Supported Decision Making Podcast

This is an early release audio recording of the editorial from the upcoming Winter 2026 Edition of the Canberra Disability Review. In this editorial we carry out forensic review of Minister Mark Butler's recent address to the National Press Club on NDIS reform.   Support the show

This editorial examines the rapid pace of current disability policy reform, from the new NDIS Support Needs Assessment to the government's Thriving Kids initiative. While the ambition to improve consistency and early intervention is widely shared, the editorial asks whether key design questions about rights, governance, and community voice, are being fully addressed.  Support the show

This Summer 2025–26 Edition of the Canberra Disability Review confronts a year marked by stalled reform and mounting barriers. The editorial cuts through political optics to expose the human consequences of inaction. This edition is both a warning and an invitation—a call to rest, to re-imagine, and to fight for change grounded in evidence, dignity, and the voices of those most affected. To read t...

Andy Jackson is a poet and creative writing teacher who was awarded RMIT’s Future of Health Fellowship. Andy’s book “Human Looking” – a poetry collection that gives voice to a range of experiences of people with disability – won the 2022 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Poetry. In our interview we explore ideas of health, the challenging and problematic pursuit of “normal” in the health care co...

The Spring 2022 Edition of the Canberra Disability Review is available soon. This edition has a focus on the experience of parents with disability. We have an interview with Eliza Hull, musician and editor of "We've Got This." We have fantastic lived experience articles that look into everything from the far from wholistic reality of health services to the power of disability pride....

Akiko Hirata, Assistant Editor and Researcher for the Canberra Disability Reviews, gives an update on the great content for the Canberra Disability Review Winter Edition. There's a lot to look forward to in this edition from the focus on inclusion in disaster planning and management through to some fine contribution from the Canberra community.  You can find more information about the review,...

We are all on a journey towards our full truth and identity. On the journey we experience relationships, our sexuality, and gender identity. Sometimes it can be bewildering. Sometimes presumptions and even the protective inclinations of others can prove a barrier. Support and information can certainly help. Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT is approaching its 50th anniversary in providing that...

We have recently launched an exciting project at AFI. The Canberra Disability Review is a quarterly online magazine that reflects the breadth of experiences, perspectives, policy impacts, and concerns of people with disability in the Canberra Region.  Our first edition, for Autumn, was launched last week and can be found at:   » Canberra Disability Review (advocacyforinclusion.org) If you, or some...

Guardianship has been in the headlines recently. In this podcast we will explore what guardianship is, why it happens, how a guardian is appointed, and what are the things guardians are meant to do and what are limits are applied to the scope of what they can do. This podcast is recorded in the ACT so the references are to the local legislation related to guardians. If you live in another state or...

In this podcast we will reflect on four simple points about self-advocacy. The work of self-advocacy, communicating what matters to us and what is OK and not OK in our lives, is ongoing. It isn't always easy particularly when it feel likes nothing we say or do can make a difference. In our reflection we will think about those feelings that tell when circumstances are not OK, the powerful trut...

In this interview, with Dr Lisa Stafford, we explore what we mean when we talk about inclusion, the power and inequities involved in design and planning, and creative approaches that have connected with the views and perspectives of young people with disability.  Dr Lisa Stafford is an Inclusive Communities Researcher and a Community Planner, with 20 years’ experience in the field of disability, i...

People who are carers, in our community, are a diverse group of individuals. Some have found themselves in a carer role in abrupt and unexpected circumstances. Some are caring while negotiating the challenges of childhood and adolescence. Their daily commitment makes a profound difference for the person they support and yet they are often unrecognised in our society. In this podcast we have a conv...

In this podcast we catch up with Nicolas Lawler and discuss issues related to the present lockdown in the ACT, the impact it is having on some people with disability in the community, and also concerns related to support services and vaccination. We refer to Easy English resources in the podcast. Here are the links: Easy-English-COVID-Words.pdf (advocacyforinclusion.org) When-Can-I-Leave-the-House...

In this episode we had the opportunity to explore co-design with Kelly Ann McKercher. Kelly Ann is a design expert and author of the book "Beyond Sticky Notes: Co-design for Real: Mindsets, Methods, and Movements." Our conversation considered what authentic co-design looks like, the methods that can be used to engage the wisdom of people with lived experience, and the points of resistanc...

The call for disability advocacy services has increased throughout the Covid era. Many individuals, in our community, face complex challenges and disabling barriers, and without advocacy support they have to find a way their forward alone. Nicolas Lawler, CEO of Advocacy for Inclusion, joins us to discuss the challenges of these times when increasing community need meets underfunded advocacy servi...

In this episode we interview ACT Disability Minister Emma Davidson. Our conversation covers a range of issues including the possible changes to the NDIS system that have been flagged, the relationship between state, territory and federal governments in relation to these possible changes, how the ACT Greens aim of "building a better normal" relates to people with disability and the comple...

Advocacy for Inclusion had a great range of guests on our Staying Connected podcast during the challenges of 2020. Our conversations ranged from discussing how to maintain mental health and find safety from domestic violence, the ongoing work of the Disability Royal Commission, and emerging insights that came to the fore as the year continued through key reports. In this episode we revisit some ke...

COVID-19 has brought a lot of challenges to how we live and work, for people with disability we know there have been extra challenges. Advocacy organisations, like AFI, have been inundated with calls for support over the last 6 months of the pandemic. In this podcast, we talk to CEO of Advocacy for Inclusion Nicolas Lawler, about what it is like to provide advocacy during this time, and how we are...

The value of the community sector becomes most apparent in challenging times when communities are faced with hardship when individuals are most vulnerable. It's the community sector that steps in to listen and advocate to support and rebuild, to call for greater justice and reform to promote a fairer and more inclusive society. In this episode, we talk with Dr Emma Campbell, CEO of ACTCOSS, t...

When physical schools have closed down, and education has gone online the challenges have proven all the greater in the homes of children and young people with disability. In this episode, we speak with Mary Sayers CEO of Children and Young People with Disability about their most recent report: "Not even remotely fair: Experiences of students with disability during COVID-19" Read the ful...

DISABILITY SUPPORT WORKERS: THE FORGOTTEN WORKFORCE IN COVID-19 describes the findings from a national survey of 357 disability support workers (DSWs) conducted online between May and June 2020. In this episode, Rob discusses the results of this survey and that doing the right thing by people with disability means doing the right thing by people who support them. You can read the report here: http...

We are living in a time when decisions are being made that we would not have imagined possible 12 months ago. This is a time when human rights are quite appropriately on many people's radar. In this podcast, we revisit what are Human Rights and what that means for all of us in the time of COVID-19. Support the show

Today we speak to the ACT Minister for Disability Suzanne Orr. We cover the ACT Disability Strategy and the roadmap to recovery, and how people with disability will be supported throughout the recovery.  Show links: Canberra Relief Network: https://canberrarelief.com.au/ Canberra Roadmap to Recovery: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/community/canberra-recovery#:~:text=02)%206205%200900.-,Canberra&ap...

Today we speak with Mary Sayers, CEO of Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) about their 'more than isolated report'. Children and Young People with Disability Australia launched a survey in the early days of COVID-19 in Australia. It was a survey focused on finding out how children and young people with disability were experiencing the world of COVID-19 and the cha...

Today the Interim Report into Ann-Marie Smith's death has been released. In this episode, Rob speaks with our Senior Policy Advisor, Bonnie Millen about the report, the recommendations and how the system needs to change to prevent tragedies like Ann-Marie Smith's death happening again.  If you think or know abuse is going on, you need to report it.  It is everyone’s responsibility to cre...