Physical Disability Council of Australia: A documented history
Sue Egan
B. Comr., M. Dis St
2007
Establishment:
The Physical Disability Council of Australia (Ltd) known to many as PDCA, is the national peak
disability organisation which represents the interests and views of people with physical disability
across Australia. In this, the tenth year of operation, it is timely to look back and see how the
organisation has developed and changed, why these changes occurred and whether the
organisation reflects the initial intention of forming such an organisation.
The history of PDCA is particularly important when documenting any discourse on disability in
Australia as the development of the organisation itself goes hand in hand with policies and
changes relating to disability both internationally and within Australia at that time.
Why is this history important?
In the words of Stearns (1998) "...history is a laboratory ...that helps us work through and
understand people and societies as well as being able to understand change and how the society
we live in, came to be."
The relevance of history to PDCA is to be able to look back and to see how many changes and
challenges have been met throughout the life of the organisation and to be able to map the
journey of PDCA over time, correcting any errors or misjudgements, and building on positive
actions and beliefs.
Crabtree (1993) says that history should "tell a story about the past, which captures the essence of
an event while omitting superfluous details."
Exploring the history of any organisation helps to give an interpretation of the past and of events
that shaped the course of the organisation which is a constructive way of examining truths to
determine strengths and weaknesses and building on these for the future.
Examining PDCA's history allows us to compare our performance from the perspective of being
part of the community sector, and also from a business point of view. When viewing PDCA from a
business view our performance includes the relationships we have with our members (customers
or clients), encouraging new members (customers) the actions we undertake, the overall
performance of PDCA, Strategic Planning for the future, Auditing for our financial performance,
and contract reporting to ensure that we meet the expectations of the Federal Government as the
funding body of PDCA.
What are peak organisations and what is their role?
The perceived role of peak organisations such as PDCA has changed over time, and this is
evidenced by many of the writings of the time when PDCA was established. Comments from the
Industry Commission in 1995 in their report on Charitable Organisation in Australia (p181) stated
that "Peak councils are an important element of the sector. Through their activities particularly as
a conduit between the sector and government — they have the potential to increase the
effectiveness and efficiency of their members and the sector as a whole."(1995)
The Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the government
department that funds national disability peak organisations (and formerly referred to as FaCS),
stated in 1995, that peak bodies, represent people with disabilities at a national level, and
campaign on issues of importance, distributing information to members, and providing member
support.
In 1995, the existing national disability peak organisations formed a coalition called the National
Caucus of Disability Consumer Organisations, (NCDCO). NCDCO was never formally registered as a
company or as an incorporated association.a, preferring to remain an informal network of
organisations that could consult with government, without risking their funding, if contentious
issues were raised. This gave some protection for individual peaks funded by the government and
allowed input and information in order to inform governments.
PDCA became a member of NCDCO once established and later became a significant partner in the
changes that NCDCO would experience.
PDCA sees its role as being the peak organisation that represents the interests and views of people
with physical disability to government and others who make decisions that will affect the day to
day lives of people with physical disability.
Over time, the work of PDCA has become unmistakably on behalf of people with physical
disability, and includes working with the public, businesses and all levels of governments and
researching areas such as the Cost of Disability and Access to Premises and many others. PDCA is
proud of its reputation of being established by and for people with physical disability.
Viewing PDCA objectively through Strategic Planning encourages Directors and staff to look at the
values of the organisation as well as the framework within which work is carried out.
The people we represent:
In Australia today, it is estimated that 20% of the population have some type of disability. (ABS
2003). The ABS also state that there has been a steady rise in the underlying disability rate since
the first ABS Disability Survey in 1981, with an increase in the proportion of Australians with
disabilities from 15% in 1981 to 19% in 1998 (3.6 million people).
The major factors influencing this increase can include:
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People living longer and acquiring a disability during the ageing process;
People with pre-existing disabilities are living longer;
Changes in society attitudes have meant more openness about disability. .
