Some of Our Parts

Public Consultation – draft National Road Transport Tech Strategy and 2024-27 Action Plan

The Commonwealth and state and territory transport agencies have worked together to develop a draft National Road Transport Technology Strategy and draft 2024-27 National Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Action Plan, on which they are now seeking your views and inputs.

The consultation is available on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts website: Draft National Road Transport Technology Strategy and 2024–27 National Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Action Plan | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

• Submissions can be made to NRTTStrategyandCAVActionPlan@infrastructure.gov.au and close on Wednesday 6 December 2023.

They are also offering stakeholders the option of a bilateral meeting with the review team, in addition to providing a written submission. If you would like to take up this option, please email at: NRTTStrategyandCAVActionPlan@infrastructure.gov.au   

New Technologies Can Make Road Transport Safer

New technologies like connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) can help make road transport safer, less congested, more accessible and convenient, and better for the environment.

The draft Strategy and Action Plan set out how Commonwealth, state and territory governments will work together to support new road transport technologies and roll them out in nationally consistent ways. Australian governments want to be ready for these technologies so that they are deployed in a way that achieves their benefits for everyone.

Your views on the consultation drafts of the Strategy and Action Plan are welcome, and we would appreciate you bringing the consultation to the attention of your friends and others who may have an interest.

Your input will help shape the final Strategy and 2024-27 Action Plan that will be put to Australia’s Infrastructure and Transport Ministers, so that they meet industry and community needs.

The final Strategy and Action Plan (once approved by Infrastructure and Transport Ministers) would replace the National Policy Framework for Land Transport Technology and 2020-2023 National Land Transport Technology Action Plan.

• The aim is to have the new Strategy and Action Plan in place by mid-2024.

Start Planning Your Exams and Holidays Early!

Final assessments may feel far away (30 October–17 November for semester two), but we’re sharing the dates with you now in case you’re starting your holiday planning early.

• If you’re enrolled in an on-campus unit, you need to remain available for on-campus exams for the whole exam period, so make sure you book any travel or other major plans for after 17 November.
• It’s important because if you have an on-campus final assessment, you must sit it on campus as scheduled, unless you’re experiencing exceptional circumstances.
• For more information on final assessment dates click here!

Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship Opportunity for New Postgraduate Students

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN: 2024 Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship

Up to 17 scholarships valued to $120,000 each are available for individuals from all backgrounds who are planning to start postgraduate coursework or PhD studies in 2024.

The Westpac Future Leaders Scholarships offer a bespoke 9-month leadership program designed to foster leadership potential and offers opportunities to gain global experience, including overseas travel opportunities, and life-long access to the W100 Scholars Network.

• Applications close 5:00pm AEST 6 September.
• Find out more here.
• Please note that the application may take time to put together so if you are interested, please consider starting early. Eligibility requirements apply.

Do You Experience Social Anxiety?

• Do you experience significant fear or anxiety about social situations?
• Do you worry about being judged or showing signs of anxiety in social situations?
• Do you avoid social situations?

If so, you may benefit from participating in our Social Anxiety Group Program.

The program is an exciting opportunity for Monash students to learn ways to address their social anxiety and fully engage in life.

The program involves:

• Seven 2-hour weekly group sessions at Monash University Health Service, Clayton campus from Wednesday 9 August 2023 at 11am-1pm or 2-4pm, facilitated by a clinical psychologist
• Written education materials and tasks between group sessions
• Contact: Dr Sophia Gozzi, Clinical Psychologist, sophia.gozzi@monash.edu

The New Access Hub Site is Here!

Testing has finished on the Beta version of Access Hub and recently the final website was launched – accesshub.gov.au.

Access Hub provides information about communication options (including the National Relay Service) for people who are d/Deaf, hard of hearing and/or have speech communication difficulty.

On Access Hub you’ll find:

• information in plain English, Auslan, pictures and videos
• accessibility features such as high contrast text
• easy ways to find the information you need
• They have closed the old Accesshub pages on infrastructure.gov.au, but don’t worry if you’ve saved any of those old pages as favourites – they’ve set up automatic redirects to the same information on accesshub.gov.au.

And if you use the call pages for NRS Chat and NRS Captions – those URLs have stayed the same.

Feedback about Access Hub will always be welcome so the website can be its best. You’ll find the feedback link on the top left-hand side of every Access Hub page.

• Sign up to Access Hub news and alerts to get the latest news straight to your inbox.

Vision Australia’s 2024 Bursary Applications Now Open

Each year, Vision Australia awards Further Education Bursaries to a select number of students who are blind or have low vision.

The bursaries provide adaptive technology to help students fully participate and succeed in their chosen studies.

