Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion - QAI

26/08/2025

“𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳.” – Julie, Academic from Queensland.

Let’s build schools that truly reflect our communities by letting all kids learn together.

Add your voice to the ACIE campaign and email education ministers today
👉 bit.ly/LetAllKidsLearnTogether

Video description:
Portrait video of Julie, an academic from Queensland, speaking to camera. She has short blonde hair and is wearing a long sleeve grey top, white pants and long dangly earrings. Julie says she believes all kids should learn together because the world has all kids in it, and that schools should represent the communities they’re part of. She finishes by saying, “Let all kids learn together.” ACIE logo at top.

19/08/2025

“𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.”

Dr Lara Maia-Pike is an academic, parent, and Queenslander. Lara shares why she believes all kids should learn together in classrooms that celebrate differences, not hide them.

Every child belongs. Every child deserves the same opportunities to learn and thrive alongside their peers.

📢 Join the ACIE Australian Coalition for Inclusive Education campaign and help make this a reality.

✉️ Send an email to your local Ministers using our easy template: bit.ly/LetAllKidsLearnTogether

Video description:
Video shows Lara who has shoulder length brown hair with fringe, she is wearing big black rimmed glasses and a green cardigan and is sitting in the sun on a patio under a deck with pot plants in the background.

14/08/2025

This week Matilda met with the Commonwealth Attorney-General, Michelle Rowland MP to advocate for a federal Human Rights Act. This is something we've been advocating for over years now. Our human rights should be enshrined in law for everyone across our country.

Support the call for a national human rights act by adding your name to the campaign at humanrightsact.org.au

04/08/2025

The growth in enrolments for special schools is a clear indicator we need to invest our public funds in the ability of mainstream schools to educate students of all abilities, not in building more special schools.

Everyone agrees we need to make mainstream schools more inclusive. Even the president of the Queensland Association of Special Education Leaders (QASEL), which represents up to 700 educators, says he’s hopeful mainstream schools will be able to accommodate children with disability in the near future.

Inclusive Educators Australia (IEA), which in contrast represents over 10,000 educators, is part of our campaign calling on the Queensland Government to shift their investment in special schools over to inclusive education in mainstream schools.

IEA chairperson Loren Swancutt, said the government should be investing in supporting "regular teachers in regular schools" working to include students with a disability in their classrooms. “This investment is not just a policy misstep, it is a profound moral and human rights failure" she said.

Support our campaign to Let All Kids Learn Together and send an email to our Education Ministers using the quick form at - bit.ly/LetAllKidsLearnTogether

Read the full article at - abc.net.au/news/2025-08-04/queensland-faces-backlash-over-plan-for-new-special-schools/105595274?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwL8rHZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHh4qqHP454ufL8mzedrrvuf26C5TfCdaomCn-AXp9lRqS0U2hjYveJf4Shu4_aem_tJBgMC8GPH28szqdO7EreQ



ACIE Australian Coalition for Inclusive Education members include:

Inclusive Educators Australia Queensland Collective for Inclusive Education All Means All - The Australian Alliance for Inclusive Education Family Advocacy CRU - Community Resource Unit Ltd. Children and Young People with Disability Australia JFA Purple Orange People with Disability Australia Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) Down Syndrome Australia NUS National Union of Students YDAS - Youth Disability Advocacy Service Imagine More Youth Disability Advocacy Network - YDAN Sa4i Student Alliance 4 Inclusion Star Victoria Enabled Youth Disability Network Autistic Self Advocacy Network of Australia & New Zealand ALSA (Australian Law Students' Association) Square Peg Round Whole Public PAGE Starting With Julius Kinship Carers Victoria - KCV ADCET Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training Tasmanian Disability Education Reform Lobby

Australia's disability discrimination commissioner wants Queensland to scrap plans to build more special schools amid state plans to build more.

29/07/2025

"If we want to live our lives in the community, we need to start by living in inclusive schools" - Graeme Innes AM, Chancellor of Central Queensland University, Australian human rights advocate, and former Disability Discrimination Commissioner.

Building Inclusive Schools means Building Inclusive Communities.

Let All Kids Learn Together!

Join our campaign - bit.ly/LetAllKidsLearnTogether

Video description: Graeme Innes, and older Caucasian man with short white hair, thick black glasses and wearing a jumper is sitting in a living room with bookcase and sofa in background. Australian Coalition for Inclusive Education logo in top right corner.

