The following list shows A4's recent advocacy. This list contains both publications (including briefs and submissions) and communications (letters & emails).

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labour shortages an opportunity to improve disability employment

By convenor | Sat, 5/2/2022 - 13:51

Subject: labour shortages an opportunity to improve disability employment
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2022 07:08:24 +1100
To: senator.ruston@aph.gov.au, Minister.Reynolds@dss.gov.au
CC:Bill Shorten <bill.shorten.mp@aph.gov.au>, Hughes, Hollie (Senator) <Senator.Hughes@aph.gov.au>, Senator Jordon Steele-John <senator.steele-john@aph.gov.au>

Dear Minister

reports of major labour shortages provide an immediate opportunity for business and government to act to improve disability employment in Australia.

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Brief & meeting with Health officials - autism is a distinct disability

By convenor | Mon, 24/1/2022 - 16:24

On 17/1/2022, A4 and a couple of our friends from the autism sector met (via video-link) with several officials from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. A4 provided a briefing document for the meeting (see below). Following is a summary report on the meeting.

Positives for A4 and the autism sector in Australia from the meeting were that

RE: Escalating risks for people with disability from Omicron and access to RAT and PCR tests

By convenor | Fri, 7/1/2022 - 12:24

Subject:RE: Escalating risks for people with disability from Omicron and access to RAT and PCR tests [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]
Date:Wed, 5 Jan 2022 21:52:49 +0000
From:Lowe, Jamie <Jamie.Lowe@ndis.gov.au>
To: ...
CC:...

Dear Bob

Thank you for drawing this to my attention. We endeavour to align all our messaging to Health messaging to avoid confusion and will immediately review our website and social media content to ensure that the information we provide is up-to-date and aligned to Health messaging.

interim submission on the sustainability of the NDIS

By convenor | Sun, 5/12/2021 - 10:24
stylised graph image

A4's interim submission on the sustainability of the NDIS is available online.

The submission contains some recent data about the number of people diagnosed formally with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and receiving either an NDIS plan or Carer's Allowance (child). These diagnosis rates are often interpreted as indicators of autism prevalence in our community.

The following data is reported in Annex A.

Submission to DSS on Draft NDIS legislation - 2021/10/22

By convenor | Sat, 23/10/2021 - 00:00

A4's brief and somewhat rushed submission on proposed changes to the NDIS legislation is available below.

The government gave the disability sector insufficient time to respond to its proposed changes. Parts of the disability sector have received legal advice that the limited time allowed is disability discrimination. It certainly shows that the government's aim to build trust (following the Independent Assessments debacle) and to work with the sector is insubstantial.

Submission: Autism, disability, and the National Disability Employment Strategy

By convenor | Fri, 17/9/2021 - 16:55
derelict boat on sand at low tide

A4 made a late submission in response to DSS's consultation on a National Disability Employment Strategy.

Basically, A4 felt that DSS's proposed holistic strategy to address disability employment over the next decade is the same as it was for the last decade: it's the same strategy expecting a different result. Rather thank acting on what they "think" might work, some of the 10 years could be used to determine reliably what does work for the various parts of the disability sector, then implement working approaches more widely.

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