A
N
N
U
A
L
G
E
N
E
R
A
L
M
E
E
T
I
N
G
Physical Disability Australia Ltd (P
Annual Report – 2009 - 2010
a
Physical Disability Australia Ltd
P O Box 38
Willawarrin NSW
Australia 2440.
Phone: 02 6567 1500
Fax: 02 6567 1500
Email: pda@pda.org.au
Website: www.pda.org.au
ABN: 79 081 345 164
PDA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
27th November, 2010
2.00 pm
Sebel Hotel
65 Queens Road
Melbourne
Park Room – Level 1.
Guest Speaker:
Queensland.
Associate Professor, Fiona Campbell of Griffith University.
Welcome:
Apologies:
Attendance:
Business:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Presidents Report
Executive Officer Report
Treasurer Report
Annual Audit report
Reappointment of Rendell Ridge of Max Peck # Associates Hobart as
Auditors for the year 2009 – 2010
6. Board members for 2010 – 2012
Outcome of recent elections:– Jill Fowler of SA and Peter Simpson of NSW
Co-option of board members – Associate Professor Fiona Campbell of Qld
and Dr. Genee Marks of Vic.
7. Office Bearers to be selected at first board meeting the next day.
8. Next Annual General Meeting and location.
9. Conclusion of Business for Annual General Meeting.
3.00
AFTERNOON TEA
4.00
Close of Annual General Meeting.
2
2009 - 2010
AN N UAL R E P ORT
PO BOX 38
WILLAWAR RIN NSW 2440
02 6567 1500
pda@pda.org.au
3
The AUSAID funded China Project
In 2009 – 2010 PDA Board approved the application
for a large grant funding project that would bring
the name of PDA to a world stage. We applied to
AUSAID for a grant to bring 20 Chinese Delegates
from China Disabled Peoples Federation (CDPF) to
Australia, and show them the way disability works
in Australia. We requested that all of these people
be persons with a disability and amongst the 20
there was only 1 who had a noticeable disability,
which was a disappointment but a small one it turns
out.
Training took place from August to September
2009, and covered 28 fully packed days of daily
training in classroom like settings, explaining
everything possible in Australian disability systems.
Ms Liu, (right) Delegate leader from CDPF.
When you break this down into modules to teach
someone from a completely non English speaking country with limited English and the
audience is completely unaware of the system you refer to, it is quite complex with a myriad
of Departments that we in the sector engage with all the time. Translators were employed
for every stage of the tour and much had to be explained in detail in order to portray and
inform the delegates of a full picture of how Australian works in this area.
PDA employed Niki Sheldon as the Project Officer and along with myself as prime ‘teacher’
we commenced the program in Sydney, followed by Canberra and then Brisbane, with a
short stop for a break and some tourism for our guests on the Gold Coast. Each step of the
way had to be planned, booked, co-ordinated and overseen (last minute mistakes fixed as
we went) so that outwardly it appeared quite seamless.
Niki Sheldon was born to be an organiser, and did a superb job including a lot of input into
the training areas themselves. We chose to ask, beg and cajole people with disability across
Australia to present various sessions they represented or worked in, so that out of the
different topic presenters only 6 were persons without a disability and were experts in their
own right. Such is the diversity and expertise of people with disability in Australia.
Maurice Corcoran presenting a session on
Australian Government.
All sessions were filmed by the CDPF
with their own media team, as well
as interviews taped with ourselves
and many others, and toward the end
of the tour, a special session for a
2
documentary on the tour to be presented in China, was filmed with Niki and myself
particularly relating to disability in Australia and our own lives.
All presenters gave willingly of their time, and we are particularly grateful to all of them,
because without their generous support the program may not have been as successful as it
was. Many former Directors of PDA (Maurice Corcoran, John Moxon, Margo Hodge, and
Geoff Trappett) also participated from their own fields of expertise, which helped to add to
the professional status of the whole tour.
