PWD E-Bulletin |
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Number 66 November-December 2010 Welcome to the last This bulletin goes out regularly to our members and supporters and
covers To be added to or removed from our mailing list, or to change your
email address, please email pwd@pwd.org.au or contact
the Information and Liaison Officer on one of the numbers listed at the end
of this bulletin. If you
would like to become a member of Contents
Other State and Territory News
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New South Wales NewsOfficial Launch of PWD’s Accommodating Violence ReportPWD is pleased to announce the successful launch of Accommodating Violence: The experience of
domestic violence of people with disability living in licensed boarding
houses. The launch formed part of our key activities to commemorate
International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) and Stop Domestic
Violence Day (both celebrated on 3 December). The report was launched by Shadow Minister for Ageing
and Disability Services, Andrew Constance at the Opposition Party Room at NSW
Parliament House on Thursday 2 December 2010. The keynote speaker at the event was Ms Betty Green, a
lobbyist with over 20 years’ experience working on issues related to women’s
health and domestic violence. “We are working within a system which I think is in
major need of an overhaul – fresh change, and a means to empower the
individual to take charge of their own lives,” said Mr Constance at the
launch. “In terms of the review of the regulations that
underpin the governance of licenced boarding houses in the state (the 31
remaining boarding houses, and still 700 people who are living in these
arrangements) there is need of a fundamental review in terms of looking at
those regulations. I’m committed to that, I think it’s necessary based on the
advice I’m getting back from PWD”, said Mr Constance. The report reveals that the violence and neglect which
exists in these settings is predominantly due to structural systemic
breakdowns in legislative frameworks, policy guidelines, administrative
procedures, and the inaccessibility of many domestic violence services. Such
flaws create barriers and gaps in domestic violence prevention and response
which leave people with disability, particularly women with disability living
in licensed boarding houses subject to vulnerability and abuse. “The intersection of gender and disability renders
women with a disability as one of the most marginalised groups in society,”
said Ms Green, in a speech which highlighted the hidden nature of the issue
and the need to begin a constructive dialogue to ensure the safety and
security of people in licensed boarding houses. “Women with a disability experience a higher rate of
abuse, in more diverse forms and at the hands of a broader range of
perpetrators than women without a disability. “We must incorporate these sobering facts into the
conversations that we must have to develop meaningful solutions and practical
responses towards improving the safety and security of women with a
disability who experience violence or abuse in the places where they live,”
said Ms Green Setting the record straight -
evidence of domestic violence experienced by people with disability living in
licensed boarding houses (Dec 2010) On 3 December 2010, the Minister for Disability
Services and Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) publically discredited
People with Disability Australia’s (PWD) report on domestic violence in NSW
licensed boarding houses, Accommodating Violence for its lack of legitimacy
and evidence. In response to this criticism, PWD set out a detailed
and thorough statement reiterating some of the evidence which was used to
inform the Accommodating Violence
report. This additional information can be found on the PWD
website at www.pwd.org.au/systemic/abuse.html A news article covering the report and launch appeared
in the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday 3 December. Click
here to read the story “Boarding Houses Unsafe.” PWD followed up with a
letter to the editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, which appeared on Monday 6
December. Click
here to read “It’s a bit late to disown disability abuse report.” PWD hopes this launch will draw attention to the
findings and recommendations within the report, and spur the NSW government
and other stakeholders to take action. Click
here to read the Accommodating Violence
on PWD’s website. For more information contact Sonya Price-Kelly,
Advocacy Projects Manager on one of the numbers listed at the end of
this E-Bulletin or email sonyapk@pwd.org.au Launch - National Shut In CampaignPeople with Disability Australia (PWD), National
Council on Intellectual Disability (NCID), the Victorian Advocacy League for
Individuals with Disability (VALID) and Reinforce Self Advocacy were proud to
launch the national Shut In Campaign on 3 December, International Day of
People with Disability. Shut In is the national campaign to raise awareness
about people with disability in institutions, to take action to close
institutions and to advocate for housing and supports that enable people with
disability to live in the community in the same way as everyone else. The campaign also brings together information and
resources, personal stories from people who have lived in institutions, State
and Territory reports on advocacy actions and events and information about
how to get involved in supporting the campaign. The Shut In launch e-bulletin provided information
about the campaign, who is involved, what the situation is in different
States and Territories and how to get involved. Further information is available on the Shut In
website at www.shutin.org.au Shut In Vodcasts Alongside the launch of Shut In, PWD launched the
first of the first of a series of Vodcasts calling for the closure of all
institutions. The powerful Vodcasts are available at: www.youtube.com/user/ShutInAustralia Each Vodcast features a different person talking about
their experiences with institutions and why they support closure. For more information about Shut In, contact Dean Price,
Advocacy Projects Manager on one of the numbers listed at the end of
this E-Bulletin or email deanp@pwd.org.au NSW Government announces Stronger Together 2People with Disability Australia (PWD) welcomed the
announcement on Friday 3 December by the NSW Government that funding has been
provided to enable all large residential centres to be closed by 2017 /18. PWD has long advocated for real reform in the sector,
which would ensure people with disability would no longer be housed in
institutions, but would receive the supports they need to live and
participate in the community. There appears to be a firm commitment to eradicate
