Dear Members,

BCA is a for-purpose organisation. Our purpose is to achieve equity for people who are blind or vision impaired, so that we can live our lives in any way we choose, in a place that respects, recognises and responds to our uniqueness and diversity (BCA Constitution 2023, Clause 6).

Our purpose lies at the heart of all we do. I invite you to vote with purpose in this election of directors for the Board, the first we have held for almost 10 years. Effective organisations rely on high functioning boards. So, make your vote count.

The Board has declared five vacant positions for this election and each full member of BCA is entitled to vote for up to five candidates. When choosing who to vote for, don’t only draw on your knowledge of the candidates. Read everyone’s nomination statement about themselves and what they have to offer. Listen to the special New Horizons episode where Steve Richardson talks with each of the candidates. This will be available from Thursday, 5th November. If you’re still not sure, call someone you trust and talk it over.

Keep your focus on the main game which is to lodge a valid vote. BCA has high expectations for the quality of the voting process we expect from Australian governments – secret, independent and verifiable. Within our own resources we have come up with a format that aims to meet these criteria as best we can within cost and time constraints.

There are two channels for voting. First telephone voting. Importantly, we have designed this to provide a secret vote. The person who checks your eligibility will be different from the person who takes your vote.

Second, SMS or text voting. This channel trades off a degree of secrecy for convenience. You can vote 24/7 and your vote will be recorded by volunteers not directly connected with BCA. While your name and the names of the candidates you vote for will be included in the one text message, the first step in recording your vote will be to separate the two. Your name will be used only to verify your eligibility to vote, and your vote will be recorded without your name.

If you run into difficulties or delays in telephone voting, please let us know and we’ll work together to find a solution. This is the first time BCA has run a paper-free election and we are sure to learn as we go.

The Board has appointed Ms Sharon McKenzie as the returning officer to oversee the integrity of the voting process. Sharon satisfies the requirements for independence as set down in the BCA Constitution (Clause 32).

Before I sign off, I acknowledge Vaughan Roles who withdrew his candidacy for a director position late in the process due to another opportunity. Vaughan was elected to the Law Society Council of NSW, and we wish him success with this appointment.

I’d also like to congratulate Phillip Tilley who stood for a position on the NSW/ACT State Division. As nominees were fewer than positions vacant, he is appointed without the need for an election.

The outcome of the election of directors will be announced at the AGM on Thursday, 26th November. I look forward to working with the refreshed Board and our newly re-appointed CEO Deb Deshayes as we move forward in another Convention year.

You will receive detailed information on the voting process including the candidate statements about themselves in your preferred format in the next few days.

• Andrew Webster, BCA President

Update from the CEO

Dear Members,

I am pleased to welcome Bronwyn (Bron) Brown, who joins us today as our new Executive Assistant. Bron brings more than 20 years of extensive executive support and governance experience, having worked alongside CEOs, Chairs and senior leaders across organisations including Ingenico, The Good Guys and Transport Certification Australia. She holds specialised executive management qualifications through the EA Institute and has a strong track record in board administration, executive coordination and managing complex organisational priorities. Bron is also deaf and brings a strong passion for creating inclusive ways of working. We are excited to have her join the team and I know you will all make her feel very welcome.

In other news, we are keeping a close eye on some significant developments around the NDIA’s proposed new NDIS budget and planning arrangements. Recent media reports have raised concerns about the proposed automated approach to setting budgets, including comparisons with the aged-care assessment tool recently criticised by the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

At the heart of these concerns is whether people’s individual circumstances, changing needs and voices will genuinely be considered when decisions are made about their supports. We recognise the potential impact of these changes and are raising our concerns directly with the NDIA. As these conversations progress, we will continue to keep you informed.

Another issue we are following closely is the Senate disallowance motion scheduled for Tuesday, 17th November 2026, which seeks to overturn the NDIS Support Determination 2026. The Determination reduces funding for social, economic and community participation supports by 50% and improved daily living skills supports by 10%, meaning people may not be able to access the full funding they have been assessed as needing.

Every Australian Counts is encouraging people with disability, families and supporters to contact Senators before the vote and ask them to support the disallowance motion. Sharing personal experiences about how these supports affect independence, community participation and everyday life can also help demonstrate the impact of the proposed cuts.

For a full explanation of the proposed funding reductions, the parliamentary process and suggestions for contacting Senators, visit the Every Australian Counts campaign page. The page includes a link to the Parliament of Australia website to help you identify your Senators. To make this process easier, BCA has also prepared a downloadable Word document listing the names and email addresses of Senators for each state and territory. You may wish to adapt the letter provided when contacting a senator.

I also warmly congratulate Graeme Innes on his appointment as the next Chair of the NDIA Board, commencing Tuesday, 17th December. Graeme has a long history of advocacy and contribution to our community, and we look forward to working with him in this important role to support meaningful outcomes for people with disability. With so much information to navigate, I encourage you to regularly visit the BCA website for the latest NDIA updates.

