QDN e-News Wednesday 5 November
Have Your Say
QDN Forums
Implementation of Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle
QDN will be hosting a forum on the implementation of Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle on Monday 10 November from 1pm to 2:30pm.
The forum will include a presentation from Queensland Family and Child Commission, outlining the reforms that came into effect from 1 October 2025.
If you are interested in attending, please register: https://qdn.org.au/child-safe-standards-forum/
Reform of Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport - Members Only Forum
People with disability often rely on public transport for essential activities such as day-to-day tasks, social and community participation, employment, education, and healthcare. If public transport is not accessible or inclusive, people with disability may become isolate and it can have a serious impact on a person’s fiancées, as well as their physical and mental health.
QDN is inviting all members to attend a forum, where we will discuss how to make public transport more inclusive and accessible for people with disability. Your feedback and recommendations will then be used to inform QDN’s submission on the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Transport Standards).
During the forum, we will talk about the exposure draft and revised version of the Standards Guideline for Accessible Public Transport.
We would like to know:
- Is there anything missing or that needs to be changed within the Standards?
- Are there other barriers or challenges you have faced when using public transport? For example, are the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transportation easy to understand?
- What services or supports can be put in place to help people with disability right now?
Details for the online forum are as follows:
Date: Monday, 17 November 2025
Time: 10am – 11.30am
Location: Online Zoom (link will be sent out prior to forum)
To register please use this link: https://events.humanitix.com/disability-standards-for-accessible-public-transport
alternatively call 1300 363 783
Public Consultations
Review of the NDIS Practice Standards
The NDIA is reviewing their Practice Standards to make sure that NDIS Providers and Workers are delivering quality and safe services. They are also considering developing a NDIS Quality Framework to help with the Practice Standards Review.
The NDIA is working with KPMG for the NDIS Practice Standard Review. This will include leading a national consultation for people disability and their supporters, providers, disability representative organisations, peak bodies, and auditors.
Register for the public consultation using this link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=uyT_3okgAESMjvceaAN4sqmdhVPLDK1Alms4C6-zVPBUN1hLNURMWkFHSDZaNUJRNVgxUFdFVU45OS4u
Complete the member survey using this link: https://insightssurvey.kpmg.com.au/wix/p716818820028.aspx
The survey closes 13 November 2025.
Building Culturally Safe Services for NDIS Participants
The NDIA is asking to hear form participants, providers and other stakeholders about how NDIS organisations can deliver culturally safe supports to Indigenous Australians.
The feedback will be used to develop a First Nations Market and Sector Development Strategy, which will help build the cultural capacity of non-indigenous NDIS providers.
Have your say by providing a written response to the NDIA.
Learn more by following this link: https://engage.ndis.gov.au/projects/first-nations-market-and-sector-discussion-paper
Submissions and written responses close on 31 December 2025.
QDN News/ Events
Annual General Meeting 2025
QDN’s AGM was held last Saturday on 25 October 2025. There were almost 100 QDN members who attended the in-person meeting and online. We thank our Board and our members as well as staff that assisted in the lead up to and on the day.
The 2025 Annual Report web version is available on the website with an accessible version as well, click here to access them https://qdn.org.au/about-qdn/corporate-information/.
Five Directors have continued on the Board:
- Dr Talitha Kingsmill
- Dr Sharon Boyce
- Des Ryan
- Nigel Webb
- Karen McCarthy
- Alison Barber
- Nerin Williams
And Danielle Brown as Appointed Director.
Following the AGM, the Board met and elected Dr Talitha Kingsmill as Chairperson and Dr Sharon Boyce as Deputy Chairperson.
Karen McCarthy was elected Committee Chair of Nominations and Performance Committee and Des Ryan as Committee Chair of Audit and Compliance Committee.
2026 QDN Emerging Leaders Program - Applications Now Open
Applications for the 2026 QDN Emerging Leaders Program are open. This is a chance for Queenslanders with disability who want to develop their leadership skills and grow their leadership journey.
The program offers a variety of learning opportunities, including face-to-face workshops, online interactive sessions, mentorship, and community activities. Now in its sixth year, the program will run from March 2026 to November 2026.
If you are interested in applying, and need more information, please visit: https://qdn.org.au/our-work/emerging-leaders-program/
Applications will close Sunday 14 December, 6pm.
