Wednesday 10th December
As we welcome the festive season, the entire BCA team sends warm wishes for a joyful Christmas, a bright New Year and a holiday period filled with peace and happiness.
This has been a landmark year for BCA, highlighted by BCA’s 50th Anniversary Convention and important achievements – all made possible through the support and involvement of you, our wonderful members. We are sincerely grateful for everything you contribute.
Please note, our office will close on Friday, 19th December 2025, and will reopen on Monday, 5th January 2026.
As this is our final Member Update for 2025, to add a little cheer, we’ve included a selection of favourite movies chosen by our staff in the BCA Celebrates the Holidays section below.
We look forward to returning with fresh updates on Wednesday, 14th January 2026. Until then, we wish you a restful and joyous festive season!
A reminder, you can also read this update on BCA’s website.
What’s Coming Up at BCA?
Plan ahead using our monthly calendar – the events calendar for December 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, 13th December at 8:00pm AEDT.
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.
- Join via weblink
- Join with one tap mobile (via non-iOS)
- Join with one tap mobile using the number below (via iOS):
+61370182005,,889 0666 5580#,,,,*950883# - Join by phone by dialling 03 7018 2005 using Meeting ID: 889 0666 5580
- Passcode: 950883
BCA Updates
Update from the CEO
Dear members,
2025 has been a truly special year as we celebrated our 50th Anniversary! Our commemorative Convention brought together 150 members to honour our history and set an inspiring course for the future. The connections and energy generated during this celebration were a highlight for the entire BCA community.
Our collective strength has shone through this year, resulting in several key advocacy wins.
The work of building a truly inclusive society doesn’t stop, and we are energised to tackle the challenges ahead in 2026. Your insights and experiences remain the essential fuel that drives our advocacy, and we are committed to achieving even greater accessibility wins in the coming year.
However you choose to spend this festive season, we hope it brings you time to rest, connect with loved ones, and recharge. May your days be filled with good company and festive cheer.
From the President
Greetings all and wishing you all the best for the end-of-year season! Thank you to the 68 people who attended our Annual General Meeting. It is gratifying to see so many members interested in BCA’s ongoing activities and so many people willing to stand up at BCA’s formal events. Congratulations to those who have been nominated for our NSW/ACT State Division and NPC. The board eagerly looks forward to your input throughout your term of office. We fully understand the impost being involved in these committees represents and we thank you for your commitment to improving the lives of blind and vision impaired people across Australia.
With another successful year under our belts, the Board is now turning its attention to the strategic plan, BCA Branches and conducting the important projects for 2026. We look forward to the reboot of BCA’s radio program and podcast, developing a robust and useful Member Communications platform and undertaking cybersecurity and Human Resource audits, which will stand BCA in good stead for the future. In regard to our ongoing strategy, thank you to those members who took the time to complete our strategic development survey. The Board will be meeting with staff in March to develop the new Strategic Plan, which will guide BCA’s work over the next few years. Your responses to the survey and other direct input from members will be at the heart of the plan and we hope to hear more from members throughout this process. It is important to BCA that we get this plan right and affirm our position as the peak representative body of and for Australians who are blind and vision impaired. We’ll have more to offer shortly.
Policy, Advocacy & Representation
Advocacy Update – Martin Stewart
Our advocacy work has led to a successful outcome, which will have a major positive impact on the individual that we supported. This case involved a schoolteacher who is vision impaired at a regional school for children with disabilities. When returning to work after obtaining the services of a dog guide, she was unpleasantly surprised to be informed by her school’s principal that it would not be possible for her to come to work with her dog, as its presence would not be consistent with the department’s policy. On hearing this, we immediately spoke to the principal to remind them that it is not lawful to deny the presence of a dog guide in any workplace, with very few exceptions such as quarantine centres, operating theatres and national parks.
The principal’s primary concern was for the children’s health and safety. We responded to this by explaining how clean and well-trained dog guides are. We then suggested that the school should focus on an introduction process, where the children can be educated about how to conduct themselves when a dog guide is working with its handler. After further communication, the school has now changed its position, which means that our client can now happily return to work with the school’s full support for her to continue teaching and being a dog guide handler.
BCA Celebrates the Holidays
BCA Staff Spreading the Christmas Cheer!
BCA staff are excited to share their favourite holiday movies to spark some festive joy this season!
From timeless classics to modern feel-good favourites, this collection is sure to bring warmth, laughter and holiday spirit to your days. We hope these staff-picked films brighten your season and offer the perfect excuse to relax and enjoy some festive watching. Enjoy!
