Nothing About Us, Without Us
As a member-driven, Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO), we aim to give all of our peers a voice in a world where they are often spoken for, rather than listened to and consulted. Our story begins in advocacy, and creating a peer movement for change.
2009: The Start of Change
In 2009, a Rudd government commissioned report concluded that there needed to be significant reform to the current funding model. The model at this time was a block funding model, which saw funding given directly to providers. The report highlighted to significant inequities within the model and the disempowerment of the people accessing it.
The National Disability Strategy (NDS) was created as to outline a vision for change, which highlighted the need for greater inclusion of people with disability. This strategy detailed the commitment required nationally to support people with disability. The reform, which introduced the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), would completely change the funding model.
Under the NDIS, funding would be given directly to the person accessing it, rather than having it distributed on their behalf by a service provider. This provided people with disability greater choice and control over their support.
Launching the NDIS
In 2012, the Hunter region was named as a launch site for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). There was some hesitancy about the potential impact on those utilising its services, especially since the NDIS model was so new, with it being named a “world-first”. There was a concern in the region that there was a lack of information and education around the NDIS, and that the voices of people with disability was being lost amongst the chaos.
As a response to all of this commotion, a group of peers and allies hosted a public forum called “NDIS: Getting in Control”. Held in Newcastle, the event covered the importance of disability-led support organisations. This event was a resounding success, with over 230 attendees and as a result, CDAH was formed. CDAH became the first Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO) in the Hunter region and remains the largest in the region today.
The Closure of Stockton Centre
In 2018, the NSW government announced that Stockton Centre and all other large residential centres for people with disability would be closed.
CDAH played a pivotal role during the closure of Stockton Centre by providing transitional support to people with disability to move out of the centre and into homes in the community.
These supports included establishing of one-on-one peer support, mentoring and coaching, and visiting peers within their new homes in the community.
Our Peer Movement - A Timeline
“If you don’t give your idea a chance then you will never know if your idea could have made a difference”