Issues, News, Updates, and Items of Interest for people with disability, their families and supporters, allies, the disability and legal sector
Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion (QAI), formerly known as Queensland Advocacy Incorporated, is an independent, community-based systems and legal advocacy organisation for people with disability in Queensland.
06/01/2026
Weโre back! Fresh from the holidays with renewed energy to keep campaigning for all children with disability to enjoy their Right to Learn!
Hereโs a little clip of what the Principal of Cherbourg State School, Boyd McLean had to say about his students with disability a few weeks ago at our virtual town hall on suspensions. We love Boydโs enthusiasm for making sure his school is a truly inclusive place for all his students, staff, and their greater community!
Video description: Zoom video of Boyd McLean above Zoom video of an Auslan interpreter. Background is blue grid paper. A Right to Learn logo top left and captions at bottom. End screen says Join our campaign today! www.aRightToLearn.com.au
18/12/2025
Our office will be closed for 2 weeks over the holiday season, from 4.30pm Friday 19 December 2025 until 9am Monday 5 January 2026.
We look forward to returning in the new year well rested and eager to pick up where we leave off, continuing to advocate for Queenslanders with disability.
If you need assistance before we return you could try:
Legal Aid Queensland - 1300 65 11 88
Community Legal Centres QLD - www.communitylegalqld.org.au
Queensland Law Society (for a private solicitor referral) - 1300 367 757
Lifeline - visit their website or call 13 11 14
Beyond Blue - visit their website or call 1300 22 4636
MensLine Australia - 1300 78 99 78
Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800
Queensland Health & Mental Health Services 24/7 - 1300 64 22 55
If you feel unsafe or are experiencing an emergency, please contact emergency services on 000.
Itโs a national summary of what has been achieved by each state and territory government since 2023, and what is still in progress.
Have a look and see whatโs happening in your state.
There will definitely be more to come from us on this in the New Year!
Find accessible versions of the report here -health.gov.au/resources/publications/disability-royal-commission-progress-report-2025?language=en&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAYnJpZBExajRRRlhiSjhpYVZCYVFxcnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7GHPJz6dmqXd2MtXjFAnI1JHOXbC8A3qx4k3i05o6pGKeyAcl6p7NBN9vqWg_aem_WZnNGVcDzmHffozoj70QxQ
10/12/2025
Today is Human Rights Day!
We all know everyone benefits when human rights are at the heart of our laws. It means governments must consider the values of equality, freedom, dignity and justice in public laws, policies and services.
A Human Rights Act could help make this a reality for everyone.
Join the call for a Human Rights Act at humanrightsact.org.au
09/12/2025
Our Legal Director, Sian Thomas, spoke to ABC News Radio about our concerns with the new NDIS system for planning, due to start mid-2026.
We know the planning process needs to be easier for participants, but having plans created by a computer program that cannot be changed by a human after the fact is not the right answer. While some level of automation is expected, we have serious concerns about removing the ability of humans in the agency, and the Administrative Review Tribunal, to make direct changes when the computer program gets it wrong.
04/12/2025
Our Legal Director, Sian Thomas, spoke to The Guardian about the information leaked on the NDIS plan overhaul set for mid-next year. The new system will feed a person's assessment into a computer program, the program then determines a person's support needs and budget. With no way for a human to make any changes.
Appeal rights will also be narrowed, with the Administrative Review Tribunal not able to order any changes, only a reassessment that gets put back into the computer program.
When we first heard about these changes, we warned it would amount to robo-planning and cautioned against it. We have seen enough of the damage these systems can do during Centrelink's robo-debt disaster.
We don't need to put people with disability at unnecessary risk like this. The Government says this is in response to the NDIS Review and people's call for simpler, easier planning processes, which we all agree is needed. But we, and many other community organisations argue this is not the way to do it.
Read The Guardian's article below.
