Disability rights
Media and commentary related to our work to make society more accessible, supportive and fair for people with disability.
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Proposed NDIS reforms a blow to people with disability
The Government’s proposed reforms to the NDIS will unfairly limit access to the scheme for people with a range of serious disabilities, make the assessment process even less transparent, and undermine the ‘choice and control’ the scheme was designed to provide. PIAC’s concerns have been outlined in a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on…
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Proposed reforms risk perpetuating unfairness
We have joined the disability sector in raising concerns about the transparency and accountability of the Government’s proposed reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Under the reforms, important decisions about whether a person can access the NDIS and how much funding they receive in the scheme will be based on a mandatory independent…
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Open letter from the disability sector calls for greater accountability re NDIA settlement outcomes
PIAC has joined over 20 major organisations in the disability community in calling on the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to make public the details of appeal cases it is settling with scheme participants, to promote transparency, accountability, and an overall fairer system. Concerns about the scheme have been outlined in an open letter to…
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Three takeaways from the landmark ‘sex therapy’ case
Snapshot In National Disability Insurance Agency v WRMF, the Full Federal Court upheld an AAT decision in which the sex therapy services requested by an applicant under the NDIS were found to be a reasonable and necessary support. Except for where the NDIS Act or Rules expressly exclude a type of support, the legislation does not…
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Test case settlement great news for autistic children
Catherine Blundy’s discrimination test case against The Lakes Christian College has settled, with the school agreeing to measures to better support autistic children. In reaching settlement, Catherine, her mum Hannah, and the College have made the following statement: Hannah Blundy and The Lakes Christian College have agreed to resolve Catherine Blundy’s claim against the College…
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Test case highlights the need for better school support for children with autism
PIAC has commenced a discrimination test case on behalf of an eight-year old girl who has an autism spectrum disorder, after she was expelled from her primary school in Year 2. PIAC’s client, Hannah Blundy, says that her daughter, Catherine, was expelled after her school failed to provide a range of supports and adjustments recommended…
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Improving accountability around NDIS settlements
A key focus of our A Fairer NDIS work is on the publication of settlement outcomes following appeals to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). Currently, around 96% of cases before the AAT involving the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) are finalised by settlement. However, these settlement outcomes are not made public. PIAC is calling for the publication…
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Tune Review an important step, but more to do
PIAC welcomes many of the recommendations made in the report of the review of the NDIS undertaken by David Tune AO (the Tune Review) and calls for further reform in five key areas. Senior Solicitor, Chadwick Wong, who leads PIAC’s ‘A Fairer NDIS’ project said that the report is an important step in the development…