this outmoded form of accommodation, with a significant amount of funds
allocated to enable people to be moved into housing in the community. The closure of the institutions must happen
as quickly as possible, as people with disability must be supported to live
in housing that is equal to that of everyone else in the community. That is our right under the UN Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Click here to read
the full Media Release from PWD. Sexuality and Human Rights – PWD Training for Boarding House ResidentsPWD recently completed a four week training program,
which aimed to provide boarding house residents with the skills and knowledge
to protect themselves from abuse and become more empowered in approaching
issues around sex and sexuality. The Project, conducted through October
–November 2010 in the Hunter Region, revealed both the extremely high
prevalence of victims of abuse living in boarding houses and a real
willingness and ability of residents (both victims and offenders) to learn
and open up to safe practices and acceptable behaviours. The Project consisted of a series of four workshops
for residents of licensed boarding houses in the Hunter Region. PWD worked closely with Dianne Sinclair (Procedure and
Quality Coordinator, NSW Health), Michael Akhurst and Shannon Hill (Case
Managers Ageing and Disability & Home Care (ADHC), Department of Human
Services NSW) over the past year to clearly identify the lack of education
and training programs for people living in licensed boarding houses in the
Hunter Region around the issues of sexuality, privacy and human rights. We were therefore very pleased to have the opportunity
to conduct this training and were overwhelmed by the positive response of
participants. The next stage of this project is to provide an education
session to those people providing support to residents to ensure this message
around human rights is reinforced. It is our belief that providing residents with
information about their rights is a fundamental step in working towards
reducing the rates of abuse on Boarding Houses and other areas of congregate
care. PWD hopes that we shall receive additional funds in the future in order
to continue this valuable project. Aboriginal Disability Network funded as NSW Peak BodyPWD congratulates the Minister for Disability
Services, Peter Primrose, for announcing peak body funding for the Aboriginal
Disability Network (ADN). PWD has
supported the development and advocacy of the ADN for several years, and has
lobbied for NSW Government recognition of the ADN as a peak body during this
time. The upfront funding of $234,500 and further funding of
$184,500 recurrently will allow ADN to continue to play the role of peak
organisation, something it has been doing for a long time with minimal
resources. The endorsement of ADN as the new national peak
organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a
disability is the result of feasibility projects and consultations with the
Aboriginal community, families and carers, and the Department of Families,
Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA). Mr Primrose said that through Stronger Together – the
NSW Government’s $5.5 billion 10-year plan to improve disability services –
Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) has developed the Aboriginal Service
Model to ensure the delivery of improved disability services and outcomes. For more information contact Damian Griffis, Executive
Director Aboriginal Disability Network (ADN) by email damiang@pwd.org.au Click
here to read the full press release from ADHC. Self-Directed Supports: A NSW Campaign that aims to give people control of their support and their lifeIn Control Australia and Family Advocacy launched this
campaign on 3 December 2010. Its focus
is very much upon ensuring that the new supports promised in the Stronger
Together 2 Policy in NSW are delivered in a fashion that provides true control
for people with disability and for families of people with disability, over
these supports. PWD is directly
involved through its membership of In Control Australia. Four priorities for the campaign have been identified: Priority 1: Providing all
existing and new users of government and non-government disability services
the opportunity to direct their own support. We will be looking to ensure that: ·
people who want control over
their resources have the opportunity at the earliest time; ·
individualised portable funding
arrangements translate into choice, voice and control. Priority 2: Providing decision
making support that is independent of government and service providers. We will be working to ensure that: ·
the ‘decision making resources’
are independent of government and service providers, able to be accessed
easily and give the person with disability control. Priority 3: Transition support
for services We will be working to ensure that: ·
the voices of people with
disability and families are heard in the process of service transformation. Priority 4: Administrative
processes consistent with a self-directed approach. We will be working to ensure that: ·
the Stronger Together goal of
“choice, portability and flexibility in funding and supports” means that
people have control over how the money is used; ·
government and service provider
processes do not intrude into people’s lives; and ·
there is a minimum of bureaucracy
and paperwork. Meetings around these priorities have already taken
place with Minister Primrose and the Shadow Minister Andrew Constance. The campaign will greatly influence PWD’s
NSW election lobbying around the delivery of disability services in NSW, in
the new year. What can you do? Register your support www.family-advocacy.com/join-the-campaign.html Find out more www.family-advocacy.com/learn-more-about-this-campaign.html.html Follow us on facebook www.facebook.com/Self.Directed.Support
AND Join us in enabling people with disability and
their families to have control of their support and their lives. |
Other State and Territory NewsQLD – PWD’s Mount Isa and Lower Gulf Communities Individual Advocacy ServiceThe set-up of the PWD’s newest office in Mount Isa is
now complete, with advocates Dennis Willetts and Val Brown are well and truly
established in their roles. Val and Dennis have been conducting regular outreach
trips throughout their region and are now working with clients in Doomadgee,
Burketown, Karumba, Normanton, Boulia, Dajarra, Urandangi, Cloncurry and
Camooweal. QLD – Disability Advocate named QLD’s Anti-Discrimination CommissionerPWD congratulates our colleague in disability
advocacy, Mr Kevin Cocks, who was named as the new QLD Anti-Discrimination
Commissioner on 10 December 2010, International Human Rights Day. www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=72940 "Kevin Cocks is a well-respected champion of
