This specialised 12 month program offers disability advocates, lawyers and community workers the opportunity to develop skills and gain shared insights and experience to support clients to access the DSP.

Applications are now open for the 2025-26 DSP Community of Practice.

The DSP claims process is complicated. The Community of Practice (CoP) aims to provide a mechanism for community workers to become more expert in the DSP claim process, including developing a practical understanding of eligibility criteria, medical evidence and Centrelink processes. Members will be community and support workers who are actively assisting their clients to navigate the DSP process and able to share their knowledge with their colleagues and organisations.

Participation in the CoP group will increase the capacity and knowledge of services in NSW that are supporting people trying to make their way through the DSP claims and appeals processes.

Members will participate in:

• 1 x 2 hour Disability Support Pension Community Legal Education session - Thursday 3 July 2025 Register

• 1 x 4-hour Understanding Disability Support Pension Evidence Workshop – Tuesday 22 July 2025 Register

• 10 x 90-minute Community of Practice monthly meetings,  26 August - 26 May 2025

Each meeting will include training about a different priority area identified by Community of Practice members. Members will then work collaboratively to discuss their current cases and develop appropriate client support strategies, under the supervision of our DSP expert, Welfare Rights Centre Senior Solicitor, Donna Flood.

The project will deliver a bank of resources to assist DSP claims and appeals, and smooth referral pathways into Welfare Rights Centre when matters are particularly complicated or require additional expert advice.

Members will be expected to present on their own service to the group and to provide at least one de-identified case study for general discussion.

If you’d like any further information, please contact our community engagement team; [email protected].

Feedback from past DSP Communities of Practice

• 93% of CoP participants feel confident to advise colleagues regarding their clients DSP and Centrelink issues.
• CoP participants tell us they are helping higher numbers of clients, in a more thorough way and creating better outcomes for all clients.
• 100% would recommend future participation in a DSP CoP to colleagues and similar services.

Session dates:
2025
DSP - CLE 3 July 2025 - 2 hr community worker training (open webinar) Register Now
Understanding DSP Evidence Workshop - Tuesday 22 July 2025 - 4 hrs (Invitation only to CoP participants)

Sessions are on Tuesdays from 10:00am -11:30 am

Session 1 - Tuesday 26 August 2025
Session 2 - Tuesday 23 September 2025
Session 3 - Tuesday 21 October 2025
Session 4 - Tuesday 18 November 2025
Session 5 - Tuesday 16 December 2025

2026
Session 6 - Tuesday 3 February 2026
Session 7 - Tuesday 3 March 2026
Session 8 - Tuesday 31 March 2026
Session 9 - Tuesday 28 April 2026
Session 10 - Tuesday 26 May 2026

Topics covered include;

Manifest grants of DSP; Definition of diagnosed, reasonably treated, and stabilised; Impairment Tables; Medical evidence; Program of Support; Assessment of continuing inability to work; Centrelink’s processes; Appeals; New Zealand eligibility requirements; Portability of payments.