QDN e-News 6 April 2023

Welcome back to another edition of the QDN e-News.  

Public holiday office closures

The QDN office will be closed for the following public holidays in April:

• Friday 7 April – Good Friday
• Monday 10 April – Easter Monday
• Tuesday 25 April – ANZAC Day

Make Renting Fair in Queensland

Rental prices are soaring in Queensland at three times the rate of the cost of living. Making Rent Fair is calling for rent rises to be restricted to once per annum and for the consumer price index (CPI) to be used as a guide for reasonable rent increase.

Make Renting Fair in Queensland is an alliance of organisations that supports improving our renting laws so that all Queenslanders can make the place they live in their home, whether they rent or own.

It’s time to make renting fair. Sign the petition to have your say.

For more details, click here.

Brisbane Home and Living forum

Assessment and Referral Team (ART) extension

Since 2020 the Assessment and Referral Team (ART) has supported more than 3100 Queenslanders with disability to access the NDIS, including over 3000 people who now have NDIS supports valued at almost $407 million.

The Queensland Government has committed further funding to extend the ART program until 31 December 2023, with a continued focus supporting at-risk children and young people aged 7-25 years.

ART assists children and young people who:

• identify as First Nations, LGBTQIA+ or culturally and linguistically diverse
• are engaged in, or at risk of, entering the justice or child safety systems
• are disengaged from education or transitioning from school
• are young carers
• are experiencing, or at risk of, domestic and family violence, harm, homelessness or social isolation, or
• are living in regional, rural and remote communities.

ART can help with the NDIS application process for children and young people by:

• filling in forms and collecting medical evidence
• discussing the application with doctors and specialists
• facilitating clinical assessments where required
• submitting the application to the NDIS and tracking the application’s progress.

Learn more or make a referral online here.

If you would like more information, please contact the team on ARTenquiries@dsdsatsip.qld.gov.au or 1800 569 040.

NDIS Review panel member Kevin Cocks (seated far left) and Review co-chair Lisa Paul (seated next to Kevin) with disability and community organisation representatives including QDN CEO Michelle Moss (seated far right).

Meeting with NDIS review panel

QDN CEO Michelle Moss and members recently met with South Australian (SA) representatives of disability and community organisations as well as officials from the SA government.

At the meeting we heard about problems people experience with the NDIS and other systems and talked about how the NDIS review. We also talked about ways to make sure the views of people with disability and families remain at the centre of all our work.

QDN is proud to be part of this important process and is looking forward to making progress in this area.

Brisbane 2032 Legacy Forum

QDN was pleased to be able to attend the Brisbane 2032 Legacy Forum held in Brisbane on 22 March with almost 500 people in attendance, represented by QDN staff and members including our Board Chair Dr Sharon Boyce who is on the Legacy Committee and presented at the forum.

Inclusion was a key focus of the forum and we look forward to engaging in the next phase of development of the legacy plan to drive our vision for a legacy that delivers actions and outcomes for Queenslanders with disability and the Queensland community.

The Premier also announced the establishment of the Paralympic Centre of Excellence.

More information can be found here.

NDIS Review Conversation

As part of work to inform the NDIS review, QDN and Qshelter are jointly hosting a face-to-face forum specifically focused on Home and Living forum in Brisbane’s CBD for interested people with disability and community, housing and disability service providers.

On the 18^th of October 2022, Minister for the NDIS Bill Shorten announced an independent review of the NDIS which will look at ways to make the NDIS more responsive, supportive and sustainable. This review includes housing and accommodation under the NDIS.

We want to work together to ensure that our input into the review can improve how the NDIS home and living supports delivers good outcomes that work for people with disability and the services that support them.

Please join us to contribute your voice and experience and inform feedback to the NDIS Review processes.

For more information, contact QDN at qdn@qdn.org.au or 1300 363 783. Morning Tea provided.

When? Friday 14^th April

What Time? 9.30am-12pm

Where?  Room T1 and T2, Level 17, 53 Albert Street, Brisbane City, Queensland, 4000.

