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Tag: Joint submission

  • Submission: ACT Public School System Resourcing Review

    Submission: ACT Public School System Resourcing Review

    AFI, Women with Disabilities ACT (WWDACT) and ACT Down Syndrome & Intellectual Disability (DSID) have made a joint submission to the ACT Public School System Resourcing Review. Our submission argues that inclusive education cannot succeed without structural investment and sustained resourcing to close the gap between policy intent and lived experience.

    Inclusive education is fundamental to safety, participation and long-term social and economic outcomes for students with disability. While the ACT Government has committed to inclusion, families, teachers and students are reporting a system under significant strain. Students continue to experience inadequate staffing, inconsistent adjustments, inaccessible environments, informal “reset days” that function as undocumented suspensions, and a growing drift toward segregation through small group programs and specialist settings.

    These are system-level resourcing failures, not failures of individual teachers. Schools are being asked to deliver increasingly complex supports without the staffing, specialist capability or administrative infrastructure required to do so. The result is exclusion in practice — including students missing excursions, assemblies and mainstream learning opportunities due to insufficient support.

    The ACT Disability Caucus calls for substantial reform to the resourcing model, including:

    • A significant increase in disability loading for ACT public schools
    • Adequate numbers of trained Learning Support Assistants across all settings
    • Dedicated administrative and coordination roles to relieve pressure on teachers
    • Investment in physical and digital accessibility and universal design
    • Improved access to allied health and specialist supports
    • Transparent annual reporting on disability funding, enrolment, exclusion patterns and workforce capacity
    • Stronger cross-system coordination between Education, NDIS, Health and Child & Youth Protection

    We also emphasise that funding reform must account for intersecting needs, including autistic students, students with intellectual disability, First Nations children, culturally and linguistically diverse families, and students with co-occurring mental health conditions.

    The ACT Disability Caucus supports an education system where every child can attend, participate and thrive on an equal basis with their peers. Achieving this requires structural investment, sustained funding and system-wide capability — not reliance on goodwill alone.

    You can read the full submission below.

    Final-submission-to-ACT-Public-School-System-Resourcing-ReviewDownload submission
  • Joint Submission: ACT Budget 2026-27

    Joint Submission: ACT Budget 2026-27

    The ACT Disability Directed Advocacy Caucus (including Women with Disabilities ACT, Advocacy for Inclusion, and ACT Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability) has made a joint submission outlining our shared investment priorities for the ACT. Government Budget for 2026/27. In our submission, we outline five shared investment priorities to address critical gaps, support the delivery of election commitments and ensure that disability reforms in the ACT, our effective, inclusive and sustainable.

    Our priorities include:

    Priority 1: education funding reform for an inclusive system, in which we seek a substantial increase to the loading for students, additional resources for LSAs, funding infrastructure, administered positions and to address labour market supply issues

    Priority 2 health, responding to complex needs and systemic gaps in which we seek funding to improve the circumstances of long stay patients that the university of Canberra rehabilitation hospital, urgent rectification work at North Canberra Hospital, training in the social model of disability and disability liaison roles as well as funding to support the involvement of people with disability in health reform processes. We also seek funding to ensure there is at least one fully accessible non hospital multi modal screening option in the act.

    Priority 3 is housing and planning reforms, in which we seek funding for a capital improvement fund to facilitate fast tracked housing mods, a dedicated housing advocate position to sit within AFI and a community led housing research project.

    Priority 4 is infrastructure access and transport in which we seek funding to community councils and DPO’s to enable improved engagement with neighbourhood voice organisations, increased resourcing for new transport digital platforms and to improve the on demand transport experience

    Priority 5 seeks funding to deliver the ACT Disability Strategy and election commitments and build sector capability to support reform. This also includes resourcing the policy advisory groups operated by WWDACT at a cost of $32,000 over 2 years ($16,000 per annum) and $150,000 to ACT Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability to support their Advocacy Reference Group and their systemic advocacy capability. We also seek funding of $74,000 to resource the ACT Disability Caucus through a dedicated three-days-per-week position, based at AFI, to support ongoing coordination and provide an efficient, consistent point of engagement with government.

