Mackay Advocacy Inc

09/07/2026

The AusAlert National Test

For more information, visit www.ausalert.gov.au

In October 2026, the Australian Government is launching AusAlert – a new national warning system that uses the latest technology to send emergency messages to compatible mobile devices.

What is AusAlert?

• AusAlert is a fast and reliable way to help communities be informed and better prepared during local and national emergencies.

What is AusAlert for?

• AusAlert gives the Australian Government and state and territory emergency services organisations the ability to send national or local alerts about disasters. These could be natural hazards such as bushfires, floods, cyclones and tsunamis, or events like public health emergencies, security threats or biosecurity incidents. It’s just one of the many ways we’re helping to keep Australians safer in times of disaster.

When will AusAlert be live?

• AusAlert will be ready to use on 1 October 2026, but before it launches, the system needs to be tested across Australia. This is called the AusAlert national test.

What’s involved in the AusAlert national test?

• On Monday 27 July 2026, an AusAlert test message will be sent to all compatible mobile devices in Australia. You may receive a test alert on your mobile phone, tablet or smart watch.

What time will the AusAlert national test be sent?

• 2:00 pm AEST Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania

• 1:30 pm ACST Northern Territory, South Australia, Broken Hill (NSW)

• 12:00 pm AWST Western Australia

What will the AusAlert national test sound like?

• The AusAlert test message is a Critical Alert. It will cause your mobile device to vibrate and will be delivered with a loud siren-like warning sound that lasts about 10 seconds. It will make this noise even if you’ve set your device to ‘silent’ or ‘do not disturb’ mode.

If you are in an unsafe situation, Domestic Violence situation, or any situation where you have a hidden or secret mobile device, please be sure to either:
- turn the device off or on to aeroplane mode
- give it to someone you trust until after the alert is over
Even if the phone is on silent or Do Not Disturb mode, the device will still vibrate and play a loud siren-like sound for about 10 seconds.

08/07/2026

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability set out 222
clear, evidence-based recommendations for reform.

Our analysis report, published this week, highlights a significant implementation gap:
• 3% of recommendations implemented
• 53% with no reported progress
These recommendations were developed through extensive consultation and represent practical, achievable steps toward safer systems. Delays and reduced commitments risk undermining both accountability and community trust.

Now with the new NDIS reforms proposed by the Federal Government, disability rights in this country seem to be going further backwards, which will make people with disability less safe. The opposite of what we all envisioned when the DRC came
out with their final report. Our findings underscore the importance of sustained policy focus, transparency, and measurable action and accountability across all levels of government.

Support our campaign here - linktr.ee/TheDRCstillMatters

02/07/2026

02/07/2026

𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝟭𝟬 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆

𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝟭𝟬 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆

The Australian Government has extended the deadline for public submissions on the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026.

This is an important opportunity for people with disability, families, advocates, organisations and the wider community to share their experiences, concerns and recommendations about proposed changes to the NDIS.

Submissions help ensure the perspectives of people with disability are heard as decisions are made about the future of the NDIS.

Find out more and make a submission: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/NDISFutureGenBill

Resources and tips for making a submission:
https://pwd.org.au/how-to-make-a-parliamentary-submission/

27/05/2026

The Disability Royal Commission Still Matters Campaign...

Today QIDAN (Queensland Independent Disability Advocacy Network) launched the campaign - The DRC Still Matters.

The DRC made 222 recommendations aimed at making a safer, fairer, and more inclusive Australia for everyone. But more than two years later, progress on implementation remains slow and inconsistent. That’s why QIDAN has independently examined what governments have, and haven’t, done to progress the DRC. What we found has been troubling: only 3% of the recommendations have been implemented.

We also found:

🟠 Queensland Government is investing in segregated education.

🟠 Safeguards for people with disability are not improving.

🟠 Governments are not committing to disability governance and leadership.

🟠 53% of recommendations have not progressed at all.

Last week, the Federal Budget allocated just $4.2 million over two years toward disability reform – an investment into consultation. But consultations have happened. The DRC consulted for years and gave their Final Report in 2023. Now is the time for action. The DRC Still Matters Campaign brings together what governments say they’ve done, and what we are actually seeing. That’s why we want to build a public, accessible DRC Tracker - so this information is visible and as a community, we can collectively hold our governments to account.

But we need your help to make it happen.

Get involved.

Donate. Share. Speak. Support. Follow.

Accountability doesn’t happen on its own.

THE DRC STILL MATTERS!

To read more about the DRC, visit QIDAN’s webpage here…(https://qidan.org.au/thedrcstillmatters/)

OR

Explore the ways you can support the DRC, like donating, signing up to the mailing list and tracking its progress here… (https://linktr.ee/TheDRCstillMatters)

QIDAN is fundraising to develop a DRC Tracker that translates government responses into clear, accessible updates and visually tracks progress on recommendations.

08/05/2026

QAI and QIDAN invite the community to tell them how DFSV and Disability Advocacy services can better support victim-survivors with disability.

Date: 19th of May 2026
Time: 11am - 2pm
Location: Mackay Surf Club, 4740

You can register for the event by visiting this site https://events.humanitix.com/dfsv-roundtable-mackay or by scanning the QR code below.

22/04/2026

Hello all,

For some reason, these two decided yesterday at 4:40pm, that they needed our doorbell more than we do. Our doorbell was used to alert us if someone in need was at the door whilst staff are in meetings. If coming to the office, please gently knock on the glass if the green entry button doesn't open the door, and the front desk is unattended.

If you happen to know the two thieves that took our doorbell, please ask them to return it so we can continue servicing our community's most vulnerable. Apologies for any inconvenience this thievery might bring.

17/03/2026

Let's Talk Legal Assistance ⚖️

Legal Aid QLD (LAQ) Referral Pathways for NDIS External Appeals

Did you know Legal Aid Queensland operate two clinics for NDIS appeals advice appointments?

Clients can self-refer via the phoneline 1300 65 11 88 for their internal clinic, or they can ask the Administrative Review Tribunal to refer them to LAQ.

As availability changes regularly, they cannot indicate which stream has the earliest appointments. LAQ generally do not close intakes and continue to book appointments in advance if clients are happy to wait. Clients do not need a grant to get an advice session with LAQ, however, if they are seeking representation at the tribunal, they will need to apply for a grant. LAQ are happy to discuss the process of applying for a grant during an advice session.