Organization
First Peoples Disability Network Australia(FPDN)
First Peoples Disability Network Australia (FPDN) is the peak organisation representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with disability, governed by First Peoples with disability. FPDN advocates at national and international levels for community-controlled, culturally safe disability support and the protection of First Nations people's human rights.
About
First Peoples Disability Network Australia (FPDN) is the national peak organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, governed by First Peoples with disability. It is a member of the Australian Cross Disability Alliance and a winner of the 2014 National Disability Awards for Improving Advocacy and Rights Promotion. FPDN maintains offices in Canberra at Level 2, 33 Allara Street.
What They Do
FPDN provides free individual advocacy services, delivers internationally recognised cultural competency training, and undertakes high-level policy advocacy to Australian governments and in United Nations human rights forums. It has appeared before Senate committees on NDIS reform and has achieved outcomes including new draft rules supporting First Nations NDIS Participants in cultural activities. FPDN leads efforts to build a First Nations community-controlled disability sector that is responsive, inclusive, accessible, and grounded in culture and Country.
Who They Serve
FPDN serves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability across Australia, including those in remote, rural, and urban communities. Given the intersection of First Nations identity and disability, FPDN's work is distinct from mainstream disability advocacy — it centres cultural safety, self-determination, and community-controlled support. FPDN also works with government agencies, mainstream disability organisations, and communities to build knowledge and respectful partnerships.
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