PWD E-Bulletin |
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Issue 31, June 2006
Welcome to PWD’s e-bulletin. The e-bulletin goes out to members and interested others regularly by email. For members who do not have access to email, a printed version of the e-bulletin will be sent by post. To be added to or removed from our mailing list, or to change your email address, please contact Allyson Campbell at PWD on email pwd@pwd.org.au or on one of the numbers listed at the end of this bulletin.
Contents
New South Wales newsOther state and territory newsNational newsInternational newsNew publications and resourcesConferences and eventsAbout PWDPrivacy statement |
NSW news++Stronger together: New NSW 10 year plan for disability servicesThe NSW State Government has released its long awaited ten-year plan for disability services. Titled Stronger Together: A new direction for disability services in NSW 2006-2016 the plan outlines what services the government intends to improve with increased funding to disability services by $1 billion over 5 years. The plan was launched by the Premier of NSW, the Honourable MOrris Iemma, MP on 26 May 2006. The Government has identified three areas of focus:
Stronger Together seeks to improve access and exit points as a way of addressing inequities within the service system by:
Underpinning the plan is a recognition that many people with disability live at home emphasises strengthening these arrangements by linking services to need. Early assistance will be provided by case managers and service provision developed as the individuals’ needs change over time. Key areas of improvement over the next five years include:
PWD President, Heidi Forrest, congratulated the NSW Government making a concerted effort to address the drastic lack of appropriate accommodation and support services for people with disability in NSW. Alastair McEwin, Chief Executive Officer of PWD, in welcoming the plan and financial commitment, said the detail of how the plan will be achieved is important and indicated that he looked forward to engaging with the NSW Government in the implementation of the plan. In addition to the substantial financial commitment and a clear policy direction for the provision of disability services in NSW, several welcome features of the plan include:
However, there are also some discouraging features to the plan. This includes proposals to develop two ten-bed houses on the site of the Grosvenor Centre in Ashfield for people with high medical needs. While there is obviously a need to provide appropriate accommodation and support for people with high medical needs, PWD believes that such accommodations can be made within a community living setting. In addition, plans include the development of 10 cottages on the Lachlan Centre site. The focus of this facility appears to be for people with behavioural support needs. A further development to close the current institution at Peat Island for 20 people with disability is also proposed. Again, PWD is dismayed that earlier commitments to people currently living in the Lachlan Centre and other institutions have not be honoured. PWD believes that flexible and innovative models of service delivery for people with disability can and should be provided, particularly to ensure that no person remains isolated and dislocated from their community. PWD is concerned that the development of more institutions will prove a major set back in the development of appropriate community inclusive responses to accommodation and support needs. PWD will be developing a detailed response to the plan in the near future and looks forward to working with the NSW Government in developing implementation strategies for the plan. More information is available from Matthew Bowden at PWD. ++Reshaping public housing: Changes underwayAs reported in earlier issues of PWD E-bulletin, in April last year the NSW government announced significant changes to the way in which public housing was accessed and allocated. The policy reforms were outlined in a document called Reshaping Public Housing. The reforms include:
The NSW Department of Housing (DOH) has been developing an implementation plan for Reshaping Public Housing. PWD has been participating in a non-government organisation reference group to attempt to provide input into the development of the implementation plan. PWD has raised concerns with the proposed reforms including the need to ensure that assessments are fair and equitable and do not restrict access to public housing. In particular, concern was expressed about the way in which the decisions about what constitutes a ‘sustainable’ tenancy for people considered eligible to live in public housing is determined. The DOH has issued a draft policy proposal which outlines its plans for implementation. It is called Reshaping Public Housing Reform: Targeting and Tenure, Access Allocation and Tenure Framework. PWD has raised a number of concerns regarding the implementation including:
More information is available from Matthew Bowden at PWD. ++Action on voter discrimination: UpdateAs reported in previous editions of PWD E-Bulletin, PWD is working towards eliminating voter discrimination. Our campaign has been based on the denial of political rights to people with disability and has focussed on the lack of access for many people with disability to various aspects of voting. This includes people who are blind or have a vision impairment being denied the right to a secret ballot; lack of information in accessible formats; people with an ambulatory disability are denied physical access to a polling booth; and the lack of availability of sign language interpreters in polling booths for people who are deaf or have a hearing impairment. As recently reported PWD attended a workshop conducted by the NSW State Electoral Office (SEO). At the workshop the SEO committed to working towards improving access for people with disability