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20 Years Building Resilience and Representation

In 2020 we are celebrating 20 years of FPDN. As an organisation of and for First Nations people with disability, we continue the legacy of our founding Elders into the future through our strength, resilience, and representation.

COVID Warrior

If you are worried about the COVID vaccine and need more information, talk to your doctor for the best advice and the right information for you.

Many Spirit Dreaming

The ‘many spirit’ concept in the artwork story reflects the cultural belief that everyone is born with a male spirit or female and people who identify as LGBTIQ+ have multiple spirits. The artwork speaks to the issues and barriers faced by LGBTIQ+ First Nations people living with disability in their day-to-day lives. The painting also depicts positive reforms such as the same sex marriage bill in Australia and how this has positively impacted on the LGBTIQ community. Artwork ‘Many Sprit Dreaming’ © Uncle Paul Constable Calcott

The Journey of First Peoples Disability Network Australia.

FPDN proactively engage with communities around Australia and advocate for the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability in Australia and internationally. We follow the human rights framework established by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to which Australia is a signatory, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

‘Love comes first’ Brian Tennyson
Telling Story Project

Telling Story supports individuals and communities widen their lens & re-author their stories to find strength, resilience and hope. Stories can be telling, and we can learn from how we listen to others and remember our own. This story was recorded at the Paterson St Hub in Tennant Creek. Uncle Brian Tennyson is a Board Director of First Peoples Disability Network (Australia).

Connect with more stories from the Telling Story Project here

FPDN video submission to the Disability Royal Commission

Traditionally First Nations People with disability were cared for, supported and considered to be a valued and contributing part of their community, however, the practice of removing Australia’s First Peoples from their traditional lands and forcibly placing people into missions, destroyed family and community structure, with enforced colonial teachings and cultural restrictions impacting on many traditional beliefs and practices.

Explaining Corona Virus in Auslan

Explaining Coronavirus in Auslan and how to reduce your risk in contracting it.

ADPG – NATSIC’s story from the field

Jake Briggs talks to Adam Cryer at NATSIC about their journey towards NDIS readiness and what they did with funding from the Aboriginal Disability Provider Grants (ADPG) program.

ADPG – Cullunghutti’s and WAMINDA’s stories from the field

June Reimer has a yarn with some of the team at Cullunghutti and WAMINDA about their journey towards NDIS readiness and what they did with funding through the Aboriginal Disability Provider Grants (ADPG) program.

ADPG – Winanga-Li’s story from the field

June Reimer chats with Wayne Griffiths Centre Manager at Winanga-Li and about how they are increasing disability support services in rural and remote regions with funding from the Aboriginal Disability Provider Grants (ADPG) program.

‘Our Way Planning’ Book

June Riemer and Paul Calcott from FPDN share the story of FPDN’s Our Way Planning book and its cultural significance.

Horse Tales

Discover the wonderful horse riding program at Kelly’s Ranch in Tennant Creek for young people with disability. This film was made by Broken Hill Films, filmed in Tennant Creek, NT. We thank the participants and the community for their contribution.

What Keeps Me Strong

Filmed in Tennant Creek, NT ‘What Keeps Me Strong’ highlights the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in the disability sector and respectful engagement with Aboriginal communities as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) rolls out in Australia.

Living My Way

‘Living My Way’ shares real stories from the FPDN community to increase understanding and awareness of disability in Aboriginal communities in NSW.

Getting Prepared

This film shares the stories of our people with disability and their families. It talks about identity, culture and stories. The film was produced to highlight the opportunities to get prepared for the changing disability sector in a culturally and disability accessible way.

Deadly Deaf Mob Conference 2015

The Deadly Deaf Mob Conference: ‘Our rights, Our stories, Our business’ was organised by Deaf Aboriginal people for Deaf and hard-of-hearing Aboriginal people and held in Penrith, Sydney from 29 September to 1 October 2015. FPDN supported the conference as parts of its NSW work and created this film for the conference.

Nuunaron Art Group

Uncle Paul Calcott shares information about NuunaRon, a group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait artists and emerging artists living with disability. The NuunaRon group provides a safe space for people to share stories of resilience and keeping strong via yarning, painting and creating art.

FPDN Ten-Point Plan 2013

FPDN launched a ten-point plan for the introduction of the NDIS in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. A short film was made for the launch for our ten-point plan at Parliament House, Canberra. The plan is just as relevant today as it was then. The film features many past and present Board members of FPDN.

‘Only Human: 70 Years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights’

FPDN CEO Damian Griffis along with Ruth Barson, Nyadol Nyuon & Hugh de Kretser weigh in on the status and progress of Human Rights today on The Wheeler Centre Panel ‘Only Human: 70 Years of the Universal Declaration of Human rights’ presented in partnership with Human Rights Law Centre.

Time to get NDIS ready 

Our CEO Damian Griffis and the team from FPDN talk about how important it is for Aboriginal community-controlled service providers to get ready for the NDIS and what they can do next. This is a big change but an even bigger opportunity to delivery culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal people with disability.

Susan’s Birthday Party

A film by Aunty Maureen Logan
On her first day at school Susan’s learns you can’t take your identity for granted. Susan is a proud Indigenous 6 year old, whose fair skin and red hair contradict the stereotypical appearance her young classmates expect. From her first day at school she is thrown into the painful dilemma of thinking she has to choose between the acceptances of her disbelieving school friends or defiantly claiming her “Goori” identity. Susan’s mother has a solution, a Birthday Party. Made through Metro Screen’s Indigenous Mentorship Scheme www.metroscreen.org.au