More cars on the road, more accidents;
Immigration and;
Larger population
In the 1998 ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers 3.2 million people (17% of the total
population) said that they are restricted in carrying out one or more daily activities, such as selfcare, mobility and communication. These are the people that PDCA represents.
How is disability defined?
In the Productivity Commission's 'Report on Government Services (2002) defined disability using
the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps. This classification was
a later disbanded to form the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO)
published in 1980 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the classification helped to frame
three levels, impairment, disability and handicap. Australia used this early classification until
2001, when a revised classification called the International Classification of Functioning, Disability
and Health (ICF) was adopted by the World Health Assembly.
History of Disability:
Any history of PDCA cannot be written without looking back at disability history in general both in
Australia and overseas.
Barnes (2004) wrote of the eighteenth century where impairments and disability was explained by
using reference to religious beliefs of the day, as well as superstitions, myths and legends from
earlier times.
Some of these misconceptions are still around today, in some cultures for instance, where the
family of a person with a disability is seen as being punished for bad deeds of the past or evil
spirits living within a family unit.
Shakespeare (2002) whilst delivering a paper to a conference in Helsinki, confirmed the rights
based approach, saying that people with disability had shown that disability was an "equal
opportunity issue, not a medical tragedy." Shakespeare" (2002) p.1
It was not until 1981, in the International Year of Disabled Persons (IYDP) that many individuals
with disability started to become more politicised and public, demanding equal rights with those
who did not have a disability
Human rights movements throughout the world are universal. Whilst the issue itself might not be
the same as disability, the focus and action is very similar. These have included women's rights,
the right to vote, equal pay for equal work, child care and reproduction rights whilst various large
liberation movements argued for peace, animal rights, green environments, preventing child
labour, and Reconciliation in Australia as well as many other issues. One successful campaign was
that of Mahatma Ghandi who wished to help free his native India from British rule by peaceful
demonstrations, another was the civil rights movement in the United States aimed at eliminating
racial discrimination against African Americans.
In accordance with the growth of people with disability throughout the world, and in response to
the rights movements, the way disability is viewed today is a direct result of people with disability
demanding change, subsequent policy changes and particular events. Some of these included:
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1901 Alice Betteridge born: first deaf blind person to receive education in Australia.
1933 First folding, tubular steel wheelchair was invented.
1941Discovery of link between rubella in pregnant women and blindness in newborn
babies
1945 United Nations formally established
1948 Helen Keller visits Australia.
1950s First sheltered workshops for children with disabilities
1952 First guide dog training centre in Australia established in Perth
1960s Text telephones invented
1969 Vaccine for Rubella became available.
1975 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons
1976 First print-to-speech reading machine invented (Kurzweil Reading Machine)
1970s Electric wheelchairs became available in Australia.
1970s Seat belts in cars became compulsory across Australia.
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1978 The world's first cochlear implant operation was performed at the Royal Victorian Eye
and Ear Hospital.
1981 International Year of Disabled Persons (IYDP)
1982-1993 United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons
1983 World Communications Year
1985 National Occupational Health and Safety Commission Act
1986 Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Discrimination Act
1986 Disability Services Act 1992 —Disability Discrimination Act
1987 International Year of Shelter for the Homeless
1990 International Literacy Year
1993 United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities for People with
Disabilities
1996 National Disability Advisory Council established.
1999 Carer Allowance introduced
2000 Sydney Paralympics,
2001 International Year of Volunteers
PDCA was established in 1995, at a time when much had been happening in the Australian
disability agenda.
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The numbers of people with disability were being collected and in 1993, according to the
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 18% of Australians had a disability and this percentage was
projected to increase with the ageing of the population (ABS 1993).
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In 1993, the Minister for Health, Hon. Brian Howe, moved to wind up the Disability
Advisory Council of Australia (DACA) and replace it with a new Australian Disability
Consultative Council (ADDC) which would comprise of ACROD, DPI(A) and a further 6
national peak organisations which represented specific disability sectors.