human rights who brings a wealth of experience to the role of
Anti-Discrimination Commissioner," said Attorney-General Cameron Dick. "With his background at Queensland Advocacy
Incorporated, he has broad knowledge of the human rights and disability
landscape, both internationally and nationally, and received a Human Rights
and Equal Opportunities Medal in 2005. "Mr Cocks will now fulfil an important role in
Queensland by protecting the principles of dignity and equality for everyone. "The commissioner's duties include resolving
complaints of discrimination, sexual harassment, public vilification and
victimisation, and promoting human rights throughout Queensland." Queensland Advocacy Incorporated is a state-wide legal
advocacy organisation protecting the human rights and fundamental needs of
vulnerable people with a disability in Queensland. Mr Cocks, who has been appointed for four years, will
take up his duties on 7 February 2011. His appointment has been finalised along with several
other appointments to the Queensland Law Reform Commission and the Queensland
Law Society Council. |
National news‘1 in 5 Parliamentary Breakfast for Disability Inclusion in Australia’s International Development Program’Along with other members of the Australian Disability
and Development Consortium (ADDC), PWD conducted the 1 in 5 Parliamentary
Breakfast for Disability Inclusion in Australia’s International Development
Program, held on Wednesday 17 November at the Parliament House private dining
rooms, Canberra. The event aimed to present to representatives working
in disability and development with the reasons why Australia is a world
leader in disability inclusive development, while also highlighting what else
needs to be done to prioritise people with disability in the world’s poorest
countries. The breakfast was attended by a number of dignitaries,
including the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs. In his opening address, Mr.Rudd drew attention to the
importance of Australia’s foreign aid and development programs. He
acknowledged the efforts of many NGO’s in their efforts to ensure that people
with disability are included in development programs and referred to the
leadership Australia has demonstrated with the implementation of the’
Development For All: towards a disability-inclusive of Australian Aid Program
2009 to 2014’. Other speakers at the event included Jack de Groot,
Chief Executive Office of Caritas Australia and Vice President of the
Australian Council for International Development; The Hon Teresa Gambaro MP,
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance;
Graeme Innes AM, Disability Discrimination Commissioner; Senator the Hon Jan
McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers; and Jim
Stallard, Author with a lived experience of disability, and advocate for
disability inclusive development. Briefing of Foreign Diplomats on Australia’s Human Rights RecordOn 16 November 2010, a number of prominent foreign
diplomats heard from human rights advocates about a range of human rights
issues in Australia, including the significant disadvantage and
discrimination experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples, mandatory immigration detention and the continuing inequalities
faced by many groups, including people with disability, recently arrived
migrants and gay and lesbian communities. Included in the presentations was PWD Executive
Director Therese Sands, who spoke of the need for Australia to take a much
more proactive approach to achieving the rights of all citizens. “Australia has placed human rights at the front and
centre of its bid for a seat on the UN Security Council, so it is imperative
that Australia takes a constructive and positive approach to scrutiny of our
human rights record from the international community”, said Therese Sands
from People with Disability Australia. “Australia should use the review as an opportunity to
make commitments and take action, to strengthen the legal and institutional
protection of human rights and to enhance the realisation of human rights on
the ground.” The NGO briefing was co-hosted by the Australian Human
Rights Commission and chaired by the President, the Hon Catherine Branson QC. The NGO briefing was part of the lobbying efforts for
the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, which involves members of the UN
Human Rights Council reviewing Australia’s human rights record. Australia Lodges First National Report to the UN Human Rights CouncilAttorney-General, Robert McClelland, announced on 4
November the lodgement of Australia’s National Report for the United Nations
Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review. “The preparation of the National Report is an
important part in our preparation for Australia’s appearance before the Human
Rights Council in January 2011. It provides an overview of the promotion and
protection of human rights in Australia, achievements and challenges, and key
national priorities,” Mr McClelland said. The Universal Periodic Review is a new process
undertaken by the United Nations Human Rights Council to review the human
rights records of all 192 Member States of the United Nations once every four
years. The review will be based in part on information provided by Member
States in the form of national reports. Australia’s first appearance at the Universal Periodic
Review will take place in Geneva on 27 January 2011. For more information please visit: www.ag.gov.au/upr. Australia submits first CRPD report to United NationsOn 3 December 2010, Attorney-General Robert McClelland
and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Jan McLucas, announced
the Government had presented Australia’s first report under the Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to the United Nations. Under the Disabilities Convention, Australia is
required to periodically submit a report on measures taken to promote the
rights and freedoms of those with a disability. “The report outlines some of the major initiatives
taken by the Australian Government to improve the lives of people with disability,”
Senator McLucas said. “In particular, the report acknowledges the key role
the National Disability Strategy will play in helping Australia fulfil its
obligations by establishing a framework to promote, protect and monitor the
implementation of the Convention.” The report also provides information on a range of
measures taken by governments across Australia. Steps taken by the Australian Government include: •
tabling of the Disability Access
to Premises Standards which, from mid-2011, set national requirements for
equal access to and use of public buildings for people with a disability; •
providing over $100 million in
