Leading pollies round out Melbourne rally

We are pleased to announce that Federal Attorney General Nicola Roxon MP, Senator Mitch Fifield, the Federal Shadow Minister for Disabilities, Carers and the Voluntary Sector and the Victorian Minister for Community Services will also be addressing the Melbourne ‘Make it Real Rally’ on Monday 30 April at Federation Square at noon.

Over the past few years, Mitch has campaigned hard on the NDIS and has played a positive and productive role in ensuring the NDIS has become an area of rare policy and political agreement between the Government and the Opposition.

Mitch is looking forward to the rally and recently told Every Australian Counts that:  

Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes AM to address Melbourne rally

The Every Australian Counts campaign is pleased to announce that Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes AM will address the Melbourne Make it Real Rally on Monday 30 April 2012.

Graeme has a long and proud record of advocacy for people with disabilities and played a crucial role in the development of the National Disability Strategy and the Disability (Access to Premises – buildings) Standards 2010; as well as the establishment of Livable Housing Australia.

Graeme is a strong supporter of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and told Every Australian Counts that:

A National Disability Insurance Scheme is an idea that should, and currently does, transcend partisan politics and if Australia is serious about achieving equality then it is the sort of idea that cannot be ignored.

A National Disability Insurance Scheme has the potential to make a huge difference for the human rights of people with disability and their families and enhance the extent to which people with disability – can participate in and contribute to Australian society.

We look forward to hearing more from Graeme at the rally at Melbourne on Monday 30 April from 12noon at Federation Square.  

Rudely Interrupted to rock the Melbourne NDIS rally …

Acclaimed rock n roll group Rudely Interrupted will headline the Melbourne NDIS rally at Federation Square Melbourne on Monday 30 April.

Rudely Interrupted are made up of people with disabilities and have inspired audiences around the world with their unique blend of catchy rock n roll and pop tunes.

They made history a few years ago by playing a show at the United Nations in New York to celebrate International Day of People with Disabilities and played a show for the Every Australian Counts campaign last year.

Rudely Interrupted will play a show at the conclusion of the main speeches at the rally.

Front man Rohan Brooks told Every Australian Counts that:

For too long Australians with disabilities have struggled.

We can’t have it unless we all share it, equality!

People with disabilities in Australia continue to live like second class citizens because they can’t access the support and care they require to live the sort of normal lives most Australians take for granted.

When we got together as a band back in 2007 we were determined to smash those old perceptions of people with disabilities.

We have had support on the way – this has harnessed our talents but as we say – the harder we work, the luckier we get.

We want to see the Government introduce a National Disability Insurance Scheme to ensure that all people with disabilities in Australia get the support they need to realize their full potential.

 That’s why we support this important campaign for a National Disability Insurance Scheme to ensure that Every Australian Counts.

You can check out the following Rudely Interrupted clip “Close My Eyes” and the Every Australian Counts sign off by clicking on this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQMvk3vM-Vo

Also, we are pleased to announce that the Wild Divas – a talented group of women with disabilities with will also show off their vocal talents on the Federation Square main stage from around 11.20am ahead of the main speeches which will kick off at 12 noon.    

Pumped: Rudely Interrupted will rock the Melbourne NDIS rally.

President of Advocacy Tasmania David Pearce OAM to address Hobart rally

The Every Australian Counts campaign is pleased to annoucne that well known Tasmanian disability campaigner David Pearce OAM will address the Hobart rally on Monday 30 April at 12noon on the lawns of Parliament House in Hobart.

David is the President of Advocacy Tasmania and also an Alderman on Glenorchy City Council.

David has Cerebral Palsy and has dedicated his life to advancing the rights of people with disabilities. He has played a central role in the Every Australian Counts campaign.

People may recall the video David starred in last year with Independent MP for Denison Andrew Wilkie which provided practical advice on how to lobby your Federal MP on the NDIS. You can view that video by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaslHFOCsvI

David told Every Australian Counts that:

The Commonwealth Parliament has the opportunity to endorse the NDIS and make the biggest social, economic and cultural change to Australian society in over 100 years – the biggest change since Federation.

20% of Australians have identified as living with some sort of disability – with families and carers it is about 30% of Australians are impacted by disability.

The rally will send a message to all Australians that the issue of disability isn’t going away, the numbers are increasing.

This is a big issue and the rally will send a message to all Australians that people with disabilities can make a great contribution to the community and they count.

The NDIS will put people with disabilities in control of their own lives. 

We thank David for his tireless advocacy and look forward to his address to the Hobart rally.

Below: David pictured with local Federal MP Andrew Wilkie.

