Hi Supporter, 

It’s been a hectic few weeks at Every Australian Counts. Here is what has been happening.

Keep the messages coming!

Submissions and messages have been coming in from Every Australian Counts supporters across Australia. But we need more! 

We need to make sure as many people as possible have a say in the Tune Review because it is the most important review into the NDIS yet. 

The review will result in real changes to the scheme’s legislation. It will affect such things as how long participants wait for plans and supports or how long they wait for a review.

So it’s really important we are clear what changes we do – and don’t – want to see.

Submissions close at the end of the month so if you haven’t sent us a message get in quick! 

COAG Gets Moving

Last week Disability Ministers from around the country met in Sydney for the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Disability Reform Council. 

To be honest, at these meetings there is often a lot of talk – but not much action. 

But this time there was some progress on transport, justice and mental health.

Importantly they agreed to extend taxi subsidies for NDIS participants who currently receive them until they all can get their act together on a longer term plan for transport. 

Groundhog Day?

Last week we also gave evidence at the Joint Standing Committee inquiry into the NDIS planning and Supported Independent Living. 

Every Australian Counts campaign director Kirsten Deane and Champion Peter Tully presented your stories to the committee – the first time the committee has held a public hearing since new members were appointed a couple of months ago.

In short, we told them we all feel like we are trapped in some NDIS version of Groundhog Day, where we keep identifying the same problems and potential solutions – but each day we wake to find very little has changed!

You can see Peter below with the huge book of all your submissions

Read our planning summaries for the committee here (Planning PDF) and our SIL summary here (SIL PDF).

Make it work Mildura

If you’re near Mildura, we’re holding an NDIS Make it Work Forum at the Alfred Deakin Centre on November 12 and would love to see you there.

And finally, remember to follow us!

If you use social media and haven’t already, make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter. That’s where we post updates and breaking news first. We also have plenty of stuff you can get involved in. 

This is your campaign so make sure you don’t miss anything by heading over to our Facebook page or Twitter feed.

And please spread the word and let your friends, family and colleagues know how they can get involved as well.

Thank you for everything you do.

Kirsten and the Every Australian Counts team

P.S: Don’t forget to leave a message or drop us an email for the Tune Review. It’s a really big deal so let’s make sure they hear from as many of us as possible