PWDA Membership Prospectus

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Our members are vital to our efforts to advance and protect the rights, health, safety and wellbeing of people with disability.

We welcome new members to help us promote the human rights, equality and dignity of all people with disability by:

  • Supporting us in our passion for the realisation of human rights, citizenship and social justice for people with disability.
  • Helping us to create a better future for all people with disability.
  • Stay informed about major issues affecting people with disability at the state, national and international levels.
  • Participating in public policy and program development as it affects people with disability and their associates.
  • Influencing the decisions that affect the lives of people with disability and their associates.
A small child is being held in her mothers arms, with her head resting gently on her mothers’ shoulder. Her mother is looking downwards and appears absorbed in the moment.

About People with Disability Australia (PWDA)

PWDA is a national disability rights and advocacy organisation. Its primary membership is people with disability and organisations primarily constituted by people with disability. PWDA was founded in 1981, the International Year of Disabled People, to provide people with disability with a voice of our own.

We have a cross-disability focus – we represent the interests of people with all kinds of disability. PWDA is a non-profit, non-government organisation.
PWDA also has a large associate membership of other individuals and organisations committed to the disability rights movement.

PWDA is a founding member of DPO Australia. (DPOA) is an alliance of national peak disability-led organisations (DPOs) working together to advance the human rights and freedoms of all people with disability in Australia.

Our vision

We have a vision of a socially just, accessible and inclusive community, in which the human rights, belonging, contribution, potential and diversity of all people with disability are recognised, respected and celebrated with pride.

Our purpose

Our purpose is to be a leading disability rights, advocacy and representative organisation of and for all people with disability, which strives for the realisation of our vision of a socially just, accessible and inclusive community.

Our work*

We provide or undertake

  • Rights related information, advice and referral services for people with disability and their associates
  • Short-term individual and group advocacy assistance to people with disability and their associates
  • Advocacy for reform around systemic issues that adversely affect people with disability and their associates
  • Representation of the sector of interest constituted by people with disability and their associates to government, industry, and the non-government sector
  • Co-ordination of the sector of interest constituted by people with disability and their associates
  • Disability rights related research and development around issues of concern to people with disability and their associates
  • Disability rights related training and education for people with disability and their associates, service providers, government and the public.

* Note: Our work is supported, in part, by grants of financial assistance from both the New South Wales and Commonwealth Governments. This assistance is acknowledged with appreciation.

Three young people sitting outside in the sunshine, all wearing hats and having a laugh. Bushland can be seen in the background.

Our values – what we believe

We believe that people with disability, irrespective of our age, gender, cultural or linguistic background, geographic location, sexuality, or the nature, origin, or degree of our disability

  • Have a right to life and to bodily integrity
  • Are entitled to a decent standard of living, an adequate income and to lead active and satisfying lives
  • Are people first, with human, legal, and service user rights that must be recognised and respected
  • Are entitled to the full enjoyment of our citizenship rights and responsibilities
  • Are entitled to live free from prejudice, discrimination and vilification
  • Are entitled to social support and adjustments as a right and not as the result of pity, charity or the exercise of social control
  • Contribute substantially to the intellectual, cultural, economic and social diversity and well-being of our community
  • Possess many skills and abilities, and have enormous potential for life-long growth and development
  • Are entitled to live in, and be a part of, the diversity of the community
  • Have the right to participate in the formulation of those policies and programs that affect our lives
  • Should be empowered to exercise our rights and responsibilities, without fear of retribution.

Our principles – how we go about our work

In realising our vision, purpose and core values, we are guided by the following principles

  • We will be passionate, innovative and fearless in the promotion and defence of the rights and interests of people with disability
  • We will be accessible and responsive to our community, and inclusive of its diversity
  • We will actively facilitate and value the involvement of people with disability in our organisational governance, policy and program development
  • We will encourage, empower and support the civic participation of people with disability
  • We will be collaborative and supportive in our relationships within the disability rights movement as a whole, at the local, regional, state, national and international levels
  • We will be accountable for our activities to our members, to all people with disability and to the public
  • We will always act with honesty and integrity
  • We will be resourceful and efficient in obtaining and managing the resources needed to undertake our work
  • We will recognise and value the contribution of our members, our Board, our staff and volunteers towards the achievement of our vision.

Important notes

  • This Prospectus is available in PDF, large print, Braille, plain-text format and on audio-tape. Assistance will also be provided with translation of this information for people from non-English speaking backgrounds. Contact the Information and Liaison Officer for more information.
  • You do not need to be a PWDA member to have access to our information, advice, referral or individual and group advocacy services. Our services are open to all people with disability on a priority of need basis.
  • The Board of PWDA will accept membership applications in alternative formats (for example, computer disk, audio-tape, email, etc). PWDA can also provide assistance to complete the membership form. Contact the Information and Liaison Officer for more information.

Membership categories

All members receive newsletters and other information about PWDA. Members are invited to be involved in our internal policy, planning and evaluation processes, and external advocacy activities.

To be an individual full member, you must be a person who identifies as having disability, be at least 18 years of age and you must live in Australia. Individual full members are entitled to:

  • Receive notices of and attend any general meeting of PWDA
  • Exercise one vote at any general meeting
  • Be eligible for election or appointment as a director
  • Nominate (or second or endorse) eligible candidates for election as a director
  • Receive information about PWDA’s activities

Organisational membership

To be an organisational member your organisation must be a legally incorporated Body Corporate under the laws of Australia (or other country approved by the directors from time to time); and have both a governing body and membership made up of at least 75% of persons with disability.

Organisational members must appoint a Delegate who is able to:

  • Receive notices of and attend any general meeting of PWDA
  • Exercise 1 vote on a Show of Preference and 2 votes on a poll
  • Nominate (or second or endorse) an eligible individual for election as a director
  • Receive information about the company’s activities

Get in touch

Telephone

Phone: 02 9370 3100
Free call: 1800 422 015
Fax: 02 9318 1372

National Relay Service
Call 1800 555 660 and ask them to call People with Disability Australia for you.

For an interpreter
Call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask them to call People with Disability Australia

Email

pwd@pwd.org.au

Head office address

Street
Level 8 | 418A Elizabeth St | Surry Hills NSW 2010

Postal
PO Box 666 | Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 | Australia

Ends | Contact us

Videos and accessible media

Auslan video

Audio interpretation

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