VALID

02/09/2026

🎉VALID joined the panel for Disability Inclusive Law and Policy Hub's Launch last week, Wednesday 26 August at Melbourne Disability Institute, Melbourne Law School!

🎙️VALID CEO Fionn Skiotis and Self Advocate Greg Tucker spoke about how to centre the disability community in law and policy research, especially people with intellectual disability.

Thank you to Prof Bruce Bonyhady for the warm welcome, and Associate Professor Anna Arstein-Kerslake for facilitating the panel and invite!

VALID looks forward to working with the Hub in the future. Learn more here https://disability.unimelb.edu.au/research-hubs/disability-inclusive-law-and-policy-hub

Panelists included:
Marlena Raymond, Board Co-Chair at Women with Disabilities Victoria
Savanna Upiter, Education Coordinator at Flying Fox
Paris Ingham, Education Facilitator at Flying Fox



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Image Description 1/3: Greg in blue jumper speaking into microphone in the middle, with four panelists on the table, and Anna looking at the panel. Panel sits infront of a large window with city buildings in the background during the daytime.

2/3: Anna in green blazer standing up on blue and wooden podium speaking into microphone on right hand side. Text on projector reads ''Centering the Disability Community in Law and Policy Research. Launch Event of the Disability Inclusive Law and Policy Hub''

3/3: Dark blue background with illustration of group in top right corner. Text on projector reads ''Centering the Disability Community in Law and Policy Research. Launch Event of the Disability Inclusive Law and Policy Hub. Melbourne Law School. 26 August 2026''

02/09/2026

We got to the bottom of bowel screening! 💩

More than 40 people with intellectual disability and their support staff joined Greg and Zoe from VALID at Bailey House for an engaging bowel screening information session.

The session supported Cancer Council Victoria's bowel screening awareness campaign and encouraged people to take part in the Australian Government's free National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

The bowel screening test is quick and easy to do at home and can help find bowel cancer early—before symptoms appear.

Thank you to everyone who came along, joined the conversation (yes, even about poo!), asked great questions, and took an important step towards looking after their health.

31/08/2026

Not too late to register for free Succession Planning for families of young people and adults with disabilities in Ballarat at 12.30pm Thur. 3rd Sept. at Lucas Community Hub, 17 Coltman Plaza, Lucas and online session at 10am on Tue 8th Sept.

The Families as Planning Partners course empowers families to work with the services and the NDIS to gain a good life for their family member - APPLY NOW!

27/08/2026

🚨Join us live very soon at 12 PM today! 🎉Get your ticket now https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-valid-conversations

🌟'Building Inclusive Boards and Committees: people with disability as real contributors'
📅Thur 27 Aug at 12pm - 1pm via Zoom
👋We have an Auslan Interpreter for the webinar

Led by lived experience. Focused on real change.

Can't wait to see you there!

VALID Conversations is a new webinar series led by people with disability.

25/08/2026

🌟Join us tomorrow!
📍Thursday 27th of August, 12-1pm, online, free

🗨️VALID Conversations Webinar 'Building Inclusive Boards and Committees: people with disability as real contributors'

For far too long people with intellectual disability have been left out of the rooms where decision makers meet and future plans happen. As we head into the season of Annual General Meetings and Board recruitment it’s a great time for advocacy organisations, not-for-profits and our health sector allies to look at how a Board can truly reflect the diversity of its members and community.

Join disability advocates and leaders Janet Curtain and Johnny Riha with host John McKenna for an engaging conversation about creating committees and Boards where people with disability are valued as genuine contributors. Register now https://ow.ly/wa7s50ZBGOY



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Image Description: white social media tile with the VALID Conversations Webinar Series speech bubble logo along the top. Heading: “Building Inclusive Boards and Committees: People with disability as real contributors”. There are three boxes with images of Johnny Riha, Janet Curtain and John Mckenna. Each person has their name across the bottom of the box. Next to John Mckenna it says “Special Guest Host”. Along the bottom is a calendar icon with the date August 27. Beside it text says “Thursday August 27. 12.00pm – 1pm. Online via Zoom. Free! Register now.”

24/08/2026

Do you live in an SDA or SIL home and want to know more about your housing rights?

VALID and Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service offer free Housing Justice information sessions.

The sessions can help you:

• understand your legal rights
• know what to do if you have a housing problem
• learn where to get legal information and support
• feel more confident speaking up about your home

Sessions can be arranged at your home, a library or another community space.

