online Forum. We heard from three candidates including Amy MacMahon MP (Queensland Greens), Minister Charis Mullen MP (Australian Labor Party), and Shadow Minister John-Paul Langbroek MP (Liberal National Party).    With over 360 registrations and over 200 online on the day, collectively we were able to make sure disablity counts at this election.

We thank the candidates for coming to the forum to speak with participants, and acknowledge everyone who was able to join on the day and QDN also thanks our members for their excellent questions about disability, inclusion, and accessibility in Queensland. 

A summary of the forum will soon be available.  

NDIS Bill 2024 - Overview information sessions

The NDIS is holding a series of online engagement sessions for NDIS participants, families and carers and the disability community throughout October and November.

These sessions will cover the changes to NDIS Legislation and:

deliver an overview of the NDIS Bill amendments,
provider further information on some of the key changes for providers, and
provide an opportunity to ask questions.

Dates & times:

Wed, 9 Oct, 1pm - 2pm AEST
Thu, 10 Oct, 12pm - 1pm AEST
Thu, 17 Oct, 3pm - 4pm AEST
Fri, 25 Oct, 1pm - 2pm AEST
Thu, 31 Oct, 1pm - 2pm AEST

Consultation for Foundational Support announced

The Department of Social Services has announced public consultation for Foundational Supports. Consultation will help to inform the design of supports for people with disability outside of the NDIS and how they can best be delivered. Consultation will initially focus on General Supports, and will include webinars, online questionnaires, written submissions, and in-person events held across Australia.

Consultations are scheduled for 27 September, 30 September, 2 October, and 3 October. To view all upcoming consultations visit https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers-standards-and-quality-assurance/ndis-provider-and-worker-registration-taskforce

You can respond to the General Supports – Consultation Paper by answering the guided questionnaire here: https://engage.dss.gov.au/foundational-supports/general-supports-questionnaire/

You can also respond to the General Supports – Consultation Paper by lodging a video, audio or written response to that questionnaire, or by emailing foundationalsupports@thesocialdeck.com with your feedback.

For more information visit the DSS website here: https://engage.dss.gov.au/foundational-supports/have-your-say/

Watch the recording from the webinar on 20 September here: https://youtu.be/DPDnH_QN5S0

New registration system for the NDIS - response to Provider and Workforce Registration Taskforce

On 16 September 2024, Minister Shorten announced the government’s response to the advice provided in the NDIS Provider and Workforce Registration Taskforce Final Report. Platform providers, Support Coordinators, and Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers will soon all be required to register with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

The changes will occur under the current registration model but the NDIS (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Rules 2018 will need to be amended in order for this to happen. The Commission will begin consultation with the disability community on new Rules in October. QDN will continue to keep members updated.

Read the full media release here: https://ministers.dss.gov.au/media-releases/16021

The Taskforce’s advice is available on the Department of Social Services website: https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers-standards-and-quality-assurance/ndis-provider-and-worker-registration-taskforce

NDIS pricing approach - engagement opportunities

NDIS participants, family members or carers, providers, workers and other stakeholders are invited to register your interest to have your say on a fresh approach to NDIS pricing. The Australian Government wants to hear from participants, their families and carers, representative organisations, workers, and providers, and the wider disability community about:

what you think is important to consider in pricing the NDIS
how pricing approaches can best operate, and
what does and doesn't work.

You can tell them as little or as much as you like and in the way that works for you:

take part in a workshop
make an online submission
answer a list of questions
share your ideas in Easy Read.

More information can be found here: https://www.ihacpa.gov.au/exploring-opportunities-ndis-pricing-reform/have-your-say

Supportive housing policy released

The Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works has developed the Supportive housing policy in consultation with key stakeholders in the housing and homelessness sector, including frontline services, peak bodies and experts.

The supportive housing policy:

defines this type of housing and its essential features
establishes the principles and approach to be taken as part of service delivery design and implementation
includes detailed requirements that must be considered and addressed in the design of supportive housing developments and programs.

New Rental Security Subsidy online form

As part of Homes for Queenslanders, The Queensland Government has launched an online form for customers to apply for a Rental Security Subsidy online, rather than visiting a Housing Service Centre. A Rental Security Subsidy helps people who are having difficulty paying their rent due to short-term financial challenges.

Learn more here: https://www.qld.gov.au/housing/renting/rent-assistance/financial/security-subsidy

Minimum housing standards - RTA publications updates

Minimum housing standards came into effect for new tenancies (including renewed tenancy agreements) from 1 September 2023 and for all remaining tenancies from 1 September 2024. The property must meet minimum housing standards when the tenant moves in and throughout the tenancy agreement.

These new standards apply to all types of tenancies, including general tenancies, moveable dwellings, and rooming accommodation agreements.

The following factsheets have been updated to include minor changes to minimum housing standards content:

General tenancy agreements
Minimum housing standards for general tenancies
Minimum housing standards for rooming accommodation
Moveable dwelling tenancy agreements
Rental premises – use, condition, repairs
Repair orders

Find out more here: https://www.rta.qld.gov.au/during-a-tenancy/maintenance-and-repairs/minimum-housing-standards

Building Inclusive Disaster Resilient Communities (BIDRC)

Videos from the Building Inclusive Disaster Resilient Communities (BIDRC) project featuring QDN members can now be found on YouTube.

BIDRC provided opportunities for people with disability to co-create solutions and initiatives to increase community resilience to disaster through inclusive emergency preparedness actions.

The project was delivered by Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) in partnership with the Centre for Disability Research and Policy at the University of Sydney, Community Services Industry Alliance (CSIA), and communities in five Local Government Areas across Queensland.

The project was funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.