capital funds additional supported accommodation facilities for persons with
disabilities; •
implementing significant reforms
to the Disability Support Pension and other pensions, including improved
indexation methodology to reflect the costs of living changes; and •
providing support for commercial
cinemas to fast track audio description and captioning technology to improve
cinema access for people who are deaf, blind, visually or hearing impaired. The Report also notes work in progress, including the
Government’s decision to commission an inquiry into a national long-term care
and support scheme for persons with disabilities in Australia. The inquiry is
being conducted by the Productivity Commission, which will report to
Government in July 2011. Click
here to read the full press release from the Office of the Attorney-General. NGO CRPD Shadow ReportThe CRPD Shadow Report Project Group, comprising
leading disability organisations, met in Sydney on 5 November 2010 to plan
the next phase of preparing the CRPD Shadow Report. The Shadow Report will provide an NGO perspective on
Australia's implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (CRPD). The Project Group is being provided with significant pro
bono support from DLA Phillips Fox and has undertaken consultations
throughout Australia with the support of the Department of Families, Housing,
Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA). At the November meeting, Project Group members considered
the first draft of the Shadow Report compiled by DLA Phillips Fox and agreed
on a number of actions. In preparing
the second draft, each member of the Project Group will review designated
chapters of the first draft, with a view to prioritising the issues under
each article within an identified structure.
The aim is to complete a second draft of the report by 31 March 2011,
with the Project Group reviewing this second draft by 16 May 2011. Project Group members will meet on 16 and 17 May 2011
in Sydney to finalise the second draft of the Shadow Report and incorporate
recommendations under each article. It
is expected that the second draft will be finalised by 31 June 2011 to enable
a further period of comment and feedback. On 31 August 2011, the Project Group is expecting to
endorse the final version of the Shadow Report, which will be circulated
throughout Australia to be endorsed by individuals and organisations. The
Shadow Report will then be submitted to the United Nations in October 2011. The Australian Government submitted its report on CRPD
implementation on 3 December 2010, and is unlikely to be reviewed by the UN
CRPD Committee until 2012/13. Project Group on the Shadow Report on the CRPD: •
Joanna Shulman, Australian
Disability Rights Network •
Fiona Given, Disability
Discrimination Legal Centre •
Therese Sands, People with
Disability Australia •
Kevin Cocks, Queensland Advocacy
Incorporated •
Lesley Hall, Australian
Federation of Disability Organisations •
Rosemary Kayess, Disability
Studies and Research Centre •
Andrea Simmons, Disability
Advocacy Network Australia New Research Project: Housing assistance, social inclusion and people with a disabilityA new research project, funded by the Australian Housing
and Urban Research Institute and being undertaken by researchers from the
University of Adelaide, has been set up to investigate the impact of housing
assistance on social inclusion for persons with a disability. The research includes a number of face-to-face
interviews with people living with disability and focus groups with social
housing providers and service providers in NSW, Victoria and SA. You can find out more information on the project here:
www.ahuri.edu.au/publications/projects/p40585 If you are interested in participating please respond
directly to: Selina Tually phone (08)
8303 3289 or email selina.tually@adelaide.edu.au or Pauline McLoughlin phone
(08) 8303 3277 or email pauline.mcloughlin@adelaide.edu.au Closure of UNSW’s Disability Studies and Research Centre (DSRC)In late November, PWD and a range of other organisations,
were contacted by email to inform us that the Disability Studies and Research
Centre (DSRC) at the University of NSW was closing. This news was shocking and sudden, and came
after a brief, internal review of the Centre’s viability had been conducted
and signals the end of Australia’s only disability-specific research centre
that was established to undertake study from a social model perspective. PWD is understandably very upset by this news and our
President, Jan Daisley, is in the process of drafting a letter to the Dean of
the Faculty of Arts of UNSW, to express how disappointed we are with the
closure and with the suddenness of the announcement. PWD has been integral to the establishment
of a research centre which strongly affirms and validates the perspectives of
people with disability and from 2003 to 2006 hosted and financially supported
the previous version of DSRC, the Disability Studies and Research Institute
(DSaRI). Current PWD staff have worked
collegially with both centres to produce a number of research reports over
the years and it was an oversight to ignore this contribution in the email
that informed us of DSRC’s demise. PWD now welcomes the opportunity to work with other
research centres, such as Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC), and the
Centre for Disability Studies (CDS), on projects which are of importance to
people with disability. The
organisation will, however, continue to look for opportunities to either
establish a new centre which has at its core the values and principles of the
social model, or seek to attract funds with which we can seed the development
of research which adopts a very clear disability perspective. New Research Project: Development of Self-Assessment instrumentsPWD has been approached by a research academic to see
if some of our members might be interested in being involved in the
development of a new 'instrument' to record people's own ideas about aspects
of disability. The project is designed to develop and test a new
self-report instrument, enabling people with disability to record their own
ideas about participation in life areas of importance to them and
environmental factors that promote or inhibit participation. The draft instrument uses concepts and categories in
the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF,
WHO 2001). It is hoped that a small number of people with disability will
become involved in all stages of the research - commenting on drafts and
wording, discussing and testing the instrument. This research has emerged from a student’s Masters
thesis and is timely because of the current discussion happening nationally
about the development of a new service system (if the National Disability
Insurance Scheme is successful).