Finally, I want to share an important update regarding paid participation for RISE Mentors. Many of you will recall that in February we advised that, following an investigation into the current RISE funding agreement, we had concluded that moving to a remunerated mentoring model would require individual sub-contracting arrangements and a formal variation to the funding agreement. At the time, the Department advised that such a variation could not be guaranteed within a timeframe that would allow the program to proceed without disruption to agreed activities and the support being provided to participants. As a result, we made the decision to proceed with a volunteer mentoring model for the current program.

Since then, we have continued to reflect on this position, developed a policy with the support of the National Policy Committee, and considered our responsibility to recognise and value lived experience. I am pleased to share that we have reconsidered our position and that paid participation will now be offered for mentor roles. We recognise that accepting payment is a personal preference and that not everyone will wish to take up this option. Previous mentors will have the choice of whether to accept paid participation when undertaking a mentor role in 2027 under these updated terms.

This decision aligns directly with our ongoing commitment to valuing lived experience and establishing a consistent direction for our future projects. We understand that lived experience is expertise, and it is important that the way we deliver our programs reflects that principle in practice, not just words. I want to thank everyone who has contributed to this conversation – particularly those who have shared their perspectives and helped us reconsider how we can do better.

• Deb Deshayes, BCA CEO

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

More from BCA

Complete the 2027 Convention Survey – Convention Program Committee

A big thanks to everyone who has submitted suggestions and abstracts for next year’s BCA Convention program. The Program Committee is currently in the process of reviewing these and working out how to best incorporate the great material into the event.

Tender still open for submissions – Leadership Training

BCA invites suitably qualified and experienced training contractors to submit a quotation for the design, delivery, mentoring, and evaluation of leadership development programs for people who are blind or vision impaired for the grant-funded Pathways to Independence project.

Through these programs, participants will develop practical leadership skills, expand professional networks, and increase confidence in advocating for themselves and others.

To find out more, please go to this Word document on our website to view the tender information and how to submit.

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

Please feel free to pass this opportunity onto interested parties in your network.

Queries and quotations should be addressed to bca@bca.org.au or you can call 1800 033 660.

Submissions must be received in Word format or another accessible format by 5:00pm, Friday 13th November 2026.

An Overview of BCA Projects

Pathways to Independence Project

• Re-igniting an ‘Engagement with Community’ strategy;
• Developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP);
• Conducting a review of and updating existing advocacy resources;
• Preparing for Branch and Peer Connect leaders and our emerging leaders to have access to professional development training/mentoring; and
• Supporting our peer groups to maintain regular connections, and to grow and develop.

An Eye to the Future Project

• RISE 2027 (Resilience, Insight & Skills for Employment): This 12-week online leadership and skills development program supports participants to build confidence, strengthen practical employment skills, expand professional networks and develop their leadership potential through lived experience mentoring, interactive learning and peer connection.
• Job Ready and Wellbeing Resources: Development of new resources designed to help blind and low vision job seekers identify their strengths, prepare for meaningful employment, and maintain confidence, motivation and wellbeing throughout their employment journey.
• Launching soon – Business Coffee Conversations Webinar Series: A new employer-focused webinar series delivering short, practical discussions that challenge common misconceptions, share success stories, and provide employers with the knowledge and confidence to create more inclusive workplaces.
• Partnership Development: Ongoing work to strengthen relationships across the employment, disability and community sectors to support greater opportunities and outcomes for people who are blind or have low vision.

BCA Hugh Jeffrey Scholarship Program

Policy, Advocacy & Representation

Systemic Advocacy Update – Francois Jacobs

The NDIA is seeking feedback on how it communicates information about NDIS reforms, including which reforms people would like to know more about, what reform-related information is most useful, and which parts of the reforms or new laws need further explanation.

The agency says it will use this feedback to improve the information and support it provides as NDIS reforms continue to be implemented. Members who would like to learn more about the consultation process or provide feedback can complete the NDIA’s survey on NDIS reform information.

If you use a screen reader to complete the survey, BCA would be very interested in hearing about your experience. In particular, we would like to know whether any aspects of the survey created barriers or made navigation more difficult. For example, did the absence of headings affect your ability to move efficiently through the survey? How did you find the question that asks participants to rank items in order of preference? While this is a relatively short survey, it provides a useful opportunity to highlight good digital accessibility practice and help ensure that longer surveys are as efficient and accessible as possible for people who are blind or have low vision.

Please send any feedback about the survey’s accessibility to francois.jacobs@bca.org.au. It would be helpful if you could include details such as the device and platform you were using, the screen reader software you used, and a description of any difficulties you encountered. Specific examples help agencies understand exactly what needs improvement and make it much easier for them to address accessibility issues effectively.

The survey will remain open until the end of the year. However, as BCA hopes to provide feedback to the NDIA about the experiences of people who are blind or have low vision before our end-of-year closure period, we encourage members to complete the survey and share any accessibility feedback with us as soon as possible.

