El Gibbs
@bluntshovels.bsky.social
Grumpy optimist. Writes about the NDIS and disability. Wiradjuri country
bluntshovels.au
bluntshovels.au
I am talking (remotely) at the big provider conference this afternoon, and you can imagine that I may be a tad grumpy
November 24, 2025 at 9:43 PM
I am talking (remotely) at the big provider conference this afternoon, and you can imagine that I may be a tad grumpy
this interview, and the subsequent reporting around it, was absolutely infuriating. any other sector's big business lobby wouldn't get this kind of uncritical, uninformed, wildly inaccurate coverage, yet disabled peoples' essential services do [little 🧵]
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
NDIS described as 'trainwreck' - ABC listen
A market failure is happening now in the National Disability Insurance Scheme, with many not-for-profit providers heading to insolvency.
www.abc.net.au
November 24, 2025 at 9:32 PM
this interview, and the subsequent reporting around it, was absolutely infuriating. any other sector's big business lobby wouldn't get this kind of uncritical, uninformed, wildly inaccurate coverage, yet disabled peoples' essential services do [little 🧵]
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
'people with disability over the age of 15 were also more likely to experience all types of assault included in the report'
www.sbs.com.au/news/article...
www.sbs.com.au/news/article...
The Australians more likely to be fraud victims but less likely to be reimbursed
The data has come from a series of national surveys and provides insights into the lives of those with a disability.
www.sbs.com.au
November 20, 2025 at 9:23 PM
'people with disability over the age of 15 were also more likely to experience all types of assault included in the report'
www.sbs.com.au/news/article...
www.sbs.com.au/news/article...
IMF ghouls say care and support must go, while more money to big business
thenightly.com.au/politics/imf...
thenightly.com.au/politics/imf...
IMF calls on Australia to raise GST, bring back mining tax
The IMF says Australia needs to raise the GST, bring back the mining tax and cut back on expensive costs like the NDIS.
thenightly.com.au
November 20, 2025 at 9:16 PM
IMF ghouls say care and support must go, while more money to big business
thenightly.com.au/politics/imf...
thenightly.com.au/politics/imf...
short term funding for cohealth, but no certainty
"In the eight months before I found cohealth I presented to emergency on 17 occasions," Rachel Crouch said.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
"In the eight months before I found cohealth I presented to emergency on 17 occasions," Rachel Crouch said.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Cohealth clinics given federal government funding lifeline
The Commonwealth will provide $1.5 million in temporary funding to keep the community health clinic's GP services running until July next year.
www.abc.net.au
November 20, 2025 at 9:15 PM
short term funding for cohealth, but no certainty
"In the eight months before I found cohealth I presented to emergency on 17 occasions," Rachel Crouch said.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
"In the eight months before I found cohealth I presented to emergency on 17 occasions," Rachel Crouch said.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Reposted by El Gibbs
I will not fight with people on Threads about Makaton. I will not fight with people on Threads about Makaton. I will not thebaffler.com/outbursts/si...
Signed Away | Sara Nović
The hearing world continues to pillage and caricature the deaf community—most recently with the proprietary, sign-based system Makaton.
thebaffler.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:03 AM
I will not fight with people on Threads about Makaton. I will not fight with people on Threads about Makaton. I will not thebaffler.com/outbursts/si...
Reposted by El Gibbs
I am amongst the most privileged in my communities, and acknowledge the massive privilege I have had in being able to manage to self-fund / cobble things together for all but one of the COPs I’ve attended. But a key reason I haven’t been in this space the last 2yrs is that issue.
November 20, 2025 at 3:40 AM
I am amongst the most privileged in my communities, and acknowledge the massive privilege I have had in being able to manage to self-fund / cobble things together for all but one of the COPs I’ve attended. But a key reason I haven’t been in this space the last 2yrs is that issue.
Reposted by El Gibbs
(And that’s not even considering that for many of us disabled people the only way such a voyage is even slightly accessible is to travel business class - or pay several days of inflated COP accommodation extra so we can recover before the conference starts).
November 20, 2025 at 3:38 AM
(And that’s not even considering that for many of us disabled people the only way such a voyage is even slightly accessible is to travel business class - or pay several days of inflated COP accommodation extra so we can recover before the conference starts).
Reposted by El Gibbs
But what about civil society, disabled people, and Indigenous Peoples?
The funding environment is so challenging as it is, and it is hard to justify to funders the importance of our attendance when it costs double and often more than other delegates.
The funding environment is so challenging as it is, and it is hard to justify to funders the importance of our attendance when it costs double and often more than other delegates.