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There was a universal shift in discourse from human rights to individual rights and this was
behind the Disabled Peoples' International (Australia) Limited (DPIA) movement. DPIA was
a member of Disabled Persons International (DPI) which still exists in the world today. At
that time, DPIA had been established since 1983 following the International Year of
Disabled Persons (1981) which looked at people’s rights rather than established theories.
Newell (1996) pp. 429 -- 432
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The demise of DPI(A) in late 1994 and early 1995 raised additional concerns for the physical
disability sector as to how the needs and rights of people with physical disability would be
represented at the national political level. At the time there were national peak
organisations representing the blind sector, the deaf sector, and those with intellectual
disability, Around the same time, Women with Disabilities was formed, as was National
Ethnic Disability Alliance, Brian Injury Australia (formerly Head Injury Council of Australia)
as well as the Australian Psychiatric Disability Alliance (which was later de-funded and
more recently replaced by the National Mental Health Consumer Council).
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In 1995 DPIA experienced financial difficulties following the running of the International
Assembly of DPI in Australia and an administrator was appointed. DPIA subsequently
folded and was de-registered as a national organisation.
Following the establishment of the Australian Disability Consultative Council by the Federal
Government a national meeting was held in Canberra in May 1994, where the need to form a
national peak body to specifically represent the physical disability sector in Australia was raised.
A formal recommendation was passed by ACROD members representing service providers from
across Australia in 1994 stating that there was a need to establish a national physical disability
peak organisation to represent people with physical disability.
Participants from each state undertook to bring together a group of interested parties to discuss
the formation of a National and State Physical Disability Council network. Organisations that
undertook to work on this included representatives from Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association
of Qld, Cerebral Palsy League in Qld, The Australian Quadriplegic Association in NSW, Crippled
Children's Association and Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association of SA, and Paraplegic and
Quadriplegic Association of Victoria who collectively formed an interim network.
Each network identified key individuals with a physical disability who were respected in their
community and who were already working on state issues. Small forums were organised, which
included local interest groups and individuals with disability and the meetings encouraged the
formation of a national council for people with physical disability. This was to be an organisation
that would be individually driven with the full support and input from state and territory physical
disability councils.
For the remainder of 1994, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia formed
interim Physical Disability Councils, who consulted with consumers in their own state to determine
the direction of each council. The leaders of these state based groups were also members of the
Interim Physical Disability Council of Australia.
PDCA was officially formed in November 1995 via a teleconference link across the four
participating states. A submission for funding was prepared under the auspice of the Australian
Quadriplegic Association (and personal input by the CEO of the time, Tony Hayes) to assist the
Council to establish as a national peak organisation. At the time, most national peak organisations
were funded through the Commonwealth Organisations Support Program (COSP) which ran
between 1993–95. The submission was successful, and PDCA received it's first funding in January
1996.
The COSP programme was facilitated by the Commonwealth government with total funding of $27
million according to the Industry Commission in 1996, however PDCA was funded by Family and
Community Services under the Research and Development Programme, and much later, after a
national review, all peaks were funded under the National Secretariat Programme of Department
of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA).
After IYDP in 1981, successive Australian Governments facilitated many policy developments
between 1983 and 1995. These included:
1983 Review of Handicapped Programs
1983 Establishment of Disability Advisory Council (DACA)
1985 Publication of 'New Directions'-Review of Handicapped Programs
1985 Establishment of Office of Disability
1985 Establishment of Home and Community Care (HACC) Program
1986 Disability Services Act (DSA)
1988 Social Security Review of Income Support for People with Disabilities
1988 ABS Survey of Disabled and Aged Persons
1988 Establishment of Disability Task Force
1991 Introduction of Disability Reform Package (DRP)
1991 Commonwealth-State Disability Agreement (CSDA)
1992 Disability Discrimination Act
1992 Modifications to Disability Services Act
1993 ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers
1994 DACA replaced by Australian Disability Consultative Council
1994 Commonwealth Disability Strategy
1994 Modifications to the Disability Services Program
1994 Introduction of the Supported Wages System
1994 'Working Nation' Statement on Employment
1995 Baume Review of Disability Services Program
1995 Evaluation of Disability Reform Package
1995 Australian Law Reform Commission Review of Disability Services Act
1995 (ongoing) COAG consideration of health and community services
1995 Industry Commission Report on Charitable Organisations
1995 (ongoing) implementation of National Competition Policy
1995 Evaluation of Commonwealth-State Disability Agreement begins
During these years, many reseachers and disability activists began to write about the various
models of disability.