Within any new arrangements there need to be mechanisms for assessing
both eligibility and level of required support, in a way that promotes
self-assessment. PWD has also been
critical of the narrow interpretation of eligibility using invalid terms,
such as “serious and profound” disability and recommended the adoption of
assessment frameworks such as the ICF in our submission to the Productivity
Commission earlier this year. If members are interested in being involved in this
research, please contact Michael Bleasdale at michaelb@pwd.org.au or by telephone on (02) 9370 3100, as soon as possible. Remembering Angus Downie and John Stott: Architects of accessible transport for AustraliaOn 1 December 2010, the Australian Human Rights
Commission honoured the memory of Mr Angus Downie and Mr John Stott, who both
passed away recently. “Angus Downie and John Stott deserve a great share of
the credit for the improvements in accessibility of public transport in
Australia in recent years” said Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme
Innes. In 1994, Angus Downie produced the landmark report, Target 2015 – A Vision for the Future:
Access to transport in Australia for All Australians, for the federal
Government’s Disability Advisory Council of Australia. “As the chair of the Advisory Council at the time, I
can say that Angus’ report was a superb piece of work, combining
comprehensive research and effective advocacy," Commissioner Innes said.
"It not only gave us a road map for the future, it started the cart
rolling down the road to access for all of us.” Mr Downie went on to serve as a disability expert in
the development of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport
under the Disability Discrimination Act and continued contributing to
development of accessible transport for years beyond that. John Stott led the taskforce which negotiated and
wrote the Standards. Then, as head of Sydney Buses, he went on to put his own
Standards into practice. "John won instant respect from everyone involved
in developing the Standards - for his fairness and decency, his clear
thinking and strong leadership and his determination to achieve results for
the public good" said Commissioner Innes. "John had a lasting
commitment to accessible transport – in fact, this week the Commission will
be launching a practical guide for accessible bus stop design which he
produced for us." Commissioner Innes noted that accessible public
transport was not only essential for economic and social participation by
people with disability, but was also of great benefit to an ageing population
as well as people with small children. “As we move into the future, all of us as a nation,
and each of us as individuals, will have more and more reason to be thankful
for the work of Angus Downie and John Stott and of the people who worked with
them," Commissioner Innes said. PWD would also like to pay our respects and tribute to
these pioneers of the disability rights movement. Australian Aid and People with DisabilityThe Government marked International
Day for Persons with Disabilities with the release of its first report on
AusAid's work overseas to improve the lives of people with disability. Ten percent of the world's
population - an estimated 650 million people - live with disability and 80
per cent live in developing countries, mostly in Asia and the Pacific region. The report, entitled Development for All: Achievement
Highlights, reveals early successes being made and comes two years after
Australia launched its first disability strategy for the aid program. Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said
people with disability are benefiting from increased access to Australia's
aid program, including through education and scholarship programs, more
access to public infrastructure, and stronger disabled people's
organisations. Click here
to read the full media release. Development for All: Achievement
Highlights is available at: www.ausaid.gov.au/publications Call for Immigration Cases relating to people with disability applying for residency or refugee application acceptanceThis
call is distributed on behalf of the following organisations: Australian
Federation of Disability Organisations Canberra
Multicultural Community Forum Federation
of Ethnic Community Councils National
Ethnic Disability Alliance People
with Disability Australia Settlement
Council of Australia The
above organisations met with Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris
Bowen in mid-November 2010 to discuss the report and recommendations of the
Joint Standing Committee on Migration Inquiry into migration with disability. The
meeting demonstrated that there is a window of opportunity to convince the
Government to change the current process and parameters for assessing people
with disability when applying for migration or refugee acceptance to
Australia. The
organisations now need to present the Government with as many cases as
possible – those that have been rejected on the basis of the applicant with
disability and those with a member of the family with disability. They
also want to hear about the cases that you know about where the application
has not yet been lodged, i.e. prior to rejection. All
cases require consent from the applicant. The
information can be sent to office@neda.org.au
where the information is collated and passed on to the Minister’s office. This
call is open until 31 January 2011. For
any queries contact Sibylle at 0407 878 933. Passengers 'left on planes and forced off flights' – Sydney Morning HeraldAn
article which appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on 18 November 2010, has
highlighted the failure of airlines to meet a July deadline to submit plans
on how to improve treatment of disabled passengers. Click
