Children and Young People with Disability Australia

23/06/2026

The NDIS Bill hasn't been stopped yet. But the disability community has won something important.

Today, Parliament agreed to extend the NDIS Bill Inquiry by 8 weeks, delaying consideration of the legislation until at least the August sitting period.

The extension comes alongside several important amendments, including a change CYDA has been advocating for: treatment required to access the NDIS cannot be a restrictive practice, such as chemical restraint, and must be publicly funded.

Other improvements have also been secured, including stronger protections around Support Determinations, greater transparency around automated decision-making, and limits on some ministerial powers.

"Every amendment secured so far represents harm that has been prevented. That matters, but preventing some harm is not the same as creating good policy." said CYDA CEO Skye Kakoschke-Moore.

While we welcome these improvements, CYDA does not support the bill in its current form. The next eight weeks must be used to address the serious concerns that remain.

Thank you to everyone who has spoken up, shared their story, made a submission, or contacted decision-makers.

CYDA will keep fighting for changes that protect the rights of children and young people with disability. ❤️

Link to our full media release here: https://cyda.org.au/cyda-welcomes-time-for-further-scrutiny-of-ndis-bill-but-urges-genuine-engagement/

[ID in comments]

22/06/2026

Keen to be part of a video project with our friends at JFA Purple Orange?

Right now, they're looking for young people with disability aged 10 to 16 to be part of a new video for the Together We Learn project.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 What makes you feel included at school?
♿ What do people need to know about access?
💬 What words do you use about your disability?

By sharing your experiences, you'll help Year 5 and 6 students across Australia learn about disability, accessibility and inclusion.

Filming will take place in Brooklyn Park in Adelaide on 6 or 8 July during the school holidays.

You'll attend a one-hour session between 10am and 4pm.

An honorarium will be provided to thank you for your time.

Want to be involved? Complete the EOI form today: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=qJuGzk-meEmQRsMjRoM05zOrnue_uJhEmnr8HfjuNKRUMUY3MjJKSVIyQUQyVDhVNFdKQzhCWU9UNi4u&fbclid=IwY2xjawSlcVZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJYNmp4cVBBaTd3TkplRkhNc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkRowuMb7T0Ps-UddlIQRIMq4BLUqeOX4NGDvHVp1uKakvzTeX5g5oob1cVR_aem_DXesrkrzm9LLfU5TPIzH3Q

Young people with disability: we want to hear from you! 📣

We're looking for young people with disability aged 10-16 to be part of a new video for the Together We Learn project.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 What makes you feel included at school?
♿ What do people need to know about access?
💬 What words do you use about your disability?

By sharing your experiences, you'll help Year 5 and 6 students across Australia learn about disability, accessibility and inclusion.

Filming will take place in Brooklyn Park on 6 or 8 July during the school holidays.
You'll attend one 1-hour session between 10am and 4pm.
An honorarium will be provided to thank you for your time.

Want to be involved? Complete the EOI form today: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=qJuGzk-meEmQRsMjRoM05zOrnue_uJhEmnr8HfjuNKRUMUY3MjJKSVIyQUQyVDhVNFdKQzhCWU9UNi4u

17/06/2026

Happy Autistic Pride Day! ♾️

It's a time to truly celebrate our neurodiversity, while acknowledging that Autistic Pride can be different things to different people.

We asked some of the folks involved in our Community Leadership Program (CLP) for q***r or gender diverse and neurodivergent young people what it means to them.

For facilitator Kellin (they/them), it's about: "celebrating my way of engaging with the world, not as a deficit but as something uniquely me."

For CLP paritipant Zayne (he/him): "I feel it makes me a more fun and comfortable person overall. It almost feels like my autism gives me a freeing feeling of whimsy."

What does Autistic Pride mean to you? We'd love to hear your take 💬

🔎 Learn more at autisticprideday.org
🌈 Read about CYDA's CLP program at cyda.org.au/community-leadership-program

17/06/2026

🚩The disability sector is at a crossroads!

💭NDIS reforms
💭Support Needs Assessments
💭Safeguarding
💭Growing uncertainty across the sector

These changes are already affecting people with disability, families, advocates and services across Australia.

The VALID Advocacy in Action Conference 2026 brings together advocates, self advocates, sector leaders and experts for two days of learning, discussion and action on the issues that matter most.

Join sessions on:
• NDIS reforms and what’s changing
• Support Needs Assessments
• Safeguarding and protecting rights
• SDA renter rights
• Inclusive justice
• Lived experience leadership and advocacy

22-23 June 2026
Novotel Bell City, Preston
Register now: https://valid.org.au/event/advocacy-in-action-conference/

Be part of the conversation. Be part of the change.