Sweeping changes to the way National Disability Insurance Scheme support plans are generated criticised amid fears they amount to โrobo-planningโ
04/12/2025
The community is united on the need for a stronger, modern Disability Discrimination Act. We deserve laws that ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ discrimination before it happens โ not just react after the fact.
QIDAN members and our community partners are standing together to say: ๐ก๐ผ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฒ๐. ๐ก๐ผ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. It's time for stronger, proactive protections for people with disability.
There's still time to register for our โSolutions Instead of Suspensionsโ online event!
Tomorrow night we will be bringing together the experts with insider knowledge on how schools can better support disabled students.
โจ Inclusive education advocates
โจ School Principals who are prioritising and practicing inclusion
โจ Parents with real experience
โจ Practical strategies and resources you can use immediately
6 - 7:15pm AEST | Free | Zoom
Register via Humanitix here - events.humanitix.com/solutions-instead-of-suspensions
Canโt make it live? Register anyway for the recording.
Tag a parent, educator, or advocate who needs this! ๐
ATSILS Youth Advocacy Centre PeakCare Queensland
27/11/2025
๐ข ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ!
Next Wednesday we will be joined by Principals Boyd McLean and Kristie de Brenni who have made changes in their schools that support kids with disability to stay engaged in learning and reduce suspensions.
We will also hear from parents who have experienced the impact a supportive school can have on their child's education, and sense of belonging.
Have a burning question for these Principals or parents? Register now to come along, or direct message us with your questions before the event.
Join us Wednesday 3 December from 6-7pm.
Can't attend live? Register anyway and we'll send you the recording!
Join us this International Day of People with Disability on 3 December for an important discussion on the practical solutions that are already helping to make education safe, accessible and inclusive for everyone, and reduce suspensions.
This one-hour session will feature perspectives from educators and parents who have successfully navigated these challenges.
We will also be sharing links to other organisations and resources that can support students in their schooling at the end of the session.
This free hour of knowledge could make all the difference for a childโs education journey.
Share this with someone who needs this information.
Matilda spoke to the ABC about the "tsunami of cuts" to NDIS plans our team has seen with the influx of people seeking their help.
This increase in cuts is especially worrying when we know that most (80%) of the NDIS appeals at the Administrative Review Tribunal end up overturning the NDIA decision.
People shouldn't have to go through proving their support needs again and again, losing essential funding while they fight the decision to cut their plan, when their support needs for their permanent disability haven't changed. That's not what the NDIS was supposed to be about.
Read the full story about the Catton family at the link below.
Darren and Louise Catton have spent years curating a care plan for their daughter Mary, but now face an uncertain future after her NDIS funding was cut dramatically.
Address
QAI, 2nd Floor, South Central 43 Peel Street (Cnr Merivale Street) Brisbane, QLD 4101
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QAI's mission is to promote, protect and defend, through advocacy, the fundamental needs and rights and lives of the most vulnerable people with disability in Queensland. QAI does this by engaging in systems advocacy work - through campaigns directed to attitudinal, law policy and practice change, and by supporting the development of a range of advocacy initiatives in this State.
QAI also provides individual legal advocacy in support of persons whose disability is at the centre of their legal issue. This is done by way of advice or advocacy within the limitations of QAI's resources.
Other individual advocacy is provided for people engaged in the criminal justice system through our Justice Support Program.
The NDIS Appeals advocates prioritise their work with people who are unhappy about decisions made by the NDIA who need assistance with Appeals to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. They also assist where possible with people who wish to apply for an Internal Reviews.
NDIS advocates also provide advocacy and assistance to people who require Decision Support to access the NDIS.
All of our services experience VERY HIGH DEMAND and assistance is prioritise to those who are most vulnerable, have highest need, and can only be offered within the constraints of our limited resources.
This Page is a place for the posting and sharing of Issues, News, Updates, and Items of Interest for people with disability, their families supporters and allies in the disability and legal sector.
Call to Action on systemic issues - join QAI in being the change you want to have.
