Welcome
to PWDA
We empower, champion and celebrate
people with disability.
Get help
Got a problem? Our team can provide information, referrals, advocacy and support.
Disability rights
We’re taking action to protect the legal and human rights of people with disability.
COVID Hub
Get connected to relevant information about the impact of COVID-19 on people with disability.
Who we are
We’re Australia’s peak rights and advocacy organisation for people with disability or who are d/Deaf. Since 1981, we’ve been advancing and protecting the rights, health and wellbeing of the people and communities we serve.
Latest news
- PWDA elects new 2022/23 BoardThe 2022/23 PWDA Board is pleased to announce the results of the PWDA Board election, and the election of Ms Nicole Lee as PWDA President overnight. After the 2022 AGM, the following Directors have been elected for a two-year term,…
- Our lives, our decisions: Submission to the Disability Royal Commission on guardianship, substituted and supported decision-makingToo many people with disability under guardianship or administration orders are not seeing their right to decision-making support upheld.
- Inquiry into the 2022 Federal Election: SubmissionPWDA worked on a submission with the Human Rights Law Centre on the conduct of the 2022 federal election, specifically regarding the significant access issues for many people with disability. Read the submission here.
PWDA Language Guide
The choices people make about language have an impact on the way people with disability feel and are perceived in society. This guide has been written by people with disability to assist the Australian general public and media outlets in talking about and reporting on disability.
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Become a member
Our members are our heart and soul. Help us build an inclusive and accessible future. Our members get lots of great benefits. Sign up now – it’s free!
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Our stories
Fighting financial mismanagement
Jess was hospitalised while under financial administration and guardianship by the state. The state guardian was delayed in finding appropriate accommodation, so Jess was forced to remain in the public hospital but she was then told she owed the hospital over $6000 for staying longer.
Battling discrimination
Despite living in her leased apartment for years, senior citizen pensioner Lin, who lives with disability, had endured long-term elder abuse from her landlord. The on-going physical and mental discriminatory abuse became so intense it resulted in Lee being hospitalised twice.
Building a support network
A young man with disability, Marco spent years fleeing family violence which resulted in stints of homelessness and surviving multiple suicide attempts. He finally managed to secure short-term accommodation funded through his NDIS plan, but due to a change in his circumstances, had limited informal supports.