Subjects covered included:























Advocacy
Aids and Equipment – schemes and programs at all levels of government
Attendant Care (2 models)
Australia’s medical system and Medicare
Australian Taxation System
Carers and parents with children with disabilities
Centrelink
Disability Discrimination Law Centre (NSW)
Disability frameworks legislation (state based)
Employment services and systems (2 models)
Federal Government – delivery systems and policies on disability
Higher Education
Human Rights Legislation and how to make complaints
Independent Living Centre (Sydney)
Legal Aid and community legal services
National Disability Standards – Education, Transport and (Proposed) Access to
Premises
PDA and other Peak Disability Organisations
Rehabilitation
Role and responsibilities of State Governments and local governments
Role and responsibilities of the Federal Government
Role of Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service
Social security and associated allowances at Federal and State levels
Universal Housing
All the presentations were interpreted live and continuously filmed by the CDPF for their
use back in China. Each session lasted about an hour. PDA also provided the CDPF with
electronic copies of each presentation
and a detailed ‘contact list’ of relevant
Australian websites connected to each
topic.
Delegates at Parliament House Reception Canberra
3
Included during this ‘tour’ were receptions held in
Sydney where the NSW Chinese Consul-General
Ms Hu Shan. Another more formal reception was
held at Australian Parliament House where
Parliamentary Secretary Bill Shorten, and Senator
Bob McMullan were present along with Senator
Mitch Fifield and the China Ambassador to
Australia - Zhang Junsai.
Parliamentary Secretary Bill Shorten & Executive Officer, Sue
Egan
Speakers included, but was not limited to the following people:





















Sue Salthouse - Women with disabilities
Dougie Herd - State and Territory Government roles
Stephanie Gotlib - Children with disabilities
Timothy Hart - Adult Education
John Moxon - Access to Premises
Kevin Cox - Advocacy
Mobile Attendant Care Services - Night Support
Vicki Humphries - Personal Support
Commissioner Graeme Innes – Human Rights, DDA and UN and Standards
Fiona Given - Legal Rights
Geoff Trappett - Sport and Recreation
Access Arts - The Arts and strategy
Tina Zelenik - Employment
Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service – Rehabilitation
Centrelink - Income Support
David Brant - Housing & Universal Housing
Margo Hodge – Accessible Public Transport
Diana Qian – People with disability from non-English speaking background
Maurice Corcoran (FaHCSIA) Overview of Disability and Strategies
Dr. Fiona Campbell-Models of Disability
Damien Griffiths - Aboriginal Disability Network
External visits also became part of the program, taking all 20 delegates and support persons
to various locations, which included:
4










Centrelink
Independent Living Centre
Qld Spinal Injury Association
Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service
Human Rights Commission
Griffith University
Indigenous Museum
Tour of Australian Parliament House
‘The Outback’ Gold Coast
And more…
The program was a great success with the
CDPF taking many ideas back to China with
them; their impressions were relayed to us
and to AUDAID of their views on the course,
which proved to be very positive and
flattering to me, Niki and to PDA itself.
Conversely, we learnt a lot about the CDPF
and of China and its disability sector.
Tour to Independent Living Centre - Sydney
During the time of the Leadership Program we learned that a senior member of the tour
was in fact from the State Council of China, Mr Liu. His interest was Income Support
provided in Australia. He was a courteous man and interested in all that was said and done
for people with disability in Australia. He was delighted to meet Hon. Bill Shorten and Hon.
Bob McMullin at the official reception in Parliament House in Canberra, and the Vice
Ambassador in Canberra as well as a member from the Chinese embassy in Brisbane.
The feedback from some of the delegates
EO Sue Egan receiving a CDPF presentation
“Congratulations on such a fruitful and
successful event. We were very impressed by
the efforts and organisation by PDA. It was
so professionally presented. Thank you. We
learnt about a system which ensures a basic
living standard for people with disabilities –
they are eligible for benefits and allowances.
By contrast (in China) we do not have the
developed comprehensive service system.
We only provide to those in poverty and as a
5
result only 1 in 8 people get some support. We hope for a similar system and will incorporate
some of the Australian policies which improve the basic living standards for people with
disability. It is up to the policy makers – but it will happen.” Mr. Liu.