    You can read the submission below.

    ACT Disability Advocacy Caucus Budget Submission 2026-27Download submission
  • Joint Budget Submission 2025-26

    Joint Budget Submission 2025-26

    The ACT Disability Directed Advocacy Caucus is pleased to make a submission to the community consultation process for the 2025/26 ACT Budget. 
    The ACT Disability Directed Advocacy Caucus is made up of Women with Disabilities ACT, Advocacy for Inclusion and ACT Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability. We advocate together representing Canberrans with disabilities.

    In our submission we have identified five key priorities for consideration and targeted investment.
    These are:

    • Rescue package for ACT disability advocacy
    • Funding people with disability to engage in foundational support reforms
    • Funding for reform policy capacity in the ACT Government
    • Meeting critical unmet needs
    • Delivering government election commitments

    We have two main urgent priority funding asks to address the disability advocacy funding crisis and enable people with disability to engage with government reforms, support the foundational supports implementation and stocktake, audit and surface capacity to deliver tier one foundational supports. 

    We also seek better government delivery capability and funding to deliver government election promises and address key priorities and support gaps. 

    You can read our full submission below.

    Joint Budget Submission 2025-26Download submission

  • Joint submission to the General Foundational Supports consultation

    Joint submission to the General Foundational Supports consultation

    Last week WWDACT, along with Women with Disabilities Australia and Women with Disabilities Victoria, made our submission to the General Foundational Supports consultation process. This submission includes the survey report from our joint survey a couple of months ago, which received just under 200 responses nationwide. A massive thank you to everyone who contributed to this work, through a survey submission, conversations with our team, or feedback on the final product. 

    We’re looking forward to continuing working with the ACT and Federal governments, along with our sister organisations, as they keep developing this new system of supports. 

    You can download and read the submission and report using the links below.

    Cover Letter for submission 3.12.2024Download
    Survey Report for submission 3.12.2024Download
  • MEDIA RELEASE: Disability groups flag health priorities ahead of ACT election forum

    MEDIA RELEASE: Disability groups flag health priorities ahead of ACT election forum

    A united front of ACT disability groups is flagging access to health care as a key priority for the 1 in 5 Canberra voters with a disability a day out from an ACT Disability Town Hall event kicking off tomorrow from 12 noon.

    ACT Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability, Women with Disabilities ACT, Mental Health Community Coalition ACT and Advocacy for Inclusion have come together to say access to critical acute,primary and preventative health care is a key priority as we approach the October voting period. 

    They point to data which reveals 1 in 4 people with disability find it difficult to access a GP while 1 in 3 find it challenging to access specialist health services. In addition, Bulk-billing rates in the ACT have long been declining but there have is further deteriorations with only 3.8 per cent of clinics bulk-billing all patients at the end of 2023.

    With the ACT taking on new responsibilities for Foundational Supports following the NDIS review the groups call for prompt implementation of the ACT Disability Health Strategy and a focus on other services, programs and upgrades to improve access. 

    You can read the media release below.

    Election comment authorised by Kat Reed for Women with Disabilities ACT

    Health Election PrioritiesDownload

  • #WhatWomensServicesNeed: 2024 ACT Election Platform

    #WhatWomensServicesNeed: 2024 ACT Election Platform

    Women with Disabilities ACT has come together with Women’s Health Matters and other ACT women’s services to show our joint election priorities.

    In a city like Canberra, everyone should be safe from violence, have access to health services, and supportive and equitable jobs and communities.

    While there have been steps in the right direction, slow action on domestic, family and sexual violence and women’s health and wellbeing and an under-resourced and overwhelmed women’s sector means that gender equity is still out of reach for ACT women.

