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Wednesday 17th June 2026

Update from the CEO

Dear Members,

I am excited to welcome Mercy Jumo to the BCA team as our new Strategy, Project and Advocacy Manager. Mercy brings more than 25 years of international experience advancing human rights, policy and community-centred advocacy. Over the past seven years, she has worked as a Lead and Senior Policy Advisor with World Vision across Australia, South Asia and the Pacific, and has also held influential advocacy roles with Save the Children New Zealand and the U.S. Embassy.

Mercy brings her own lived experience of vision impairment and is passionate about ensuring our members’ voices remain at the centre of our advocacy and project delivery. She holds a Master of Philosophy and a Bachelor of Arts Honours and has served on numerous community boards supporting migrant communities and women’s rights both in Australia and internationally. I know you will join me and the rest of the team in giving Mercy a very warm welcome to the BCA community.

In other news, many of you may have already heard about AusAlert, Australia’s new emergency warning system that is currently undergoing community testing ahead of its national rollout later this year. Community testing is currently taking place across selected locations around the country, with a national test scheduled for Monday, 27th July 2026.

During the national test, compatible mobile devices across Australia will receive a test alert, helping emergency services and government agencies ensure the system is working effectively before it is used in real emergencies. No action will be required when the test alert is received, but it is important that you are aware it is coming. I encourage you to visit the AusAlert website to learn more about community testing, device compatibility and what to expect when the national test takes place.

There are also a number of important developments underway within the NDIS. The agency is continuing to test new approaches to planning and service delivery while seeking feedback from participants, families, providers and the broader community. Public consultation activities remain active, with several opportunities for people to contribute their views and experiences. Expressions of interest for provider consultations remain open, while expressions of interest for the consultations on First Nations children and young people and the future NDIS pathway for children and young people close on Tuesday, 30th June 2026. These conversations will help shape the future direction of the scheme, so I encourage members to stay informed and have their say where possible. Please visit the BCA website for the latest information, updates and links to consultation opportunities.

As we head into the final weeks of the financial year, our executive team has been busy with budget planning, reporting and preparing for the year ahead. This sets us up well to continue our work supporting members and driving our priorities forward.

Finally, we are recruiting for a Project Coordinator to join our growing team. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to meaningful work that includes coordinating leadership and peer support initiatives. If you or someone in your network may be interested, please find more information below.

– Deb Deshayes, BCA CEO.

A reminder, you can also read this update on BCA’s website.

More from BCA

Employment Opportunity – Project Coordinator

BCA is seeking a Project Coordinator to support the delivery of national projects that build leadership, peer connection and community participation for Australians who are blind or vision impaired.

In this coordination role, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operational delivery of the Pathways to Independence project, ensuring timelines, milestones and reporting requirements are met. You will work closely with the BCA team, external contractors and voluntary committees to ensure smooth and effective project delivery.

You will play a central role in coordinating leadership and peer training programs, supporting BCA’s Engage Committee and maintaining strong communication with stakeholders and sector partners.

The successful candidate will have strong organisational and project coordination skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities, work effectively with others and maintain clear and accurate records.

Your lived experience of blindness or vision impairment is a highly valued asset, and we encourage you to apply.

Read the full position description and selection criteria on our website: https://www.bca.org.au/employment/

To apply, please submit your resume and a response to the selection criteria in Word format to recruitment@bca.org.au, using “Pathways Project Coordinator” in the subject line.

To ensure accessibility for the recruitment team, applications must be submitted in Word format. Applications close: Sunday, 28th June 2026.

Policy, Advocacy & Representation

Policy Update – Melanie Chatfield

The Australian Government will be undertaking public consultation on a range of NDIS reforms that will impact on participants. There will be a lot of very technical and complex information to explain, and the Australian Government wants to understand what they can do to improve the way they communicate on changes to the NDIS that will affect participants.

They want to:

  • Give people the right amount of information, in the right way.
  • Allow people to engage with the topics they are interested in.
  • Allow people to provide feedback in a way that suits them.

To help BCA provide advice to the Australian Government, we want to know about your preferences for accessing information on changes to the NDIS.

You can complete the BCA survey or contact Melanie via email melanie.chatfield@bca.org.au or telephone 1800 033 660 before Monday, 22nd June.

BCA Events

Plan ahead using our monthly calendar – the events calendar for June is available on our website, or you can access the calendar via audio by phoning 1800 033 660 and following the prompts.