Using a medical model, people with a disability are defined by their illness or medical condition,
this condition is seen as the problem and people need to be able to adapt to society, hence long
term rehabilitation and the rise of rehabilitation as a working career and industry, including
university studies.
Medical diagnosis is still used in Australia to determine access to benefits or income, assistance
into employment, housing, education and much more. The medical model sees the person with a
disability as dependent and needing to either be cured or cared for and justifies the way, people
have been excluded for years.
PDCA believes that the medical model focuses on 'incapacity' rather than abilities or potential and
views this model as deficit-based. People with physical disabilities are viewed as 'incapacitated',
'limited' and 'damaged', they are also essentially 'tragic', albeit sometimes inspirational 'victims'.
Definitions of physical disability that reflect the medical model are based on an able-bodied ideal.
"Physical disability is viewed as a medical problem and an impairment. This model of disability has
been reflected in legislative and policy frameworks." (PDC NSW 2006)
The social model is perceived to be directly related to the barriers within society and the way
societies' are organised and therefore in many cases, discriminate against people with disability
preventing inclusion and participation.
The social model of disability focuses on the response of society towards physical impairment and
values the abilities and skills of people with physical disabilities. The real issue for those with a
physical disability is the social and economic discrimination that they encounter. Definitions of
physical disability that reflect the social model are based on these attitudes as well as exclusion
from society.
Physical disability is viewed as a 'problem' when society puts barriers in the environment
restricting people with physical disability accessing and participating in society.
A growing body of work however, critiques the social model for failing to acknowledge the realities
of impairment, pain and illness in the lives of some people with disabilities (Shakespeare 1993).
Others point out its inadequacy in addressing issues for people with cognitive or psychiatric
disabilities. All argue for a more inclusive social model.
PDCA works within a social model of disability including the individual experience of disability
which according to (Barnes 1991. p5) is an emphasis on "...economic, environmental and cultural
barriers" that people with disability encounter during their daily lives. These barriers can include
access to the built environment, public transport, attitudes, imagery, income and social supports,
housing and many others.
Other models
According to Kaplan, "A rehabilitation model is an offshoot of the medical model, which regards
the disability as a deficiency that must be fixed by rehabilitation professional or other helping
professional."
While Veder (2006) argues that "Both the medical model and the social model of disability have
substantial drawbacks for the project of creating better lives for people with disabilities; the first
denies the value of difference and the effects of discrimination, and the second denies any place
for prevention and cure." Veder believes that a third model, "...a morphological model" is better
placed which includes 'respectful and effective intervention' in disability.
The moral model is an older model and refers to the outdate attitude that people are morally
responsible for their own disability. An example being, the perceived negative actions of parents if
there is a congenital disability, as self-punishment or as punishment meted out because of past
actions. These often came from religious beliefs or superstition handed down for centuries.
The Economic Model is defined by the inability of a person with a disability, to earn an income by
working. It looks at productivity, economic consequences for employers, governments and the
individual and includes loss of earnings and income assistance paid by the state. This model is
used by policy makers to assess income support systems for those who are not able to participate
in employment.
