Children and Young People with Disability Australia

03/11/2026

Leaving school and working out what comes next can be confusing for young people, their families and caregivers.

What information would have made it easier? What support made a difference? What’s still missing?

Your experience can shape practical, accessible resources for young people with intellectual disability and the families who support them.

📅 November 26, 5pm AEDT | Online
👉 Register your interest: https://ow.ly/3Pg95101zNu

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30/10/2026

Yesterday, CYDA joined disability, education, and community sector organisations in calling on the Victorian Government to reverse cuts to the Disability Inclusion program.

Under its recently revealed proposal, Victorian schools will lose tens of millions of dollars in disability funding, impacting thousands of students with disability, from Term 1 next year.

In our joint Open Letter to Deputy Premier and Education Minister Gabrielle Williams MP, we urge the government to reverse course.

To do otherwise would see many disabled students lose vital supports, while more pressure is placed onto teachers, schools, support staff, and families to fill the gaps.

The effects would extend beyond classrooms and affect lifelong opportunities for children and young people with disability in Victoria.

These cuts come as the Federal Government moves forward with its own plans to reduce disability-related school funding by $463 million over four years through tighter compliance requirements.

✉️ Read the full letter here: https://cyda.org.au/open-letter-on-cuts-to-disability-inclusion-funding-for-victorian-schools/

🔁 ...and share it with your networks to get the word out today.

Amaze YDAS - Youth Disability Advocacy Service

The Australian Government cannot build inclusive communities while cutting individual supports that help people with disability participate in them, Children and Young People with Disability Australia has warned.

29/10/2026

Congratulations to our Community Leadership Program participants for 2026! ✨🌈

CYDA delivered 19 sessions over six months to provide neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+ young people with the tools and skills to build confidence and self-advocacy to shine as leaders in their communities.

Session themes included authentic leadership, disability rights, grassroots initiatives, strategy, storytelling and more.

Participants from across the country connected over a shared passion for creativity, the arts and changemaking, with one CLP member sharing the positive impact of the program on their life 🗣️

“In your real life, you don't just stumble upon a group of people like this who you kind of feel like you instantly relate to... I don't have to scope anything out, because I can just say it, and trust that people will get it. And I think that's really special.”

Each participant received an end of program pack filled with resources, reflections. and next steps to help them continue growing their leadership practice.

Interested in joining? CLP is run in partnership with three organisations across Australia and will be returning in 2027.

Thank you to our Class of 2026! 🎉

28/10/2026

Are you a parent or caregiver of a young person with intellectual disability?

CYDA and Inclusion Australia are creating new resources to help young people aged 18 to 25 understand their work options, know their rights and find pathways into employment.

We want to hear from families.

Join our free online consultation on Thursday, 26 November at 5pm AEDT and share what has helped, what’s been hard, and what you wish you’d known.

✍️ Register your interest here: https://ow.ly/73aW5101zIc

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22/10/2026

Want to know how to make your workplace more inclusive, but short on time? ⏰

Join CYDA’s lived experience team as we launch our FREE training miniseries: Building Inclusive Workplaces, Cultures and Communities.

Each 30-minute webinar will tackle an issue relevant to your workplace.

Our first session on Monday, 16 November, focuses on Preventing Ableism and Discrimination in the Workplace. Reserve your spot now!

➡️ Link to Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/cyda-mini-training-series

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22/10/2026

"Life with invisible disability means constantly navigating expectations, barriers and judgements from outside forces — people and systems who cannot see what we’re going through. But sometimes, the harshest expectations are the ones we place on ourselves."

This Invisible Disability Week (19 – 25 October), writer and creative Faith Seci reflected on their experiences of invisible disability and the struggle for self-acceptance.

💻 Read the full blog article on our website: https://cyda.org.au/i-am-jealous-of-my-healthy-body-invisible-disability-and-the-struggle-for-self-acceptance/



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Writer Faith Seci reflects on their experiences of invisible disability and the struggle for self-acceptance.

14/10/2026

🏠 As a young person with disability, how do you feel about your future prospects for secure housing?

Researchers at the University of Melbourne are seeking contributions from young people with disability aged from 18 to 34 who are living outside of big cities, in rural and regional areas.

Participation is voluntary and will be remunerated.

Visit this link to express your interest:
https://go.unimelb.edu.au/sa6h

Approved by Human Research Ethics Committee at the University of Melbourne.
Ethics ID: 35753

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12/10/2026

SURVEY EXTENDED ⏱️

What’s school like for students with disability in Australia? It's not too late to have your say!

CYDA's National Education survey is for current and former students with disability, and parents or caregivers, to tell us what's working at school, what isn't and what needs to change.

➡️ Link for young people: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CPTQLQR
➡️ Link for parents or caregivers: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WN29S6J

We run these surveys every two years so we can let schools and governments know exactly how things are right now, and what needs to happen to make them better.

Take part before the new closing date of Tuesday, 20 October!



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12/10/2026

📣 FINAL CALL! Join Family Advocacy at NSW Parliament tomorrow!

🏛️ Hear from the Hon. Prue Car MP, NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning, and the Hon. Mark Speakman SC MP, NSW Shadow Minister for Education, who will both deliver short addresses at this year's Parliamentary Forum.

With the 2027 NSW Election approaching, this is an important opportunity for families to come together, be visible and be part of the conversation about inclusive education, employment and stronger pathways to belonging for people with disability.

📅 Tuesday 13 October 2026
🕚 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
📍 NSW Parliament House, Sydney

👉 Register now to attend in person:
https://bit.ly/UNCRPD20YearsOnParliamentaryForum

06/10/2026

Have you had your say in CYDA’s National Education survey? 🎒

If you’re a current or former student with disability, or a parent or caregiver, it’s not too late to take part at the links below.

➡️ Link for young people: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CPTQLQR
➡️ Link for parents or caregivers: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WN29S6J

We run these surveys every two years so we can tell schools and governments what school is like for students with disability and what needs to happen to improve it.

Your insights are invaluable for making sure every child and young person is included in education.
Surveys close 15 October 2026 🗓️



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