In our systemic advocacy work, Kiind identifies barriers that children with disability and their families face, and advocates for change through consumer and sector engagement, submission writing, public awareness campaigning, and lobbying government.
The goal of Kiind’s systemic advocacy is to influence and introduce longer term changes in policy and systems to improve quality of life for families raising children and young people with disability and/or chronic conditions.
See below for some of our most recent systemic advocacy work.
Meeting with Disability Minister Don Punch and the Kiind team
Recently, Kiind CEO, Carrie Clark, Operations Manager, Simone Yandell, and Systemic Advocacy Lead, Renée Darbyshir, met with Hon. Don Punch MLA, Minister of Disability Services, to discuss the range of supports Kiind provides to families raising children with disability and the barriers they experience while navigating systems such as early intervention, NDIS and education.
NDIS Review
Kiind has been active in providing advice to the NDIS Review and advocating on behalf of families raising children with disability.
Ahead of the upcoming NDIS Review, Kiind attended a capacity-building supports workshop facilitated by the NDIS Review panel.
We also undertook some consultation sessions with WA families on behalf of the NDIS Review Panel.
Our team hosted a meeting with Co-Chair, Professor Bruce Bonyhady AM to discuss the NDIS Review and the experiences of our members.
Recent Submissions
Submission to WA Education & Health Standing Committee: Inquiry into support for autistic children and young people in schools
Kiind, with input from our members, presented an acknowledgement of some of the challenges autistic students’ experience in WA schools. This submission resulted in recommendations, based off lived experience, on how to best support autistic children throughout their schooling life.
Click here to read Kiind’s submission.
Submission to the House of Representatives Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs: Inquiry into the Carer Recognition Act 2010
In August 2023, Kiind presented a submission addressing the Carer Recognition Act 2010’s effectiveness in relation to real life unpaid carers. Our submission included recommendations on how to improve supports for unpaid carers and create a stronger community amidst a rapidly changing disability landscape.
Click here to read Kiind’s submission.
Public hearing – House of Representatives Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs
Carrie Clark and Renée Darbyshir were invited to give evidence at a public hearing on Tuesday, 29 August 2023 for the House of Representatives Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs.
Kiind provided short opening statements about our interest in the inquiry, followed by questions from the Chair of the Committee, Ms Peta Murphy MP, and Member of the Committee, Ms Kate Chaney MP.
The Committee sought Kiind’s views on a range of issues, including, the effectiveness and efficiency of the Carer Recognition Act 2010 among other legislation, in elevating the voices of parents and carers, and how to better educate both unpaid carers and organisations on the legislation.
Some of our other systemic advocacy activities include:
- Presenting to the Parliamentary Select Committee into Child Development Services in Western Australia
- Providing input to the Office of Disability on the WA Disability Legislation Review
- Representing our members by participating in the Education Department Disability and Inclusion Advisory Group and Consultative Committee
Upcoming opportunities
Journey Mapping exhibition opening – Ministerial event and launch of insights report
Kiind is excited to be winding up our Journey Mapping project with Innovation Unit. This involved a series of deep-diving interviews through July-August with twenty parents to capture their journeys navigating complex systems to support their children. The insights report will give us signposts for where we need to concentrate our systemic advocacy efforts, and will help us understand the changes that families seek.
Public hearing – Education & Health Standing Committee
On Wednesday, 20 September 2023, Carrie Clark and Renée Darbyshir will attend a public hearing for the Inquiry into supports for autistic children and young people in WA schools, with the WA Legislative Assembly’s Education and Health Standing Committee.
Have your say
Your experiences matter. You’re welcome to share your story with us at any time to shine a light on issues that stand in the way of your child’s progress. Your experiences often mirror those of other families so why not turn your voice into a collective voice and support the call for change.
Click here to share your experience.
Click here to stay up to date with our systemic advocacy work.
