Category QDN   Show all

  • Queensland Disability Reforms: Working with the community

    Share Queensland Disability Reforms: Working with the community on Facebook Share Queensland Disability Reforms: Working with the community on Twitter Share Queensland Disability Reforms: Working with the community on Linkedin Email Queensland Disability Reforms: Working with the community link
    supporting image

    Queensland is shaping an inclusive future for people with disability through co-design and you can be involved and have your voice heard. Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN), in partnership with the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety, is running the forums across Queensland as well as online.

    The Queensland Disability Reform Community Forums are now open for registration right across Queensland.

    Hear what people have said in earlier forums and how it is informing reform work. Everyone with an interest in or connection to disability is welcome to attend.

    For more information and to register for a forum please visit
    https://qdn.org.au/community-forums/

    Further details, including dates and locations, can be found here and have also included summary of locations below.

    Townsville Community Forum
    Date: Monday 19 May
    Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
    Location: Mercure Townsville - 166 Woolcock Street, Currajong QLD
    Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-townsville

    Longreach Community Forum
    Date: Tuesday 20 May
    Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
    Location: Longreach Civic and Cultural Centre, 96a Eagle Street, Longreach Queensland 4730
    Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-longreach

    Online Community Forum #1
    Date: Monday 26 May
    Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
    Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-online-1

    Mt Isa Community Forum
    Date: Tuesday 27 May
    Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
    Location: Terrace Gardens Function Centre, 4 Duchess Rd, Mt Isa
    Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-mt-isa

    Brisbane Community Forum
    Date: Tuesday 3 June
    Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
    Location: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, cnr Glenelg and Merivale Sts South Bank QLD
    Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-brisbane

    Online Community Forum #2
    Date: Wednesday 4 June
    Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm
    Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-online-2

    Hervey Bay Community Forum
    Date: Thursday 5 June
    Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
    Location: Hervey Bay Community Centre, 22 Charles Street, Pialba Queensland 4655
    Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-hervey-bay

    Gympie Community Forum
    Date: Friday 6 June
    Time: 11:30am – 1:30pm
    Location: Gympie Community Place, 18 Excelsior Road, Gympie Queensland 4570
    Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-gympie

    Sunshine Coast Community Forum
    Date: Friday 13 June
    Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
    Location: The Events Centre, 20 Minchinton Street, Caloundra Queensland 4551
    Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-sunshine-coast


    Details in the caption above.


    Details in the caption above.




  • See Me. Hear Me. Respect Me.

    Share See Me. Hear Me. Respect Me. on Facebook Share See Me. Hear Me. Respect Me. on Twitter Share See Me. Hear Me. Respect Me. on Linkedin Email See Me. Hear Me. Respect Me. link
    supporting image

    Have your say – help shape better healthcare for people with disability in Queensland.

    Griffith University researchers want to hear from people with disability and their supporters about healthcare experiences – what’s improved and what still needs to change.

    This work is part of an evaluation of the "See Me. Hear Me. Respect Me." campaign — a Queensland Health initiative co-designed with people with disability to help health professionals and the community better understand, respect, and include people with disability.

    A young woman with long wavy hair, wearing a green dress with white dots, stands confidently with arms crossed, smiling. Behind her is a colourful background featuring orange, pink, and yellow wave designs. A speech bubble above her reads, “SEE ME. HEAR ME. RESPECT ME.” Theatre mask icons and music notes appear in the background. Text below says: “See, hear and respect me for who I am.” The words “respect me” and “for who I am” are highlighted in colour. Logos at the bottom include Improving Healthcare for People with Disability, QDN (Queenslanders with Disability Network), and Queensland Government.

    You can take the survey even if you haven’t heard of the campaign.

    🕒 It takes about 15–20 minutes
    ♿ Accessible formats are available
    🎁 Go in the draw to win 1 of 3 $50 gift vouchers

    Who can do the survey?
    People aged 18+
    Living in Queensland
    A person with disability, or a carer/family member/significant other of a person with disability

    📣 Your voice matters!

    Your feedback will help improve healthcare and create more respectful, inclusive services across Queensland.

    👉 Share your experience or learn more about the survey: https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au/evaluation?utm_source=ehq_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ehq-Inclusive-Futures-April-Monthly-Roundup&utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ehq


    📩 More information:

    Dr Kelsey Chapman
    Research Fellow
    Griffith University
    dignityproject@griffith.edu.au

    This project is proudly supported by Queenslanders with Disability Network and the Queensland Government.

    Let’s make sure everyone feels seen, heard and respected in healthcare.


    A woman with long dark curly hair, wearing a red top, smiles at the camera. Behind her is a colourful background with orange, pink, and yellow waves. Blue icons of music notes and a smiling face appear on the left. A speech bubble at the top says, “SEE ME. HEAR ME. RESPECT ME.” In the lower section, the text reads: “Disability doesn’t define me. We are all diverse.” The words “doesn’t define” and “all” are highlighted. Logos at the bottom include Improving Healthcare for People with Disability, QDN (Queenslanders with Disability Network), and Queensland Government.