to the electoral system. The SEO acknowledged that not enough had been achieved in the past. The SEO also acknowledged that improvements will be made by the time of the 2007 State election and that this will be springboard for the 2008 Local Government Elections (also conducted by the SEO). At the workshop PWD spoke of the need to see accessibility as including, but not limited to, physical access to polling booths. This was agreed to by the SEO. The SEO is investigating using specialist equipment available in some polling booths. PWD insisted that if this was the case then these polling booths must be seen as the only polling booth in the relevant locality. Following the workshop the SEO has updated their report on access and PWD are finalising our response. For further information please contact Digby Hughes at PWD. ++Advocacy and information services plan: UpdateThe Advocacy and Information Service Forum met at PWD last week. PWD acts as the secretariat to this forum. Carol Mills, Deputy Director General, NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) addressed the forum. She reported that DADHC is current analysing the 70 responses received to the issues paper on the proposed advocacy and information services state plan. This analysis will be put to the Minister with a list of options for further action. In general, there was support for the 9 strategic directions outlined in the paper. Particular issues included:
++Sydney Ferries Services Working GroupThe Sydney Ferries Services Working Group was established in August 2004 shortly after the formation of the Sydney Ferries Corporation, to consider ferry service issues and to provide a forum for key stakeholders to have input into decision-making and planning. The Working Group has representatives from key consumer organisations, individuals and Government agencies. PWD has been a member of the Working Group since it was first established to represent commuters with disability, and continues to have input on issues that impact on persons with disability. Some of the issues that have been addressed by the Working Group to date include: safety, customer service, accessibility of ferry services for people with disability, legislative framework for the transport industry, signage at Circular Quay and fare levels. Key outcomes from the Working Group regarding issues for commuters with disability include:
PWD will continue to provide input and represent people with disability on the Working Group to ensure the interests of commuters with disability are an integral part of future planning and development of ferry services. For further information about the Sydney Ferries Services Working Group, contact Samantha French at PWD.++Easy Access railway stations: Attention to the inner westThe Minister for Transport in NSW the Honourable John Watkins, MP recently visited the inner western Sydney train station of Newtown to review accessibility and other facilities at the station. Local Member of Parliament for Marrickville, the Honourable Carmel Tebbutt, MLC asked the Minister to visit after identifying local station access for people with disability as an issue. Ms Tebbutt said local residents and regular commuters had raised the issue of access at stations within the Marrickville area. Mr Watkins stated that Newtown station should be considered for access upgrade works in relation to its importance as an access point for Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. The Minister and RailCorp are currently considering funding allocations for access upgrades to Cityrail Stations. Easy Access stations across the network total 78 or 25% of all stations operated by Cityrail. PWD has consistently called upon the State Government to improve the speed with which the stations identified as part of the Easy Access plan is implemented. The focus on upgrading stations that are part of an integrated transport system is welcomed by PWD. For more information go to:NSW Ministry of Transport: www.transport.nsw.gov.au/using_trans/access-trans.html Cityrail: www.cityrail.nsw.gov.au/facilities/accessing.jsp ++Companion card proposalNSW Shadow Minister for Disability Services, the Honourable John Ryan, MLC has announced that Liberal/Nationals Government would introduce a Companion Card that would allow people with disability to travel and attend public events with their carer and obtain two tickets for the price of one from consenting business operators. In a recently released media statement, Mr Ryan said the proposed scheme will cost $500,000 over three years in NSW. He pointed out that Companion Card would reduce the isolation experienced by many people with disability because of the cost of accessing events in the community. PWD welcomes the companion card proposal. PWD believes that such a proposal, similar to the scheme currently operating in Victoria, would enhance access to a range of social activities for people with disability. More information is available from www.johnryanmlc.com++Hot topics in disability discrimination lawThe NSW Disability Discrimination Legal Centre is running a free one-day forum on current issues and developments in disability discrimination law. In the morning session, guest speakers will talk about the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability, the Transport Standards and employment and people with disability. After lunch there will be a panel discussion and question time for the audience. The forum will be held in Sydney between 9.30am and 3.30pm on Wednesday 21 June 2006 and will also be video-linked to some regional centres. If you would like to attend, you can email NSW DDLC on info@ddlcnsw.org.au or call (02) 9310 7722 (TTY: 9310 4320) to request a registration form. Numbers are strictly limited. Places are filling up quickly, so please register early if you would like to attend. ++Report on Government Services 2004-2005The Government Steering Committee for