About the RDN

The Redlands Disability Network (RDN) was established in 2015 as a follow on from the work of the Redlands Disability Reference Group (an advisory group to the Redlands City Council), and in response to the City’s Community Plan.

The Redlands 2030 Community Plan envisages “a city of strong and connected communities where our health, wellbeing and strong community spirit are supported by a full range of services, programs, organisations and facilities and our values of caring and respect extend to people of all ages, cultures, abilities and needs”.

The RDN was established by Redlands City Council and facilitated by Rob Spencer from Volunteering Redlands since its inception. In mid 2022 facilitation of RDN was passed from Rob Spencer (Volunteering Redlands) to a four-person ‘facilitation group’ (Lauren Micale, Allison Rahman, David Preston, and Jim Haywood), of committed, local disability sector professionals.

The RDN has delivered monthly Network meetings since 2015, maintaining these online throughout the pandemic, and has been supported by Council for venue hire costs for this entire period. Advice from Council in early 2024 of their inability to continue this financial assistance on an ongoing basis, prompted discussions on the viability, and sustainability of the network. RDM members voted overwhelmingly in early 2024 to apply to incorporate the RDN with the view that incorporation would open funding opportunities that would help secure the network into the future.

As a result, Redland Disability Network Inc. was incorporated under The Incorporations Associations Act 1981 in Queensland in May 2024 with its first volunteer Management Committee elected at the same time.

PURPOSE

The RDN exists to grow and maintain a strong, viable, and robust disability services sector in our community.

OBJECTIVES

The RDN delivers on its purpose by:

Sharing information about disability, disability services, resources, trends, and innovations.
Identifying and discussing existing and emerging needs and service delivery gaps.
Engaging - through encouraging government, peak body, and community representation at network meetings to facilitate information sharing, and two-way communication.
Taking collaborative action through working groups, partnerships, workshops, and initiatives that:
1. build the capacity, capability and sustainability of the disability sector
2. identifying and responding to existing and emerging local community needs and aspirations
3. contributing to, and promoting a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive city for all residents
4. developing the collaborative efforts of the disability sector to produce a meaningful result in the quality of life of Redland’s residents living with disability.