  • Voice of Queenslanders with Disability Survey - Queenslanders with Disability Network

    Share Voice of Queenslanders with Disability Survey - Queenslanders with Disability Network on Facebook Share Voice of Queenslanders with Disability Survey - Queenslanders with Disability Network on Twitter Share Voice of Queenslanders with Disability Survey - Queenslanders with Disability Network on Linkedin Email Voice of Queenslanders with Disability Survey - Queenslanders with Disability Network link
    supporting image

    Author: Monique Mita

    Queenslanders with disability are encouraged to have their say on what it’s like to live in the sunshine state with the release of the 2024 Voice of Queenslanders with Disability survey.

    “The 2023 survey had great impact on policy and planning in Queensland,” said Chief Investigator and Research Fellow with Inclusive Futures and the Hopkins Centre, Kelsey Chapman.

    “The 2024 Voice of Queenslanders survey will give us keen insight into how the lives of Queenslanders with disability, their families and the people who support them have changed since last year.”

    Griffith University Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability have been working with Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) to collect the information and deliver the annual survey results.

    “We’re looking forward to generating and collecting more stories and partnering with the Queensland Government and QDN to build a more inclusive state for people with disability,” she said.

    "The 2023 was a landmark in Australian disability policy and reform, and we are looking forward to understanding how this impacted the lives of Queenslanders with disability, their family and the people who support them.

    “We will be paying special attention to comparing this year’s data with last year to identify key trends."

    Visit the Voice of Queenslanders with Disability Survey on the link below:
    https://qdn.org.au/voice-of-queenslanders-with-disability-survey/

    You can take the survey that is right for you!
    https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au/hub-page/vqd

  • Karin Swift: Advocating Quietly, Leading Boldly

    Share Karin Swift: Advocating Quietly, Leading Boldly on Facebook Share Karin Swift: Advocating Quietly, Leading Boldly on Twitter Share Karin Swift: Advocating Quietly, Leading Boldly on Linkedin Email Karin Swift: Advocating Quietly, Leading Boldly link
    supporting image

    In the mosaic of accomplished alumni from Griffith University, Karin Swift (M Human Services ’99) emerges as a quiet force in the disability, advocacy, and social policy sectors. Since graduating from Griffith, she has woven an impactful career, leaving a positive imprint on the field of disability rights.

    Karin currently serves as the President of Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA), a human rights organisation focused on the concerns of women with disability. Her journey, however, extends beyond this role, involving various governance positions for non-government organisations. Recently elected to the Board of the Community Resource Unit, Karin contributes to fostering positive change for people with disability.

    A pivotal point in Karin's career was her representation of the Australian Government and WWDA at the Commission on the Status of Women 57 (CSW 57) at the United Nations in New York. There, she offered strategic advice on women with disability and violence, showcasing her expertise on the international stage. Karin's commitment to breaking barriers is evident in her leadership role at WWDA, where she has conducted training sessions in Indonesia and South Korea on gender and disability, contributing to the global conversation on eliminating violence.

    Karin has held influential positions at Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN), providing strategic high-level advice and facilitating member engagement on various disability issues and social policies. Her contributions were vast, across many portfolios including human rights, gender issues, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the Disability Royal Commission, housing, transport, welfare reform, and employment.

    A colour photo of Karin Swift, a middle age woman and wheelchair user. Karin has medium length auburn hair, red lipstick and wears a black top adorned with multicoloured spots of blue, white and green. Next to the photo of Karin, is a screen shot of the Citizen Researcher Essentials: Co-Design short course home page.

    This year, Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability at Griffith University proudly appointed Karin as an Industry Fellow, recognising her valuable experience in the field. In addition to this significant achievement, Karin has recently accomplished the ‘Citizen Researcher Essentials: A Short Course’ micro-credential.

    Operating as an independent contractor working mostly from home, Karin redefined her career path in response to the challenges posed by COVID-19 and her own health issues. This adjustment allows her to select projects that genuinely interest her and contribute to the disability space without feeling the pressure of the 9-5 grind.

    Karin's typical week now is as diverse as her career, reflecting her commitment to various initiatives. From contributing to university research on the lives of people with disability to participating in Disability Action Week events, Karin's schedule is a testament to her passion for fostering positive change. This fortnight, she is actively engaged in a website co-design group meeting, supporting residents of Level 3 Supported Accommodation facilities, attending peer leader meetings at QDN, contributing to a Queensland Government project, participating in QDN's LGBTIQA+ peer group, and chairing WWDA's AGM during this AGM season.

    In a world where change is often gradual, Karin Swift's story serves as a reminder that every small victory, every voice raised, contributes to a larger narrative of progress. As a proud graduate of Griffith University, Karin continues to inspire and lead, demonstrating that education is not just a means to an end but a catalyst for transformative change. Her flexible and purpose-driven approach to work serves as a positive example for others navigating the evolving landscape of the professional world and a reminder to employers of the benefits of an inclusive work culture and environment.

    Find out more about the Citizen Researcher Essentials Course by emailing: inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au