Specific Issue Consultations
Open: Impact of Ageing on People with a Disability 2010- 2011
The aim of this survey is to better understand the everyday lives of people living in NSW with a physical disability aged over 50 years. This will build on previous research undertaken by PDCN into the impact of ageing on people with a disability throughout NSW in 2008-2009.
We invite the input of people aged over 50 years with a physical disability living in rural, regional and metropolitan areas of NSW. We hope to reach people living throughout NSW through meetings, forums, expos and electronically via the internet and facebook.
We will collate the data gathered through the research survey, undertaking a comparative analysis of both the 2008/9 and 2010/11 results. A paper will be developed a based on these findings. This will then inform PDCN and its continuing work to bring about change to support the needs of older people living with a physical disability, as they grow older.
To complete the survey, please click below. To complete the survey, please click here.
OPEN : PDCN and PIAC's Energy and Water Consumer Advocacy Program Survey- Have your say.
Public Interest Advocacy Centre and PDCN need input from consumers on the impact of rising energy prices on households. Click here to have your say.
Wheelchair attachment to assist with shopping customer survey
Update:
Annalise who is completing her HSC in Design and Technology, undertook a Wheelchair attachment to assist with shopping customer survey which was made available through PDCN. Annalise was on the ABC New Inventors program on Wednesday 6th April. Thanks to everyone who assisted and filled out the survey
To take a look at the results, in a segment on The New Inventors, please click here.
Wheelchair Standards Key Questions- Have your say
At the moment the ME 067 Standards Committee - Mobility Appliances for People with a Disability - are reviewing the AS/NZ 3696 part 19, looking at wheelchairs being used as seats in vehicles. In America they use labels on the wheelchairs to inform people that these chairs have met the standards and are safe to be used in a vehicle. There is also a draft European Standard EN 12183 that requires labelling for chairs not suitable for use in motor vehicles.
Yooralla would like to know what your thoughts are as consumers and there are two key questions we would like you to answer, any other comments you would like to make would be gratefully received.
Key questions:
1) Would you like to know before you purchase/have provided a wheelchair whether it is suitable to ride in as a seat in a car/taxi?
2) Would a label (12mm x 80mm) indicating whether the chair meets safety standards for such use be OK on all NEW chairs, to help you and those tying down the chair?
Replies can be sent to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Yvonne Duncan|
Education Coordinator, Senior Clinician Physiotherapist
Independent Living Centre | Assistive Technology Learning
Yooralla
Open: Career Development for young people with a disability
Are you a young person with a disability aged between 15 and 18 years who is currently in secondary school? If so, Urbis would like to hear from you. Urbis is undertaking research into the career development needs and wants of young people. There is an opportunity to have your say as part of a focus group.
If you would like to take part in this focus group please contact Ruth Robinson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to register your interest.
For more information on this project, please click here.
Open: Use a Bus, or too much fuss
The Physical Disability Council of NSW (PDCN) is regularly seeking feedback on issues relevant to the transport portfolio for commonwealth, state and local government departments. Over the past twelve months PDCN has provided eight submissions on the following modes of public transport:
- Accessible and standard taxis
- Light rail
- Bus services
In 2007 PDCN like many other organisations participated in the national review of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (DSAPT). At a recent function for International Day of People with a Disability, the Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes conveyed that the findings of this review had still not been finalised. As we approach 2011, the significance of findings for the 2007 report losses significance and credibility. Based on their previous record, PDCN is concerned about how the second review of the DSAPT in 2012 will be measured and assessed.
PDCN has recently received feedback that some bus operators are not providing accessible bus services, and as a consequence to assist PDCN with any further reviews PDCN would appreciate your feedback on any of the following:
- Boarding facilities
- Bus entrance
- Allocated space
- Buzzer
- Payment options (ie cash, prepaid tickets or pre- payment)
Please send feedback to Jordana Goodman at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Open: PDCN Election 2010 Voting Survey
Tell us about your voting experience on Election Day 2010 PDCN has developed a survey to gain information about the voting experiences of people throughout the state. PDCN will use the information provided to assist us in our work. A person’s right and obligation to vote applies to all citizens of Australia. To participate in the survey, please click here. Thanks for your assistance in this matter. Ruth Robinson.