The Expert/Professional Model arose from medical professionals being revered and therefore seen
as 'experts' who were to be believed. The Practitioners role was to try to 'fix' the patient get them
on their feet and out the door, furthering their reputation as an 'expert' by patient and
community. Many people with disability would question these assertions, and in many cases demystify the Expert Model.
In the Expert/Professional Model identifying the impairment and its limitations using technology,
treatment and therapy improves the life of the patient. This model has been in existence for some
time, and as a consequence, has seen the growth of service providers who have an impact on
policies related to disability, whilst many of their service users have no opportunity for being
heard.
The Tragedy/Charity Model suggests that people with disability are victims and are therefore
worthy of pity. One example of this is using the children of a service school to sell 'Forget-me-not'
buttons to raise funds for the organisation, or a person in a wheelchair sitting on street corners,
selling tickets or pens, or pictures of cute children, all of whom have a disability, as cover features
for their fundraising campaigns.
The Tragedy/Charity Model along with the Medical Model historically were most often used by
those without a disability.
All of these models overlook the individual and their role and rights to be included in society. The
social model therefore targets society as the barrier and it is these barriers that need to be
eliminated for true inclusion. PDCA works within the social model of disability, and endeavours to
empower people with physical disability to be in control of their own lives, but this was not always
the case.
In the early days, PDCA was focused on establishing the organisation and becoming funded to
represent those with a physical disability. It was not until after the first year of operation that
those involved in the organisation began to look outward and to consider the beliefs and values of
the organisation and including individuals with disability in some way.
An Executive Officer was employed in 1996 to help formally establish the organisation including
the development of a constitution and registering the organisation with the relevant authority. A
constitution was written in 1996 along with the values and goals PDCA.
The first Mission Statement read:
"By 2010 the needs of people with a physical disability will be met in all Commonwealth
Government legislation, policies, services and programs and in all areas of the private sector and
the community of Australia, enabling full participation."
The role of PDCA:
To inform all levels of Government, the business sector and the Australian community of the needs
of people with a physical disability and to lobby for change as necessary.
The Goals of PDCA
(1)The Physical Disability Council of Australia will achieve positive change in public attitude
towards people with physical disabilities by promoting their inclusive participation in all aspects of
the Australian community.
(2)The Physical Disability Council of Australia will be comprised of 2 delegates from each of the
states and territories who will always be people with a physical disability and who will represent
the views of all people with a physical disability.
(3)The Physical Disability Council of Australia will have formal and informal links with all state and
territory Physical Disability Council’s and other peak disability organisations.
(4)The Physical Disability Council of Australia as the acknowledged peak council for
people
with physical disabilities throughout Australia will generate political force through pro-active
lobbying and representation to promote the change necessary to meet the needs of people with a
physical disability
(5)The Physical Disability Council of Australia will include within all its operations an active
promotion of the rights, issues and participation of people with a physical
disability
(6)The Physical Disability Council of Australia will be an incorporated body with secure, adequate
ongoing funding, and a paid secretariat. (PDCA 1996)
The Constitution
A constitution is the key document for the foundation and building of an organisation. The
constitution should contain all the important decisions made by founding members, on how the
organisation is intended to work, which includes all the legal frameworks required by law.
PDCA chose to become a Company limited by Guarantee and registered with the Australian
Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). The decision to become a company stemmed from
the difficulties encountered when attempting to register as a national organisation, but not have a
state headquarters. By registering as a Company limited by guarantee, PDCA could place its head
office in any state or territory in Australia in the future.
The Constitution then became the Memorandum and Articles of Association, in accordance with
ASIC requirements. The document contained:
1. Nomination information
Over age 18
Person with physical disability
Two from each state or territory
2. Information on Directors of the Company
Director responsibility
Powers of Directors
3. Executive Elections
Meeting duties and Quorums
Executive roles and responsibilities
Voting at meetings
4. Meetings and the calling of
5. Annual General Meetings
Duties and purpose
6. Special General Meetings
Duties and purpose
7. Financial Responsibility
Auditing
8. Winding up Clause
The first Memorandum and Articles of Association of 1996 for PDCA, had no provision for
individual members although a database of names and details had been in place from the first
year, which had been collected from all the state PDC's. This was always referred to as the
membership list, and at one time held over 3000 names.
