Inclusion Australia

03/09/2026

We support First Peoples Disability Network's submission and its call for an Inclusive Communities Fund that recognises and strengthens the contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability already make to their communities.

Inclusive communities must also ensure people with disability have the individual supports they need to participate and belong.

Read the full submission below.

FPDN supports the intent of the Fund and the Australian Government's commitment to creating more inclusive communities for people with disability.

We believe the fund presents an important opportunity to strengthen communities by recognising, valuing and supporting the contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability already make to community life.

FPDN’s support for the Inclusive Communities Fund does not indicate support for the significant reductions to NDIS expenditure and participant supports associated with recent NDIS reforms. A community cannot be inclusive if people do not have the individual supports they need to participate in it, and the fund must not be used to offset, justify or obscure reductions to those supports.

This submission proposes a different way of thinking about the purpose of the fund. Rather than asking how communities can include people with disability, we believe the fund should ask how it can help communities recognise, value and strengthen the contribution people with disability already make.

Read the submission here - https://fpdn.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/FPDN-Submission-Inclusive-Community-Fund-Consultation-Paper-August-2026-Final.pdf

Image description (alt text): A teal and light blue social media tile from the First Peoples Disability Network, featuring their logo in a white box at the top center. The upper teal section has a subtle Indigenous artwork background with a light blue banner that reads “FPDN SUBMISSION.” The lower light blue section contains dark teal text with the heading “Inclusive Communities Fund Consultation Paper,” followed by subtext reading: “Submission to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, August 2026”.



02/09/2026

The Government is asking people for their views about Supported Independent Living (SIL).

They are asking whether a commissioning approach could improve the quality and sustainability of SIL supports.

This means whether the Government should have a stronger role in making sure services are safe, good quality, and meet people's needs.

People with disability, families, carers, workers, providers and advocates are encouraged to have their say.

You can share your views by making a written or video submission, sending an email, requesting a phone call or completing the survey.

Find out more here (including Easy Read information): https://consultations.health.gov.au/disability-and-carers-group/sil-consultation/

Consultation closes on Sunday 13 September.

01/09/2026

Research is better when people with disability are involved from the beginning.

Inclusion Australia CEO Maeve Kennedy recently joined Professor Helen Dickinson to talk about how researchers and disability organisations can work together to make research more useful and meaningful.

Maeve spoke about why people with disability should have a real say in research about their lives. Their experiences and knowledge can help researchers ask better questions and make sure research focuses on what matters to the community.

She also talked about the importance of building relationships early, listening and being open to learning.

“People with disability are experts in their own lives and experiences. People with disability bring expertise that researchers don't have necessarily and can help identify the questions that really matter.”

Good partnerships take time, trust and shared decision-making. When they work well, everyone benefits.

Read the full discussion in Power to Persuade here:

How can we partner well to deliver impactful disability research? This post is an edited summary of a panel discussion hosted by the researcher development program of the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Achieving Health Equity for All People with Disability (AHEAD) . The session was atte

01/09/2026

LGBTIQA+ people with an intellectual disability - Have your say!

The Private Lives 4 survey is a national survey about the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ people in Australia. It is run by the Australian Research Centre in S*x, Health and Society at La Trobe University.

For the first time, there is an Easy Read version of the survey to make it easier for people with an intellectual disability to take part.

The big version of the survey has closed, but the Easy Read survey is open until 30 September.

Complete the Easy Read survey here: https://ow.ly/mE4w50ZGnvg

Please share this post with LGBTIQA+ people with an intellectual disability, families, supporters and organisations who might be able to share it with others.

01/09/2026

Supporting women with an intellectual disability to make their own decisions about their health, relationships and lives is so important.

This free workshop on Tuesday 8 September from the Council for Intellectual Disability is a great opportunity for families and supporters to build their confidence and learn practical ways to provide good, supported decision making.

See the post below for more information.

Would you like to feel more confident supporting a woman with intellectual disability to make her own decisions about health and relationships?

Join our free online She Can Ask That workshop for family members and other close supporters of women with intellectual disability.

Build your awareness, knowledge and confidence to better support women in decisions about sexual and reproductive health and safe relationships.

You’ll learn about:
* Supported decision making and why it matters
* Practical tools and resources to support women to make informed decisions
* The different roles we play in supported decision making.

The workshop is co-facilitated by CID team members with lived experience of intellectual disability.

📅 Tuesday 8 September, 10am to 12pm AEST
💻 Online

Register now: https://cid.org.au/event/she-can-ask-that-sep-26/

31/08/2026

Sign up for our monthly e-Newsletter. Now available in Easy Read!

It's a great way to keep up to date with what is happening at Inclusion Australia.

It has all the latest in:
• what we have been up to
• our projects
• new resources
• and more!

Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/g1xyaD

It’s also a great way to find out about our member organisations and the things that are happening in your state or territory.

31/08/2026

Not too late to register!

Families of young people and adults with disability can join a free Succession Planning session in Ballarat on Thursday 3 September, or online Tuesday 8 September.

Find out more and register in the post below.

The Families as Planning Partners course empowers families to work with the services and the NDIS to gain a good life for their family member - APPLY NOW!

31/08/2026

The Australian Government is asking people with disability to share their experiences of air travel.

New draft aviation disability standards have been released. The standards aim to make air travel more accessible and reduce barriers for people with disability.

There is Easy Read information available.

You can make a submission or complete a survey. You can also share your feedback in writing, video or audio.

Have your say by Friday 2 October: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/aviation-disability-standards-consultation-paper

Need help to understand the consultation?

People with Disability Australia, the AFDO - Australian Federation Of Disability Organisations and the Justice and Equity Centre are hosting a free online Information Forum on Tuesday 8 September at 4.30pm (AEST).

The forum will explain the consultation, what is being proposed and how you can share your views. Register here: https://buff.ly/GVOwrdu

31/08/2026

We are always talking to government about what people with an intellectual disability and their families need. In policy, in legislation, and in systems that impact their lives.

Our most recent submissions include:

• Changes to employment services
• Impacts of Social, Community and Civic Participation (SCCP) support reductions
• Policy Reference Group’s submission on the NDIS Bill

Visit the Inclusion Australia website to read our latest submissions:
www.inclusionaustralia.org.au/advocacy/our-submissions/

28/08/2026

CYDA is hiring!

They are looking for a part-time Communications Officer with experience in content creation and communications to help amplify the voices and lived experiences of young people with disability.

This is an identified position for a person with lived experience of disability.

Applications close Sunday, 13 September. See the post below for more information.