Systemic Advocacy

PWdWA is committed to introducing, influencing and securing positive long-term change in society. Our aim is to remove barriers and tackle practices that discriminate to make sure the rights, interests and well-being of people with disabilities are achieved, upheld and protected. This is in line with our vision of a community where all people have a full and valued life with the freedom to make their own choices.

We aim to influence;

• The creation of new laws or changes to current laws
• The priorities and plans of government and non-government agencies
• The policies and procedures that relate to services or systems
• The way in which government and non-government agencies provide services

Systemic advocacy seeks to make positive changes for a whole group of people rather than one individual. It responds to issues and barriers that keep on occurring for many individuals with disability during their day-to-day lives. It is important that the systemic advocacy undertaken by our Systemic Advocate is informed by the lived experiences of people with disability.

Hearing about individual matters and experiences help us to work out:

• Areas of concern in the community
• Serious problems with systems and legislation
• Issues to raise through our submissions

It’s often not possible for government to work with a large number of people or organisations on systemic issues. Our Systemic Advocate consults with our membership to identify and address issues and feeds this back to government and also works in partnership with other advocacy organisations on joint submissions.

Part of PWdWA’s role is to prepare submissions on systemic issues. The submissions PWdWA has prepared over the last few years are detailed below.

If you would like any of the following submissions presented to you in an alternative format for your accessibility, please contact our Communications Manager Vanessa Jessett on 08 6288 7135 or email vanessa@pwdwa.org.

For a copy of any of our submissions produced earlier than 2022, please contact our Systemic Advocate Amanda Ellis on 08 6288 7129 or email amanda@pwdwa.org.

If you would like to learn more about any of our submissions, click the links below.

2026

NDIS New Framework Planning 2025–26

PWdWA NDIS New Framework Planning (PDF), 6 March 2026
If you would like a Word or OpenText document version please reach out!

AFDO DRO Joint Statement – New Planning Framework FINAL 6 March 2026 (PDF)
AFDO DRO Joint Statement – New Planning Framework FINAL 6 March 2026 (Word)
We support the AFDO–DRO joint statement and have referenced important parts in our submission

Fair Work Amendment (Right to Work from Home) Bill 2025

PWdWA_WFH2025_Sub31_People with Disabilities WA (PDF), 12 February 2026
PWdWA_WFH2025_Sub31_People with Disabilities WA (Word), 12 February 2026
PWdWA_WFH2025_Sub31_People with Disabilities WA (OpenText Document), 12 February 2026

30 other submissions at the Parliamentary Business WFH2025 Submissions page:
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Education_and_Employment/WFH2025/Submissions

Individual Disability Advocacy Program proposal 2025

PWdWA IDAP Submission (PDF), 30 January 2026
PWdWA IDAP Submission (Word), 30 January 2026
PWdWA IDAP Submission (OpenText Document), 30 January 2026

2025

Disability Discrimination Act Review

SSCLS-PWdWA Disability Discrimination Act Review Submission (Word)
SSCLS-PWdWA Disability Discrimination Act Review Submission (PDF)

2024

Review of the Guardianship and Administration Act 1990 (Project 114)

Aviation Green Paper – Submission to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications

Aviation Green Paper (Word).
Aviation Green Paper (PDF).

Joint Standing Committee on the NDIS – Inquiry into the NDIS Participant Experience in Rural, Regional and Remote Australia

NDIS Participant Experience in Rural, Regional and Remote Australia (Word)
NDIS Participant Experience in Rural, Regional and Remote Australia (PDF)

2023

Review of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport.

Disability Standards for Public Transport Review (Word)
Disabilty Standards for Public Transport Review (PDF)

Western Australian Disability Legislation Submission

WA Disability Legislation Review Submission (Word)
WA Disability Legislation Review Submission (PDF)

NDIS Review Submission

Building a strong, effective NDIS (Word)
Building a strong, effective NDIS (PDF)

Disability Service Act Review – Joint Submission

Disability Services Act Submission (Word)
Disability Services Act Submission (PDF)

2022

Disability Royal Commission – The impact of and responses to the Omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic for People with Disability

Disability Royal Commission – The impact of and responses to the Omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic for People with Disability (PDF)
Disability Royal Commission – The impact of and responses to the Omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic for People with Disability (PDF)

Department of Communities Western Australia – Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DIAP) Feedback

Department of Communities Western Australia – Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DIAP) Feedback (PDF)
Department of Communities Western Australia – Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DIAP) Feedback (Word)

Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme – Inquiry into Current Scheme Implementation and Forecasting for the NDIS

PWdWA –  Inquiry into Current Scheme Implementation and Forecasting for the NDIS (PDF)
PWdWA submission –  Inquiry into Current Scheme Implementation and Forecasting for the NDIS (Word)