Assistive technology can eliminate barriers to education and enhance access to information. It enables students to read course material, conduct research and improve their student life.

• For more information and details on how to apply, please visit: www.visionaustralia.org/bursary
• Applications close strictly on 30 September 2023.

If you have any queries or would like to speak with the bursary co-ordinator, please feel free to make direct contact:

• Joy King
• 03 8378 1220
• bursary@visionaustralia.org

How to Improve Digital Accessibility at Your Workplace

It’s vital to ensure that your organisation’s digital platforms are accessible to everyone.

This can help people with disability who are your employees, customers and external stakeholders.

NDRC Professional Advisor Rob Crestani shares tips on becoming digitally inclusive and accessible.

Here are some do’s and don’ts to follow:

Do’s:

• Use alt text for images: Screen readers cannot see images. Alt text descriptions help people use screen readers to understand the image’s content.
• Use captions, transcripts and audio description for videos: making videos accessible to people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, and people who are blind or low vision.
• Test digital content with assistive technology: This will help you identify any barriers to accessibility and make necessary changes to ensure everyone can access your content.
• Use simple and clear language: Avoid technical jargon or complex sentence structures that can be difficult for some people to understand.
• Use responsive design: Ensure digital content is accessible and looks good on all devices, including smartphones and tablets.

Don’ts:

• Don’t use colour alone to convey information: People with colour vision deficiency may be unable to differentiate between colours, so it’s important to use text or symbols.
• Don’t use flashing or moving content: This can cause seizures for people with epilepsy or other photosensitive conditions.
• Don’t use small font sizes: Small font sizes make text difficult to read, especially for people with visual impairments.
• Don’t use auto-play for videos or audio: This can be disruptive and overwhelming, especially for people with sensory sensitivities.
• Don’t use inaccessible PDFs: PDFs can be difficult for screen readers to navigate, so it’s essential to provide accessible versions or alternative formats.

Experiencing Stress During Your Studies?

The University of Queensland seeks your support in understanding student stress during your studies.

Please take a few minutes to complete the stakeholder survey.

Help us understand what contributes to stress for higher education students and the inclusive and accessible ways it can be reduced!

How?

• Complete an anonymous survey for a chance to win 1 of 10 $25 Gift Cards

Who?

Any higher education student who has or has not experienced disability, impairment, chronic health conditions, mental health conditions, learning difficulties, or challenges during their studies.

Find out more and complete the survey:

• Online
• Verbally via Zoom

The Australian Disability and Indigenous Peoples’ Education Fund Scholarship is Now Open

The Australian Disability and Indigenous Peoples’ Education Fund is now open for applications with the deadline for this round being March 31, 2023.

Closing dates are every six months at the end of March and September annually.

Established by Frank Hall-Bentick AM (and his sisters Lesley and Annette and a group of friends Rae, Lyndall, Cath, Ros and Jody) in 2008, the Australian Disability and Indigenous Peoples’ Education Fund (ADIPEF) was created following Frank’s involvement in disability advocacy over thirty years.

Assisting Indigenous and Non-Indigenous People with Disability

Assisting indigenous and non-indigenous people with disability to participate in both formal and informal education programs through small grants, the fund empowers people with disability through further education and learning (both formal and informal).

Based on the belief that education’s important should not be measured by graduate degrees, diplomas or salaries, but by achievements, contributions, paths taken and careers followed – including cultural, relationship, historical and tolerance learnings.

This education fund assists in this through providing small, six monthly grants of up to $2,500 to assist people with disabilities to continue their learning.

• People with disabilities of any age living in Australia may apply for any assistance to help with both formal and informal education.

For more information and to apply go to:

http://www.adipef.org.au

I CAN Network – Empowering Autistic Young People

The I CAN Network is heading into their 10th year, and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I CAN appreciate the ongoing support they’ve received to continue empowering Autistic young people through their Autistic-led, evidence-based mentoring programs.

Thanks to donors’ generosity, over the past year alone I CAN have been able to fund scholarships for 100 students with autism to take part in their mentoring programs.

• If you wish to contribute to the work of the I CAN Network to fund more mentorships for young people with autism, you can donate online here.

I CAN is Hiring!

Looking for an inclusive workplace which offers flexible hours and where you have the option to work from home?

If so, you might be the perfect fit to become an I CAN Mentor.

In I CAN’s School Program they have positions available in Greater Melbourne, Barwon/Geelong and Northern Victoria (Shepparton to Bendigo).

They also have positions available in their I CAN Online program.

Ever wondered what it’s like to work with I CAN? Meet some of their team via their YouTube channel or their website: https://icannetwork.online/work-with-us/

• Please note: you do not need to be Autistic to apply.
• Applications close Jan 22nd, 2023