Deb Deshayes – The Polar Express
Sarah Reilly – Love Actually
Craig Hunter and Melanie Chatfield – Die Hard
Rachael Johinke – Home Alone
Martin Stewart – Gandhi (He has no favourite Christmas movie right now!)
Angela Jaeschke – The Muppet Christmas Carol / Violent Night
Samantha Marsh – The Grinch
Layal Hage – Jingle All the Way
Amila Dedovic – Elf
News From Outside BCA
National
Geographic Atrophy Survey Request – Retina Australia
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) will consider the reimbursement application for IZERVAY (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution) at its upcoming March 2026 meeting.
IZERVAY is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with Geographic Atrophy (GA) secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration with an intact fovea and when central vision is threatened by GA lesion growth.
There is currently no viable treatment option for GA in Australia, with patients facing progressive and irreversible vision loss. The introduction of IZERVAY could make a difference to the lives of Australians with GA.
As part of the reimbursement process, PBAC invites input from patients, families, patient groups, doctors and allied health professionals to share their views on the need for treatment.
This input will be collected through a short online survey.
The survey is open until Wednesday, 21st January 2026.
For further information email info@retinaaustralia.com.au or call (03) 9650 5088.
Have Your Say in an Assistive Technology Survey 2025 – Intopia
Intopia has launched the 2025 Assistive Technology Survey, the most comprehensive study in Australia and New Zealand exploring how people use assistive technology online. Now in its third year, the survey captures emerging trends – including the role of AI – and helps build vital evidence to inform policy, product design and accessibility innovation.
If you’re 18+ and use assistive technology or adaptive strategies, your insights can help shape a more inclusive digital future.
The survey is accessible, anonymous, and open until Saturday, 6th February 2026, with results to be released in May 2026.
If you need support to complete the survey, please email us at ATsurvey@intopia.digital or call +61 3 9977 9610.
Call for Participants in Feature Dialogue – The Disability Dialogue
The Disability Dialogue is launching a new initiative, the Feature Dialogue, and they’re seeking participants to help shape real change. This project aims to improve the foundational supports available to people with disability when seeking assistance outside the NDIS.
The Feature Dialogue will bring together focus groups to explore long-standing challenges and share ideas for better, fairer support. Participants will take part in online discussions over six months, including up to five sessions and potentially 1-2 guided video calls led by a person with disability.
Who can take part?
- People with disability
- Family, kin and carers
At the conclusion of the project, the Disability Dialogue will publish a final report outlining recommendations for improved support systems. This report will be launched at a public online event and shared with the Ministers for the NDIS, Mark Butler and Jenny McAllister.
To sign up visit eature Dialogue or email info@disabilitydialogue.com.au
Spaces are limited, and selected participants will be contacted with further details and accessibility checks.
Share Your Experience: Research Study for Students with Print Disability in Higher Education – University of New England
You are invited to take part in a research study exploring the experiences of university and TAFE students with a print disability – including blindness, low vision, or with a print disability (such as dyslexia).
Your voice matters. By sharing your experiences, you can help us better understand how to create positive, inclusive learning environments that prepare students for study, work, and life.
What’s involved:
- Completing a short online survey (about 15 minutes)
- Option to participate in a follow-up interview to share more about your journey
If you are interested in participating in the research, please email Dr. Theresa Ruig on tsmith24@une.edu.au for more information and how to access the survey.
New South Wales
Sydney Festival Access Guides 2026
Embracing the art of summer since 1977, Sydney Festival is a city-wide celebration of culture, creativity and the questioning mind. From the streets to the beach, in stately theatres and in secret basements, it animates locations across Greater Sydney with a trailblazing free and ticketed program of theatre, music, dance, visual art and all the experimental in-between places of live performance.
As a dedicated commissioner of new Australian works, Sydney Festival showcases our nation’s diverse storytellers to the world, whilst drawing the world’s finest artists to Sydney.
Visit the festival’s full access guide.
Victoria
Alter State 2026 Expression of Interest – Arts Access Victoria and Arts Centre Melbourne
Arts Centre Melbourne and Arts Access Victoria are seeking Deaf and Disabled arts workers to help deliver Alter State 2026 – a disability-led celebration of creativity, culture and leadership. With support from Creative Australia, a limited number of paid roles are available across producing, access coordination, marketing, photography, videography, technical production, community engagement and more.
EOIs from artists interested in short performances, panels, workshops or public programming are also being accepted.
EOIs close on Sunday, 4th January 2025.
You can find more information and lodge your expression of interest on the Arts Centre Melbourne website.
Support our 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.
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
BCA acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea, and community. We also pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders past, present, and future.