Also:
“This course was very beneficial for the Chinese to learn and has inspired us with more ideas
for more services to people with disabilities in China. We want to see multi-level services
which are developmental, needs focussed and financially supported by government. This will
be crucial for starting any new services. We will be recommending that a pension system is
established for all people with disability and that pilot schemes are established for
information services, home and workplace modifications and care services to the home.”
And;
“I have discovered that Australia has done a good job in providing legislation and social
services to people with disabilities. People with disabilities can realise their equal rights here.
They play an important role in the disability movement; they are active and have positive
roles to play. The voices of people with disabilities have been heard. I have been impressed
by the presentations from the women, the people with disabilities, the indigenous
movement, people with spinal injuries and the different voices from people with different
disabilities. I believe that the voices of people with disabilities are essential or else everything
digresses.
Overall, it was a time of hard work, but enjoyable spending time with people every day who
come from an entirely different cultural perspective. We realised Niki and I, how lucky we
are in Australia with the supports we DO have for those of us with a disability. Certainly a
long way to go, but we do have here a lot more than those in other countries.
The China Project proved to be one of the highlights of my working experience and
something that I will not forget. I have made friends with a couple of the delegates and we
correspond from time to time, resulting in a positive friendship between us.
Sue Egan
Executive Officer
Physical Disability Australia Ltd
September 2009.
Physical Disability Australia Ltd
6
President’s Report
2009 - 2010
Glenda Lee SA. President from 2004 – February 2010.
My term with PDA finishes now. I haven’t been President for
most of this past year having passed the baton to Wayne
Dillon. Thank you Wayne. I have enjoyed working with PDCA
and now PDA. I have met heaps of great people from all over
Australia and it has been a privilege. I have learned so much. I
am sure I will miss the everyday work.
In 2008 I wrote crossly about submissions in my annual report
but here we are still writing them 2 years later and NOTHING
has improved. They’ve jigged things around a bit and thrown
out a few more totally inadequate crumbs to us but nothing
has improved and we are still Shut Out. Google the report. Since I wrote my 2008 report
PDA has researched and written 25 submissions. One of the most recent ones was to the
Productivity Commission on the topic of Disability Care and Support and a National Disability
Insurance Scheme, the NDIS. Their report comes out mid next year and it may be years
before anything or nothing happens. Meanwhile we live with our basic human rights denied
every day. We go without accessible housing, sufficient support, timely equipment, a
decent ordinary income, work and recreation. In other words we are just plain left to sink
or swim. Family members who support their offspring are bound with chains to a life of
endless work and fear for their son or daughter’s future.
I believe it is time the disability sector changed its tack. First there was fundraising, then
there was lobbying. Lobbying and working with governments has gotten us a long way. But
there have always been difficulties with it. People grumble because it’s a few speaking for
the many. And they are right. And for the few it is like pushing shit uphill with a pitchfork.
And still government and society are tardy and selfish.
I believe the sector should change tack into empowering us all. Not asking us what’s wrong,
but empowering each of us, ourselves, and each other with knowledge and skills so that the
few become all of us. The Many. Every day each person living with disability truly feeling
confident to ask for access, ask for services, ask for an equal education. And if it keeps not
happening then to DEMAND equity. Then if it still doesn’t happen then we revolt in every
way we can.
You may be shaking your head and thinking “there’s Glenda going on with her idealistic
ravings again”. Yep I am. And I know it can’t happen right now. Click your fingers or wriggle
your nose, abracadabra. No.
Especially not while we spend all our energy telling
government what we bloody well need. Which they already bloody well know!
It can only happen if we empower ourselves so it is no longer the few but The Many. We all
must grow to be as strong and as capable as we can. We must help each other, mentor
7
each other, educate and inform each other and grow together. We must do this in a
concerted, organised and determined way. The peak bodies, PDA could facilitate this.
Then individually we will sweep Australia. Every day in every way whether the matter is big
or small. There will be nowhere for anyone to hide!
Glenda Lee – Vice President
8
+resident Report.
Physical Disability Australia Ltd
Annual General Meeting
Wayne Dillon. February 2010 to June 2010
This is my first report as President of Physical Disability
Australia Ltd (PDA) although I have been a board member of
PDA for the past 5 years representing people with physical
disability in the Northern Territory where I live and work for
the NT Public Service.