here for the full article at the Sydney Morning Herald website Report: Access to Electronic Media for the Hearing and Vision ImpairedDisability
Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes welcomed the release of the final
report into Access to Electronic Media for the Hearing and Vision Impaired by
the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator
Conroy. “I am
delighted to see the release of this report and the Government’s commitment
to implement all 22 of its recommendations,” said Commissioner Innes. “These
recommendations give us a roadmap for improvements in access to electronic
media over the next three years and I look forward to working with
Government, industry and the community to implement them.” The
report sets out a number of actions, government will pursue in relation to
improving access to TV, Cinema, DVD and internet downloads for people who are
Deaf or have a hearing impairment and people who are blind or have low
vision. The
Government recommendations include: •
A move towards 100% captioning on free to air TV between 6 am and 12
midnight by 2014 •
Establishing captioning levels for subscription TV following further
discussion •
Amending the Broadcasting Services Act to better address captioning
for both free to air and subscription TV •
Strengthening the power of ACMA to investigate complaints •
Improving access to emergency service announcements •
Trailing audio description on the ABC •
Providing online information for consumers on access features of
set-top boxes The
report is available at www.dbcde.gov.au/television/television_captioning/media_access_review Click
here for the full Media Release from the Human Rights Commission. |
International NewsFormer Australian Parliamentary Secretary for International Development to Join Disability Rights Fund as AmbassadorFormer
Australian Parliamentary Secretary for International Development, Bob
McMullan, is joining the Disability Rights Fund in an ambassadorial role. Mr
McMullan, who spearheaded the development of Australia’s Development for All
strategy, which explicitly includes persons with disabilities in Australia’s
international development program, will support DRF to link development and
governmental representatives to DRF grantees, furthering DPO visibility and
inclusion. “Mr
McMullan’s decision to join DRF in this role underscores Australia’s
commitment to inclusion of the 650 million people with disabilities around
the world, particularly those in the developing world who live in situations
of extreme poverty,” stated DRF’s
Director Diana Samarasan. Click
here to read the full press release. Disability Rights Fund announces new granteesOn
Human Rights Day, 10 December 2010, the Disability Rights Fund (DRF)
announced funding decisions from its second 2010 funding round. “A
total of $1.3 million has been gifted to 66 disabled persons’ organisations
in 11 countries,” said DRF Co-Chair, William Rowland, who is former President
of the World Blind Union. With these latest grants, total giving of the Fund
to organizations in the Global South and Eastern Europe since 2008 exceeds
$4.7 million. DRF
supports the human rights advocacy of DPOs in the Global South and Eastern
Europe/former Soviet Union, utilising the framework of the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD). DRF grantees advance the
rights of persons with disabilities at the country level. This
round of grants have been awarded to DPOs in Bangladesh, Ecuador, Ghana,
Nicaragua, Peru, Uganda, and the Pacific Island countries of the Federated
States of Micronesia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands and
Vanuatu. Grantees were selected after a competitive review process, which
included a review by the DRF Steering Committee, a committee composed of
donor representatives and people with disabilities from the Global South. Click here
for more information and the full list of grantees. Recording Initiatives in ScotlandColleagues
of PWD in the south of Scotland have just launched their Christmas CD/DVD,
‘Christmas and Friendship’. Produced
at Cree Studio, all aspects of the short film production involved people with
autism or learning disabilities who go to the Council's Activity &
Resource Centre in Newton Stewart. The film features local families and
scenes of Newton Stewart in addition to the work of the studio and recording
in progress. Initially
funded by The People's Postcode Trust, the studio was opened in March this
year by Galloway singer Mona Stewart. Since then it has expanded rapidly to
include the wider community and now regularly involves seventeen young people
and delivers music workshops for local schools, providing a recording base
for professional musicians and learning opportunities for anyone who just
wants to try making music or short films for the first time. Councillor
John Dougan, Chair of Social Work Services Committee, said: “This is a very
special project run from the Council's Activity & Resource Centre to
improve the lives of people with learning disability and to help them develop
their creative film and music skills.” The
CD / DVD Christmas and Friendship is available to download from https://sslrelay.com/mega-media.co.uk/shop/category_15/Creesound.html
For
more information contact Beverley Bell on 0141 427 9425 or beverleybell@turningpointscotland.com |
The Inside StoryPWD Annual General MeetingOn
Saturday 27 November 2010, the PWD Board conducted a very successful member’s
event and AGM. A large number of
members and guests participated in both events and enjoyed refreshments
afterwards. At
the AGM the members voted on a number of changes to the Constitution. These
changes are: Resolution 1: It
was resolved that the following (amended) Point (i) be added under Clause
23.1 of the Constitution: (i)
The President and any other Board member may only be absent for four
consecutive months with Board approval.
