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.

Regards
Jamie Lowe

From: convenor@a4.org.au <convenor@a4.org.au>
Sent: Thursday, 6 January 2022 6:03 AM
To: ... Lowe, Jamie <Jamie.Lowe@ndis.gov.au>; ...
Cc: ...
Subject: Re: Escalating risks for people with disability from Omicron and access to RAT and PCR tests

It is my understanding, from the Health website, that "Everyone 5 years and over can now book an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine".
However, the latest posts from the NDIA on their website (23/12/20211) and on Facebook (5/1/2022) say "All NDIS participants aged 12 and over, their carers and support workers are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination".

This is not a consistent message. People are likely to be confused by what the NDIA has posted. And any consequent confusion seems to me to disadvantage children with disability.

The NDIA needs to do better than this.

Bob Buckley
Convenor, Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (A4)
website: http://a4.org.au/

A4 is the national grassroots organisation advocating for autistic people, their families, carers and associates. A4 is internet based so that Australians anywhere can participate in and contribute to A4's advocacy.

Politicians and bureaucrats are subject to A4's policy on unanswered questions: see http://a4.org.au/node/1419.

“The first step in solving any problem is recognising there is one.” Jeff Daniels as Will McEvoy in The Newsroom.

On 4/1/22 3:39 pm, Mary Sayers wrote:

Dear Karen, Jamie and Simon

The escalating COVID crisis, infection rates and access to testing is deeply concerning. We are hearing from our constituency significant concerns about access to testing, and the risks for people with disability for all the reasons I don’t need to elaborate on to you. Can you please urgently update us so we can inform our community on the latest information about:

1. Access to testing for people with disability, particularly RATS (those who are on the NDIS and those who are not)
2. What the responsibilities of service providers and workers are
3. How people on income support payments or facing poverty can access tests for free
4. Any other information that is useful to inform our community, including in accessible formats.

This is a real crisis that is unfolding daily and would appreciate even having an urgent meeting to discuss.

Thanks
Mary

Mary Sayers
Chief Executive Officer
Children and Young People with Disability Australia
Pronouns: she/her (learn more about pronouns)

Suite 8, 134 Cambridge Street Collingwood 3066
PO Box 172 Clifton Hill 3068
Ph. 03 9417 1025 M. 0407 126 351 Freecall. 1800 222 660 (regional and interstate)
Web. www.cyda.org.au
   

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