Humanity Platform

The 2019-2020 Budget has allowed the Coalition to send another direct hit to people with disabilities.  With the Liberal Government choosing to reallocate between 1.6 and 3 billion dollars that had been earmarked for NDIS it has caused much anxiety within the disability community.  It is no secret that disability services have been underfunded by at least 30 million dollars per annum for the last two decades and with the government choosing to take away this funding from disability services the gap is only going to get wider.  The Morrison Government claims that the funding is being reallocated due to the slower than expected roll out of the scheme but if you ask me that is a sign the government should be putting more money into the NDIS and not less. I have been a recipient of government funded services for the past 36 years however with the NDIS roll out I am experiencing more funding insecurity than ever before.  Disability services are not like...

In my life my disability has put me in the unique position where 90% of my best friends are women. So unlike most of my male counterparts I believe I'm more aware of the skills, abilities and just general awesomeness of the opposite sex. I have been lucky enough to know many women that have ruled the world of academia. I also know many successful female police officers and a number of army officers. I have a childhood friend who has been a part of the national squad for the Australian Olympic Basketball Team. I am also lucky to have two colleagues, Ingrid and Tina, who are the best disability advocates I have known in my 36 years. Any success I have had in the world of advocacy is due to the fact that I have modelled my career on their work. Now let's not forget the hundreds of women who have been my personal support workers, therapists, nurses, and teachers who have helped make me the man I am today. So now in honour of every amazing woman in this world I have penn...

In this day and age, the art of having a say is even more important than ever, as evident by this years 20th anniversary of the Having a Say conference. With the changing world of the NDIS people with disabilities need to have the ability and skills to speak up. The Having a Say conference allows us to do this. Having a Say allows people with disabilities to come together and influence policies and procedures, and the disability services we receive. It allows us to meet fellow people with disabilities from around Australia and the world. This years conference has workshops, exhibitions and presentations covering things like building safe and respectful cultures, our choice as well as workshops on public speaking, theatre, music and much more. The Together Project is one example of how participants at the Having a Say conference are empowered to speak up on serious issues like abuse and neglect in a creative art exhibition. I have always been very lucky to be good at the ...

I have been thinking for the last few months that many minority groups, whether they be disability groups or cultural groups, the LGBTQI community or the feminist movement would gain equality easier if we all worked together. I have recently been disappointed by many of my celebrity male heroes. The #MeToo campaign made me go back and watch Emma Watson's HeforShe UN speech and I have decided to take some small actions as a "real man" to show solidarity with all the females in my life. I am the first to admit that in the past I would make sexually inappropriate comments just because I thought it was funny but now I think before I speak. The recent right wing protests in Australia calling for an immigration ban on African and Muslim people is absolutely ridiculous. The colour of someone's skin does not make them dangerous. Like everyone I have my own subtle prejudices but someone's skin colour has never been a factor in my decision making. I have many frie...

This blog post is the third in the series inspired by my reflections on the abuse and neglect suffered by people with disabilities. The Together Project is an art collaboration designed to create a safe place for people to discuss their experiences. For me watching people's creations has made me reflect on my own life experiences. I know statistically between 85 to 90 % of people with disabilities may experience some form of abuse in their lifetime. Until recently I would have said that I do not fit into that category but I am speaking up in this blog to demonstrate that abuse can be severe or subtle. Please read my poem 'Lock Box' to discover my true experience. For anyone that is interested in getting involved the exhibition will have a space at the 'Having A Say' Conference 2019 because together we can find a way. Lock Box A moment in fear all I hear is the ticking of the clocks.  I have an unhealthy obsession with security; I hide everything...

The disability service commission report into deaths of people with disabilities receiving disability supports is a shocking read. The report highlights significant failures from service providers across Victoria in both government and non-goverment funded services. The report found an increased risk of choking for many service users because service providers are not following appropriate professional advice around feeding plans. In 2018 people should not be dying from choking-related hazards. "This important review tells us that some Victorian disability service providers are not meeting their obligations under the Act to uphold the rights, safety and wellbeing of people with a disability," said Disability Services Comissioner Arthur Rogers (the Commissioner). Incomplete and incorrect communication plans were also shown to be a contributing factor in many of the deaths investigated. As a person living with a disability, I know that without my communication ...

International Day of People with Disabilities is a day to reflect on the lives of those living with disabilities. Like everyone else in the community there are people with disabilities who are successful athletes, artists, business owners, and university professors. We also have our share of trials. As a person with a disability I do not see myself as better or worse than anyone else in the community. While the International Day of People with Disabilities is a great opportunity to highlight the wonderful things that people with disabilities are capable of, I also see it as an opportunity to highlight areas where there is much work to be done towards equality for all people. In September this year I was deeply affected by Greens Senator Jordan Steele-John's speech in the Senate where he read out a list of those people with disabilities who have died in care. Since that day I have not been able to stop thinking that we need to do more. I hope the following poem that I have p...