Somerset:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c71Nl52SI58&t=79s – David Curry and Gill Godfrey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOQvJB0W6Fk&t=70s – Elizabeth Talby

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt4SYO0RAA4&t=2s – Kerrie Oakes and Paul Webb

Lockyer Valley:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fGc08a7kng&t=3s – Trudie Stables

Disability Health Forums

The Brisbane South PHN and Metro South Health are working together to host Disability Health Forums. The forums will bring together people with disability, disability organisations and health services. They will talk about the health needs of people with disability in Brisbane South, Logan, Redlands and Beaudesert. The forums will help to improve the health of people with disability and improve primary, specialist and hospital health care.

People with lived experience are invited to express interest to join the forums. There are eight positions available for people with disability and carers and family of people with disability. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability and carers are strongly encouraged to express interest - as well as people from other diverse backgrounds.

Use this weblink to provide your details and answer some short questions: https://surveyresearch.com.au/n/j1OS9xo?ver=15146485042099372736147141020919334744921545212269759890610

Please do this before 30 September 2024. After this date they will review all the applications and select 8 people from diverse backgrounds. You can contact Troy Hakala on 3156 9580 pr accesscapacity@health.qld.gov.au for more information.

Research assistance: Developing a model of preventive health care for people with intellectual disability.

The UNSW Department of Developmental Disability 3DN is looking for people with intellectual disability for research aimed at improving information about preventive health information (or information about staying healthy) for people with intellectual disability.

Keep feeling healthy.

Get better quickly when you are sick.

They want to ask you about a time when you have looked at or used information about staying health. Your experiences will be used to help the research how it can improve information about staying health for people with disability.

People will receive a $50 voucher for their participation.

To participate in the project or want more information you can contact Maryann Barrington. To contact Maryann call 02 9065 4445, or email maryann.barrington@unsw.edu.au

To find out more information visit the website: Preventive healthcare for people with intellectual disability | Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN) (unsw.edu.au)

Survey on activist burnout

The University of Calgary has initiated studies on the experience of burnout among people with disability, including activists and allies. If you would like to help, please complete a 30-minute online survey on this topic. The survey is completely anonymous and confidential: Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management (ucalgary.ca)

If you have any queries, please contact: Professor Gregor Wolbring University of Calgary on gwolbrin@ucalgary.ca

Meaningful Work for You - Brisbane workshop Nov 2024

This workshop is for people with disability who want to work in open employment but have found that the traditional pathways don’t always lead to the jobs you want. In this interactive workshop, get started in working out what sort of job would be right for you, and learn about different ways to work towards it, even if it means creating a job yourself.

Details:

Date: Thursday 7th Nov 2024

Time: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm AEST

Location: level 2/43 Peel St - level 2/43 Peel St, South Brisbane QLD 4101, Australia

To register and find more information click here.

https://events.humanitix.com/meaningful-work-for-you-brisbane-workshop-nov-2024

Cancer Screening for Women - This is for you to keep

Who we are

Ipsos’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Unit (ATSIRU) is part of a global company named Ipsos. Ipsos is the 3rd largest market research company in the world. Ipsos started the ATSIRU in 2016 to build a better working relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research participants and communities to ensure we work with communities in a culturally respectful manner. The ATSIRU is run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

What we are doing

We have been asked by Queensland Health to conduct face to face Focus Groups in your community.

This is to help QLD Health to better understand the barriers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to have and or do their regular cancer screening tests.

There will be a total of 10 women’s groups:

2 groups in Brisbane for Breast cancer screening.

4 groups in Cairns for Breast, Cervical and Bowel cancer screening.

4 Groups on Thursday Island for Breast, Cervical and Bowel cancer screening.

We will have a female Aboriginal facilitator for the women’s groups.

It is preferrable that the people who attend the focus groups have not previously been diagnosed with cancer. We respect people’s privacy and feel that people who have had a cancer diagnosis may be put in a position to disclose more personal experiences than people should know about.

The focus groups generally take around 1 ½ - 2 hours and we will provide light refreshments.

We will deposit $150 cash into the nominated bank account of participants after the focus group has been completed, noting this can take up to 5 days to show in your account.

What happens now?

We will hold a number of groups in your community

We will need women aged from 40-74 for the Breast cancer screening groups.

We will need women aged from 25-74 for the Cervical cancer screening groups and

We will need women aged from 45-74 for the Bowel cancer screening groups.

Please let your local researcher know which group you fit into, and they will let you know what location, day and times are available.

We are looking for a mix of people to attend groups so you will only be asked to attend one group.

Please let your local researcher know if you would prefer not to participate in a certain type of group (Breast, Cervical, or Bowel) and they can accommodate this for you.

YOU NEED TO LET THE LOCAL RESEARCHER KNOW WHAT GROUP YOU WANT TO ATTEND.

Keeping interviews private

As you will be a in a focus group with other women and the facilitator, we cannot guarantee your privacy. We will ask all attendees to respect each other’s privacy and ask that they do not discuss each other stories outside of the group.

We do not share any of your personal information with anyone else. We will need you to complete a hard copy consent form and a bank deposit form which is used to make payment to your nominated bank account. Once scanned the hard copies are shredded and destroyed and the electronic copies are held securely online for audit purposes only.

Advice and Information

If you have any questions regarding this study, please contact: Sharon Barnes on 0412 458 654

If you would like to make a complaint about the research, you can complain to:

Sharon Barnes at Ipsos, by calling 0412 458 654.
If you think there has been a breach of your privacy you can write to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001 or call 1300 363 992.

QDN e-News Update – 4 October 2024

QDN e-News Update - 4 October 2024

Policy update

Policy submissions

What's on

QDN Membership

From Our Allies

Research assistance: Developing a model of preventive health care for people with intellectual disability.

Meaningful Work for You - Brisbane workshop Nov 2024

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