People with Disability Australia Incorporated

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who we are

Prospectus

Join the leading national disability rights organisation

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green tickSupport us in our struggle for the realisation of human rights, citizenship and social justice for people with disability.

green tickHelp us to create a better future for all people with disability.

green tickKeep informed about major issues affecting people with disability at the state, national and international levels.

green tickParticipate in public policy and program development as it affects people with disability and their associates.

green tickInfluence the decisions that affect the lives of people with disability and their associates.

About PWD

People with Disability Australia Incorporated is a national disability rights and advocacy organisation. Its primary membership is people with disability and organisations primarily constituted by people with disability. PWD also has a large associate membership of other individuals and organisations committed to the disability rights movement. PWD was founded in 1981, the International Year of Disabled People, to provide people with disability with a voice of our own. We have a cross-disability focus – we represent the interests of people with all kinds of disability. PWD is a non-profit, non-government organisation.

Our vision

We have a vision of a socially just, accessible, and inclusive community, in which the human rights, citizenship, contribution, potential and diversity of all people with disability are respected and celebrated.

Our purpose

Our purpose is to be a leading disability rights, advocacy and representative organisation of and for all people with disability, which strives for the realisation of our vision of a socially just, accessible, and inclusive community.

Our work

We provide or undertake

  • Rights related information, advice and referral services for people with disability and their associates
  • Short-term individual and group advocacy assistance to people with disability and their associates
  • Advocacy for reform around systemic issues that adversely affect people with disability and their associates
  • Representation of the sector of interest constituted by people with disability and their associates to government, industry, and the non-government sector
  • Co-ordination of the sector of interest constituted by people with disability and their associates
  • Disability rights related research and development around issues of concern to people with disability and their associates
  • Disability rights related training and education for people with disability and their associates, service providers, government and the public.

Our values – what we believe

We believe that people with disability, irrespective of our age, gender, cultural or linguistic background, geographic location, sexuality, or the nature, origin, or degree of our disability:

  • Have a right to life and to bodily integrity
  • Are entitled to a decent standard of living, an adequate income and to lead active and satisfying lives
  • Are people first, with human, legal and service user rights that must be recognised and respected
  • Are entitled to the full enjoyment of our citizenship rights and responsibilities
  • Are entitled to live free from prejudice, discrimination and vilification.
  • Are entitled to social support and adjustments as a right and not as the result of pity, charity or the exercise of social control
  • Contribute substantially to the intellectual, cultural, economic and social diversity and well-being of our community
  • Possess many skills and abilities and have enormous potential for life-long growth and development
  • Are entitled to live in, and be a part of, the diversity of the community
  • Have the right to participate in the formulation of those policies and programs that affect our lives
  • Should be empowered to exercise our rights and responsibilities, without fear of retribution.

Our principles – the way we will go about our work

In realising our vision, purpose and core values, we are guided by the following principles:

  • We will be passionate, innovative and fearless in the promotion and defence of the rights and interests of people with disability
  • We will be accessible and responsive to our community, and inclusive of its diversity
  • We will actively facilitate and value the involvement of people with disability in our organisational governance and policy and program development
  • We will encourage, empower and support the civic participation of people with disability
  • We will be collaborative and supportive in our relationships within the disability rights movement as a whole, at the local, regional, state, national and international levels
  • We will be accountable for our activities to our members, to people with disability generally and to the public
  • We will always act with honesty and integrity
  • We will be resourceful and efficient in obtaining and managing the resources needed to undertake our work
  • We will recognise and value the contribution of our members, our Board, our staff and volunteers towards the achievement of our vision.

Note: People with Disability Australia Incorporated’s work is supported, in part, by grants of financial assistance from both the New South Wales and Commonwealth Governments. This assistance is acknowledged with appreciation.

Contact Us

For more information about membership contact the Information and Liaison Officer.
For more information about advocacy contact an Intake Officer.

Postal Address: PO Box 666, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012
Street Address: Ground Floor, 52 Pitt Street, Redfern NSW 2016
Telephone: 02 9370 3100
Toll Free: 1800 422 015
Telephone Typewriter: 02 9318 2138
Toll Free TTY: 1800 422 016
Facsimile: 02 9318 1372
Email: pwd@pwd.org.au
Website: www.pwd.org.au
Translating and Interpreting Service: 13 14 50 (for people from non-English speaking backgrounds who need help to contact us)
National Relay Service: 13 36 77 or 1800 555 677 (toll free)
for people with a communication disability who need help to contact us

Important Notes

  • This Prospectus is also available in PDF, large print, Braille, plain-text format and on audio-tape. Assistance will also be provided with translation of this information for people from non-English speaking backgrounds.
  • You do not need to be a PWD member to have access to our information, advice, referral or individual and group advocacy services. These services are open to all people with disability on a priority of need basis.
  • The Board of PWD may reduce, defer or waive membership fees in a situation of financial hardship.
  • The Board of PWD can accept membership applications in approved alternative formats (for example, computer disk, audio-tape, email, etc). PWD can also provide assistance to complete the membership form.

For more information or assistance with any of these points contact the Information and Liaison Officer for more information.

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Recent PWD Publications

PWD Media Releases

PWD E-bulletin #62, June 2010