QDN will be hosting other online events for the NDIS Review in the coming months, more information to come.

Register here.

Survey: Review of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport

The Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Transport Standards) seek to remove discrimination for people with disability accessing public transport services.

Public consultation for the Transport Standards is now open.

You can now complete a short online survey to have your say as part of the review.

• If you are a person with disability, a carer or a support worker, click here to complete the survey.
• If you are a public transport operator or provider, click here to complete the survey.

It will take between 15 and 20 minutes to complete the survey, depending on the length of your written responses. The surveys will be open until 7 April 2023.

Find out more here.

Survey: Investigating harnesses and vests used by children with disability

Austroads is undertaking a research project to investigate specialty harnesses and vests used by children with disability or medical conditions when travelling in motor vehicles.

Specialty harnesses and vests are not provided for in standards and there is a lack of research about their design, safety, performance, and use.This world first, two-year research project, is being undertaken in Australia and New Zealand and will address these knowledge gaps.

The outcomes of this work will help to develop information and recommendations to guide harness/vest use for children with disability and medical conditions.

If your child uses this type of equipment, please share your experiences in the survey here.

Survey: Survey for people who use public transport

People with disability are strongly encouraged share their experiences of using public transport by completing an online survey.

The survey is part of the Review of the Transport Standards, which provide requirements for operators and providers to make their services accessible and remove discrimination for people with disability.

If you are a person with disability, a carer or a support worker, click here to complete the survey.

The survey is closing at midnight on Friday 7 April.

More information about the Review is available at www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport-standards-review.

Ending Australia’s discrimination against migrants with disabilities

A group of more than 100 organisations and experts, including QDN, have signed an open letter calling for urgent reform of Australia’s migration health laws to remove their discriminatory impact on people with disabilities and health conditions. The letter is part of the Welcoming Disability Campaign led by Down Syndrome Australia and Australian Lawyers for Human Rights.

Under Australia’s current legal framework, people are being refused Australian visas purely on the basis that they have a disability or health issue, even though they meet all of the other visa requirements.

Read the open letter here.

Learn more about the welcoming disability campaign here.

World Autism Day

On April 2 we celebrated World Autism Day. This year, Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) asked the Autistic community what they would like people to know if they find out that a person is Autistic.

The most important message is that no two Autistic people are the same and that autism may not be what you think it is. It’s not a one-size-fits all approach and there is so much misunderstanding out in the public. Fitting in can be exhausting. The environment and people’s attitudes can often be more of a barrier for people on the autism spectrum.

Learn more here.

Audio described and Auslan described performances of Moulin Rouge coming to Brisbane

Enter a world of splendour and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory! Pop the champagne and prepare for the spectacular spectacular...

Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

WINNER OF 10 TONY AWARDS® Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza featuring over 70 songs including many of the iconic hits from the movie, as well as additions from Adele, Katy Perry, Sia, Beyonce, Rihanna and more.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a theatrical celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and – above all – Love.

Audio described performance:

When: Saturday 22 July at 2:00pm

Auslan described performance:

When: Sunday 23 July at 2:00pm

Where: Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), corner of Grey Street and Melbourne Street, South Brisbane

Tickets: Box Office - phone 07 3840 7466 or email groups@qpac.com.au

Companion Cards accepted – please mention audio description when booking

More information here: https://www.qpac.com.au/event/moulinrougemusical_23

Policy update 

Own Motion Inquiry into Platform Providers Operating in the NDIS Market 

The purpose of this inquiry is explore how Platform Providers operate in the NDIS market and the experiences people with disability have in accessing supports through Platform Providers.

Platform Providers are online platforms that include online subscription services that NDIS participants can use to connect with NDIS support workers. Platform Providers are similar to apps like Uber and Airbnb, in that you can leave reviews and ratings for support workers.

The NDIS Commission want to hear from people with disability about their experiences with these Platform Providers through either completing an online survey a written submission or email, audio or video submissions. There is also the option of having someone that you trust get in touch with the Commission on your behalf.