November 20, 2025 at 3:36 AM
But what about civil society, disabled people, and Indigenous Peoples?
The funding environment is so challenging as it is, and it is hard to justify to funders the importance of our attendance when it costs double and often more than other delegates.
The funding environment is so challenging as it is, and it is hard to justify to funders the importance of our attendance when it costs double and often more than other delegates.
Reposted by El Gibbs
I sincerely hope that there is going to be a massive dose of financing to ensure that Pacific Island states can show up in force. It is ridiculous that the states who are very literally on the front lines of climate change are routinely spread so thin across negotiations. But…
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 AM
I sincerely hope that there is going to be a massive dose of financing to ensure that Pacific Island states can show up in force. It is ridiculous that the states who are very literally on the front lines of climate change are routinely spread so thin across negotiations. But…
Reposted by El Gibbs
I just travelled 40 hours to get here, and paid an extortionate amount for flights. I love my colleagues from all around the world but they just don’t have the same barriers to physically get to COPs as we do in the Pacific. This has a real effect on COP outcomes.
November 20, 2025 at 3:32 AM
I just travelled 40 hours to get here, and paid an extortionate amount for flights. I love my colleagues from all around the world but they just don’t have the same barriers to physically get to COPs as we do in the Pacific. This has a real effect on COP outcomes.
Reposted by El Gibbs
Of course, having some form of stronger Pacific voice at #COP31 is better than the alternative of a fully Türkiye focused conference, but this host country arrangement does nothing to address the very real practical & financial barriers for Pacific participation in these spaces.
November 20, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Of course, having some form of stronger Pacific voice at #COP31 is better than the alternative of a fully Türkiye focused conference, but this host country arrangement does nothing to address the very real practical & financial barriers for Pacific participation in these spaces.
Reposted by El Gibbs
It’s too early yet to know what to make of tonight’s news that Türkiye will physically host #COP31, with Australia as President & some partnership with the Pacific. But at least for my community, this is a really tough blow at a critical time & it will reduce our participation.
November 20, 2025 at 3:24 AM
It’s too early yet to know what to make of tonight’s news that Türkiye will physically host #COP31, with Australia as President & some partnership with the Pacific. But at least for my community, this is a really tough blow at a critical time & it will reduce our participation.
Reposted by El Gibbs
People with disability were more likely to be physically assaulted by someone they knew and to experience assault in their own home.
18% of people with disability experienced fraud in a 12-month period, compared with 13% of people without disability
www.abs.gov.au/media-centre...
18% of people with disability experienced fraud in a 12-month period, compared with 13% of people without disability
www.abs.gov.au/media-centre...
High rates of fraud against people with disability
www.abs.gov.au
November 20, 2025 at 1:01 AM
People with disability were more likely to be physically assaulted by someone they knew and to experience assault in their own home.
18% of people with disability experienced fraud in a 12-month period, compared with 13% of people without disability
www.abs.gov.au/media-centre...
18% of people with disability experienced fraud in a 12-month period, compared with 13% of people without disability
www.abs.gov.au/media-centre...
Reposted by El Gibbs
Mutual obligation requirements will be paused for all participants from Monday 15 December 2025 until Monday 5 January 2026 (inclusive).
www.workforceaustralia.gov.au/individuals/...
www.workforceaustralia.gov.au/individuals/...
November 20, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Mutual obligation requirements will be paused for all participants from Monday 15 December 2025 until Monday 5 January 2026 (inclusive).
www.workforceaustralia.gov.au/individuals/...
www.workforceaustralia.gov.au/individuals/...
this image got shared in a local facebook group and hoo boy, folks are not getting the point at all
Once more, wind turbines spoil the view of this pristine rural landscape in Australia, threatening a lovely coal mine.
#auspol #politics #climatechange
pbs.twimg.com/media/G6GYra...
#auspol #politics #climatechange
pbs.twimg.com/media/G6GYra...
November 20, 2025 at 12:26 AM
this image got shared in a local facebook group and hoo boy, folks are not getting the point at all
Reposted by El Gibbs
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2... this sweet obit from one of Alice’s close friends, Yomi, is beautiful. <3
'Don't let them grind you down': The legacy disability activist Alice Wong leaves behind
Disability activist and author Alice Wong died Friday at age 51 in California.
www.wbur.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:21 AM
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2... this sweet obit from one of Alice’s close friends, Yomi, is beautiful. <3
'The family said they were heartbroken by the incident but determined for change.
"We are here because we want answers, we want accountability, and we want real, immediate change to ensure no other First Nations child is ever treated like this again," they said.'