Shifting Bias Project – Expression of Interest
QDN are looking for people with disability who want to help build inclusive practices within the justice and community services workforce.
As part of the new Shifting Bias Project, we are recruiting people with disability to be part of the co-design team that will guide and shape the project outcomes. It aims to challenge conscious and unconscious bias, build disability awareness and strengthen inclusive practice across Queensland.
We’re looking for people who have:
- lived experience of disability
- experience in the justice or community services sector
- experience working with others
- an understanding of barriers people with disability face in accessing services.
Funded by the Australian Government’s Inclusion and Accessibility Fund and delivered by QDN in partnership with the justice and community services sectors.
To apply, please complete this expression of interest form by Friday 14 November: https://lnkd.in/dTqFM2GK
QDN Disability Action Week Webinar – save the date
Save the date for this year’s Disability Action Week (DAW) events. The theme for this year’s DAW 2025 is ‘Communicate. Connect. Create.’ highlighting the importance of accessibility and inclusion in communication and the creative arts.
To celebrate DAW, QDN will be hosting a webinar bringing together a panel of experts who have shaped the creative landscape of Queensland. The speakers will discuss access and inclusion in the arts for people with disability.
When: Friday 28 November from
Time: 10am – 12pm
Where: Online (Via Zoom)
*Speaker announcements and special guests coming soon.
Please follow this link to register: https://events.humanitix.com/qdn-disability-action-week-webinar-wdmuvzhq/tickets
Inclusion Matters - Get Involved
Join us at the last Inclusion Matters Forum to hear about how inclusive communities are built, lived, and strengthened—by everyone.
QDN has hosted many successful Inclusion Matters Forums that explored real-life inclusion across the seven key areas of Australia’s Disability Strategy including: housing, jobs, health, education, and community attitudes.
Led by a local QDN Peer Leader, Forums bring people with disability, families, allies, and organisations together to share ideas and actions for building more inclusive communities.
The last forum will be held Online Thursday 20 November, 10am-12pm.
For more information and to register, please use this link: https://qdn.org.au/our-work/inclusion-matters/
Co-design Workshops - Calling Logan families
Logan residents, Community Resource Unit (CRU) is delivering a free co-design training workshop designed for family members of someone with a disability. Come along to this workshop in Logan to learn what co-design is how you can support your family member to make meaningful change in their lives. This is all part of the work QDN is leading in partnership with the Queensland Government to implement disability reforms in Queensland.
When: Thursday 13 November, 9:30am – 4:00pm
Where: Diggers Services Club, 42-48 Blackwood Road Logan Central
To find more information and to register, use this link: https://events.humanitix.com/co-design-essentials-logan-2025-h8mszqh5
Policy Submissions
In-progress
Disability Discrimination Act Review
Submissions have been extended to 14 November 2025!
The Attorney General’s Office is reviewing the Disability Discrimination Act. This review comes after the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission) made 222 recommendations in its Final Report, 15 of which outlined changes to the Disability Discrimination Act. To ensure that QDN members and the wider disability community continue to have their rights represented in Australian law, QDN will be receiving feedback from members and completing a written submission.
There is still time to get involved. To learn more about the Disability Discrimination Act Review: https://www.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/human-rights-and-anti-discrimination/australias-anti-discrimination-law/review-disability-discrimination-act
Submissions close Friday 14 November 2025.
Child Safety Commission of inquiry
The Child Safety Commission of Inquiry which started on 1 July 2025 has opened a review of the child safety system in Queensland with a final report due to be published by the Queensland government by 30 November 2026.
To learn more about the Child Safety Inquiry, please click this link: https://www.childsafetyinquiry.qld.gov.au/
Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport
The Federal Government has announced consultation on an exposure draft to reform Transport Standards.
The inquiry will be seeking feedback on the following:
- The clarity of the amendments and if they reflect the intent of the agreed reforms.
- The effectiveness of the transitional arrangements for operators and providers, particularly in scenarios where processes are underway to acquire or significantly upgrade assets.
- Any other relevant view or information.
QDN will be providing a submission to this inquiry. If you are interested in finding out more, please visit: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/exposure-draft-reform-disability-standards-accessible-public-transport-2002-transport-standards
Disability Standards for Education
Submissions are still open!
