Exploring the NDIS: Challenges and Disability Rights

This event was held on Wednesday 21 September 2022

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Image of protests for NDIS Funding. Group of protestors hold signs that read 'hands off state disability services' and 'don't sell our skilled staff'

Dylan Alcott, Australian of the Year in 2022, during his acceptance speech called for the guaranteed funding of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) into the future so that people living with a disability can get the support that they need. However, there has been an exponential increase in the number of legal challenges to the cuts made by the NDIS in the funding of individual plans. Recently, the Minister for the NDIS, Bill Shorten, has promised to fast-track decisions, encourage a ‘lawyer-free’ alternative dispute resolution process, and put people with disability in charge. Please join us for an engaging panel discussion with speakers who have first-hand experience of the NDIS, the legal challenges against the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) at the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and engagement with disability rights.  The panel will discuss topics including the gaps that currently exist in funding, how those gaps might be addressed, the backlog of cases at the AAT, and the large amount of legal fees being spent by the government in reviewing NDIS decisions.

Panellists:

Mary-Anne Cosic - Mary-Anne was born with cerebral palsy. Her journey till now has been filled with challenges, but she overcame them all thanks to her determination, self-belief and strong family support. She is working towards her goal in becoming a TAFE teacher for future disability workers. She has completed a Diploma in Community Services. Mary-Anne is a committee member with DnD (Disability & Diversity) for the North West region of Victoria. She is trying to organise a group in Geelong for people with ethnic backgrounds and disability to teach self-advocacy. Mary-Anne is trying to campaign her local council to make her community more wheelchair friendly. She intends to use my extensive firsthand knowledge and experience to educate others about disability.

Bobby Fish - Yamma My name is Bobby Fish, I am a proud Aboriginal man, my mob is from kamilaroi, I am also a brother, carer, legal guardian of my younger silbings, a person living with a disability, I'm also First Nations Disability Community Advocate working for First Peoples Disability Network Australia (FPDN) and finally a University Student studying Social Science and Laws combine. I believe in equality and fighting for that equality in all aspects of life, fighting for that change that is needed and finally I strongly believe that my Disability Is my ability ✊🏿

Mark Grierson - Mark is the CEO of Advocacy Law Alliance which is the governing and support organisation for the following programs: Disability Advocacy (DA), Mid North Coast Legal Centre and Disability Law NSW. Right from the start of the NDIS in mid-2013, DA started working for a fair treatment of people with disability in relation to the Scheme. DA is funded to provide advocacy support for people seeking to challenge National Disability Insurance Agency decisions internally, and in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Limited legal support in this process is provided by Legal Aid NSW. After 9 years of the NDIS, DA is the largest provider of non-legal NDIS Appeals support in Australia.

Host:

Ana Goncalves - Dr Goncalves will chair this event. She is passionate about social justice, especially protecting and improving the rights of marginalised communities, using evidence-based research and strong advocacy skills to bring about legal and policy change. Her current research project is in partnership with the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA).

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This is an online event

Event Information

  • Date:  This event was held on Wednesday 21 September 2022
  • Location: Zoom