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Disability Royal Commission’s call to end special schools
Our CEO, Matilda Alexander, spoke to the ABC on Friday 6th October about the Disability Royal Commission's recommendation to phase out special schools. Matilda explains what this would look like: “We’re not talking about kids who are currently happy and stable within...
Queensland’s Residential Care Review
QAI made a submission to the review of Queensland's Residential Care system. We made the following recommendations: De-institutionalise young people and update Departmental policies and procedures to align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons...
QUT and QAI publish paper showing disability is common factor among students being suspended
A new research paper, co-authored by researchers from the QUT Centre for Inclusive Education (C4IE) Professor Linda Graham and Dr Callula Killinlgy, and Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion (QAI), has found more evidence of Queensland students from priority equity groups...
Accreditation for assistance animals
QAI was recently featured on A Current Affair for a story about a person with an assistance animal who was having trouble with accreditation. You can watch the episode 'Disability pensioner and assistance dog's life-saving relationship at risk' here. Both the...
QAI says YES to the Voice to Parliament
Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion (QAI) has resolved to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and a constitutionally enshrined Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. QAI’s position was decided after First Nations management committee and staff...
NDIS Review
QAI welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the NDIS Review. The NDIS provides critical support that facilitates the rights of people with disability to be independent and to live full social and economic lives. However key challenges with the scheme remain...
Disability Services and Inclusion Bill 2023
QAI contributed to a joint submission by the Disability Representative Organisations (DROs) and other individuals to comment on the proposed Disability Services and Inclusion Bill 2023. Submission - PDF
Review to inform a better and fairer education system
The right to education for students with disabilities has long been a focus of QAI’s systemic advocacy. Practices such as gatekeeping, the overuse of school disciplinary absences, the use of Restrictive Practices and a lack of access to reasonable adjustments, are...
Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights framework
QAI welcomes the opportunity to publicly call for a federal Human Rights Act. QAI continues to bear witness to the numerous ways in which people with disability have their rights infringed on a daily basis. Current avenues for redress provide piecemeal protection and...
Supported Decision-Making: Helping people to make their own decisions
To celebrate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), QAI and ADA Law are launching a new guide on Supported Decision-Making. Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) states that people with disability have a right to be supported...
Natural Disasters, disability and the law
With the help of law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, we have put together this resource to help people with disability understand their legal rights during and after natural disasters. You can view the pdf booklet via the link below, or contact our office if you would...
Administrative Review Reform
QAI made a submission to the Attorney General's Department on the design of a new federal administrative review body. Read our submission here: Submission - PDF Submission - Word
Review of the impact of Covid-19 on school students with disability
QAI made a submission to the Commonwealth Department of Education's Review of the impact of COVID-19 on school students with disability. Read our submission here: Submission - PDF Submission - Word
Hiring – Systems Advocate
Role Description The Systems Advocate is responsible for advocating and implementing campaigns for systemic changes that promote fairness, equity, and inclusivity. The work will involve researching, analysing, and evaluating existing systems to identify areas of...
Hiring – Chief Financial Officer
Role Description The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is pivotal to providing strategic direction for the corporate and financial governance of the organisation. This is a critical management role, requiring a high level of financial expertise, leadership and strategic...
QAI calls on the NDIA to follow the law when funding supports
Earlier this month, QAI appeared before the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). We gave evidence to the Committee’s inquiry into the Capability and Culture of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). QAI focused on...
The issue of increasing disruption in Australian school classrooms
QAI made a submission to the federal government's inquiry into increasing disruption in Australian school classrooms. QAI urged the Committee to take a considered approach to understanding perceived “disorderly behaviour” which could be the manifestation of a person’s...
Human Rights Solicitor (First Nations identified role)
Role Description This is a First Nations identified role. The Human Rights Solicitor will provide a high standard of referral, advice and representation to clients of QAI, with a focus on guardianship and administration matters. The solicitor will contribute to the...
Current and proposed sexual consent laws in Australia
In March 2023, the Commonwealth Government conducted an inquiry into the sexual consent laws across the different jurisdictions in Australia. QAI's submission outlined our long-standing concern about Section 216 of the Queensland Criminal Code which criminalises...
Disability Discrimination
Understand what disability discrimination is, what protections there are for people with disability and what the process is for making a complaint about discrimination based on a persons disability. You can read the fact sheet at the link below: PDF fact sheet Word...
Briefing paper for NDIS Review panel
On the 2nd March 2023, representatives from Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion (QAI), Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service, Darwin Community Legal Service and Rights Information and Advocacy Centre (RIAC) met with the NDIS Review panel. They provided a...
Strengthening Community Safety Bill 2023
On 21 February 2023, the Strengthening Community Safety Bill 2023 was introduced into the Queensland Parliament. The Bill was referred to the Economics and Governance Committee for detailed consideration and report by 10 March 2023. The proposed legislative changes...
QAI Conversations – February 2023
Date - Wednesday 15 February 2023Time - 9:00am - 11:00amLocation - QAI Offices, Level 2 South Central Commercial, 43 Peel Street, South Brisbane (Meanjin) Event Details QAI is committed to ensuring its systems advocacy is grounded in the perspectives of people with...
A new Act to replace the Disability Services Act 1986 (Cth)
QAI welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the Commonwealth government’s plan to replace the Disability Services Act 1986 (the Act). QAI agrees that a lot has changed in the disability sector over the last three decades, rendering the Act outdated. QAI...
Stop Youth Crime – Get Smarter, Not Tougher
In December 2022, the Queensland Government announced a ten-point plan to "make tough laws even tougher" in response to a perceived increase in violent youth crime. In response, QAI has signed an Open Letter with our allies, urging the Queensland Parliament to...
Human Rights Solicitor
Role Description The Human Rights Solicitor will provide a high standard of referral, advice and representation to clients of QAI, with a focus on guardianship and administration matters. The solicitor will contribute to the systemic advocacy work and community legal...
Monitoring of Places of Detention (OPCAT) Bill 2022
The purpose of this Bill is to facilitate visits by the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (the Subcommittee) to places of detention in Queensland. QAI welcomes this Bill following the Subcommittee’s failed visit to Australia in October 2022 when it...
Implementing OPCAT in Queensland
The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) is a unique opportunity to strengthen oversight for all sites of detention in Queensland, particularly disability-specific and...
QAI’s final recommendations to the Disability Royal Commission
During the course of the Disability Royal Commission, QAI has provided extensive evidence of the ongoing mistreatment of people with disability in Australian society. QAI has made ten written submissions, given evidence at three public hearings, and our Disability...
OPCAT Forum
Image description: Photo of presenters at the OPCAT forum, the people in it (from left to right) are from government bodies, Scott McDougall (QHRC), Iain Anderson (Commonwealth Ombudsman), John Chesterman (OPA), Sophia Rinaldis from AHRC, and from civil society...