Registrations are open for QDN’s Annual General Meeting on Saturday 19th February 2022

This year’s AGM will be held in person and also online via Zoom for those unable to make it in person or who would rather attend online.

Date: 19 February 2022

Time: 10:15am to 12:30pm

Venue: The Captain’s Room, Broncos Leagues Club, 98 Fulcher Road Red Hill or online via zoom.

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination and Check In is required for entry to the club.

Please RSVP by Thursday 17 February.

There is limited transport assistance available to people in Brisbane and local surrounding areas. If you need assistance with transport to and from the AGM please contact QDN by email qdn@qdn.org.au or by phone 1300 363 783.

Read the AGM papers and register here »registration

Open Letter – Commonwealth and State Governments called on for immediate actions required to prioritise COVID-19 safety measures for Queenslanders with disability

QDN and Health Consumers Queensland have forwarded a letter to Commonwealth and State disability and ehalth ministers from both organisations, along with allies from across the disability and health sectors, seeking vital supplies and support in the current Omicron environment.

Read the Open Letter here »full letter

Free RATs for people SIL accommodation

Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds CSC, said the Government was providing free rapid tests to NDIS Supported Independent Living (SIL) residents and workers in line with the National Cabinet’s agreement to the new Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPCC) guidance.

This latest measure supersedes the existing measure which enabled SIL participants and providers to claim up to $12.50 per rapid antigen test when a support worker is required to undergo testing to safely deliver supports.

Go the NDIS Website for more information here »about free RATs

Queensland Health Symptom Checker

The COVID-19 symptom checker is now live on the Queensland Health website. This online self-assessment tool will assist people with COVID-19 to monitor their symptoms and understand what healthcare is needed.

Go the Queensland Health Website for more information here »about the Symptom Checker

Get Ready Plan Ahead

We have been running a pilot project on the Gold Coast, where we have delivered a series of two workshops to almost 100 people. The workshops have been created and delivered by people with disability for people with disability to assist people to develop their own individual emergency plan.

The workshops went through the Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness tool and supported participants to make a plan in preparation for a disaster.

The team has also been delivering online workshops this week to almost 200 disability workers, around how they can support people with disability to make their own individual emergency plans.

Read more about the DIDRR project here »registration

Access Affordability Ability Digital Inclusion

A new Digital Inclusion pilot project has been launched this week. It is assisting people with disability get access to devices and learn skills on how to stay connected online. We know that being online is especially important during a natural disaster like floods, cyclones, fires or now during COVID-19 pandemic. People with disability need to be able to get the facts and information, keep getting essential goods, services and support like food, medicine, healthcare, disability support and staying connected to family, friends and workers.

If you know anyone with a disability needing a device, or someone that has a device and needs some support learning how to use it contact us.

Read more about the Digital Inclusion project here »registration

• Paige Armstrong (CEO), Des Ryan (QDN Chairperson) and Michelle Moss (Director, Policy and Strategic Engagement) met up with Hon Craig Crawford - Minister for Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and his team to discuss the NDIS in Review Forum that QDN held with their members at the end of last year. We provided the minister with the final report and discussed the key issues that arose from the forum.

Read the NDIS in Review report here »registration

• Today we are holding a consultation with the Queensland Human Rights Commission. Thirty of our Peer leaders are participating in the consultation around the Anti-Discrimination Act Review. It is the first time in 30 years to be reviewed so it is a really important opportunity to have your say.

You can still make a submission to the the Anti-Discrimination Act through their website.

Provide a submission here »about the open letter

• A QDN submission around Restrictive Practices Legislation Review was submitted this week.
• Paige Armstrong (CEO) has been to a roundtable with Hon Mark Bailey - Minister for Transport and Main Roads, around E-Scooters and discussed some of the issues put forward by QDN members after our E-Scooter Forum last year.

Read the E-Scooter report here »registration