Australian Public Service (APS) Upskill Training Package – Lived Experience Focus Group

People with Disability Australia (PWDA), in partnership with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DHDA) and Portable, is developing a new disability capability training package for Australian Public Service (APS) employees.

The training will include five online learning modules:

Two core modules for all APS employees.
Three modules for APS employees in specialist roles.

People with disability will be involved throughout the project to help make sure the training is relevant, accessible and informed by lived experience.

Who can participate in the focus groups?
PWDA is inviting people with disability who are aged 18 years or older to express interest in taking part in a lived experience focus group.

When will the focus groups take place?
The focus groups will take place in September.

Tuesday 22 September, 9:30am - 11:30am AEST
Tuesday 22 September, 1:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
Tuesday 29 September, 10:00am - 12:00pm AEST
Tuesday 29 September, 2:00pm - 4:00pm AEST

What will the focus groups involve?
The focus groups will provide an opportunity to share your views and experiences in a supported group discussion.
You will be invited to contribute from your own experience and perspective. You will not be expected to speak on behalf of all people with disability or a whole community.
Focus-group feedback will help inform the direction of the training, including its learning priorities, content and approach.

Who we are looking for
We are looking for people with a broad range of disability experiences, backgrounds and perspectives.
You do not need to have worked in the APS to take part. You also do not need previous experience taking part in co-design, consultation or focus groups.

Time commitment
If selected, you will be asked to take part in:

1 hour of preparation before the focus group
One 2-hour online focus group
The total expected commitment is 3 hours.

All engagement will be online unless otherwise stated. Preparation materials and discussion questions will be provided before the focus group so you have time to consider them.

Some participants may be invited to take part in later testing or consultation activities. This would be a separate opportunity and there is no expectation or requirement to take part in anything beyond the focus group.

Payment
Participants will be paid $70 per hour for their time. This includes:

1 hour of preparation - $70
2-hour focus group - $140
Total payment: $210

Payment will be provided in the form of a gift card following participation in the focus group.

Your privacy
All personal information will remain anonymous and will not be linked to you in any reports or findings.
Any personal information you provide will be handled in line with PWDA’s Privacy Policy.

Access and participation support
Please let us know of any access requirements when completing this form.

Contact Us
For enquiries please contact PWDA at training@pwd.org.au or on 1800 422 015.

Expression of interest form

1.Do you identify as a person with disability?

Please note these focus groups are for people with lived expereince.(Required.)

Yes

2.What best describes your disability or disabilities (Select all that apply)

Sensory and communication
You may choose this if you are blind, low vision, d/Deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or have a speech or communication disability.

Physical
You may choose this if you have a mobility disability or physical condition that affects how you move or use your body. Examples include spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, amputation, cerebral palsy, chronic pain or fatigue-related conditions.

Learning and understanding
You may choose this if you have an intellectual disability, learning disability, cognitive disability or memory difference

Psychosocial
You may choose this if you experience disability connected to mental health challenges

Head injury or acquired brain injury (ABI)
You may choose this if you have had a brain injury or stroke and it continues to affect your daily life.

Neurodivergent
You may choose this if you identify as neurodivergent. Examples include Autistic, ADHD, Tourette’s, dyslexia or dyspraxia.

Chronic health condition
You may choose this if you live with a long-term health condition that affects your daily life. Examples include autoimmune conditions, multiple sclerosis, ME/CFS, long COVID or diabetes.

Prefer not to say

Other (please specify)

3.Do you identify as any of the following: (Tick all that apply).
Answering this question helps us understand the different aspects of your identity. If none of the options below apply to you, you do not need to answer.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

From a culturally or linguistically diverse (CALD) background

Member of the LGBTQIA+ community

Woman or girl

Trans and / or gender diverse

Young person (under 25 years)

Older person (65+ years)

4.Your full name(Required.)

5.Your age

Please note that people must be aged 18 years or older to participate in the focus groups.(Required.)

6.Your phone number(Required.)

7.Your contact email(Required.)

8.Your postcode(Required.)

9.I would like to attend the following focus group(Required.)

Tuesday 22 September, 9:30am - 11:30am AEST

Tuesday 22 September, 1:00pm - 3:00pm AEST

Tuesday 29 September, 10:00am - 12:00pm AEST

Tuesday 29 September, 2:00pm - 4:00pm AEST

10.Please let us know any supports you require to attend:

We appreciate you taking the time to register your interest in participating in the focus groups. If you have any questions please email training@pwd.org.au or phone 1800 422 015.

A staff member from PWDA will contact you if you have been selected to participate in this project.

Australian Public Service (APS) Upskill Training Package – Lived Experience Focus Group - Expression of Interest Form

Introduction