Community-Based Disability Supports - Community Consultation

ACT Down Syndrome & Intellectual Disability (ACT DSID) and Women with Disabilities ACT (WWDACT) is partnering with the ACT Government to conduct community consultation into community-based disability supports.

Community based disability supports:
In the ACT, Community based disability supports are programs, services and resources that promote inclusion, build skills, capacity and independence, foster social participation, remove barriers to mainstream services and link people with disability and their support networks to the community.

Community based disability supports are often provided by local not for profit organisations. Typically, the key focus of these community-based disability supports are to improve the lives of people with disability and their families. Some organisations that provide community based disability supports may offer some services that can be paid for using NDIS funding but also offer services for free or at low cost to the community. Services could include disability programs at a local community centre or community group, incorporated association or sporting group.

The ACT Government also offers a range of community-based disability supports such as accessible transport, Companion Card support, Child Development Services and an Equipment Loan Service.

Have you heard about the proposed General Foundational Supports?

The Department of Health, Disability & Aging says General Foundational Supports are specific supports outside the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). They are in addition to services offered by mainstream systems, like education and health.

General Foundational Supports will help people with disability to live a better life. They will improve access to:

evidence-based information
supports that help build skills, improve confidence and independence
supports that will develop connections between peers and within the community
supports to find other services and resources
advice that helps community organisations to be more inclusive and accessible.

Foundational supports for people with disability | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

No final decision has been made about how General Foundational Supports will be delivered across Australia. When this happens, the ACT Government wants to be aware of the community-based disability supports that already exist in the ACT. The ACT Government also wants to know what is missing from our community-based disability support landscape and hear this directly from people with disability and their families/support networks.

The community consultation will be carried out over July and August 2026. ACT DSID and WWDACT will be hosting three face to face/online community consultation events to gather information. ACT DSID and WWDACT will also distribute an online survey and give the community the opportunity to speak with them over the phone, in person, via Teams or via email if giving feedback in this way is more appropriate.

The information obtained through this research project will be de-identified and presented to the ACT Government in the form of a listening report in October 2026. ACT DSID and WWDACT may also use de-identified information in their advocacy work and information referral programs. If you have any questions about the research or how the information will be collected and used, please contact Shannon Kolak, CEO ACT Down Syndrome & Intellectual Disability.

Event Details:

Community Consultations will run from 12:00pm - 2:00pm, please arrive at 11:45am for a 12:00pm start.

Community Consultation dates and locations:

July 30th: Pearce Community Centre, Building 1 meeting room
August 14th: Tuggeranong South ern Cross Club
August 26th: Gungahlin Community Centre

A light lunch will be provided on the day.

Disclaimer

Your wellbeing is important to us. Please be aware that participating in community consultations may bring up memories, experiences, or emotions that some people may find distressing or emotionally challenging.

Information about trauma, including the impacts of vicarious trauma, is available upon request by contacting admin@actdsid.org.au.

Contact the host of Community Consultations - August 14th, 2026