Strategic Work

2024

• DAV co-hosted the Strengthening Advocacy Conference with DARU and VCOSS.
• DAV co-hosted a discussion amongst disability advocates in relation to foundational supports with DARU and VCOSS.
• A further letter was sent to the Premier in relation to the Social Services Regulator. This process was paused which was pleasing to see.
• DAV surveyed the disability advocacy community in relation to how funding cuts were affecting the sector, and published the findings.
• DAV sent a letter along with Disabled Persons Organisations Victoria, to the Premier and relevant Ministers explaining expectations of consultation in relation to Victorians with disabilities, and the disability advocacy sector.
• Meeting with the Social Services Regulator.
• Continued coordination of disability advocacy sector in relation to closing of disability regulators.
• Notification that amendment bill has been put on hold.
• Letter to Minister Bill shorten with like-minded disability advocacy agencies about proposed denial of NDIS services to serious offenders.
• Advising on a submission regarding the NDIS Amendment Bill.
• Continued coordination with the disability advocacy sector and DPOs regarding the Social Services Regulator.
• Meetings with Coalition and Greens regarding proposed Disability and Social Services Regulation Amendment Bill 2024.
• Several DAV members supported to write to the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee regarding the proposed Disability and Social Services Regulation Amendment Bill 2024.
• DAV has taken a leading role in gathering the disability advocacy sector and DPOs together to respond to the government’s announcement that disability specific regulators abolished and taken over by their new Social Services Regulator.
• Correspondence to the Premier, Minister Blandthorn and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disability.
• Meeting with Parliamentary Secretary and Minister Blandthorn’s adviser.

2019-2023

• Letter to the Minister for Education requesting commitment to use non-verbal IQ assessments for the relevant students to disabilities.
• Letter to Prime Minister requesting that a bill is passed that would enable information given to the Disability Royal Commission to be permanently confidential to protect informants.
• Submission on the Joint Standing Committee of the NDIS
• Submission on the Review of the Disability Standards for Education
• Submission to the State Autism Inquiry
• Submission to the Victorian Disability Workers Commission in relation to proposed reduction of powers.
• Signatory to submission on NDIS appeals to the AAT
• Letter to the Disability Royal Commission requesting they investigate segregated schools that had been the subject of abuse allegations.
• Submission to the Victorian Auditor General’s Office in relation to its forthcoming audit regarding student disabilities, after surveying disability advocacy sector
• Letter to the Minister for Education supporting an independent inquiry to 3 segregated schools for students with disabilities
• Letter (follow-up) to the Department of Education in relation to appropriate IQ assessments for students with disabilities who do not use speech
• Letter to the Disability Royal Commission in relation to composition of commission is
• Letter to Victorian Ombudsman in relation to the overuse of suspensions of students with disabilities from school
• Submission to the Disability Royal Commission after engaging a consultant to work with the disability advocacy sector (members and nonmembers)
• Letter to Minister for Education in relation to restrictive practices against students with disabilities
• Submission on the Victorian state Inquiry into Education
• Submission on the NDIS amendment bill
• Working group organised by DARU contributing to the broader disability advocacy sector Submission on the NDIS amendment bill.
• Giving evidence to the Victorian Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee in relation to the education of students with disabilities.
• Coordination of letter to Bill Shorten from disability advocacy agencies in relation to the proposal of preventing serious offenders with disabilities from accessing the NDIS.
• Leading the response to the proposed closure of disability specific regulators.