More information and consultation papers here.

Rent stabilisation to give Queenslanders who rent a fair go

The Queensland Government will limit rent increases to once a year to give a fairer go to Queenslander renters. The move is designed to balance the rights and interests of Queenslanders who rent, and property owners, to sustain healthy rental supply.  It was one of several options for housing policy reform discussed at a Housing Roundtable in Brisbane on the 28th of March.

The government also announced an additional $28 million to continue the Immediate Housing Response Package for another year. The extra funds will provide:

• More than 600 emergency hotel accommodation places across Queensland
• Rental and bond support payments to help tenants keep a roof over their head and food relief services help renters put food on the table

The government also announced a further $3.9 million to extend and expand food and emergency relief throughout Queensland in 2023-24. That includes $3.3 million to continue the provision of emergency relief supports, including vouchers, food parcels and contributions to payments such as electricity bills and $630,000 for SecondBite and OzHarvest to increase the food relief service they provide across the State.

Additional housing announcements include:

• $5.91 million to help unlock 5600 lots in Ripley Valley by delivering road infrastructure for the Ripley Valley Priority development area
• $600,000 to work with the Local Government Association of Queensland to develop 38 Local Housing Action Plans with Queensland local governments, on top of the 22 plans being developed with the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils.
• Land tax concessions for Build to Rent developments that provide a minimum affordable housing component
• Deliver a second QBuild Rapid Accommodation and Apprenticeship Centre in Far-North Queensland to further support delivery of state-of-the-art factory built homes for use as social and government-employee housing
• Launch an Opportunities Portal for proposals that have the potential to deliver new housing stock.

UN expert calls for transformation of support and services for persons with disabilities

In a report to the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Gerard Quinn, said there was a need to develop a new philosophy of services and support and that human rights-based support systems and services must be prioritised to ensure that no one is left behind.

Quinn said that personhood and social inclusion should always determine how services and support systems are designed, delivered, and monitored, adding this was the only way to make the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, including the right to live independently, a reality.

His calls to action echo the High Commissioner’s remarks on a human rights economy, made earlier this year, and complements a new report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on support systems for persons with disabilities.

Read the full press release on the OHCHR website.

Learn more about Australia's obligations under the UNCRPD on the DANA website: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Release of the Annual Queensland Women’s Statement 2022-23

The first Annual Queensland Women’s Statement for the period of 2022-23 has been released. The Statement measures progress made as well as highlighting achievements made across government and community under the five key impact areas of the Strategy.

Read more about the statement here

Release of the 2022 Gender Equality Report Cards

The Gender Equality Report Cards show the ways in which the Queensland’s women’s strategy has made contributions to narrowing the gender pay gap, having more female judges and magistrates and more females in general in the workplace and that women are now performing less hours of unpaid domestic work and taking on more diverse careers.

More information here

Download Equality Report Cards here

Home and living demonstration projects grant opportunity now open

The NDIA invites organisations to apply for grants to deliver innovative projects that empower our participants to explore and understand their home and living possibilities under Home and living demonstration projects - round 2.

There is up to $1.5 million in grant funding available over the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 financial years. Grants will be between $80,000.00 (incl. GST) and $400,000.00 (incl. GST) depending on scope and complexity of the project design.

Projects will test and evaluate different models for providing participants with high quality information, assistance and connections about home and living options. Successful projects will:

• empower participants to exercise more informed choice and control over their home and living supports and increase independence;
• test and evaluate models that deliver impartial and accessible information and assistance to participants looking to explore their home and living options.

Before applying, applicants must read the Grant Opportunity Guidelines and draft Grant Agreement. Eligibility criteria is detailed in section 4.

Grant applications close 20 April 2023. 

Disability Royal Commission publishes seventh and final Progress Report

The Disability Royal Commission (DRC) will deliver a final report to the Australian Government by 29 September 2023. On 14 March 2023, the DRC published its seventh and final Progress Report, covering its activities from 1 July 2022 to 31 December 2022.