From the beginning, PDCA board Directors made decisions to include people with physical
disability in all areas of policy making, by inviting people to comment, through newsletters and
telephone, later this included email and online discussion lists.
In the early days the Board was referred to as 'the council' and used a 3 tier management system,
referred to by Duca (1996 p4) as the "...tripartite system..." which comprised the board, the
executive and staff.
The board would meet by teleconference each 2 months; the Executive (comprising President,
Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, plus non-voting Executive Officer) would meet every
alternate 2 months and report back to the board.
All board members would be informed of the progress of the organisation by a monthly report
from the Executive Officer. The President of PDCA has always been the direct supervisor of the
Executive Officer.
Over the years board directors changed, but each person brought some change or direction and
added to the rich tapestry that makes up PDCA:
Board Members
1995 - 2007
Kevin Byrne (The Late...)
John Moxon
Chris Fallon
Dougie Herd
Maurice Corcoran
Glenda Lee
Margaret Charlesworth
Jim Kidd
Suzanne McKenzie
Jeremy Muir
Ian Hawkins
Dale Cordwell
Andrew Rogers
Robert Jones
Robert Pyne
Arthur Beale
Mary Reid
Harold Hartfield
Kerry Whittle
Steven McDonald (The Late...)
Hugh Carter
Robin Wilkinson
John Newton
Graham Palmer
Margo Hodge
Louise Bannister
Simon McGrath
Michael Hay
Mallika Macleod
Graham Law
Graeme Dargie
Dorothy Law
Mark Hutson
Ian Miller
Robyn Burridge
Elizabeth Reid
Wayne Dillon
Michele Castagna
The writer Sue Egan, also one of the five founders of PDCA has been the Executive Officer since
the establishment of PDCA.
Strategic Planning has been held each year since 1999. An external consultant is used to facilitate
the event so that the Executive Officer can also participate. In the event that more staff were
employed, they too would participate in the Strategic Planning. This meeting is usually held the
day after the Annual General Meeting.
Strategic Planning helps to inform all Board members of the priorities facing PDCA, the interests
and issues of the physical disability sector, the priorities of contract requirements and can also
include a place for simply 'dreaming' of what the organisation would like to achieve, if the
resources were available.
Over the years the planning has resulted in work being carried out on issues such as:
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The Disability Discrimination Act of 1992 (DDA)
DDA Transport Standards
DDA Education Standards
DDA Access to Premises Standards
The Cost of Disability
Disability Awareness
Disability Information Kits for Board Members
Ageing with a disability
Commonwealth State Territory Agreement (CSTDA)
Increasing the involvement and effectiveness of people with disability
Adaptable Housing
Welfare Reform
Welfare to Work
One of the strengths of PDCA has always been to keep a focus on people with physical disability
who don't have the same opportunities as other Australians. Board members are aware that they
represent people with disability across Australia, not themselves or their relevant home state or
territory. It is through these values that PDCA recognises the lost social capital of people with
physical disability, who do not have their support needs met.
Social capital is "...the processes between people which establish networks, norms, social trust and
facilitate co-ordination and co-operation for mutual benefit." (Cox 1995)
Cox believes that social capital is increased by working together as people and communities, and
should be the "... pre-eminent and most valued form of any capital as it provides the basis on
which we build a truly civil society. Without our social bases we cannot be fully human. Social
capital is as vital as language for human society." (Cox 1995).
During the establishment years, PDCA was part of the National Caucus of Disability Organisations
(NCDCO) and the Executive Officer became Co-Chair and then Chairperson of 'Caucus' as it was
referred to.
