The abilityNEWS Daily
The Big Story
Anabelle Lindsay focuses on scoring (photo courtesy Wheelchair Basketball Australia)
Three new teams for Women’s basketball
Wheelchair Basketball Australia’s hoping for a slam dunk as the game carries over its 2024 triumphs into a new season that will be bigger, stronger, and more determined to score nationally than ever before.
Now in its second year under WBA’s leadership, the Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball League (WNWBL) opens on 30 May, followed by the men’s competition on 27 June.
Three new teams — the Victoria Wonders, Gold Coast Rollers, and Adelaide Thunder join existing teams Sydney Uni Lions, Sydney Blues, and Perth Wheelcats in a bold new chapter for the sport.
Dual Paralympian in basketball and equestrian, Hannah Dodd, says including the extra clubs signals a welcome shift for the sport. “Obviously, having the extra teams coming in is awesome because it means we have enough women playing to fill six teams”, Dodd says.
“South Australia is bringing a team in for the first time, and having Victoria come back is great”. But it’s not just the logistics that are exciting. Dodd says, “There’s been a change in attitudes to women’s sport and disability sport.”
“Wheelchair basketball is a community; you get that sense of home. “You make lifelong friends and have people to lean on who have similar problems to you.”
Dodd says the sport fosters independence and teamwork, “where you get to be around a group of people who know what it’s like. I’m really excited to see so many new girls playing.”
The Briefing
Pantry Appeal (photo courtesy Anglicare)
Protected: Tackling hunger together—How we can help the 50,000 people a month being turned away from food pantries
by Anglicare
Food pantries across the country are turning away over 50,000 people each month due to dwindling resources and rising demand. Charities and communities are urging coordinated efforts to ensure struggling families are not left hungry. Food rescue organisation, OzHarvest, estimates that in Canberra alone 50,000 people are being turned away every month from food relief services struggling to meet demand. And many of these (37 percent) are people seeking support for the first time.
PWDA calls for clarity and inclusion following delays to foundational supports rollout
by People with Disability Australia
The government has delayed the rollout of foundational supports for people with disability not eligible for the NDIS. People with Disability Australia warns the delay adds uncertainty and urges more inclusion of lived experience in planning.
NDIS online data updated
by NDIS
The National Disability Insurance Scheme has released updated online data to enhance transparency around participant demographics and spending patterns. The refresh includes new quarterly figures and regional breakdowns to support informed decision-making by stakeholders and analysts.
NDIS 'Reform for Outcomes' (Febuary meeting summary)
by NDIS
The NDIS Reform for Outcomes quarterly meeting on Valentine's Day reviewed progress on key initiatives aimed at improving service delivery. System performance was discussed with a large number of disability groups, further challenges identified, and actions to support better results for those relying on public services were agreed.
National Reconciliation Week: Allies for Children
by First Peoples Disability Network
Allies for Children has pledged to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children through truth-telling, healing and systemic change. The group aims to challenge racism and promote reforms to reduce over-representation in child protection and youth justice systems.
National Reconciliation Week: Creating accessible opportunities to connect to Country
by Cerebral Palsy Alliance
People create reconciliation. First Nations client Gary has lived at a Cerebral Palsy Alliance Supported Independent Living residence on Sydney’s Northern Beaches since 1987, where Andrea has supported him for more than 20 years. Together they have been to more than 200 cultural events, connecting with his culture.
RESEARCH: What you know is right - good sleep is vital for good health
by Mental Health Australia
The scientific journal Nature reports that scientists are uncovering how sleep affects brain health, weight management and disease risk, though many mechanisms remain unclear. New insomnia drugs show promise with fewer side effects, but their high cost and limited availability remain barriers.
The Wrap
Mum in wheelchair finally granted access to belongings after being evicted
by The Courier Mail
Alyce Nelligan, a Queensland mother and disability advocate, was evicted from her Cambooya rental home despite securing a new property, leaving her and her three children—two with complex needs—temporarily without access to essential belongings, some of which were discarded onto the front lawn.
Freezing orders on dodgy NDIS housing directors
by The Australian
A Federal Court has issued freezing orders against the assets of Saorsa Health founders Aiden Garrison and Will McKellar, along with staff from brokerage firm Mountain Assets Partners, following allegations of misappropriating millions in investor funds intended for NDIS housing projects.
NDIS funding reforms leave vulnerable kids in therapy limbo
by The West Australian
Recent reforms to the NDIS are leaving vulnerable children in a state of uncertainty, as families struggle to navigate the evolving system and secure necessary support for their children's development. Advocacy groups and parents are calling for greater transparency and a more inclusive approach to ensure that all children with disabilities receive the care they need.
Cook ‘concerned’ as huge NDIS overhaul passes Parliament
by The West Australian
The West Australian reports that Premier Roger Cook has expressed ongoing concerns about the recent overhaul of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), fearing it may shift financial burdens to the states despite the legislation's passage aimed at curbing escalating costs.
Quiz: Which act created a framework for supported decision-making in South Australia?
(a) Mental Health Act (b) Guardianship and Administration Act (c) Advance Care Directives Act
Answer – South Australia’s Guardianship and Administration Act was updated to include supported decision-making.
The Diary