I took over the role of President in February of this year, and
have held this position for the past 4 months to June 30 th
2010. Initially Glenda Lee was the President and stepped down
following the AGM as President and moved into the Vice
President role, a position that I had held for the last 2 years.
PDA is in good shape after a year of focusing a great deal of time and work on governance
and finance issues. This included, reviewing of all policies, introducing some new ones,
changing auditors, undergoing training for Directors in governance issues, and adhering to
our Funding bodies requirements, and there were two in this financial year, namely FaHCSIA
and AUSAID for the China Project which was undertaken in August – September 2009.
The China Project was a great success, and PDA was fortunate in having Sue Egan our
Executive Officer and Niki Sheldon, Project Officer for the Project itself, organising and
running this from beginning to end, including all the training within the 28 day period of the
project. By all accounts from AUSAID down to the delegates themselves, this was a highly
successful project. I had the opportunity to attend some of the final group presentations
and the dinner, and it was obvious to all, the participants had thoroughly enjoyed the
program. It was a credit to both Sue Egan and Niki Sheldon who pulled it all together.
This year also saw the National Disability Insurance Scheme consultations commence and
PDA spent the first half of the year considering and arranging how we could best meet the
needs and input of our members, besides putting in our own submission. Other
submissions were part of the core work of PDA also and are listed in the report from the
Executive Officer.
In terms of Directors, I have been privileged to have learnt the ropes with Glenda Lee,
received the advice and assistance of our Executive Officer and later Niki Sheldon who
picked up the pieces when Sue was hospitalised earlier this year. This was a difficult time,
learning how to run the organisation when someone else had been running PDA efficiently
for the past 15 years.
9
This identified the need that as part of our overall strategic planning to have in place
appropriate succession planning. This involved documenting all relevant information such as
banking, mail and telephone, etc. so that PDA could continue to run without any hiccups if a
similar situation arises. I am pleased to say that this has almost been completed.
Professional counseling services have been put in place for staff, board members and other
volunteers as required. Insurance options are currently being investigated for comparison to
what is being currently provided without any loss of coverage and protection.
In running PDA and concentrating on the important governance and financial issues, it is
important for us to reflect on what our core business is, and that is representing the
interests and views of PDA. We are systemic in nature, and this means that we cannot and
do not represent individuals, but we look at the bigger picture on a national level and try to
make or ensure changes where they are needed.
For instance Access to premises. Access is something that many people with disability need
for daily living and without it; life becomes a barrier in itself. PDA accordingly had its own
Access Committee made up of ‘experts’ in access in their own right and they worked
diligently on the issue of access to premises. All of these people gave their time willingly
and we sincerely thank them for their input and advice on this important matter.
To all of our volunteers over this year, thank you from the President and Board of PDA. To
our board Glenda Lee, David Gordon, Melanie Hawkes, Peter Simpson, and Geoff Trappett
(who resigned earlier this year for work reasons) I have nothing but praise for you all and
your input this past year through some difficult times.
I would like to also thank our funding body for once again securing the financial ability of
PDA to represent its members, the Department of Families and Housing, Community
Services and Health (FaHCSIA) and to AUSAID for funding the China Project.
To our former staff, Nicole O’Callaghan who now works in Senator Boyle’s office and Niki
Sheldon a sincere thank you for your work and commitment to PDA. And lastly to our
Executive Officer who is behind every success as well as the work and intention of PDA, my
personal thanks and sincere appreciation.
Wayne Dillon
President – Physical Disability Australia Ltd.
10
Physical Disability Australia Ltd.
Treasurer's Report
Year ending 30th June 2010
David Gordon – Treasurer November 2009 – June 2010
2009 -2010 has been an extremely interesting one for me in the
capacity of treasurer for (PDA) Physical Disability Australia Ltd
for the first time.
PDA has been supported by the Australian Government through
the Department of Families, Community Services, Housing and
Indigenous Affairs (FACSHIA). This grant from FACSHIA for
$160,966 (inclusive of GST) by way of an annual grant, is paid
quarterly and deposited directly into the bank account of the
Physical Disability Australia Ltd (PDA) These funds enable PDA
to operate and perform it’s core work on behalf of it’s
members.
PDA also received a substantial grant from AUSAID (a report is included in this document)
and this is included in this year’s financial audit.