NDIS champion Tricia Malowney to address Melbourne rally

The Every Australian Counts campaign is delighted to announce that  Tricia Malowney will join Milly Parker in addressing the Melbourne Make it Real Rally at Federation Square on Monday 30 April.

Tricia is well known for her years of work championing the rights of people with disabilities, particularly women, across all levels of the community and government to get improved access to the sort of services most Victorians take for granted.

Tricia contracted polio at age four months and used callipers until she was 16. At age 36, she developed post polio syndrome, was retired from Victoria Police at age 46 and now uses a range of mobility aids to get around.

Tricia has an outstanding record of service to the Victorian community.

Continue reading »

Big Day Out-look: Pakenham to go all the way to the city

Huge NDIS supporters Outlook, based at Pakenham in Melbourne’s south east, are planning to make Monday 30 April huge as part of the NDIS Make it Real Melbourne rally.

Outlook will be holding a rally at the Pakenham Library from 9am on the morning of the 30 April before marching down the Main Street of Pakenham to the Pakenham Railway Station from where they will be catching trains to head to Melbourne’s Federation Square for the big rally at noon.

Tony Fitzgerald the CEO of Outlook highlighted the importance of the NDIS and the rally, telling Every Australian Counts that:

“We’re a wealthy country but have people living like they are in the third world – don’t tell me we can’t fix this problem.”

Continue reading »

Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek invites you to a forum on the NDIS

Tanya Plibersek MP, Sydney

You’re nvited to attend a public forum for local residents about the future of disability services in our country.

The Government knows that fundamental reform of disability services is desperately needed.

Finding care – the right kind at the time you need it – has been too hard for too long. It’s time Australia started work to turn a National Disability Insurance Scheme into a reality.

I want to invite you to find out more about what a National Disability Insurance Scheme will mean for our community, particularly people with disability and their families, and the path forward for this important reform.

The details are: 6.30pm – 7.30pm | Wednesday 28 March, Old Darlington School Building, Sydney University 

RSVP to Tanya.Plibersek.MP@aph.gov.au or 9379 0700

NDIS Community information forum – Sunbury

The Federal MP for McEwen and strong NDIS backer Rob Mitchell MP along with the Sunbury Community Health Centre are hosting a discussion over morning tea about the proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The guest speaker will be Senator Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister. Until recently, Senator McLucas was the Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for Disability Reform Jenny Macklin MP. Senator McLucas has been one of the main drivers of the NDIS within the Government.

The discussion promises to be of great interest to people with disabilities, families, carers and professionals in the disability field across the greater Sunbury area.

The event follows the success of a recent NDIS forum with Rob Mitchell and Minister Macklin just up the road at Gisborne (pictured below).

We hope to see you there!

Details: 10.30 am, Friday 9 March –  Sunbury Community Health Centre, 12-28 Macedon Street, Sunbury.

Please RSVP as soon as possible and in the spirit of the DisabiliTEA events, please bring along a morning tea plate!  Phone Kathy on: 5426 1889

Australia Day Skyworks, Perth: can you help?

Can you help us make a big noise on Jan 26th?

In the week leading up to Australia Day on Jan 26^th, FM radio stations Mix 94.5, 92.9 and AM talk station 6PR will broadcast a community service announcement by the Perth Lord Mayor, Lisa Scaffidi about the Every Australian Counts Campaign.

The Lord Mayor, who is a longtime supporter, will be alerting the public to look out for EAC volunteers in campaign t-shirts who will be moving through the Perth Skyworks crowds in the hours leading up to the big fireworks show, signing people up to our cause.

We will have teams of vounteers at three key viewing locations and need you to help form those teams. Can you either be – a team leader, photographer or volunteer doing sign ups?   We will provide you with campaign t shirts, sign up materials and a briefing.  We anticipate you would be needed for approximately two hours late in the afternoon around 4 or 5pm, prior to the actual event which kicks off at 8 sharp. You would need to arrange your own transport to and from the venue.

Continue reading »

Geelong residents invited to show their support for the NDIS …

Proud NDIS supporters Karingal and the City of Greater Geelong are inviting Geelong residents to celebrate International Day of People with Disability on this Saturday December 3 with a free community event at The Fort at Stead Park in Corio.

A free barbeque will be served by Corio Norlane Lions Club members in the car-park from 12 o’clock.

As part of the celebration, an aerial photo from a helicopter will be taken of supporters wearing the red Every Australian Counts tee shirts standing in the shape of ‘NDIS’ at 12.30pm.

Red campaign t-shirts will be given out on the day but people are also asked to wear their own red t-shirts too.

IMAGE: Geelong Mayor John Mitchell with campaigner Lynn Foreman with his newly ‘yarned’ Mayoral robes.

Continue reading »