People with Disability Australia

15/06/2026

Watch the second episode from our partnership with NDIS Insights with Dr George series on the NDIS Bill.

Dr George Taleporos (GAICD, PhD) speaks with disability rights legal experts:

⚖️ Mitchell Skipsey, Justice and Equity Centre
⚖️ Naomi Anderson, Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service
⚖️ Belinda Kochanowska, Intrepidus Law

They explain what is in the Bill, what it could mean in real life, and why our community needs to pay very close attention.


This episode is for every NDIS participant, family member, advocate, provider, support worker, policymaker and community member who wants to understand what is at stake.

Watch on Youtube and subscribe to NDIS Insights with Dr George on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIhD5zdB1BI

In this episode of NDIS Insights with Dr George, Dr George Taleporo...

14/06/2026

Subscribe to PWDA monthly newsletter to keep updated on our current activities including the latest disability news and events.

Learn more and sign up on our website: https://buff.ly/DuE2zmX

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14/06/2026

Accessible housing, safety, and dignity should be a right, not a privilege.

PWDA Executives are taking part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout this Thursday 18 June to raise funds and highlight the inequity that people with disability face with significant overrepresentation in homelessness.

People with disability face higher risks of housing instability due to lower incomes, discrimination in the rental market, and a lack of accessible housing.

Megan and Karen will join CEO's from NSW at White Bay Cruise Terminal, Thursday 18 June for the annual event.

Learn more and support the campaigns.
Megan: https://buff.ly/z1nRi9f
Karen: https://buff.ly/FvsinMx

12/06/2026

Come join the PWDA team!

We are recruiting for a passionate and dedicated advocate who will to support applicants to the National Redress Scheme.

This is a a full-time remote role.

Applications close Friday 10 July.

More information and how to apply here: https://buff.ly/Co0eSq2

11/06/2026

"The level of fear in the community is just incredible. A lot of it is coming from a lack of trust in the government... That’s why people in the community are so afraid. They don’t feel heard."

PWDA's Senior Policy Officer Clara Pirani shared with the Community Affairs Legislation Committee about the significant fear and anxiety reforms are bringing due to a lack of trust in government and concerns that people with disability have not been meaningfully consulted during the development of the legislation.

Summary of PWDA's evidence and full opening statement on our website: https://buff.ly/an8RVT5

11/06/2026

"Every person with disability has the right to an ordinary life."

Acting CEO Megan Spindler-Smith spoke to the ABC after giving evidence to the Senate Inquiry into the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 yesterday.

Megan highlighted how NDIS supports enable people to work, study and participate in the community.

Megan warned the Committee that no economic modelling has been done into how cutting supports with nothing in place risks shifting the cost onto families, carers and other systems that are already under pressure.

Following the last day of public hearings today, the Committee is due to report by Tuesday 16 June.

10/06/2026

The Government is consulting on proposed expansion of free mental health services for young people aged 12 - 25 years.

headspace Plus and Youth Specialist Care Centres have been designed to fill the gap in the mental health system for young people with higher intensity needs.

Models of care have been drafted for the services and available for consultation.

Have your say. Survey closes Thursday 11 June: https://buff.ly/7vNvDT0

10/06/2026

Acting CEO Megan Spindler-Smith spoke to ABC Radio on Monday ahead of their appearance at the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into the Securing the NDIS for the Future Bill 2026.

PWDA is scheduled to appear at public hearings at 4.30pm AEST this afternoon (may be subject to delay).

Tune in to the Inquiry: https://buff.ly/MRAeVjE

Read our submission: https://buff.ly/UNHJvwP

09/06/2026

PWDA are co-hosting a COSP19 Side Event with Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Women With Disability Australia, International Disability Alliance, Global Disability Fund and the WHO Disability Health Equity Network.

At “Nothing About Us Without Us ALL”, people with disability from around the world will come together to talk about how to make co-design more inclusive in practice.

Date: Wednesday 10 June 2026
Time: 1:15pm-2:30pm EST (3:15am-4:30am Thursday Sydney/Melbourne time)
Where: Conference Room 4 and online: https://buff.ly/KKJbUkU

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09/06/2026

“We currently have really deep concerns around the current I-CAN tool, because it’s only being tested on participants with non-complex or non-changing support needs." - PWDA Acting CEO Megan Spindler-Smith

The NDIS Amendment Bill before parliament includes an expansion of automated decision making, explicitly allowing for automation in cases where there is “(a) a discretion being exercised; (b) an evaluative judgement being made; (c) a state of mind being formed”.

PWDA Acting CEO Megan Spindler-Smith spoke to the Saturday Paper “Our understanding is it could be applied overall,” said Megan “We don’t actually know if the decision-making that comes out of that, outside of non-complex spaces, is reasonable and actually meets the needs of the person with disability that it’s making decisions for."

Megan expressed concern about automation being based on current practices and what safeguarding is in place “when the majority of NDIS cases that go to the ART are actually found in favour of the participants and against the decisions that are made by the NDIA, that shows that the NDIA actually gets it wrong, and that is why the safeguards are so essential.”

Read Saturday Paper's Exclusive: Unprecedented automation in NDIS decisions https://buff.ly/ejKpsvl