An additional grant from FACSHIA this year of $30,000 has also enabled us to host forums in
a number of states, WA, NT and SA and to support Tasmanians with Disabilities to hold their
own forum. These forums and subsequent submission was related directly to the input for
the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Disability Support and Services. These forums were
welcomed by the disability sector consumers who attended.
PDA is in the process of looking at cost savings in our insurance needs for the organisation
and by maintaining the current levels of insurance, are hoping that we will be able to reduce
our costs be close to 50%.
I have also implemented some new financial accountability procedures for PDA which will
help to minimise any risks to the association.
This has included a change of Auditor due to continuing problems with the previous
Auditors B.B. Whitehouse of Brisbane. A new Auditor has been found, being Mr Rendell W.
Ridge B.Sc. from Max Peck & Associates Accountant, Registered Company Auditor 127
Bathurst Street, Hobart Tasmania.
I am sure that members will find that the new Auditor has reflected a much needed, and
time framed practice with his level of reporting, which PDA has needed for some time.
The accountability process used by PDA includes the services of Balanced Business Services
by way of Ms Claire Shoebridge who undertakes the bookkeeping process for PDA on a
contract basis. We are grateful for the professional services undertaken by Claire on our
behalf and wish to express our appreciation for her diligence and continued support of PDA.
11
PDA wishes to thank the Australian Government, through the Department of Families,
Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FAHCSIA) for the continued funding of
PDA throughout the year. To also thank AUSAID for the opportunity to host delegates from
China Disabled Persons Federation in Australia.
To conclude my report as Treasurer of PDA I would like to thank our staff that I have worked
with over the last year for their hard work with a special mention to Niki Sheldon and of
course my fellow board members also for their consideration and hard work and
commitment throughout the 2009-2010 financial year.
Sincerely
David Gordon
Treasurer PDA Ltd
12
Executive Officer Report
Annual General Meeting 2009 – 2010
We come to the end of yet another financial year; and
in saying that this past year in has been ‘challenging’ is
not exaggerating but rather downplaying the past year.
It has not been my best year at PDA. The year 20092010 has been fraught with problems and anxiety for
many concerned with PDA on a regular basis. From the
board, down to staff including myself, we are glad to
see the end of the past year and to move on.
The year started with a full board, keen to get on with
the work of PDA and we started with Governance and Finance, but in the enthusiasm of being
accountable, we forgot who we were accountable to. Which raises the questions of who in PDA is
accountable and who is PDA accountable to?
PDA is a registered not for profit organisation with the Australian Securities and Investment
Commission. We are called a company limited by guarantee. This Federal Department is set up to
regulate and monitor both business and companies. PDA or the former PDCA registered with ASIC in
2008, because we are national in nature, a not for profit organisation and represent members. We
could not register as an association in a state, because we cross all states and take a national view.
We were also set up to represent people in Australia who have a physical disability, and this was the
primary reason we established the organisation in the first place in 1995. The regulatory body came
later.
So in essence the answer to the questions “who in PDA is accountable and who is PDA accountable
to?” The short answer is we are accountable to people with physical disability who often have no
voice for themselves. As an organisation we are accountable to ASIC, as the regulatory body we
registered with all those years ago. There is another stakeholder here too, the Funding body, in our
case, Department of Families and Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs but this could
be any funding organisation, who provide an annual grant to PDA which allows us to do the work we
do. It isn’t a great deal of money, and it has to be stretched as far as it will allow, and there are
guidelines on what we can spend these funds on, and there is also compulsory reporting on our
spending.
So with the very best of intentions we started out wanting to improve the accountability processes
within the organisation, starting with Governance. Governance according to UNESCO is the process
of decision-making and by which decisions are implemented. An analysis of governance focuses on
the formal and informal people involved in decision-making and implementing the decisions made
and the formal and informal structures that have been set in place to arrive at and implement the
decision.
However somewhere along the way, the wheels came off so to speak and the end result was losing
quite a few Directors, having to do more work than was needed (and apart from Niki Sheldon who
was employed for the China Project) there was just me trying to keep up at a time when I felt quite
burnt out. After a hospital trip early this year by air ambulance and a month off work, we resumed
focusing on the organisation once again.