The National Caucus of Disability Consumer Organisations (NCDCO) was a network of disability
peak bodies and was formed in July 1995 and funded through the Office of Disability in October
1995. The main role of Caucus was policy development and advice as well as facilitating the
appointment of consumer representatives to government, business and community working
groups.
Caucus had ten (10) participating organisations and these were:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Australian Psychiatric Disability Coalition (APDC)
Carers Association of Australia (CAA)
Deafness Forum of Australia (DFA)
Head Injury Council of Australia (HICOA)
National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA)
6. National Council on Intellectual Disability (NCID)
7. National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA)
8. Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
9. Physical Disability Council of Australia (PDCA)
10. Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA)
In 2000, Senator Jocelyn Newman, the Minister for Department and Community Services,
announced that 'the Department of Family and Community Services will consult with community
organisations and other stakeholders on the best future structure for peak body funding'. (FaCS
2000)
The Minister also announced that the FACS would be releasing a discussion paper on future
funding structures of peak organisations and included Caucus, and invited organisations to
comment and to submit a response that same year.. The responses were to be used to assist in
developing a new funding model to be announced later that same year.
In early 2001, the Minister announced the new funding model for peak organisations, which would
continue to be funded through FaCS. This model included the establishment of an Australian
Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO).
AFDO was to replace the National Caucus of Disability Consumer Organisations (NCDCO), whose
funding ceased in 2001. The disability peaks funded by FACS were given the task of establishing
the new Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO).
A Working Group (the Disability Federation Working Group) was set up in February 2001 to work
toward establishing AFDO. The Working Group consisted of representatives from the eight-funded
peak disability organisations, plus a representative from the Indigenous Disability Network.
The writer, as the Executive Officer of PDCA was nominated to lead this group and she
subsequently requested one other person to be involved, given the huge task before them. LouAnne Lind of National Ethnic Disability Alliance was nominated and together they headed the
working group that eventually established AFDO.
AFDO was formally established in 2002 and was registered as a company in late 2003 with the
founding peak organisations the first members. Since that time a CEO and other staff have been
recruited and AFDO now takes its place alongside ACROD, ACOSS, and the Australian Federation of
Families.
Once AFDO had been established, PDCA began looking at how best to work with individuals with a
disability in order to be fully across the issues and at the same time being sufficiently informed to
represent the physical disability sector.
The issue of membership was explored and PDCA in 2003 changed the constitution to reflect a full
membership for people with physical disability as well as associate members and family/friends
membership categories (PDCA 2003). People with disability have full membership and voting
rights, whilst associate members and family members do not have a vote. This maintains the
premise that PDCA is run by and for people with physical disability.
To communicate directly with members, an online email discussion list was launched on 19th
January, 2001. This is an active discussion list with members subscribing to discuss all topics of
interest to people with disability, whether it is around government, policies, PDCA itself, or other
issues, the list has become part of the way PDCA operates.
The list is also used by the Executive Officer and board members to consult on national issues,
receive comments or to simply inform members of day to day events. Studies overseas reveal that
internet usage is being taken up faster than those without disability according to the National
Organisation of Disability in the US who say that " Internet use by people with disabilities is
increasing at twice the pace of other Americans, according to information gathered for the
National Organization on Disability (NOD) by Harris Interactive."(NOD 2002)
Other ways PDCA has communicated, encouraged and informed members has been to hold
specific events in different capital cities over the years. Forums and conferences with people with
physical disability subsidised to attend as well as the Executive Officer taking the opportunity to
present papers at various conferences. Some of these presentations are shown below:
Presentations
2005: Self Determination: My Journey
Pacific Rim International Conference
University of Hawaii
Waikiki
2002 - October :Disability Employment Reforms
– workshop presentation
‘Overcoming the Disability Poverty Trap’
Adelaide
2004 February: HREOC health Forum
Presentation on the health implications of
people with physical disabilities
2002 – September: ‘Offsetting the Cost of
Disability’ – Workshop presentation
Making a Difference Conference
NTU -Darwin
2004 November: ´I want to work too´
Nothing About Us without Us - Empowering
Ourselves and Others
Fremantle WA
2002 – November : Keynote Speaker
‘I am a leader: A personal view of leadership’
Celebrating the Health and Lifestyles of Women
with Disabilities.