At the end of the four-month continuous absence of the President an
election is to be called. For a Board member the Board is free to co-opt into
that vacancy if they wish. Resolution 2: It
was resolved that the following new Clause (41.3) be inserted under Section 41 Elections of the Constitution: 41.3
Each year the Board shall appoint two (2) independent people to assist those
who request assistance with their nomination and/or their voting forms. Resolution 3: That
Clause 17.2, point (a) and (b) of the Constitution to be amended to read: (a)
will attend all Board meetings; (b)
will have the same rights as any elected Board member; was
defeated. Resolution 4: It
was resolved that a new (amended) paragraph be added to Clause 8.5 of the
Constitution that reads: An
employee of the Association shall not be eligible to nominate for the Board
or President until a period of one year has lapsed since their employment
ceased. Resolution 5: That
a new (amended) sentence be added to clause 43.2 of the Constitution: Once a
Director has held office for two (2) consecutive terms, the Director will not
be eligible to serve on the Board as Director or President for one year. was
defeated. At
the AGM, the Returning Officer announced the new Board members for 2011. These
are: •
Jan Daisley – President •
Joe Mannix – Treasurer •
Peter Cassar – interim Vice President •
Sheila King – interim Secretary •
Robert Manga – Director •
Irene McMinn – Director •
Willie Prince – Director •
Samantha French – Director •
Mary-Anne Bath – Director After
the AGM, the Board members met to discuss the Interim Executive that would be
in place until the first Board meeting to be held in February 2011. As
all Board members were not available after the AGM, it was decided conduct
nominations and elections for the Interim Executive by email. However, the
role of Treasurer was considered to be immediately required and to remain
consistent throughout 2011. Therefore
the Board voted Joe Mannix as the PWD Treasurer for 2011. The
outcome of the email election for the Interim Executive (Vice-President and
Secretary) has now been completed and Peter Cassar has been elected Interim
Vice-President and Sheila King has been elected Interim Secretary. We
warmly welcome these members to the Board.
– Jan Daisley, President,
People with Disability Australia PWD Forum on Disability, Welfare and EmploymentJournalist,
presenter and radio personality Julie McCrossin brought her signature flair
to MC PWD’s Forum on Disability, Welfare and Employment, which took place
directly before PWD’s AGM on Saturday 27 November 2010. Panel
Members at the event were: •
Tim Littlejohn – IBM Australia •
Susan Colbert – CEO Australian network on disability (AND) formerly
the Australian employers network on disability •
David Abello – Social Policy Researcher, University of New South Wales The
speakers discussed a number of issues, including proposed changes to the
eligibility criteria for the Disability Support Pension, incentives and
support systems we need that would enable more people with a disability to
enjoy the benefits of a working life, and key concerns and opportunities. Discussion
was lively and included significant audience input. PWD
again streamed the Member Event live over the internet, so again members who
were unable to attend on the night were still able to watch the event and
hear from all the speakers. Everyone
who attended the event received snacks and drinks and went into the draw to
win a Lucky Door Prize, which we are now hoping to make a permanent fixture
at our events. Congratulations to all those who won a prize! Thank
you for all members who attended the event, and the panellists for giving up
their time to provide so much insight into these important issues. – Daphnee Cook, Communications
and Membership Development Manager Farewell Sharon Lee and Rhonda PerkinsThis
month PWD farewelled Sharon Lee, former Information and Liaison Officer for
CRRS and Hotline and Rhonda Perkins, who was filling in for Alan Grimsley as
Manager of the PWD Fraser Coast office. Sharon
commenced her service with PWD in February 2009 as a Resolution and Referral
Officer with the CRRS/Hotline. In September 2009, Sharon was appointed to the
role of Information and Liaison Officer, CRRS/Hotline where she was
instrumental in the establishment of the new Hotline and CRRS websites and
finalisation of the Hotline ATSI brochure. In the period leading up to her
resignation, Sharon was working with designers to revamp Hotline/CRRS
promotional material and on alternative formats to make information about
these services more accessible. Sharon’s
creativity, integrity and commitment to social justice will be missed by PWD.
