May 2025

CEO Update

Welcome to DSA’s May e-news!

We hope you enjoyed a wonderful Easter and a relaxing school holiday break if you have school-aged children.

Since our last newsletter, our Right to Work campaign has continued to build momentum, with growing support and media attention. The campaign is focused on securing real jobs and real pay for people with Down syndrome, including phasing out the $3 an hour wage.

We were pleased to see the campaign featured on WIN News, which covered our recent event with Independent ACT Senator David Pocock. At the event, we highlighted the urgent need for change in the lead-up to the federal election. We’re calling on all parties and candidates to commit to fair pay and inclusive employment for people with Down syndrome.

A big thank you to self-advocates Charlotte and Kura, who shared their workplace experiences so well.

Click the image below to watch the story:

We’re also excited to report that our petition has now reached over 9,000 signatures. Help us reach our goal of 10,000 by signing and sharing it today!

Sign our petition

With the election happening this Saturday, don’t forget to view our Easy Read Voting Information if you or a family member need support. The link can be found below this update.

Alongside the campaign, we’ve been focused on other important projects, including accessible communications and ageing. Stay tuned for more updates soon.

Sincerely

Darryl Steff

CEO, Down Syndrome Australia

Get ready for the election!

Easy Read Resource: How to Vote

We’ve created an Easy Read Voting Information guide to help you get ready for the election this weekend.

This guide explains how to get prepared to vote, thinking about who to vote for and what to expect when voting.

View Easy Read Voting Information

Advocacy

DSA Advocacy in Action

In the lead up to the election, much of our advocacy has been focused on the Right to Work campaign. We're excited to have the support of Senator David Pocock from the ACT, who has committed to phasing out the $3 wage if re-elected.

Alongside this, we’ve been busy engaging with government on key issues. We recently met with the NDIA to provide feedback on impairment notices and had discussions with Services Australia about improving the user experience for people with Down syndrome. We’ve also been involved in the NDIA’s Employment Working Group and had a productive meeting with the DSA Consortium, where we discussed shared priorities, including prenatal support.

Our Community in Action

Meet Our Accessible Communications Panellists!

We’re thrilled to introduce the Expert Review Panel for our Accessible Communications project.

Congratulations to the following panel members (pictured above):

Alana Julian - Project Officer
Greg Bonyhady
Michael Cox
Ally Gillies
Naomi Lake
Stephen Lawley
Ana Nguyen

The panel will review and provide feedback on how the NDIA communicates with people with intellectual disability. The goal is to make their messages clearer, more accessible and easier to understand.

Stay tuned for more updates soon.

Thank You to Our Departing DSAN Members!

A huge thank you to the Down Syndrome Advisory Network (DSAN) members who have recently wrapped up their position.

Their hard work has helped ensure that DSA continues to be guided by the voices of people with Down syndrome.

Matt Marshall (TAS): May 2024 – December 2024

Bella Kobayashi (SA): October 2023 – December 2024

A special thank you to Claire Mitchell (QLD), who has been a valued member of DSAN since November 2017 (and an Associate Member from November 2023 – December 2024).

Reflecting on her time with DSAN, Claire shared:

"Over the 6 years I was in DSAN, I loved the professional side of it. I enjoyed working together as a team, where we were all on an equal footing and the friendships we made. I liked the structure of being organised, having a routine and making decisions. I also learned a lot from our Chairperson, the late Michael Sullivan. He was always a leader and knew what made a good leader. What I learned in DSAN, I now use as a Board Director for Down Syndrome Australia."

We look forward to announcing the new members very soon!

Digby and Camille’s Documentary: A Journey of Love and Creativity

Digby Webster, a visual artist from Sydney, and Camille Collins, a trainee chef, are in love. They share big dreams – to live together, get married and continue pursuing their creative passions.

Their story is being captured in Digby & Camille, a documentary being filmed over three years, following their lives, their work and their love story.

Learn more about the film and how you can support the project:

About Digby & Camille

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Down Syndrome Australia is the national peak organisation for people with Down syndrome and their families. We work closely with the State and Territory Down syndrome associations to provide advocacy, support, and information.

Down Syndrome Australia is proud to receive support from the Australian Government's Information Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) Grant program, in order to deliver a wide variety of projects to support people with Down syndrome, their family and supporters.

Please get in touch if you have feedback you would like to share with us.

You can reach us via email at info@downsyndrome.org.au

Down Syndrome Australia and its members acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Down Syndrome Australia, 552 Victoria Street, North Melbourne, VIC, 3051

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