If you have any questions, or would like more information, please feel free to contact us on events@bca.org.au or call 1800 033 660.

Trivia

Saturday, 20th June at 8:00pm AEST.

Are you interested in expanding your general knowledge in an easy-going and fun atmosphere? If so, join this week’s trivia for an enjoyable night of team competition.

Please be aware that, to ensure the smooth operation of the game, Trivia will be limited to 25 players. To give everyone an opportunity, the Zoom waiting room will open to admit people who sign in from 7:45pm Sydney time and closes at 8:00pm. If we are full, or you don’t make it before 8:00pm, you are still very welcome to stay and listen on mute.

BCA Inform – NDIS Reform Update

Tuesday, 7th July from 7:30pm to 9:00pm AEST.

Join us for a BCA Inform session which will provide an update on our policy and advocacy work in relation to the NDIS. BCA will share key messages from BCA’s recent submission to the Senate Inquiry: National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026.

The session will also provide an opportunity to hear directly from members about their lived experience and key issues, helping to shape and strengthen BCA’s ongoing advocacy in relation to NDIS reforms to ensure our work continues to reflect the priorities and concerns of our community.

To register for the event please visit the Humanitix website. 

If you have any questions, or if you require assistance registering, please feel free to contact us at events@bca.org.au or call 1800 033 660.

Peer Connect Groups

The Peer Connect groups meeting in the next week are listed below. You can also find out more about all our peer connect groups, including session times and other details on the BCA Website.

Guitar Group

Saturday, 20th June at 2:00pm AEST.

The guitar group offers a welcoming space for players of all levels, from beginners to advanced, to come together to share tips and techniques. This group is an open platform for guitar enthusiasts where you can find support and share resources to help you along your musical journey.

Acquired Sight Loss Group

Monday, 22nd June at 7:30pm AEST.

Hosted by BCA’s National Advocacy Officer, Martin Stewart, this welcoming and friendly group is a forum for members to meet and talk with others with acquired sight loss.

Gardening Group

Wednesday, 24th June at 7:30pm AEST.

Gardening can be therapeutic and bring joy when plants are growing and thriving. Join Silvana and other gardening enthusiasts and share your knowledge, tips, and techniques for a flourishing home garden. All are welcome!

Music Group

Wednesday, 24th June at 7:30pm AEST.

Are you passionate about music? Look no further and join the Music Group! Hosted by Jennifer Parry and open to musicians who are blind or vision impaired, of all skill levels, the group provides a welcoming space to discuss tunes, share your experiences and collaborate on creative pieces. Whether you’re an experienced performer, singer or have just recently picked up an instrument, you’re welcome to join this supportive and inspiring group.

Around the Branches

National Women’s Branch

National Women’s Branch members are invited to attend a workshop.

Topic: Travel workshop

When: Thursday, 25th June 7:30pm AEST.

Registration Required: Please email Margaret on margaretebooth@gmail.com who will share the link to the workshop close to the date of the workshop.

The workshop will focus on travelling within Australia and overseas, sharing suggestions and tips of how to travel with ease, while minimising the difficulties of travel as a vision impaired person.

All members are welcome.

New Horizons

This week, enjoy a bonus episode which features exclusive coverage of the 2026 conference of the Roundtable on Information access, held in Adelaide. This episode contains extended presentations and special interviews.

Take a listen to the New Horizons podcast.

Do you have any ideas for stories, or feedback about the show? Contact us on new.horizons@bca.org.au.

News From Outside BCA

National

Help test the new way of planning – National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

NDIS participants are invited to help test the new way of planning before it rolls out from April 2027. This is a paid opportunity.

The Australian Government is improving the NDIS to make planning easier and fairer for participants. These changes follow feedback from the disability community and the NDIS Review.

Testing helps them understand what works well, and what needs to improve before roll out. They are inviting participants to take part in testing between July and December 2026.

To learn more and to express your interest, visit the NDIS website.

If you would like to take part in the testing, have further questions or require more information please call 1300 790 467.

Take part in research: Museum and gallery experiences for visitors who are blind or low vision – Monash University

Researchers at Monash University are inviting blind and low vision adults (18+) across Australia to share their experiences visiting museums and galleries, as part of a study developing a framework for more inclusive cultural institutions (Project ID: 52216).

Participation involves completing an asynchronous written interview document (approximately 30-45 minutes) in your own time and returning the completed document by email attachment. The materials are screen-reader accessible, and alternative formats (large print, plain text, audio, or video with audio description) are available on request.