PWD wishes Sharon every success in the future. PWD
will regretfully lose Rhonda Perkins, who has been a wonderful asset to PWD
in the absence of Alan Grimsley for the past six months. PWD would like to
thank Rhonda for stepping into the role for this time and acknowledge the
valuable contribution she has made to the organisation in a short period of
time. Welcome back Alan GrimsleyPWD
welcomes back Alan to our Fraser Coast Office, after six months of leave, who
returned to work on 1 December. Alan has been sailing around the Pacific, on
an enviable voyage of discovery and exploration. We are very pleased to have
him back in the office and look forward to hearing his stories! Logan recruitmentFollowing
Jenny Speed’s resignation, Tracey Moffatt has been in a temporary Advocate
role working out of our Logan office. This week the Manager position will be
advertised, with the aim to fill in a permanent capacity from mid-December. Support for Cath Hall in our Sunshine Coast
office will be provided by the Logan based Manager.
FaHCSIA Disability Services Act 1986 AuditFaHCSIA
conducted a Section 14K Disability Services Act (1986) audit in September which
occurs every five years as a condition of our funding agreement for
Individual Advocacy. On this occasion they audited four of our offices –
Redfern, Sutherland, Sunshine Coast and the Fraser Coast. A large amount of material demonstrating
our compliance to the Standards was forwarded for a desk review that was
completed before the on-site visits.
On 28
September they visited the Redfern office and conducted a range of interviews
with advocacy staff, Board members and a selection of Individual Advocacy
clients. They also audited client files. The audit included reviewing minutes
from the last two Board and Executive meetings.
On 29
September they visited the Sutherland office, but here only interviews with
staff and clients occurred and client files were audited.
Audits
were also conducted in Queensland at the Maryborough office on 17 September
and the Sunshine Coast office on 20 September.
In
October I received the audit report and was told each site had been found to
be compliant with the Disability Services Standards and very positive
comments were made about the feedback from PWD’s clients and observations
about the quality of support provided to our clients.
I want
to congratulate and thank everyone involved directly and indirectly with the
audits and acknowledge the fantastic work that happens across the team that
is reflected in the outcome of the audit.
– Matthew Bowden, PWD Executive
Director Have you thought of becoming a Disability
Rights Defender?
Not
everyone has the time or ability to come to meetings, write submissions, and
volunteer to protect the rights of people with disability.
If
this is you, there is now a way you can support PWD – becoming a Disability
Rights Defender! By doing so, you will join the hundreds of other Australians
striving towards the vision of a socially just, accessible and inclusive
community, in which the human rights of all people with disability are
respected and celebrated.
You
can become a Disability Rights Defender by making a regular, monthly,
tax-deductible donation – and in doing so, help change lives and make a real difference
to the work of PWD.
Want to learn more? Contact PWD at pwd@pwd.org.au or download an application form from www.pwd.org.au/donations.htmlPWD Media Releases3 December
2010 •
People
with disability at risk of violence in licensed boarding houses •
Closure
of Institutions – a reality or another broken promise? |
Upcoming Events9-11 February 2011: Geelong, VIC Victorian Advocacy
League for Individuals with Disability Inc (VALID) Having
a Say Conference 2011, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria. For more information www.valid.org.au 14-17
March 2011: Auckland, New Zealand Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) Regional
Conference on Disability 2011 -
Promoting actions on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (CRPD) in the Pacific Region. For more
information www.pacificdisability.org |
About PWDPeople with Disability Australia Incorporated (PWD) is a
national disability rights and advocacy organisation. Our membership is
people with disability and organisations made up of people with disability.
Individuals and organisations committed to the disability rights movement can
join PWD as associate members. PWD was founded in 1981, the International Year of Disabled
People, to provide people with disability with a voice of our own. We have a
cross-disability focus and represent the interests of people with all kinds
of disability. As a non-profit, non-government organisation we increasingly
depends on membership fees, public donations, bequests and fundraising
activities to maintain our commitment to improving the lives of people with
disability. PWD is a deductible gift recipient so donations of $2 or more are
fully tax deductible. Your tax deductible donation will mean we can continue to
maintain our services. If you are interested and would like to support PWD
please visit www.pwd.org.au/donations.html For information about membership, contact PWD on email pwd@pwd.org.au or one of the
numbers listed at the end of this E-Bulletin. |
Privacy statementWe are committed to protecting your privacy. In doing so, we
commit ourselves to conforming to the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Bill 2000,
which came into effect in December 2001 and the National Privacy Principles
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this newsletter by sending an email to pwd@pwd.org.au.
This newsletter contains links to websites. We cannot be held responsible for
the privacy practices (or lack thereof) or the content of such websites. |
Contact usPlease note that PWD publishes items contributed by other
organisations at our discretion. While we will assist where possible in the
dissemination of information, we do not take responsibility for the promotion
or advertisement of events organised by other organisations. If you would like to receive PWD E-Bulletin in an alternative
format or have an enquiry, contact PWD by email pwd@pwd.org.au or on one of the
numbers listed below. People with Disability |
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