The Australian Government has announced a review of Disability Standards for Education to determine if the Standards are working and how they can be improved. The review is designed to cover three areas:
- Effective implementation of the Standards.
- Inclusive decision-making
- Clear responsibilities for assessment authorities and course developers.
Some of the areas being considered are part of the recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission.
Submissions close 21 November 2025, for more information on how to get involved please visit: https://www.education.gov.au/disability-standards-education-2005/consultations/2025-review-disability-standards-education-consultation
NDIS Evidence Advisory Committee Consultation
The recently formed NDIS Evidence Advisory Committee has announced a consultation on a number of assessments to be considered by the EAC.
These include:
- Active passive trainers
- Assistance animals for autistic people or people with intellectual disability
- Psychiatric assistance dogs
- Seizure alert dogs
- Exercise physiology
- Smart home appliances (for cooking, cleaning and gardening).
For more information please visit: https://consultations.health.gov.au/evidence-advisory-committee-eac/september2025/
You can make submissions until 9 November 2025.
Completed
Aviation Consumer Protections: Primary and Subordinate Legislation
The Australian Government is developing an aviation consumer protection framework to help make services better for customers. The framework will include:
- Minimum standards in the Aviation Consumer Protections Charter: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/aviation-consumer-protections-subordinate-legislation-including-aviation-consumer-protections
- A consumer ombuds scheme which will help resolve complaints that can’t be helped by the airport or airline.
QDN completed a submission for both the primary and subordinate legislation, providing recommendations that will help make aviation services safer, inclusive, and more enjoyable for people with disability.
Learn more about the aviation consumer protection framework at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication, Sports and the Arts website: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/aviation-consumer-protections
Policy Updates
Transport
Aviation Co-Design Update
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts has developed an Aviation Accessibility Co-design Steering Committee. The Committee is made up with people of diverse disability across Australia, who provided feedback about barriers they experienced in aviation services as well as possible solutions.
The Committee had three workshops in July and August 52025, where they identified 4 key principals:
- Include people with disability in the design of all policy, infrastructure, and processes.
- Be consistent across airlines and airports so consumers know what to expect when they travel.
- Disability awareness training should be required of all staff. This training should be designed and delivered by people with disability.
- Be transparent and provide information in accessible formats.
For a detailed summary of the workshop outcomes, head to the Aviation Accessibility web page: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/transport-accessibility/aviation-accessibility
You can provide feedback about the Aviation Standards by emailing AviationAccessibility@infrastructure.gov.au
Recommendations for the Standards will be provided to the Australian Government for in 2026.
Aged Care
Support at Home Program
On 1 November 20285, the Home Care Package Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Program will be replaced by the Support at Home Program. In addition, the Home Support Program will be included by 1 July 2027.
The Support at Home Program was created because of recommendations in the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which said to combine the different in-home aged care programs to:
- Improve access to services, home modifications and assistive technology
- Make the system fairer for users
- Help older people stay active, healthy, and stay connected to their social groups and community
Learn more about the Support at Home Program: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home/about?language=en
NDIS
New SIL Practice Standards
The NDIS Commission has used feedback from providers, participants, technical experts, and advocates, as well as feedback from the NDIS Review, to develop and test new Practice Standards for SIL Providers.
The SIL Practice Standards will help protect the quality and safety of Participants in shared accommodation. and provide guidance to SIL workers.
The NDIS Commission have stated that the SIL Practice Standards will be co-designed with people with lived experience in SIL accommodation.
The NDIS Commission is working with Inclusion Australia to design these Practice Standards.
Learn more about the SIL Practice Standards here: https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/about-us/ndis-regulatory-reform/ndis-practice-standards-reform#paragraph-id-107392
STA Name Change
The name for NDIS Short-Term Accommodation (STA) has been changed to Short Term Respite (STR). This change happened in October 2025 and occurred, so the services were described more accurately. STR still has the same purpose – to provide a short-term break for NDIS participants and carers.
STR can occur in the following settings:
- A specialised respite centre
- Your own home, with extra support
- A shared or group home
Learn more about the name change on the HNDIS website: https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/10967-short-term-accommodation-now-called-short-term-respite
Strategic Roadmap 2025-27
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has published their Strategic Roadmap 2025-27 which outlines their priorities and direction of the NDIS for the next two years.
