In the lead up to the Queensland State Election, QDN conducted a member survey to get feedback in relation to issues that were important to people with disability.
As part of this work, QDN worked with Group Convenors of Local Support Groups to survey group members to contribute to the overall information and get a state-wide perspective by and for people with disability. This then was put together in an election platform document and emailed to all candidates across the 93 electorates. It was also emailed to each party leader asking for a formal response to the issues raised and the calls made to Government for action.
Additionally, QDN developed a Toolkit to go with the Election Policy Platform document so Group Convenors and group members could meet with their local candidates and talk to them about the top five priority areas. These areas identified by QDN members were the NDIS, leadership and participation, housing, transport and health.
Armed with their QDN Election Platform document, QDN Group Convenors headed out to talk to candidates in their areas. Group Convenors around the State personally followed up with candidates in their electorate letting them know what is important to people with disability. Below is a photo of one of the group members out talking to her local candidate Jackie Trad MP.
With so many voices uniting at such a critical time the message got out there that these are the priorities important to people with disability in Queensland. Great work everyone.
QDN also worked with People with Disability Australia (PWDA) to release a joint election statement which called on all candidates to commit to ensuring that all those who are eligible can easily access the NDIS, that there are adequate services in place for those who are not eligible, and that vital individual and systemic advocacy supports remain funded into the future. We don’t want people to fall through the gaps.
http://www.qdn.org.au/