To organise a session, contact Sandra:

Phone: (03) 9416 4003
Email: [email protected]

23/08/2026

🎙️Meet our guest speaker, Johnny Riha!

🗨️ VALID Conversations Webinar 'Building Inclusive Boards and Committees: people with disability as real contributors'

📍Thursday 27th of August, 12-1pm, online, free

Johnny Riha is a passionate disability advocate dedicated to promoting inclusion, accessibility, and self-advocacy. He is committed to empowering people with disability, strengthening community connections, and creating positive change. Johnny also has extensive governance experience, having served on a range of boards and committees.

Join Johnny as he shares his expertise and what meaningful participation looks like to him, as we head into AGM and Board election season! Hosted by John McKenna, Johnny Riha is joined by disability advocate Janet Curtain. Register now https://ow.ly/a8wJ50ZBGMI


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Image Description: white social media tile with the VALID Conversations Webinar Series speech bubble logo along the top. Heading: “Building Inclusive Boards and Committees: People with disability as real contributors. With Johnny Riha. A photo of Johnny. He has light skin and wears a baseball cap with sunglasses over them, he has a big smile.” Along the bottom is a calendar icon with the date August 27. Beside it text says “Thursday August 27. 12.00pm – 1pm. Online via Zoom. Free! Register now.”

21/08/2026

Expressions of Interest (EOI) are open for Having a Say Conference program. EOI close 12th Sept.https://valid.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/EOI-for-HaS-Program-2027-Aug-26.pdf

20/08/2026

🎙️Meet our guest speaker, Janet Curtain!

🗨️ VALID Conversations Webinar 'Building Inclusive Boards and Committees: people with disability as real contributors'

📍Thursday 27th of August, 12-1pm, online, free

Janet Curtain (she/her) is a Chinese disability advocate and activist with Cerebral Palsy. With a unique insight into the barriers and discrimination experienced by people with disability from non-English speaking backgrounds, Janet founded the group Power in Culture and Equality (PCE) in 2019.

Janet also works at SARU as the Victorian Self Advocacy Network Coordinator and has previously served on the Disability Advisory Committee at Brimbank City Council and is a current member of the Metro Accessibility Committee.

Hear Janet share her experiences on boards and committees and what meaningful participation can look like at VALID Conversations webinar. Hosted by John McKenna, Janet Curtain is joined by self advocate Johnny Riha for this important conversation. Register now https://ow.ly/ZEWT50ZBGHo



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Image Description: white social media tile with the VALID Conversations Webinar Series speech bubble logo along the top. Heading: “Building Inclusive Boards and Committees: People with disability as real contributors. With Janet Curtain.” A photo of Janet, a Chinese woman with Cerebral Palsy as she sits in the garden. She has shoulder length straight black hair and has a big smile.” Along the bottom is a calendar icon with the date August 27. Beside it text says “Thursday August 27. 12.00pm – 1pm. Online via Zoom. Free! Register now.”

19/08/2026

MEDIA RELEASE - NDIS Bill Passes Senate: Risking Harm to People with Intellectual Disability

VALID is deeply disappointed that the NDIS Amendment Bill 2026 passed the Senate last night, which will aim to remove over 240,000 participants from the scheme.

This is an incredibly difficult day for people with disability, families, carers, and allies - including our VALID staff and members.

These are historic cuts, the largest to a single government program this century.

‘'People with disability and their families deserve to know what is happening with the plans that keep people alive. To still not have an answer, without alternative supports in place, despite thousands of hours of consultations is beyond reckless. We can’t gamble with people’s lives in the face of clear evidence of the significant harm this will cause.” - Fionn Skiotis, VALID CEO

VALID acknowledges that the collective pressure was successful in gaining additional inquiry time and achieving important amendments to the Bill’s changes. This is a credit to all people with disability, families, carers, support workers, and allies who poured energy and time into making sure they were heard.

The fact that this Government has largely chosen to ignore them is a national disgrace.

VALID remains dedicated to the fight to protect the NDIS and the rights of people with intellectual disability and their families.

Media Contact
Inez Winters | Strategic Lead – Policy & Media
[email protected]
(03) 9114 9410

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- Read VALID’s full media release https://ow.ly/aWRW50ZBjWL

- For our members who may be feeling confused or scared, Inclusion Australia have Easy Read information explaining what's next https://ow.ly/UOh750ZBjWK

- VALID will release its official position statement in response to the Bill very soon.
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