    Canberra women services need better. This election, ACT women’s services across the sector call for action from the future Government to:

    📣Prioritise ending domestic, family and sexual violence

    📣Recognise and resource specialist approaches to end sexual violence

    📣Promote women’s health and wellbeing

    📣Resource women’s policy

    📣Value women’s work.

    You can read our joint platform below.

    Joint Women’s ACT Election PlatformDownload

    Authorised by Kat Reed for Women with Disabilities ACT

  • Joint submission: Menstrual products as NDIS supports

    Joint submission: Menstrual products as NDIS supports

    Like many people with disabilities and organisations, WWDACT has been alarmed at the proposed draft list of supports released prior to the passing of the National Disability Insurance Scheme
    Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024.

    The draft list of supports represents a huge change to how the NDIS operates. It attempts to remove many reasonable and necessary supports from the NDIS. It puts lots of supports into an exclusion category meaning that people with disabilities can’t access them with NDIS funding.

    This draft list changes how the NDIS operates and goes against the objectives of the NDIS. Now, people on the NDIS can only access supports that are on the list, and they will lose access to some reasonable and necessary supports. This goes against the recommendations of the NDIS review and disempowers people with disabilities.

    One of the items in the ‘exclusion category’ is menstrual products. Some people with disabilities need specific products to manage menstruation (such as period underwear) or use menstrual products to assist with their disability (daily use for incontinence). The draft list says that people with disabilities can’t access menstrual products using the NDIS anymore.

    WWDACT has endorsed a submission by Women with Disabilities Australia and the Australian Women’s Health Alliance, expressing concern about menstrual products being excluded from NDIS support lists. You can read the submission below.

    WWDA & AWHA – Submission – Menstrual ProductsDownload

    If you want to learn more about the draft NDIS support lists, here is some information:
    Department of Social Services Consultation (now closed)

    Submission by Advocacy for Inclusion

    Statement by Women with Disabilities Australia


  • Joint Statement: On the rights of people with disability in Gaza

    Joint Statement: On the rights of people with disability in Gaza

    Women with Disabilities ACT has signed a joint statement with Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) and the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA). We are deeply concerned about the events we are witnessing in Gaza and other conflict-affected areas across the world. 

    We are also concerned about the experiences of people with disabilities in Gaza, who are disproportionately impacted by the sustained and escalating violence, attacks and hostilities. 

    The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, has concluded that there are ‘reasonable grounds to believe the threshold indicating Israel’s commission of genocide is met’. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has also expressed particular concern about the situation of people with disabilities in Gaza. 

    We strongly condemn any act of genocide or violence. As the Disabled People’s Organisation for women, girls and culturally and linguistically diverse people with disabilities in Australia, we stand in solidarity with people with disabilities in Palestine. As transnational human rights organisations, our concerns are not limited to Australian borders.

    We are deeply concerned about the safety, rights, and wellbeing of people with disabilities who are at far greater risk of death and injury in situations of violence, conflict and crisis. We are horrified and devastated by the reports of death and injury that we are witnessing. 

    We are also deeply concerned about those who have acquired impairments as a direct result of armed attacks and sustained violent conditions, and are being denied critical care, services and support. 

    In situations of violence, conflict and crisis, the systemic inequalities that women, girls and gender diverse people with disabilities face are exacerbated, resulting in significant human rights violations. 

    Women, girls and gender diverse people experience: 

    • Increased risk of violence and exploitation: Women, girls and gender diverse people with disabilities are at disproportionate risk of violence, abuse, and exploitation in conflict zones and in refuges. Sexual violence is a grave concern, and many survivors are unable to access support or necessary medical and psychological care.
    • Barriers to humanitarian aid, information and services: Access to humanitarian aid, information and essential services, such as healthcare, safe pregnancy and birthing, medication, education, rehabilitation, and assistive technology, is often restricted for women, girls and gender diverse people with disabilities. Physical, attitudinal, and communication barriers prevent them from receiving adequate support, assistance and evacuation warnings. In Palestine, access to humanitarian aid is severely restricted and humanitarian workers face grave risk. 
    • Displacement and loss of support networks: Violence, conflict and crisis often lead to displacement or abandonment, further isolating women, girls and gender diverse people with disabilities from their support networks and assistive devices. Displacement camps and temporary shelters frequently lack the necessary accommodations to meet their needs, including access to privacy, water, sanitation and menstrual hygiene products.