BCA Events

Plan ahead using our monthly calendar – the events calendar for November 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

• Join via weblink
• Join with one tap mobile (via non-iOS)
• Join with one tap mobile using the number below (via iOS): +61280156011,,84491693225#,,,,*424050#
• Join by phone by dialling 03 7018 2005 using Meeting ID: 844 9169 3225
• Passcode: 424050

BCA Inform – Autonomous Vehicles and Accessible Public Standard

Tuesday, 10th November from 7:30pm to 9:00pm AEDT.

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.

BCA’s 51st Annual General Meeting

Thursday, 26th November at 7:30pm AEDT.

All members are warmly invited to join us for the 51st Annual General Meeting of BCA, taking place via Zoom. We encourage all members to register and join us for this important event.

In preparation for the AGM, you’ll find the relevant documents, reports and meeting information in the notice sent to members and on the BCA website.

To register for the AGM visit the Humanitix website.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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.

Wellbeing Peer Connect Group

Thursday, 5th November at 7:30pm AEDT.

• Join via weblink
• Join with one tap mobile
• Join by phone by dialling 03 7018 2005 using Meeting ID: 865 8446 5194
• Passcode: 397250

Public Speaking Forum

• Join via weblink
• Join with one tap mobile
• Join by phone by dialling 03 7018 2005 using Meeting ID: 874 9568 9362
• Passcode: 903415

Braille Enthusiasts Peer Group

• Join via weblink
• Join with one tap mobile
• Join by phone by dialling 03 7018 2005 using Meeting ID: 811 2369 9442
• Passcode: 471895

Music Group

• Join via weblink
• Join with one tap mobile
• Join by phone by dialling 03 7018 2005 using Meeting ID: 873 4667 6799
• Passcode: 876125

Around the Branches

Tasmania Branch

Join our Christmas Catch up which is on Saturday, 28th November between 11:30am and around 2:30pm at Central Hobart Bistro and Bar.

Queensland Branch

The Queensland branch is excited to announce its scheduled upcoming Christmas parties. This i9s a wonderful opportunity for local Branch members to come together.

New Horizons

This week, I catch up with Jonathan Craig from Vision 2020 about the Voice for Vision Smart Glasses Campaign. I also speak with Janelle Calquhoun regarding a Queensland survey for people with disability participating in sport.

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

Online Art Accessibility Workshop – Australia and New Zealand Accessible Graphics Group (ANZAGG)

The Australia and New Zealand Accessible Graphics Group (ANZAGG) is pleased to host this workshop on the topic of art accessibility for gallery and museum visitors with print disabilities.

Cheque payments are stopping soon – Services Australia

Update your bank account details now. Soon Services Australia only be able to pay you using an electronic payment method.

Accessible Directory – Service and Repair

• Compatibility with screen readers, with every page tested using NVDA and keyboard navigation.
• Search boxes that announce the number of results, with listings selectable using the arrow keys.

• Consistent layouts and clear headings across listings, making it easier to navigate and understand where you are on the page.
• Text that can be enlarged to 400% without breaking the layout, along with strong colour contrast.
• The ability to contact tradespeople directly by text message or email from their listing.

New South Wales

Brain Injury Australia Health Symposium

With just two weeks until the Brain Injury Australia Health Symposium 2026, now is the time to secure your place for a day of important discussions about the future of brain injury care, research and support in Australia.

Fee-Free Entry for Filmmakers Living With Disability – Sydney Film Festival 2027

Filmmakers living with disability can enter Sydney Film Festival (SFF) 2027 free of charge through the Festival’s Screenability Program. Submissions are open now via FilmFreeway until Friday, 26th February 2027. It’s a fantastic opportunity for filmmakers living with disability to get their work out there.

Audio-Described Performance at Sydney Opera House: Storytime Ballet – Cinderella

Saturday, 28th November 2026 at 2:00pm.

Identification of Critical Environmental Limits for Aged Adults – Sydney University

Sydney University is looking for non-smoking healthy adults aged 65-85 to participate in their study at the Thermal Ergonomics Lab (TEL) in Susan Wakil Health Building. This study investigates the point at which incrementally increasing humidity causes the human body to store heat during light exercise in a hot environment.

Victoria

Take part in a research project on Audio Description – University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne are currently recruiting blind or vision impaired community members for a University of Melbourne research project exploring how audio description can facilitate meaningful and independent access to artworks and university services. Participants will be invited to evaluate audio descriptions of selected artworks and a factual video introducing library services, sharing their experiences, preferences, and suggestions for improvement.

Australian Capital Territory

Participants Wanted – ACT Reduced Vision Connected Pathways Mobility Pilot Project

ACT residents are sought to participants for the Australian first ACT Reduced Vision Connected Pathways Mobility Pilot Project, supported by an ACT Government Disability Inclusion Grant.

Support BCA’s work

By donating to BCA, you contribute to important programs and services that empower our community. Every dollar goes a long way in helping us achieve our purpose and enhancing the lives of those we serve.

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.