Monthly Archives: April 2020

Coronavirus Information

Coronavirus (also called COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered virus. The World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 was a pandemic in early 2020 and has since been rapidly spreading across the world. For many of us, COVID-19 has turned our lives upside down. It has forced many of us to stay home, has forced…

Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability: Emergency Planning and Response Issues Paper

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability is seeking information about the experiences of people with disability during recent emergencies in Australia. The Emergency planning and response issues paper published today seeks feedback about what can be done to improve the safety and wellbeing of people with disability during…

Media release COVID-19 Statement of Concern: Human rights, disability and ethical decision-making

Internationally recognised Australian experts in the areas of human rights, bioethics and disability, have today released a Statement of Concern to emphasise key human rights principles and standards that need to underpin ethical decision-making in the context of disability and the COVID-19 pandemic. There are much greater risks from the COVID-19 pandemic for people with…

WWDA’s response to the Disability Royal Commission’s issue paper on education and learning

In 2019 the Disability Royal Commission released an issues paper on education and learning. The issues paper asked 13 questions based on some of the key issues and barriers experienced by students with disability. You can download the issues paper from the Disability Royal Commission website here. WWDA have now submitted their response to the…

Federal Government responds to disability sector call to action.

MEDIA RELEASE The Hon. Greg Hunt MP Minister for Health Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service and Cabinet The Hon. Anne Ruston MP Minister for Families and Social Services The Hon. Stuart Robert MP Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Minister for Government Services 3 April 2020 IMMEDIATE RESPONSE PLAN TO…

Immediate Actions Required for Australians with Disability in Response to Coronavirus (COVID19)

WWDA has joined over 70 Disability People’s Organisations (DPO) and Disability Representative organisations (DROs) across Australia this week to write a Letter to the Prime Minister and all the Premiers calling for measures to be taken immediately to support the health, safety and human rights of all people with disability during the COVID19 crisis. Letter…

Media Release – Keep us safe: Government-funded workplaces putting up to 20,000 Aussies with intellectual disability in the firing line of COVID-19

Australian workers with intellectual disabilities and their families are concerned they are being exposed to a high risk of contracting coronavirus at work at their Australian Disability Enterprise. Inclusion Australia (IA), the Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) and Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) say people with intellectual disability need greater ongoing support to follow current…