    We echo the calls of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the cessation of attacks and violence in Palestine; access to humanitarian aid; and disability-responsive humanitarian and peacebuilding efforts. We call on the international community, governments, and humanitarian organisations to take immediate action to ensure the health and safety of all civilians in Palestine, including people with disabilities. 

    We believe that the rights of women, girls and gender diverse people with disabilities in conflict-affected areas must be a priority in all humanitarian and peacebuilding efforts. Addressing their specific needs and ensuring their inclusion and participation is a critical component of effective and sustainable conflict resolution and recovery. 

    This includes ensuring:

    • an immediate and permanent ceasefire;
    • an immediate end to funding and supply of weapons to facilitate violence;
    • safe and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid for all;
    • safe visa pathways to flee from persecution for all;
    • adequate and accessible communications;
    • safe and accessible evacuation routes and locations;
    • recognition of additional barriers faced by persons with disabilities;
    • culturally safe, trauma-informed and gender-responsive services and supports are available for all;
    • measures to ensure full access to all basic needs;
    • consultation with persons with disabilities and their representative organisations;
    • direct support for local disability and humanitarian organisations; and
    • uphold the right to assemble peacefully and make special protections to ensure people can advocate for justice, safety and freedom without any fear.

    WWDA and NEDA acknowledge the delay in responding to the injustices against people with disabilities in Palestine. We deeply regret any harm our inaction may have caused.

    This statement has been endorsed by: 

    • Women with Disabilities Australia
    • National Ethnic Disability Australia
    • Community Mental Health Australia 
    • Disability Advocacy Network Australia 
    • Down Syndrome Australia 
    • Women with Disabilities ACT
    • People with Disability Australia 

  • Joint statement on Government’s response to the Disability Royal Commission

    Women With Disabilities Australia, Women With Disabilities ACT and Women With Disabilities Victoria are deeply disappointed by the Government’s response to the Disability Royal Commission, released this week.

    We are concerned that only 13 recommendations of 222 have been fully accepted, with many critical recommendations yet to be resolved across different levels of government.

    The Disability Royal Commission ran for four years. It was the culmination of tireless and persistent advocacy for recognition of, response to, and redress for the violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation experienced by people with disabilities in all areas of life.

    Our organisations were involved in all aspects of the Disability Royal Commission, to elevate the voices of women, girls, and gender diverse people with disabilities across Australia. We told the Disability Royal Commission about the violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation that women, girls and gender-diverse people with disabilities experience.

    The response fails to address the scale of this violence, and the urgent need for transformative change.

    We welcome some of the commitments to addressing gender-based violence against women and girls with disabilities, like the commitment to implementing a disability lens in the actions under the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children. This is a critical step to addressing the increased rates, and specific forms, of violence that women and gender-diverse people with disabilities experience. However, we’re concerned that Government’s response does not go far enough. For example, Commonwealth, State and Territory governments have failed to agree to implement a nationally consistent and disability-inclusive definition of family and domestic violence in law.

    Too often, services designed to support people experiencing gender-based, family and domestic violence, are inaccessible to people with disabilities, or not responsive to our needs. We welcome the Government’s commitment to accessible guidance materials for front line services, but this is unlikely to address the shortage of accessible crisis accommodation or the chronic under-resourcing that front line services face.