17/06/2026

Thank you, Bendigo 🧡💚

It was fantastic to meet so many of you at the Bendigo Aged & Disability Expo yesterday!

From chatting about inclusive education and advocacy initiatives, to sharing more about our co-designed information resources, we loved connecting with families, young people with disability, and fellow advocates.



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15/06/2026

Did you know there are 476,180 children and young people under 25 on the NDIS?

Or that four in five children currently using the Scheme have unmet support needs?

Staying on top of the latest information about the NDIS is absolutely vital, especially as new reforms continue to unfold.

CYDA's Key Stats Factsheet on the NDIS is your cheat sheet for the most up-to-date statistics on children and young people on the Scheme today.

📥 Download it here: https://tinyurl.com/ywfhpry8
🔍 Learn more here: https://cyda.org.au/key-statistics/

14/06/2026

We’re excited to be exhibiting at the Bendigo Aged & Disability Expo!

📆 Tuesday, 16 June 2026
📍Bendigo Red Energy Arena
💵Free entry – register here: https://book.disabilityexpo.com.au/visitor/register

Come along and connect with organisations supporting people with disability, ageing Australians, carers and families.

🎁Free hourly giveaways throughout the day.

We look forward to seeing you there!

12/06/2026

It's the final day of COSP19 and we are incredibly proud of our delegates Rosie Putland and Margherita Dall'Occo-Vaccaro 🪂 for spending the last four days engaging in global discussions, advocating for the rights of children and young people with disability, and making new friends along the way!

It's time to let our delegates rest, but we'll keep sharing more of their favourite moments in the coming weeks 📸

In the mean time here is a selection of photos and videos!

[ID 1: Rosie and Margherita together in front of the UN building, national flags are in a row behind them.]

[ID 2: Rosie and Margherita sitting together at the microphone with the digital banner on the table in front of them.]

[ID 3: Rosie sitting in her wheelchair delivering an intervention into the microphone.]

[VD 4: Youth delegates from Sweden, Iceland, Norway, France, United States, Rosie and Margherita from Australia all way at the camera with UN officials after a meeting]

[ID 5: Rosie, Claire, and Charlotte sit and stand together at the Australian welcome reception.]

[ID 6: A candid photo of Margherita a side event she is wearing a bright mustard blazer.]

[VD 7: The Australian delegation of more than 20 people sit and stand together for a photo waving and making peace signs]

[ID 8: Rosie sitting at the table ready to deliver her intervention, the digital banner is in front of her.]

[VD 9: A large group of young disabled people gathered together chant "united divas at the united nations" and cheer]

[ID 10: Rosie sitting with the UNICEF flag behind her speaking with youth delegates from Sweden and Iceland.]

[ID 11: The general assembly at the UN filled with people. A golden crest of the United Nations is at the front of the room.]

11/06/2026

The Senate Inquiry hearings into proposed NDIS changes have come to a close.

Over the past three days, they have heard from disabled people, advocates, and representative organisations, including CYDA.

Together, we spoke about the devastating impact the NDIS Amendment Bill will have on the disability community, including the 476,000 participants under 25, if it is rushed through unchanged.

CYDA CEO Skye Kakoschke-Moore said in her evidence: “On paper, these reforms are designed to achieve billions of dollars of savings.”

“In reality, they will push more families into crisis, result in cost shifting to already oversubscribed or even non-existent services and lead to poorer outcomes for people with disability.”

Of particular concern is the Bill’s move to shift responsibility over complex supports onto already stretched families.

📺 Watch the story by ABC News to learn more below.

🔗 Check out CYDA’s submission to the Senate Inquiry here: https://cyda.org.au/cydas-submission-on-the-ndis-amendment-bill-2026/

A Senate inquiry into the government's proposed NDIS cuts has heard...

11/06/2026

DAY 3

Today our youth delegate divas ✨️🙂‍↕️ spent the day making global connections!

From attending a side event hosted at UNICEF House about moving from youth representation to meaningful participation in political and public life.

To interviewing Swedish and Icelandic youth delegates Klara and Eidur from and about the impacts of the social media ban on disabled young people.

To contributing in side events discussing the importance of increasing politicial participation of disabled people in parliaments around the world. They even heard from proudly disabled parliamentarians from the Republic of Armenia, Tanzania, and the European Parliament!

Heading into the last day of COSP19 our delegates are so proud of the connections they've made and will be coming home to Australia with lots to share.

Stay tuned for our final vlog tomorrow!