13
We learnt a lot, put in place more checks and balances, learnt who to trust and who not to, and
learnt that some people even with the best of intentions are troublesome when things don’t go their
way.
So what did we achieve over the year? What outcomes did we have to show for all of this time?
Policy Work
 Review of all internal policies of PDA with assistance from Robbi Williams of Julia Farr
Association through face to face Forum in Adelaide
 Emergency/After Hours Support Policy
 Review and Update of Succession planning policies underway
Governance activities
 Election Committee set up to monitor Elections of Board Members
 Governance Committee set up
 Financial Committee set up
 Carver Model of Governance training (Sydney February 2010 and Adelaide June 2010)
Submissions to Government:
1. Mid-year report to FaHCSIA amended. April 2010.
2. Submission to Royal Australian College of General Practitioners : Standards Review
November 2009
3. Submission to Inquiry into the Migration treatment of disability October 23 2009
4. PDA Policy Paper Call for the Best After Hours and Emergency Services for People with
Physical Disabilities May 2010
5. Submission to Senate Inquiry into Planning Options and Services for People Ageing with a
Disability June 11th 2010
6. To Productivity Commission Inquiry into Caring for Older Australians July 29th 2010
7. Response to the Disability Advocacy Framework Consultation August 2010
8. Submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Disability Care and Support August
2010
9. To FaHCSIA – Response to the discussion paper Inclusion for people with disability through
sustainable supported employment September 16th 2010.
10. Joint Submission to the RACGP on adjustable-height examination beds
11. Submission to the Harmonisation of Disability Parking Permit Schemes – National workshop
12. Input into many other disability organisation submissions to government and community
Meetings attended:
1. Disability Parking Permit workshop Canberra 16th November 2009. Sue Egan attended.
2. Australian Airlines Working Group meeting in Canberra (Sue Egan is a member of this Group)
20th May 2010.
3. Meeting with FaHCSIA regarding National Disability Strategy and pre-draft release of
document (Canberra May 26th 2010)
4. Meeting with AFDO in Canberra re NDIS consultations May 26th 2010)
5. National Disability Awards Ceremony Canberra November 24th ‘2009
6. In Control Melbourne November 11th 2009
7. Meeting with Parliamentary Secretary for Children and people with disabilities - Bill Shorten
(Nov 24 2009) -Canberra
14
8. Meeting with Parliamentary Secretary for Overseas Aid - Bob McMullan (Nov 23 2009) Canberra
9. Centrelink - Community Engagement Meeting Canberra December 2nd 2009
10. Legal Assistance Dialogue Access to Justice Melbourne. December 10th 2009
11. Quality Frameworks for Disability Service Standards informal meeting at AFDO with Victorian
DHS (lead agency for the country) Feb 1st Melbourne
12. MAV – Universal Housing Design Workshop re proposed changes to Australian Building Code
Feb 12th Melbourne –letter supporting Universal Housing Submission
13. Aviation Access Working Party Feb 17th Canberra
14. ATO consultation meeting Feb 18th Melbourne Vision Australia – this meeting was about
presentation of ATO information and did not relate to tax issues or questions
15. FaHCSIA consultation meeting re Peaks March 10th Melbourne
16. AFDO member meeting Brisbane 4th/5th February 2010
17. AFDO 2 day strategic planning meeting March 11th & 12th Melbourne
18. Visitable and Adaptable Housing Features RIS (Victoria)
19. Launch of Children with a Disability Melbourne May 18th 2010
20. FaHCSIA meeting in Melbourne re NDS follow-up June 8th 2010
21. DANA conference Canberra June 15 & 16th
22. Peaks meeting with AFDO and PWDA Sydney developing Human Rights Framework for NDIS
July 7th & 8th
23. NDIS PDA public forum Adelaide July 11th 2010
24. NDIS PDA public forum Perth July 13th 2010
25. NDIS PDA Public Forum – Alice Springs July 2010
26. NDIS PDA funded Forum with Tasmanians with Disabilities Hobart -July 2010
27. AFDO initial meeting with Director NDIS Campaign / Alliance September 9th 2010
28. Representation to Telstra Disability Reference Group – Jacky Chant and all meetings
29. Member of Australian National Universal Housing Design Group (Sue Egan)
30. Representation to Australian Electoral Commission Annual Forum (Sue Egan)
31. Board member of AFDO – formerly Geoff Trappett of Qld, now Sue Egan.
32. ACCAN – new directions October 2009
Discussions/other methods of communication/consultations:
1. Commented on draft WA airport plan for Australian Airline Advisory committee
2. Commented on Harvey Bay Qld airport plan for Australian Airline Advisory Committee
3. Commented on Brisbane Airport Access Plan
4. Information provided to members and stakeholders for consultations for Productivity
Commission Inquiry including a survey to elicit comments.