    We are also devastated that the Government has not committed to enacting nationally consistent legislation to prohibit forced sterilisation. Forced sterilisation is recognised by the United Nations as a form of gender-based violence and a form of torture. The Federal Government has said that this is the responsibility of the State and Territory Governments. However, the United Nations treaty monitoring bodies have said that Federal Governments that have ratified a United Nations Convention (like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) are still responsible for ensuring that the Convention is fully implemented throughout the territories under its jurisdiction. We believe that Commonwealth, State and Territory governments must all act to prohibit forced sterilisation. We need to see the human rights of people with disabilities protected in Australian law.

    This includes through national human rights legislation. We are disappointed that the Government has not committed to implementing a national Human Rights Act to better protect the rights of people with disabilities in domestic law. This is one of the most critical reforms needed to protect against violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

    Our organisations will consider the Government response to the Disability Royal Commission, and will continue to advocate to protect and promote the rights of women, girls and gender-diverse people with disabilities in Australia.

  • Shared Statement following the release of the Government’s response to the Disability Royal Commission

    Issued by Women with Disabilities ACT, Advocacy for Inclusion, ACT Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability, and Mental Health Community Coalition ACT

    Yesterday the Federal and ACT Governments released their long-awaited responses to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.  

    The Commission’s findings highlighted the extensive violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation faced by people with disability. They drew on the personal testimony of thousands of people with disability in closed and open sessions.

    Despite this, only 13 recommendations have been fully accepted after nine months, with many remaining unresolved. Many of the most crucial recommendations have been set aside or noted – these include proposals for a Disability Rights Act, a new cross cutting National Disability Agreement, a Minister for Disability, removing sub award wages, moving away from segregated schools and housing plus a national approach to ending non- therapeutic sterilisation.

    There are some points of light – like a commitment to modernise the Disability Discrimination Act. There is also some positive work and investments in the ACT which address issues raised by the Commission. There are also changes flagged to remove the discriminatory elements of the Migration Act.

    Like many of you, we are disappointed in the overall response which does not match the urgency and seriousness of the problems presented to the Commission nor do justice to the compelling evidence presented by thousands of Australians.

    However, it is important to remember that we were heard in the report of the Royal Commission and those stories continue to resonate. There is no going back to the era where disability was neglected and forgotten. Our organisations continue to hear and amplify your calls for better rights protections, improved services, fewer barriers and an end to low pay and segregation. The path towards change is never linear and together we will regroup and redouble our efforts.  

    We know that today has left some of you feeling upset and angry and that is understandable.

    We have included some numbers for services that can help in crisis, but we also wanted to offer an opportunity to come together, to hear about some positive areas of change that are coming out of the Commission and to share your thoughts.

    Join us to debrief, regroup and share hopes for the future

    Along these lines Advocacy for Inclusion, in partnership with the ACT Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability, Women with Disabilities ACT and the Mental Health Community Coalition ACT, offers a briefing for members and community partners on the Royal Commission response.

    We will share our snapshot analysis of the response in full and then be joined by Dr Rhonda Galbally AC who was one of the Commissioners as we share our reflections and ideas on the way ahead.

    The briefing and reflection will be held from 10.30am – 12.00 noon on Tuesday 13 August 2024 on Teams.  Please find registration details here.

    Register for briefing on 13 August

    Support numbers

    Lifeline Crisis Support: Call 13 11 14, Text 0477 13 11 14
    Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

    Beyond Blue Support Service: 1300 224 636
    Beyond Blue is an organisation that provides a free online and telephone helpline for people with depression, anxiety or other mental health issues. You can talk to trained mental health professionals who can give you support and advice. Beyond Blue can also help you find mental health services near you  

    National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 1800 880 052
    The National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline is a free, independent and confidential service for reporting abuse and neglect of people with disability. The Hotline works with callers to find appropriate ways of dealing with reports of abuse or neglect through referral, information and support.  

    1800RESPECT: Call 1800 737 732, Text 0458 737 732
    1800 RESPECT is Australia’s national counselling, information and support service for anyone affected by domestic, family and sexual violence. It is available, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    Statement following DRC Response (002)Download