Some of Our Parts

Professional Development for Young Deaf and Disabled Artists

Arts Access Victoria is providing a free program ‘Nexus’ starting in August 2023 for young people who are deaf or who have a disability.

• Nexus: Learn how to support yourself as an artist, hear from industry professionals and connect with other Deaf and Disabled artists.
• What: Facilitated by Jax Brown, Nexus is a free professional development program to tools they need to be a professional artist. This includes budgeting, bios, public speaking, grant writing and more. Guest speakers include Jes Layton, Kath Duncan, Caroline Bowditch and more.
• Who: For Deaf and Disabled artists between the ages of 18-25
• When: Starting August 3, Thursdays 1pm-4pm until September 21 (overall 8 sessions)
• Where: Online and Arts Access Offices at 222 Bank St South Melbourne.
• Price: This program is free.
• Link: https://www.artsaccess.com.au/nexus-2023/

Nexus aims to give artists the tools to create a sustainable career in the arts.

Nexus was originally created with mental health in mind, and that is still a strong part of the program.  It’s suited to emerging artists, however, even more established artists need a refresher every now and then.

This is also a chance to meet other Deaf and Disabled artists and build your community.

If you are interested, please fill out an expression of interest form. 

If you have any question or want to know more, you can email Arts Access Victoria’s Creative Producer/Coordinator for Youth Programs Arty Owens: Aowens@artsaccess.com.au

NDIS Review has Participants and People with Disability on Edge

*From ABC News Online

• By the Specialist Reporting Team’s Evan Young and national disability affairs reporter Nas Campanella
• Posted Fri 30 Jun 2023

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has improved hundreds of thousands of lives across Australia.

However, there have been complaints about bureaucracy, inequality, a lack of transparency around decision making and more for years.

That led to a wide-ranging review of the scheme. It has sought input from thousands of people, but also left some participants nervous about how the scheme might change.

Financial Sustainability

The NDIS currently supports nearly 600,000 participants. Annual spending on the NDIS has reached $35 billion.

At the current growth rate of around 14 per cent each year, spending is projected to reach $97 billion by 2032-33.

The authors of the report emphasised the difficulty of balancing the needs of people with disability with the scheme’s finances.

“The NDIS is an uncapped, needs-based scheme. However, the NDIS must also be sustainable and its costs predictable for governments and the public. It also must provide certainty for participants and their families.”

What’s Next?

The review will make its final report in October.

But before then, now key areas for reform have been identified, the report’s authors want feedback from the Australian public, especially people with disability.

“We need your help again,” they said.

“Together, we can get the scheme we fought for back on track.”

• To give your feedback you can visit ndisreview.gov.au.

Submissions close on August 25 2023.

You can read the whole ABC News article here.