Open: Council on the Ageing and UNSW Research: Study of older homeowners in NSW
Council on the Ageing and UNSW Research are undertaking a study of older homeowners in NSW who are dependent solely or primarily on the age or veteran's pension for their income. To fill out the survey, please click on the link below. If you need a hard copy of the survey, or would like more information, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
survey link: https://spreadsheets0.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dHc5ZTdUMEZRQzhCT2Y3WE9GQm0tZnc6MQ#gid=0
Open: Risk of 'Good Intentions' Survey
The University of Sydney and Northcott Disability Services are seeking people aged 12 years or older with physical disability and their parents or carers, to take part in a research study called: The risk of ‘good intentions’. They would like to interview people about their experiences of receiving advice about living their everyday lives.
If you are interested in contributing, or to find out more please click here.
Parents of teens or young adults with a disability, please click here.
Open: Sport and Recreation Survey
Closed: Review of Disability Standards for Education Survey
The Disability Standards for Education (2005) is being reviewed. These Standards cover all Schools, TAFEs, Colleges, Universities and Registered Training Organisations in NSW. To help PDCN with its submission to this review, we would appreciate your input. So, if you or your son or daughter has gone to any of these since 2005 we'd love to hear from you.
To complete the survey, please click here. The Due date is March 22
Closed: PDCN and PIAC's Energy and Water Consumer Advocacy Program Focus Group- Have your say.
PDCN and The Public Interest Advocacy Centre's Energy and Water Consumer Advocacy Program is having a focus group in Penrith to talk to people with physical disability about electricity. For more information, please click here.
Closed: NSW Health: Draft Community Engagement Policy
PDCN has been invited to comment on this draft policy. The policy will outline the operation of advisory and consultative bodies constituted by NSW Health and Local Health Networks. The policy will also outline key principles and guidance for engaging stakeholders.
To assist PDCN in the preparation of its submission we would appreciate your comments/thoughts about the draft policy. You may either email comments to Ruth Robinson on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call her on 9552 1606
Comments need to be in by 25 October
Closed: PDCN research on the impact of informal care on the care recipient as part of our submission on the NDIS
Many people with a physical disability use informal care for a number of years before engaging formal services. As part our submission on the National Disability Insurance Scheme PDCN is researching the impact of informal care on the care recipient. To help us with this we would like to hear your thoughts. If you would like to contribute, please call Ben Williams on 9552 1606, any information shared will be kept confidential and anonymous.
Closed: The City of Sydney review of community transport services within the LGA.
It is part of a wider review of community transport services which is being undertaken by Transport Planning and Management on behalf of Council. The survey is intended to provide us with some insights into the level of transport disadvantage in the City and how effective some of Council's responses are. The survey link is http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YY7SK73
Information about Council's involvement in community transport can be found at http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Community/ServicesAndPrograms/CommunityTransport.aspClosed: National Quality Framework review of standards of service under Disability Services Act.
As part of the National Quality Framework the Commonwealth Government is currently reviewing the standards of services funded under the Disability Services Act 1993 (Cth). The aim of a National Quality Framework is to create a nationally consistent approach to improve the quality of disability funded services, with a focus on improving outcomes for users. For additional information please see the following website:
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/disability/improving_supports/national-quality-framework
You can take part in the Consultation by using either of the options below:
- On- line Survey available on the following website - http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/disability/improving_supports/national-quality-framework/online-survey-for-the-national-standards
- Telephone Consultation – To be conducted on Tuesday 25 May 2010 from 11am and Thursday 3 June 2010 from 2pm. To participate, call 1800 200232 and then provide the guest access code when you are asked for it 663344#. Ben Williams will facilitate this consultation.
- Written submissions – PDCN would appreciate your feedback as part of our submission. Or otherwise a submission can be completed individualy on- line or as a hard copy using the submission format that can be downloaded from the following website: http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/disability/improving_supports/national-quality-framework/written-submission-for-the-national-standards
Closed: Wheelchair attachment to assist with shopping customer survey
For more information and a copy of the survey, please click here. Please email completed surveys to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
April 6 Update: To take a look at the segment on The New Inventors, please click here.
Closed: Clothing needs for wheelchair users with spinal injury
A research student from the University of Sydney is investigating the key problems that wheelchair users with spinal injury have with clothing. The results of this study will assist in development of clothing that is aesthetically suited to a seated figure and also meets the functional and medical needs of the wearer.
Please click here for a summary of survey findings
To complete the questionnaire please visit http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/220897/388sm
To take part in an interview or for more information about the project, please contact Imogen Howe by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by phone on +61-437891659 (outside Australia) or 0437891659 (within Australia)
Closed: Human Rights for People with Disability- Australian Shadow Report Consultation
The purpose of the Consultation Material is to provide an outline of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol, to encourage discussion in relation to the rights, needs, potential and abilities of persons with disabilities to work towards promoting full implementation of the rights enshrined in the CRPD and to identify the key issues surrounding the full recognition and protection of these rights. In identifying the issues, Section 2 of the Consultation Material provides the information as to the obligations and indicators associated with specific rights enshrined in the CRPD to inform an assessment of the current status of the rights of persons with disabilities in Australia.
