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.

She is President of the Victorian Disability Services Board, Chair of Women with Disability Victoria Board, Chair of Housing Resources and Support Services Board, Chair of the Royal Women’s Hospital Disability Reference Group, Deputy Chair of the Victorian Disability Advisory Council, Member Women’s Health Victoria Council, Member Women’s Health East Board, Member of the Coroner’s Reference Group on Family Violence Deaths, and is the community representative on the Victorian Road Based Public Transport Advisory Council.

She is an extraordinary woman.

Tricia told Every Australian Counts that:

I’m a member of the 20% club – that is the 20% of Australians who have a disability.

I’m sick of helping Australians with disabilities find the money to get a wheelchair that is funded for $6,000 but which costs $12,000.

If Australians with disabilities had access to the supports they needed, they would be able to enter and remain in the workplace.

It is hard to maintain employment when you can only have a shower every third day because of funding shortfalls

Anyone can get a disability at anytime. Funding should not depend on whether you slip in the bath or get knocked down by a car.

If Australians with disabilities had better access to services, it would enable give carers better opportunities to return to the work force.

It makes economic sense to implement the NDIS – the increased participation in employment will assist to get Australians with disabilities off the disability support pension.

We look forward to hearing Trish speak on the big day – 12 noon Monday 30 April – Federation Square.