28/07/2025

Violet’s story is just one example of how kids with disability do better when they are included in their local schools and learn alongside their non-disabled peers.

The money set to be spent on new special schools in South East Queensland could do so much more for students with disability all across the state if it was redirected at transitioning mainstream schools to be more inclusive. If it was spent on making inclusive education a real option for parents.

Support our campaign to Let All Kids Learn Together and send an email to our Education Ministers using the quick form at - bit.ly/LetAllKidsLearnTogether

Read the full article at - theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/27/violet-loves-attending-her-local-state-school-but-some-fear-queensland-kids-like-her-will-be-forced-into-segregated-education

LNP pledges six new special schools in significant reversal from state’s advocate-backed policy to include children with disabilities in mainstream classes

22/07/2025

Inclusion is a right, not a preference. But our current system is failing students with disability.

With your support, we can make true inclusive education a reality so kids with disability don't just survive but thrive as part of an inclusive community.

Join the campaign and email the Education Ministers now: bit.ly/LetAllKidsLearnTogether

14/07/2025

𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻! We’re calling on parents, students, educators, and allies to send us a short 30-second video saying why you believe all kids should learn together!

💬 Your voice could be the one that shifts hearts 𝗮𝗻𝗱 policy.

It’s easy to take part! Click the link below for simple steps on how to record and send your video

👉 https://bit.ly/LetAllKidsLearnTogether_VideoInstructionSheet

Together, we can show why inclusion matters.

10/07/2025

NAIDOC Week is a chance to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

This year’s theme is “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy”, marking 50 years of NAIDOC. It invites us to reflect on the power of intergenerational knowledge, storytelling and the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors. The National NAIDOC Committee has also noted that this year they take an important step toward independence, embracing self-determination as a model for the next generation.

QAI has always valued and fought for self-determination. We recognise this is especially important for First Nations people with disability who are often faced with intersectional discrimination and barriers to inclusion that stem from colonisation. This is particularly true for First Nations kids with disability who are disproportionately impacted by school suspensions and exclusions and overrepresented in the youth justice system. QAI is currently campaigning for change on both issues. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring all First Nations people with disability can enjoy their rights to self-determination and full inclusion within their communities. Because we know that when First Nations people direct their own lives and communities, everyone has better outcomes.

That said - Come and say hello to our team on your way to one of the many activities at Musgrave Park Family Fun Day tomorrow!

09/07/2025

🎙 Just dropped - our NDIS Principal Solicitor Sian Thomas is on the latest episode of the Reasonable and Necessary podcast hosted by Dr George Taleporos.

Sian was joined by Dr Darren O’Donovan from La Trobe University to unpack some of the recent changes to the NDIS with George.

"From rent (for in-home support) to air conditioners to stovetops, we explore real-life examples of how rigid rules are creating barriers—and what you can do about it. Whether you're an NDIS participant, advocate, family member, or provider, this episode will give you the tools to understand your rights and challenge unfair decisions."

Watch the full episode here - youtube.com/watch?v=tvl4U5wtqFI

08/07/2025

Why is inclusive education important? Just listen to what people are saying:
💬 “𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆”

💬“𝗔𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀, 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲… 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲… 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼 – 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱.”

The Queensland Government’s investment in special schools goes against decades of evidence and the voices of people with disability and their families. We must speak up now.

Here are 3 simple ways you can take action today to make inclusion a reality:
1️⃣ Send an email to the Education Ministers now bit.ly/LetAllKidsLearnTogether
2️⃣ Share one of our posts to your social media with the campaign link
3️⃣ Leave a comment on one of our Facebook posts to show your support

📣 Your voice matters. Let’s make sure every child in Australia has the right to learn, belong, and thrive, together.

08/07/2025

We know for many families and kids with disabilities that mainstream schools are not currently a safe option. But the Queensland Government's record investment in building more special schools is not the answer.

The Disability Royal Commission heard overwhelming evidence that transforming our education system into one where mainstream schools are able to offer real, safe and supported inclusion will lead to better outcomes for all kids. That's why they recommended we phase out special schools. So resources and investment can be better spent creating the system we need.

We support this recommendation and as a member of the ACIE Australian Coalition for Inclusive Education we have been calling for the government to commit to a National Roadmap to Inclusive Education.

Join our call and help to improve the outcomes for all kids in Australia.

📧 Email Australia's Education Ministers using this quick form: bit.ly/LetAllKidsLearnTogether.