Highlights from the report include:

• The DRC received 1700 submissions in the month of December 2022, almost one fifth of the total number of submissions;
• The DRC held seven public hearings and 441 private sessions
• The DRC published four reports including a research report on violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of LGBTQA+ people with disability.

The  progress report is now available on the DRC website. Easy Read and Auslan versions are also available.

Disability Royal Commission What Australia Told Us event series

In the lead up to the final report, the DRC is undertaking a suite of information sessions titled What Australia Told Us! to share back the major themes that the DRC has heard from the community throughout the course of their inquiry.

The information sessions will be face-to-face events held in each state and territory, and will update the community on the DRC's work to date, including:

• How people engaged with the DRC
• How people can stay informed
• Ways people shared their experiences
• What the DRC learnt from people who participated in private sessions and submissions

The information sessions will launch on 16 March 2023 in Brisbane and will travel to all major capital cities across Australia. Visit the DRC website for further information on the event and registration.

Maltreatment of people with disability costs $46 billion annually

A report has been published by the Disability Royal Commission in February 2023 that explores ‘The economic costs of violence, abuse, neglect and the exploitation of people with disability.’ The report reveals the violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability is costing $46 billion annually, and that if more information was available, this figure would increase.

Economic costs include systemic failures and neglect including from government, business, and other systems in not providing equal working opportunities,  access to quality services and accessible housing - amounting to $27.7 billion, as well as maltreatment perpetrated from individuals, including additional hospital stays and reduced quality of life, amounting to $18.3 billion.

The report found the cost of violence, abuse and neglect for First Nations people with disability is double that of people with disability who are not First Nations. It also found that 60% of people with disability had experiences of maltreatment that was perpetrated by an adult as well as that 28% of children with disability had experienced bullying from peers.

More information here

Access the report here

What's on

Digital Inclusion

Friday 14 April - New Farm Digital Inclusion – in person workshops Module 4 - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/556237680877

Tuesday 11 April - Caboolture Digital Inclusion – in person workshops Module 5: Staying safe online - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/digital-inclusion-workshop-module-5-staying-safe-online-tickets-551771652867

Wed 12 April - Digital Inclusion Workshop - Module 1: Learning the Basics - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/digital-inclusion-workshop-module-1-learning-the-basics-tickets-512574202237

Fri 21 April - New Farm Digital Inclusion – in person workshops Module 5- https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/556231733087

Tues 18 April - Caboolture Digital Inclusion – in person workshops Module 6: Data and affordability- https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/digital-inclusion-workshop-module-6-data-and-affordability-tickets-551776547507?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Wed 19 April - Digital Inclusion Workshop - Module 2: Being online and staying connected - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/digital-inclusion-workshop-module-2-being-online-and-staying-connected-tickets-512665515357

Fri 21 April - Gympie Digital Inclusion – in person workshops Modules 1 & 2 - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/gympie-digital-inclusion-in-person-workshops-tickets-535430816987

Peer support groups

Wednesday 29 March Wednesday Toowoomba Peer Support Group

Thursday 30 March Thursday Cairns Peer Support Group

Wednesday 5 April – My Aged Care Peer Support Group

Friday 14 April – Gold Coast Hot Topics

Friday 14 April - Gympie Peer Support Group

Saturday 15 April - Ipswich Peer Support Group

Monday 17 April - QDN Online Peer Support Group

Wednesday 19 April - Brisbane Peer Support Group

Wednesday 19 April - Deception Bay Peer Support Group

Thursday 20 April - Unique Parents Peer Support Group

Wednesday 26 April - Sunshine Coast Peer Support Group

Wednesday 26 April - Toowoomba Peer Support Group

Wednesday 26 April - GrADS Peer Support Group

Wednesday 26 April - Self-management Peer Support Group

Thursday 27 April - Rockhampton Peer Support Group

Friday 28 April - Brisbane Hot Topics

Friday 28 April – Tablelands Peer Support Group

Saturday 29 April - Caboolture Peer Support Group

Saturday 29 April - Caboolture Peer Support Group

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/

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