The Strategic Plan has been released alongside other reports including the Annual Report, Corporate Plan, Disability Action Plan and Reconciliation Action Plan.
View all the above reports, and more, on the NDIS Quality and Safeguard Commission website: https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/about-us/corporate-reports#paragraph-id-708241
Changes to Keep NDIS Participants Safe
The NDIS Commission is changing how they check the identity of NDIS providers that use their portals. This change is happening to help participants safe from data breaches, scams and fraud. The identity check will change from Provider Digital Access (PRODA) to the Digital ID (myID) and Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM).
This change will take affect from 7 December 2025 and there will be a transition period up until 26 September 2026.
Self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants will continue using PROD until further notice.
The identity checks that are used to access the NDIS will not replace NDIS worker screening checks.
Learn more on the NDIS Quality and Safeguard Commission Website: https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/media-centre/changes-coming-how-providers-prove-their-identity
From our Friends
Policy updates regarding other peak bodies
Australian Disability Network (ADN) Campaign
The Australian Disability Network has launched a campaign to build awareness about people with disability and equality in all aspects of life.
The camping will involve a new theme and resources being released every week until International Day of People with Disability on 3 December 2025.
Resources include short animations, social media tiles and other information that individuals and organisations can share with their networks.
Access the campaign resources on the ADN website: https://australiandisabilitynetwork.org.au/news-and-events/international-day-of-people-with-disability-2025/?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=IDPWD2025
Other Policy Events / News
Australia’s Disability Strategy (ADS) Survey
A survey was competed in 2024 by the Australian National University (ANU) to determine community aptitudes towards people with disability. The survey was to gain information about people with disability relating to Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 and was completed on behalf of the Australian Government.
The survey revealed insights about:
- Community attitudes towards people with disability
- Disability Employment
- Health
- Education
- Personal and community support services
Read the full ADS survey report on the Australian Government website: ADS Survey Wave 2 (2024) Analysis Report and Summary | Disability Gateway
Take Charge of Change
Take Charge of Change is a free resource to help children and young people with disability, and their families, who are going through life changes such as starting school, working towards employment, or independent living.
The resources were co-designed with young people or families with lived experience of physical disability, intellectual disability, autism, and psychosocial disability. It also included people from diverse backgrounds such as people who were culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTQIA+, or living in rural areas.
View the Take Charge of Change resource here: https://cyda.org.au/TakeCharge/
Navigating My Way Project
The Navigating My Way Project has resources that can help NDIS Participants with psychosocial disabilities better understand their rights when working with service providers. It was created by the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC) and includes written information, videos and illustrations about:
- Self-advocacy
- Providing feedback
- Making complaints
View the resource on the VMIAC website: https://www.vmiac.org.au/navigating-my-way-resources/
A Right to Learn Campaign
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) is being reviewed and the A Right to Learn Campaign is seeking feedback from the public. The Campaign has created a form to provide feedback for their submission, as well as template you can use to write and email your own submission.
Please note that deadline for DDA submissions are now due on 14 November 2025, instead of 24 October 521025. As stated on the Campaighn website.
View the DDA submission resources here: https://mailchi.mp/c7961d04c885/dda-review-submissions-21070421?e=8ab4013af3
Profound Autism Symposium
The Profound Autism Symposium is being held on the 17 and 18 of November in person at NSW and can be livestreamed from anywhere in Australia. It is Australia’s first national event which is focused only on profound autism.
The symposium will include insights and solutions from people with lived experience and involve presentations as well as discussion papers.
Learn more about the Symposium or register for the event here: Profound Autism Symposium 2025
More News / Events
Homeless Connect
Homeless Connect is a FREE family-friendly event for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Enjoy a meal and activities in a welcoming environment with free access to medical care, housing and employment support, legal advice, haircuts, food, toiletries and clothing.
The event is on Friday 7 November at the Brisbane Showgrounds, 665 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills.
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: https://qdn.org.au/our-advocacy/
QDN Membership – Spread the word
Do you know someone who should be a QDN member? Share this link them so they can have their voice heard and connect with peers and support networks across Queensland.
QDN Membership Application: https://qdn.org.au/membership/qdn-member-application/