Rocky Bay
Perth WA.
2002 – September: ‘The real world’ – Presentation
Forum - Commonwealth Disability Strategy
Canberra
2001 - Speaker
ACROD Employment Conference
How do you determine a quality service for
people with disability?
Brisbane
One of the most important aspects of PDCA has been its commitment to being an organisation run by
and for people with physical disability within a framework of empowerment, which essentially means
using strategic processes that assist people with disability to gain control over their lives, and in
turn assist others with disability to overcome some of the constraints in their lives including
resources and services needed, and learning how to be part of the change that needs to happen.
Early in the life of PDCA a commitment was made to employing people with disability wherever
possible and to date this has been the case. The Executive Officer is a person with a physical
disability and the Communications Officer (part time) is also a person with a disability. Each
person works from their home in a 'virtual office' with the Executive Officer working from her
home for the past 10 years.
The virtual office has allowed PDCA to be built up as a business environment without having to be
physically located at an office. The ideal situation for many people with a physical disability, which
helps to overcome issues of inaccessible transport and office space. This also means a cost saving
to PDCA as there is no capital city rental expenses to meet, minimum office furniture and space,
and the office is attended, either by an answering machine or by email or mobile phone.
In 2005, the board of PDCA made significant structural changes. These changes stemmed from the need
to save funds by having less Directors expenses and more direct input, along with the desire to include
members of the organisation more directly and to be more democratic in the process of nomination to
the board.
The Constitution was changed once again to reflect this new framework, with Directors now being
nominated from the membership and voted for by the membership, ensuring a more equitable and
accountable management system that reports directly back to members.
The new Mission Statement, goals and values are:
PDCA exists to convince governments to mandate laws and rules that enables the full
participation of people with physical disability.
Values
PDCA's actions are based on:

The personal experience of disability

Information from across Australia

A Social Model of Disability

A powerful belief in the capacities of people with physical disabilities

A determination to effect and initiate change through monitoring, proactivity and creativity
Goals
PDCA's goals are to

educate, advise, resource and respond to government

attempt to keep decision makers hones

effect and initiate change

be a united voice

be a grass roots organisation

be a watchdog

be proactive and creative

to voice that disability is normal and therefore we are equal. (PDCA 2006)
PDCA now has direct membership. The membership nominates people from their own sector and state
or territory to positions on the board (of which there are 8) and vote on who they consider the most
appropriate person to represent them at state or territory level. This has meant a reduction in the
board size, but a more accountable and inclusive system of representation.
In the, the second year of change, members are more responsive to the nomination process and there
is indication by the quality of nominees that people want to see who represents them at the national
level, and therefore more accountable to the voters who put them there.
These changes resulted in a radically different organisation which supports common ideals with the
membership. This has changed the way of operating but at the same time ensured member
involvement and thereby building the capacity and outreach of PDCA. This also resulted in a more
responsible use of funds, enabling more to be spent on research or specific projects such as the current
Cost of Disability project or the Access to Premises Project.
Today PDCA is a well-respected national peak recognised for its ethics and professional approach
in representing people with physical disability. With board members and staff all having the lived
experience of disability we can proudly use the disability slogan 'Nothing about us without us.'
Self-determination that encompasses the belief that we can change our own destiny is a
fundamental belief of PDCA, which as an organisation has systematically moved away from a
charity based approach with its funding limitations to one that recognises the basic rights and
inclusion of people with disability in every aspect of society.
Written in 2007 with an update coming shortly.
Sue Egan – Executive Officer
Masters in Disability Studies (Flinders)
Bachelor of Community Welfare (James Cook)
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