Hi there, 

We need to Defend the NDIS. Will you help us?

The federal election is just around the corner. We know that cuts to our NDIS are having a devastating impact on people right across the country. Now is time to make sure our politicians know that too.

That’s why I want to introduce Elly – she’s just one of our thousands of campaign supporters with a personal story to tell about why we need to Defend the NDIS.

Elly will be joining us in Canberra soon, helping us launch the Defend the NDIS campaign – the campaign that, with your support, will call on all candidates at the upcoming election to commit to delivering an NDIS that puts people with disability first.

Here’s Elly’s story…

My name is Elly and I am thrilled to be joining Every Australian Counts as one of EAC's spokespeople for the upcoming federal election campaign.

The NDIS has changed my life.

For the first time, the NDIS has allowed me to get the supports I need to live my life, in the ways that work best for me as an individual. Just like hundreds of thousands of other Australians with disability. 

But like many of you know all too well, things have changed with the NDIS over the last few years. It does not feel like the scheme we all fought so hard for. 

My supports were cut when I needed them most. Even though independent assessments (and the 400 boxes) were dumped last year - my latest plan made me feel like they had put me into a box. 

I’m not alone. Every day I talk to people who say they’ve had similar things happen in their latest NDIS plans.

That’s why I’m joining Every Australian Counts to help fight for an NDIS that listens to and delivers for all Australians with disability. It’s way past time they got this right.  

In just a couple of weeks, I’ll be travelling to Canberra to help officially launch ‘Defend our NDIS’, - calling on all candidates at the upcoming election to commit to delivering an NDIS that puts people with disability first.

But as you all know, getting the politicians to pay attention works best when we all speak out together. We hope you can get behind the election campaign with these steps:

1: Add your name to the Open Letter. We will deliver it to Parliament on Budget Day and make sure our politicians know how important this is to all of us. 

2: If your NDIS plan was cut like mine, tell Every Australian Counts what happened to you.

3: Register to attend one of our online community rallies. Join likeminded people with disability, families, and people who work in the sector to find out how we can best work together to campaign for a better NDIS this election.

4: Be part of our National Day of Action on April 28, when each and every one of you are welcome to host your own events and activities (or join in on someone else's) all across the country. Because together we are powerful! More information is to come on this, but for now, save the date!

The NDIS is a great Australian social and economic reform. Let’s make sure defending the NDIS is on the mind of every Australian voter this federal election. 

Elly

PS - A quick update on the NDIS Bill. Together all of you have sent nearly half a million emails to all of our Senators! Your actions made a real difference - because despite NDIS Minister Linda Reynolds' determination to pass the Bill by the end of 2021, it has still not made it into the House of Representatives for a vote. There are only two more days before the election left for it to go through - Budget Day and the day after (March 29 and 30). We will be keeping a close eye on it all and let you know as soon as we hear anything. 

So as always - thank you for all that you do. 

We could not achieve these important wins to defend our NDIS without your support. 

Jean and the Every Australian Counts team