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
"We are here because we want answers, we want accountability, and we want real, immediate change to ensure no other First Nations child is ever treated like this again," they said.'
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Aboriginal teen mistakenly pulled from bus at gunpoint after 'racial profiling'
The family of a 17-year-old Indigenous boy says he was racially profiled when he was pulled from a Canberra bus by police officers who handcuffed him before realising he was the wrong person.
www.abc.net.au
November 19, 2025 at 10:46 PM
'The family said they were heartbroken by the incident but determined for change.
"We are here because we want answers, we want accountability, and we want real, immediate change to ensure no other First Nations child is ever treated like this again," they said.'
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
"We are here because we want answers, we want accountability, and we want real, immediate change to ensure no other First Nations child is ever treated like this again," they said.'
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Reposted by El Gibbs
Despite police being called to their home several times by neighbours who heard him yelling at her, the two – victim and perpetrator – were seen by police as “just as bad as each other”.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Kardell Lomas’s heartbreaking apology to police is a moment that should shame all Australians | Amy McQuire
The refusal to conduct an inquest reveals again what many black women know: it’s not a place for truth-telling but rather a mechanism to alibi the state and its failures
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Despite police being called to their home several times by neighbours who heard him yelling at her, the two – victim and perpetrator – were seen by police as “just as bad as each other”.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
"Kardell Lomas and her baby should still be here. And her family have every right to fight for justice, both in the coroner’s court and beyond." essential reading from Dr Amy McQuire
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Kardell Lomas’s heartbreaking apology to police is a moment that should shame all Australians | Amy McQuire
The refusal to conduct an inquest reveals again what many black women know: it’s not a place for truth-telling but rather a mechanism to alibi the state and its failures
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:54 PM
"Kardell Lomas and her baby should still be here. And her family have every right to fight for justice, both in the coroner’s court and beyond." essential reading from Dr Amy McQuire
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
'older Australians, people with disability and those without formal qualifications are being forced to compete for jobs that simply no longer exist.'
www.news.com.au/finance/work...
www.news.com.au/finance/work...
www.news.com.au
November 19, 2025 at 8:49 PM
'older Australians, people with disability and those without formal qualifications are being forced to compete for jobs that simply no longer exist.'
www.news.com.au/finance/work...
www.news.com.au/finance/work...
fixing the NDIS hinges on this deal. how the hell do we do this with care of disabled people, when there is this kind of blue going on? hearing leaders talk about disabled people like this is so awful
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
archive.md/pFwTe
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
archive.md/pFwTe
Emergency meeting between states after federal swipe on hospital funding
State and territory leaders hold an emergency meeting over public hospital funding, declaring they cannot sacrifice hospital care to bolster the Commonwealth's finances.
www.abc.net.au
November 19, 2025 at 8:34 PM
fixing the NDIS hinges on this deal. how the hell do we do this with care of disabled people, when there is this kind of blue going on? hearing leaders talk about disabled people like this is so awful
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
archive.md/pFwTe
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
archive.md/pFwTe
Reposted by El Gibbs
“I'm honoured to be your ancestor”: remembering Alice Wong in her own words.
Alice's writing changed the way I see myself and our future. Here are the ones that touched me most:
www.disabilitydebrief.org/debrief/hono...
Alice's writing changed the way I see myself and our future. Here are the ones that touched me most:
www.disabilitydebrief.org/debrief/hono...
November 19, 2025 at 7:01 PM
“I'm honoured to be your ancestor”: remembering Alice Wong in her own words.
Alice's writing changed the way I see myself and our future. Here are the ones that touched me most:
www.disabilitydebrief.org/debrief/hono...
Alice's writing changed the way I see myself and our future. Here are the ones that touched me most:
www.disabilitydebrief.org/debrief/hono...
Reposted by El Gibbs
For every entry-level vacancy, there are 39 people on the JobSeeker payment.
Of those, 25 have barriers to work. This is the highest ratio ever recorded by the Snapshot.
Entry-level jobs now make up just 11% of all vacancies.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Of those, 25 have barriers to work. This is the highest ratio ever recorded by the Snapshot.
Entry-level jobs now make up just 11% of all vacancies.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
November 18, 2025 at 8:51 PM
For every entry-level vacancy, there are 39 people on the JobSeeker payment.
Of those, 25 have barriers to work. This is the highest ratio ever recorded by the Snapshot.
Entry-level jobs now make up just 11% of all vacancies.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Of those, 25 have barriers to work. This is the highest ratio ever recorded by the Snapshot.
Entry-level jobs now make up just 11% of all vacancies.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...