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    The latest news from the SCIA community.

    Read about what’s going on around SCIA and the disability sector. SCIA has services to help enhance the lives of people with disabilities and neurological conditions.

    What’s new at SCIA

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    Celebrating World Spinal Cord Injury Day 2025

    Strength in Prevention, Advocacy & Community World Spinal Cord Injury Day is observed globally on September 5, and this year’s theme Fall Prevention, Spinal Cord Protection, shines...
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    Building Connections in the Illawarra, South West Sydney Region & Shoalhaven

    Building Connections in the Illawarra, South West Sydney Region & Shoalhaven: SCIA’s Peer and Family Support Program Living with a spinal cord injury can be...
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    Exploring a New Partnership with Royal Rehab Group

    We’re excited to share that Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA) is exploring a potential merger with the Royal Rehab Group – a renowned not-for-profit with...
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    SCIA x Ability One

    SCIA has been working with an organisation called Ability One. Ability One has developed an innovative product called The Ability One Personal Care Model. This...
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    Inspiring Connections: Uncle Gerry Moore Joins SCIA RAP Committee for NAIDOC Week 8 July

    The SCIA RAP Committee is proud to welcome Uncle Gerry Moore, OAM, a respected senior Aboriginal Elder from Wreck Bay in the Jervis Bay Territory, to...
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    Neuroscience Research Australia & NeuroMoves are recruiting participants for clinical trials

    Together with Neuroscience Research Australia, NeuroMoves are recruiting participants for two clinical trials called the Get a Grip and the eWALK2 trials.  Get A Grip:...
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    From March 31, 2025 a $15 million emergency funding package addressing the critical shortage of wheelchair accessible taxis will begin implementation.

    The emergency package is in response to the Key Findings Report on Availability of Wheelchair Accessible Transport Services, which found that that the decreasing number of wheelchair accessible taxis has often left people with disability stranded.

    In October 2019, there were 941 Wheelchair Accessible Taxis (WATs) registered in NSW but as of the time of this press release from Transport for NSW (March 31, 2025) there are only 625 in operation – a one-third decline in five years.

    The emergency package to address this critical issue includes:

    • $12 million for an increase to the Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Driver Incentive Scheme (WATDIS)

    • An increase to the WATDIS standard day rate to $25 along with a new $30 night rate and a flat public holiday rate of $50

    • Up to $2.25 million to establish a new grant program that will assist with the costs associated with operating and maintaining a WAT

    • $750,000 to develop and implement new training resources for drivers aimed at enhancing disability awareness and safety, with people with disability to be consulted and involved in both the development and delivery of the new training modules

    The NSW Government will work with the disability community to develop the next phase of wheelchair taxi assistance. This work will assess key elements of the emergency program and will provide direction on a longer-term suite of assistance measures, including:

    • Reviewing and upgrading the centralised booking service to meet the needs of passengers across NSW

    • Improving the operational effectiveness and efficiency of the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme (TTSS)

    • Using technology to better monitor driver compliance and enabling rapid feedback from service users

    • Undertake trials of new service models for wheelchair accessible services

    • Ensuring that data collection is optimised to inform program operations

    The two elements of this program – the emergency funding and the long-term funding arrangements – will ensure sustainable services for this important community.  The program will be succeeded by a longer-term program of sector-led reforms, with efforts ongoing to seek legislative changes to support the ongoing process and to introduce a sustainable funding source.

    Our Wheelchair Book & Ride service offers a centralised booking system for wheelchair accessible taxis in the Sydney metropolitan area. This service provides essential transportation assistance to thousands of people with disabilities who depend on accessible taxis for community participation.

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