This edition of DANA’s eNews is packed full of the latest news about advocacy, the NDIS, COVID-19 tests and vaccinations, and the Disability Royal Commission, plus current events, inquiries, consultations, and new resources.
People with disability, their family, supporters and advocates can share experiences of violence, neglect, abuse or exploitation with the Disability Royal Commission. Here are some useful resources to remind your networks that 2022 is the final year for people to share their stories, and how many small submissions add up to one big story!
Read more about Help spread the word – Change starts with your story
Australia’s peak disability organisations have released a statement expressing deep concern about the impact on people with disability of the new Religious Discrimination Bill which will be debated in Parliament tomorrow.
In the statement – which calls on MPs to vote against the Bill – the groups express particular concern with provisions permitting ‘statements of belief’ to override existing legal and policy protections for people with disability from humiliating, insulting, ridiculing and demeaning behaviour and gives licence to an increase in such behaviour towards people with disability, undermining our confidence and sense of worth as Australians.
Read more about Disability Sector Urges No Vote From MPs On Religious Discrimination Bill
Australia’s peak disability representative organisations have written to National Cabinet to detail the unacceptable risks to the lives and health of people with disability caused by the response of Australia’s federal, state and territory governments to the Omicron and Delta variants of COVID-19.
In the statement to National Cabinet, the eight organisations say the disability sector is particularly concerned about National Cabinet’s decision to permit disability support workers to isolate for much shorter periods than required of Australia’s general population if those workers are close contacts of people who have been COVID-positive.
DANA along with Australia’s peak disability representative organisations have lent their support to the new Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021 – 2031 (the strategy) which was released on Friday 3 December by the Australian Government to coincide with the International Day Of People With Disability. The new strategy – which replaces and builds on the previous National Disability Strategy 2010 – 2020 – is Australia’s national disability policy framework and sets out a plan for governments and stakeholders across Australia to improve the lives of people with disability in Australia over the next ten years.
International Day of People with Disability is celebrated on December 3 each year. This day aims to increase awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability. It’s a day to celebrate the achievements and contributions of people with disability.
Check our our run-down of some of the events happening around Australia and online!
Read more about Celebrating rights and inclusion – International Day of People with Disability 2021
