your Gateway news

Welcome to the first edition of your Gateway news!

Each edition will come out quarterly, with useful information about programs, services and supports for people with disability, opportunities for you to be involved, as well as interesting stories by people with disability, for people with disability, and much more.

In this edition you will find:

Your story – Meet Grace, Mark and Sue (short videos)
Are you interested in key Government actions on disability policy?
Do you need individual advocacy support?
Do you want to make a complaint about a person with disability being hurt, treated badly or neglected?
Are you interested in improving access to Assistive Technology supports for NDIS participants?
Do you know about the COVID-19 Leave Grant for Disability Workers?
Don’t forget International Day of People with Disability on 3 December 2023

The second edition of your Gateway news will be out in January 2024 and will coincide with the Disability Gateways third birthday. Watch out for it then.

If you have any feedback for us about this newsletter or what you would like to see in it, we are always keen to hear from you! You can contact us via the feedback link at the top of the website at Welcome to the Disability Gateway, or by calling 1800 643 787.

Please enjoy the newsletter!
The Disability Gateway team.
October 2023

Your story - Meet Grace!

photo of Grace

Grace is from Perth, Western Australia. She is blind, and is an active part of Perth’s arts community. See how she uses the Disability Gateway to find and share information to help others, and how accessible information is so important to her.

Are you interested in key Government actions on disability?

Australia's Disability Strategy 2021-2031 - Creating an inclusive community together

Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 (Strategy) is Australia’s national disability policy framework. It’s our nations plan to make life better for people with disability, and make Australia more inclusive, so everyone can take part, be treated equally and with respect. It’s driving action at all levels of government to improve the lives of people with disability, and sets out practical changes that will assist people with disability.

The Strategy’s vision is for an inclusive Australian society so that people with disability can fulfil their potential, as equal members of the community. In line with Australia’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Strategy helps in protecting, promoting and realising the human rights of people with disability.

As part of Australia’s Disability Strategy Engagement Plan, public forums or consultation activities will be held to support the implementation of the Strategy every year from 2022 to 2031.

The first national forum was held on 2-3 November 2022, and the first state and territory-based Forum was held in Queensland on 19 June 2023. To find out more about public forums and consultations visit Australia’s Disability Strategy Hub on the website.

Want to keep informed? If you are interested in knowing what is happening with the Strategy you can subscribe to receive updates and news. To register for updates on the ADS you can subscribe here.

Disability Reform Ministerial Council

Did you know Commonwealth and state and territory ministers with responsibility for disability policy meet regularly through the Disability Reform Ministerial Council (DRMC)? The DRMC reports to National Cabinet and discusses ways to improve and implement policy through the Strategy and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

DRMC’s mission is to improve outcomes for Australians with disability through collaborative efforts that support productivity reform, build social capital and aim to return investment to Australian communities.

If you would like to stay updated on what’s going on at DRMC meetings, visit Communiqués.

Australian Government - National Autism Strategy - Help shape the change.

There is a new National Autism Strategy being developed for all Autistic Australians, to improve their lives and provide a coordinated national approach to service and supports for autistic Australians and their families.

The National Autism Strategy is being co-designed with autistic people, their families and carers and the autism sector to find out what people want and need to help them in each stage of their lives.

The public consultation process to contribute to the development of the draft National Autism Strategy closed on 30 October 2023. If you would like to read the discussion paper and information that informed the consultation process, visit www.dss.gov.au/national-autism-strategy.

The draft strategy is expected to be released for public comment towards the end of this calendar year.

If you would like to know more about the Strategy visit National Autism Strategy.

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If you would like to keep up to date on what’s going on, email AutismPolicy@dss.gov.au to be added to their mailing list.

Disability Advocacy Support Helpline

Do you need individual advocacy support?

The Disability Advocacy Support Helpline (the Helpline) is here to help you. The Helpline is a free nation-wide phone-based service accessed through the Disability Gateway. It's for people with disability, their families and carers, who require short-term individual disability advocacy support.

Helpline advocates can assist you (excluding NDIS Appeals matters) with up to three phone sessions, and can refer you to in-person National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) providers and other community and government agencies depending on your needs.

To request disability advocacy support through the Helpline:

Call 1800 643 787, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, or
Fill out the Contact Us Form.

More information about the Helpline:

Your story - Meet Mark!

photo of Mark

Mark lives in Gippsland Victoria. Mark was in a serious accident that changed his life, but having access to information and supports has changed the way he and his wife live their lives. See how the Disability Gateway can help you.

Do you need to make a complaint about a person with disability being hurt, treated badly or neglected?

National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline

If you have experienced or witnessed a person with disability being hurt, treated badly or neglected, you can report it to the National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline (the Hotline).

The Hotline is free, independent and confidential. It doesn’t take sides or advocate on anyone’s behalf, but works with callers to find appropriate ways of dealing with reports of abuse or neglect through referral, information and support.

To make a report, contact the Hotline on 1800 880 052 or visit the JobAccess website for more information.

Are you interested in improving access to Assistive Technology supports for NDIS participants?

The Australian Government is working with NDIS participants and providers to make it easier to access quality Assistive Technology and other supports.

An expert advisory panel is being established that can assess the effectiveness and cost impact of Assistive Technology and other supports. They are also implementing preferred provider arrangements to leverage the buying power of the NDIS to help participants access better prices and improve service quality.

If you would like to be kept informed about this initiative, you can register your interest and find more information at Promoting Evidence-based Assistive Technology And Supports.

Do you know about the COVID-19 Leave Grant for Disability Workers?

NDIS providers can now apply for reimbursement of payment made to eligible disability workers unable to attend work due to a COVID-19 infection. The Disability Worker COVID-19 Leave Grant helps disability workers take the time they need off work due to having a COVID-19 infection. This grant replaces the High Risk Settings Pandemic Payment and matches funding available to aged care workers. Registered and unregistered NDIS providers, including sole traders, can now apply at GrantConnect.

For more information, including information in nine languages for workers, go to Grant information for NDIS workers.

Your story - Meet Sue!

photo of Sue

Sue is active in the Cairns deaf community, and knows how important it is to access information, especially for those who don’t live in the big cities. See how worthwhile she finds the Disability Gateway.

Don’t forget International Day of People with Disability on 3 December 2023

International Day of People with Disability

Have you marked your calendar for International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) on Sunday, 3 December 2023?

IDPwD is a United Nations recognised day observed each year by governments, organisations, businesses, schools, community groups and individuals across the world. Get involved by hosting or joining an IDPwD event. You can be a part of the conversation and challenge perceptions and attitudes about people with disability. Check out the register an event portal on the IDPwD website for ideas and to find out what’s happening in your area on or around IDPwD.

You can also share your story or messages of support for people with disability online:

Facebook at www.facebook.com/idpwd
Twitter at http://twitter.com/idpwd
on Instagram at www.instagram.com/idpwd_au

Join in on 3 December to recognise the 4.4 million Australians with disability and contribute to a more inclusive, accessible and equitable society.

Disability Gateway Newsletter - edition #1 in Auslan

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Title graphic: Disability Gateway Logo - Newsletter edition #1

Presenter:

Welcome to the first edition of your Gateway news!