5. Website updated as often as possible
6. Facebook page created
7. PDA member discussion list (subscribe to join)
8. Daily emails to members and interested others
9. Continuous inquiries from members and the general public
10. Various airport access plans viewed and commented on.
11. Radio Interview regarding Productivity Commission consultation – ABC Victoria 11th May
2010
12. Arranging consultations with various states for Productivity Commission consultation on
NDIS, NT, SA, NSW, WA, Qld, Vic.
13. Discussions with Mat Tinkler, advisor to Bill Shorten (via telephone) June 3rd 2010
14. Public Focus – Physical Disability Australia Ltd Facebook Page updated with NDIS, Policy
papers, etc.
15. Directory information provided to various government departments
15
16. AGM held in Sydney with guests including Robbie Williams of Julia Farr, some PDA members
also present.
17. Teleconference with AUSAID
18. Input to AFDO papers.
Questionnaires completed:
 Associations Forum – Not for Profit survey
 Enterprise Care – Salary survey
 University students surveys
 Pharmaceuticals survey completed
 Survey provided to PDA members on satisfaction levels
 DEEWR survey
 ABS document on Not for profit organisations and operations
Inquiries of PDA:
 Individual Advocacy issues
 Systemic Advocacy
 Telephone inquiries regarding, access to premises, transport, accessible housing,
tourism, education, employment opportunities and options, personal support, sport
and recreation facilities, and much more.
 Website inquiry facility
 Individual phone calls
 Referrals
Representation:
 Telstra Disability Reference Group – Jacky Chant
 Australian National Universal Housing Design formerly Ian Hawkins, now Sue Egan
 Australian Electoral Commission Disability Reference Group – Sue Egan
 Australian Airlines Working Group – Sue Egan
 Australian Standards – Emilio Savle (building and access)
 Australian Standards – Mark Relf and Terry Fletcher (access to premises)
 National Continence Advisory Committee – Hugh Carter
 Qantas Disability Customer Care Forum – Sue Egan
 Rural Disability Network NSW – Sue Egan
 Mid North Coast Advocacy – part year Sue Egan
 AFDO Board – Geoff Trappett, now Sue Egan
 Australian Consumer Competition Commission through AFDO -Margo Hodge
nominated by PDA
 Member Centrelink Reference Group
 Julia Farr Association SA – Glenda Lee is a Board Member in her own right.
 Tasmanians with Disabilities – David Gordon is Treasurer in his own right.
 Australian Communication Network – Harold Hartfield nominated by PDA.
Training provided by PDA:
 AusAid training program for China Disabled Persons Federation (20 people from
China) through funding from AUSAID. August 5th to September 5th 2009 20 people
for 20 days
16

Productivity Commission –PDA provided free all day training through Sue Egan and
Niki Sheldon on disability issues in Australia in preparation for the National Disability
Insurance Scheme consultation nationwide. May 27th 2010.
Weighing all of these activities up, considering so much had to be done on Governance, and staff
numbered myself and Niki Sheldon working over this time, we achieved a considerable amount.
In closing, I would like to thank former President Glenda Lee, current President Wayne Dillon,
Treasurer David Gordon, NSW representative Peter Simpson, from WA Melanie Hawkes, for their
support and work over the past year. Thank you all for your diligence and personal support of me
over the year. With a special thanks to Niki Sheldon, who proved to be a great worker and an
excellent colleague to work with during stressful time.
Quote:
“Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum of a
nonexistent abstract world can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of
conflict.”
Saul Alinsky (USA)
Sue Egan
Executive Officer (1995 – current)
Physical Disability Australia Ltd. (PDA)
30th June 2010.
17