For more information from Disability Rights Now, please click here.
To participate in the survey, please click here.
Closed: DJAG Client Satisfaction Survey
The NSW Department of Justice and Attorney General (DJAG) has engaged Taverner Research to conduct a client Satisfaction Survey of people with disabilities who have dealt with the following NSW DJAG agencies over the past twelve months:
Anti Discrimination Board
Administrative Decisions Tribunal
Law Access
Local Courts
NSW Trustee & Guardian (clients of the former office of the Protective Commissioner)
Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages and
Victims Services
The aim of the study is to gain a sense of the experiences of people with disabilities when accessing these services, in order to provide them with the best possible service. For more information, please click here.
Thank you for your response to the Education survey
Hello Members
I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to fill out the survey on the inquiry into the Provision of Education to Students with a Disability and Special Needs. I found your feedback exceptionally helpful particularly when anchoring wider issues to the personal experiences of stakeholders in the NSW education system. There were a number of issues that I was able to comment on because of your feedback these include:
- The lack of choice between government and non government schools for students with a disability
- The lack of funding available to schools and the impact that that has on education
- Schools Accessibility
- Teacher Training
Thank you once again for your input
Kind Regards
Ben Williams
Closed: Personal Care (NSW Care Support Out of Hours Survey) Seeking Customer Feedback
The Physical Disability Council of NSW (PDCN) is preparing a joint submission with the Council on the Ageing (COTA) and Council of Social Service of NSW (NCOSS), as part of a Commonwealth Government inquiry into planning options and services for people ageing with a disability. Due to the significance of this issue, we are seeking your input on the lack of out of hours support for this submission please click here to be connected to the survey.
Even if you have access to an Out of Hours Service or the Out of Hours Emergency Respite Service operating in parts of Sydney, we would appreciate your feedback as PDCN is aware that this does not necessarily ensure that an unattended service will necessarily be filled by that Out of Hours Service.
All information collected in this survey will be kept confidential and will ensure that no personal information will be disclosed. PDCN would like to thank you for taking the time and effort in disclosing something that may have been awkward and uncomfortable for you at the time.
Thank you to all those who responded.
Feedback due by Friday 2 April 2010
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Fax 1800 688 831
Post 3/184 Glebe Point Rd Glebe NSW 2037
Phone 9552 1606
Closed: Inadequate driver rehab, lost independence. Driver Feedback
As part of my (Jordana Goodman) employment at the Physical Disability Council of NSW (PDCN) I am currently preparing an abstract for a conference later this year, on the inadequacy of driver rehabilitation for people with physical disabilities, and how this impacts on personal independence, and self determinism.
More broadly this annual conference will draw on the broad theme of learning from our experience to build a strong platform for advancing social justice.
For more information please click here.
Feedback due by 19 February 2010
Email admin.pdcnsw.org.au
Fax 1800 688 831
Post 3/184 Glebe Point Rd Glebe NSW 2037
Phone 9552 1606
Closed: For Input to PDCN submission to the National Pain Summit
Q1 What is the impact of pain on your day-to-day life?
Q2 Is the health care support for people experiencing pain adequate?
Q3 What health initiatives do you believe are essential?
Responses to the questions to be sent to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Please direct comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Close date: January 20, 2010.
Closed: NSW Taxi Industry Inquiry 2009: Seeking Customer Feedback
The Physical Disability Council of NSW (PDCN) is preparing a joint submission on the taxi industry with the Disability Discrimination Legal Centre (DDLC). To assist with this submission we are seeking your comment.
The questionnaire that we seek your answers to may be opened here
email admin.pdcnsw.org.au Fax 1800 688 831
Post 3/184 Glebe Point Road GLEBE 2037
Survey Closed
Closed: 17 November
Focus Group: of people with physical disability
Issue: “Vulnerable Communities Emergency Planning”
When: Tuesday 17 November
11 am .
Facilitator PDCN via telephone link-up.
Purpose The NSW government has initiated a project around disaster planning.
PDCN is involved in this initiative.
The purpose of the Focus Group is to gain the input of people with physical
disability in emergency planning with the end result of improved outcomes
for people in the event of a disaster or emergency.
To participate Phone 1800 200 232 and provide the guest access code when you are asked for it 663344#
Closed
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