Our history

House with No Steps Board Members Pip Friedrich, Michael Fox and Richard Madden first put forward a paper to include people with disability in decision making.

The Client Outcomes and Standards Committee commenced, and the first meeting was held on August 28th with four attendees.

Richard Madden appointed as Chairperson and representation continues to grow with participants, family members, employees, and directors.

Appointment of a new role General Manager, Advocacy and Inclusion. The Position is instrumental in driving the vision of HWNS for the next three years.

Person Centred Practices are launched throughout House with No Steps, which guides work by the Commitee this year.

Introduction of Person Centred Active Support project and Personal Outcomes Measures.

A year of many changes.

Committee name changed to “Human Rights Committee” and our first participant Co-Chair is elected. Launch of the Human Rights Policy and Procedure Manual and the Charter of Human Rights to be in every service.

First time ‘Peer Mentors’ are employed in every region.

Nic Stuart took over role of Chairperson. First started creating easy english documents.

First Human Rights Conference, theme ‘Celebration of Human Rights.’

This year the team looked at helping people prepare for the NDIS and how we can support participants to be able to vote.

Maura Boland commenced as Co-chair of the Committee. Focuses this year included making information accessible, acccessible transport and workplaces, and the model of influence for the Committee. The Human Rights Conference theme was ‘My Dreams, My Way’.

This year the committee focused on customer involvement, whistle blower policy, and IT success at Aruma services. The Human Rights Conference theme was ‘The Future of Inclusion’ and it was the first time the conference was Live Streamed across the organisation.

House with No Steps and The Tipping Foundation, officially relaunch as Aruma. The Committee works on topics like restrictive practices, Reconciliation Action Program, Disability Royal Commission.

COVID-19 hits Australian shores and Aruma is impacted heavily. The team HRAC team navigate the challenges of COVID and how to support participants during uncertain times.

Aruma continues to experience the impacts of COVID-19. There were challenges in meeting during COVID but when the team did meet, they discussed topics like the research team and restrictive practices.

Aruma CEO Andrew Richardson, retires as Aruma CEO after sixteen years. Dr Martin Laverty is appointed as the new CEO. The conference this year was held simultaneously across NSW, Queensland and Victoria.

This year marks 10 years of the NDIS. Many discussions around what the HRAC would like to see participants achieve in another 10 years’ time. The HRAC took their voices to Parliament House and were heard by the Governor General and the Minister for the NDIS, Bill Shorten. This 2023 conference was held in NSW and the theme was health and wellbeing rights.

The Disability Royal Commission and NDIS review concludes this year, changing some of the ways that Aruma’s operates.

The HRAC Members met with the Senate to discuss a bill regarding the NDIS. The conference was held in Victoria with the theme of inclusion.