To take part or for more information please contact Xueyi Bai at xbai0024@student.monash.edu.

If you are interested, please be in touch by Tuesday, 30th June 2026.

2026 Board Director Nominations and Election Online Information Session – People with Disability Australia (PWDA)

PWDA invites you to join them for an online information session to learn more about the 2026 Board Director nominations and election process.

Nominations for eligible members will be opening soon. If you are considering nominating this year, in the future, or want to learn more about PWDA’s Board and elections, they encourage you to register.

When: Wednesday, 24th June 2026 from 1:00pm – 2:30pm AEST.

Where: Zoom (Access link will be sent closer to the event)

Cost: Free

Register for the event. 

Accessible Writing Tools and Technology Webinar – Vision Australia Library

Friday, 19th June from 11:30am to 12:30pm AEST.

Vision loss and print disability shouldn’t be a barrier to continuing to write. This is a valuable opportunity to learn from our team of experts in Accessible Technology on how you can continue the all-important task of writing.

Whether it be compiling a shopping list, writing a birthday card, keeping a journal, or writing your memoir; writing is an integral part of our lives. There is an ever-evolving range of adaptive tools and technology you can use to keep those words flowing. The challenge is knowing what’s out there, and what best suits your needs.

Vision Australia are proud to offer clients an opportunity to learn what resources are available, and what technological advances have been made in recent times. Their specialist team will showcase the wide range of adaptive tools and technology on offer today. They will demonstrate a selection of devices, focusing on the attributes and accessibility of each option.

For more information, visit the Vision Australia website.

New South Wales

Have your say on the Multicultural Plan – NSW Department of Customer Service

The NSW Government is asking for your feedback to help create the Department of Customer Service (DCS) Multicultural Plan 2026-2030.

DCS agencies will use the plan to improve customer services for people from different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Tell them about your interactions with these DCS agencies, whether they were in-person, on the phone, online or using a mobile app.

Your feedback will help them:

  • understand customer experiences with DCS agencies
  • identify barriers to finding information and services
  • make services more accessible and easier to use.

You must be at least 18 years old to participate.

The consultation closes 11:59pm on Wednesday, 24th June 2026.

To learn more and to take part, visit the NSW Government website.

Victoria

Nominations Closing Soon – 2026 Victorian Disability Awards

The Victorian Disability Awards recognises a person, group and organisation that:

  • champion disability rights and inclusion
  • demonstrate best practice policy delivery and advocacy
  • are role models in their own communities and across Victoria
  • promote disability pride.

The Victorian Government wants to celebrate people who help make Victoria fairer and more inclusive by recognising their achievements over the past year.

Do you know someone that:

  • makes everyday activities easier and more accessible for everyone
  • stands up for the rights of people with disability
  • builds more inclusive workplaces and communities
  • promotes and celebrates diversity.

You can nominate:

  • a person with disability
  • family members
  • volunteers
  • a person working in the sector
  • an organisation that provides programs, advocacy or services.

Take the time to nominate a person or a group who are making a real difference.

Nominations close at 5:00pm, Friday 26th June 2026. The nomination period will not be extended.

To learn more and to nominate, visit the Victorian Disability Awards webpage.

Queensland

Free come and try golf clinics across Gold Coast, Brisbane and Bribie Island – Empower Golf

Ever wanted to give golf a go? Empower Golf is inviting people living with disability to attend its free come and try golf clinics, with no previous golfing experience required.

Held monthly at Topgolf Gold Coast, Pacific Golf Club, Carindale, and Pacific Harbour Golf Club, Bribie Island, the clinics are led by accredited specialised coaches who provide expert guidance in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Participants at Pacific Golf Club, Carindale can also access the innovative Paragolfer, an all-terrain mobility device that enables users to move into a standing position and experience the full golf swing.

Bookings are essential to ensure the appropriate equipment and support are available on the day.

For upcoming clinic dates, bookings and more information, visit the Empower Golf website. You can also watch the promotional video.

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Donate to BCA

Have you got something to contribute?

If you have something you would like included in the Member Update, please send it to memberupdate@bca.org.au or call us on 1800 033 660. Items received by 12:00pm Monday will be considered for publishing in the Wednesday update.

Blind Citizens Australia

Email: bca@bca.org.au

Website: www.bca.org.au

ABN: 90 006 985 226

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