National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline

Complaints Resolution & Referral Service
Disability Studies and Research Centre
University of New South Wales
Sexual Assault in Disability and Aged Care
E-Bulletin Issue 57 is available now - click here to view.
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
Click here to look at PWD's work on the CRPD.
Many people with disability cannot use fixed height examination beds and are concerned they are not getting the level of health care other patients receive. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is an organisation that supports GPs, and one of its responsibilities is to develop GP Standards which try to ensure health care services are of the best quality for all patients. The RACGP is now reviewing its GP Standards.
PWD is encouraging people with disability to tell their story so that RACGP can better understand why it is important all GPs have this service. The RACGP needs to hear your story by 30 November. Read our Campaign Information to find out more.
Leading disability organisations have partnered to form a project group which is compiling a Shadow Report on Australia's implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
The overall aim of the Shadow Report is to make recommendations to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These recommendations will provide the basis for the United Nations recommendations to the Australian Government regarding Australia's implementation of the Articles of the Convention. The main focus of the Shadow Report will be reporting the extent to which Australia has implemented its obligations under the CRPD and to provide recommendations for future action by the Australian Government.
For the full press release click here.
The NSW Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on Social Issues is conducting a review of Substitute decision-making for people lacking capacity. PWD has written a submission to the Committee jointly with the Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC), which has now published it, along with nine other submissions, on its website. All details of the review, together with the current submissions, are available here.
View the joint submission by PWD and MHCC here.
In Australia there is a commitment to mental health consumer participation by all levels of government in recognition of the important role mental health consumers play in designing policy, programs and services.
The mental health consumer ‘sector’ has grown rapidly and is now diverse and comprised of numerous formal and informal organisations, groups, alliances and networks.
The Australian Government is seeking to ensure a suitable mechanism to fully represent consumer views can be established to allow continued consumer input to policy and programs at a national level.
This project provides the opportunity for mental health consumers, mental health consumer organizations and groups to reflect on achievements of the consumer movement and also on the difficulties and challenges it faces. Importantly, it enables discussion of how the mental health consumer movement might move forward nationally and shape its own future
Please refer to website www.crazelateralsolutions.com and click on National Scoping Project logo for details about project and consultation meetings nationally.
Phase One of consultations start the week commencing 23 August.
On 10 December 2008 (the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), the Australian Government launched a national human rights consultation about ways to protect and promote human rights in the future. An independent committee has been established to conduct the consultation. Click here for details.
PWD's submission to the National Human Rights Consultation reflects the range of views gathered by PWD for the purpose of informing the Australian Government’s National Human Rights Consultation.
PWD's submission to the National Human Rights Consultation [Word]
PWD's submission to the National Human Rights Consultation [PDF]
Submission issued on 17 December 2008
Along with other members of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Taskforce, PWD has provided a submission to the Australian Government on its proposed National Disability Strategy (NDS). Apart from PWD, this Taskforce includes the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO), Queensland Advocacy Incorporated (QAI), the National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC) and the Secretariat for State and Territory Disability Advisory Councils. The submission is supported by the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and endorsed by the Disability Council of NSW, the Western Australian Ministerial Disability Advisory Council, and the Disability Advocacy Service, Northern Territory.
Submission to the National Disability Strategy [RTF]
PWD E-Bulletin is sent out regularly to PWD members and other interested people. PWD E‑Bulletin contains news and views on disability rights issues in New South Wales, across Australia and internationally.