the review of Government service provision has released its annual Report on Government Services for the year 2004-05. The scope of the report includes, Federal, State and Territory Government direct spending on services as well as non-government organisations that are government funded. The report is comparative across all States and Territories and gives a national average from the data collected. The report found that users of supported accommodation services as a proportion of the estimated potential population in NSW had dropped slightly between the 2002-03 and 2003-04, the figure remaining around 3% of potential users. The Australia wide figure had improved slightly over the same period to around 4%. South Australia continues to be the best performing state over the same period reporting a figure of just under 8% of potential users accessing supported accommodation services. NSW also reported a large increase in expenditure per user of government provided group home services for the period 2003-04. The reported average figure for the period 2002-03 per user in NSW was approximately $80,000. For the period 2003-04 the NSW average figure was approximately $125,000 representing an increase of around $45,000 per user since 2002-03. Non-government provided group home services in NSW experienced a significant drop in funding for over the reporting period. For the period 2002-03 NSW reported average government funding per user of approximately $90,000 per year whilst in 2003-04 the figure had dropped to approximately $70,000 average government funding per user. NSW reported a large increase of government funding per user of accommodation support services for in home care services such as Home and Community Care (HACC) from approximately $35,000 in 2002-03 to just over $60,000 for the period 2003-04. The national average for the period 2003-04 was approximately $25,000 government funding per user. There has been an increase of potential users across all States and Territories of employment services for people with disability. South Australia and Victoria reported the highest usage rates at around 24% for the period of 2003-04. NSW reported a 17% usage rate, coming in behind the national average of 19%. Administrative expenditure as a proportion of total expenditure of government funded disability services was highest in NSW at around 11% for the period 2004-05. This compares to a national average of 8.7%. However it does represent a slight drop in NSW administrative expenses from the previous reporting period of 2003-04. The report can be found at:www.pc.gov.au/gsp/reports/rogs/2006/index.html |
Other states and territory news++Accessible Place Accessible State 2020 Policy PaperRecently the Disability Advisory Council of Victoria (DACV) released the Accessible Place Accessible State 2020 Policy Paper. The paper was formulated with the assistance of the DACV Accessible Place Working Party. The paper highlights ten accessible place guiding principles and thirty recommendations. Copies of the paper can be found on the DACV website: ++DHS Review of Aids and Equipment Program in VictoriaThe Victorian Government has announced that it will undertake a review of the Aids and Equipment Program. The review will be conducted though the Department of Human Services. The review will examine how the program is supporting people with disability and identify possible improvements for the future. The review will consider:
http://hnb.dhs.vic.gov.au/ds/disabilitysite.nsf/sectionfour/aep_review?open ++New Office for Disability in VictoriaThe Victorian Minister for Community Services, the Honourable Sherryl Garbutt, MP has announced that the Victorian Government will set up a new Office for Disability as part of its commitment to build a Fairer Victoria. The aim of the office is to promote change across State Government Departments to make public services, infrastructure and programs more accessible people with disability. Ms Garbutt said that the Disability Services Division of the Department of Human Services provides programs to approximately 10% of people with disability; however the remaining 90% of people with disability are mainly living in the community and are more concerned about improving access to buildings, housing, transport, education, jobs, health and other services. The Office for Disability will address these issues and will work with other government departments to ensure access issues are addressed across the whole of government. The Office for Disability will assist other government departments to develop disability action plans (a requirement of all Victorian government departments). “The new Office is the State Government’s response to calls from disability rights advocates and the services sector for a more co-ordinated approach to make life better for people with disabilities,” Ms Garbutt said. “When the community is more accessible to people with disabilities, it is more accessible to everyone, including older people and young parents with small children in prams and pushers. It is all about making Victoria a great place for everyone to live and give people with a disability the same opportunities and access to enjoy a happy and fulfilled life,” she said. ++Supported accommodation task force for people with disability in South AustraliaThe South Australian Government has recently announced that it will establish a task force to examine all aspects of supported accommodation including supply and demand, vacancy management and eligibility. The task force will receive public submissions and undertake consultations in metropolitan and rural regions. More information is available from the task force by contacting: Mr Paul Willey, Executive Officeror by fax: 08 8226 6262 or phone: 08 8226 6520. |
National news++Moving into work: Implementation of Welfare to WorkMany of the changes to income support and employment assistance programs announced in last year’s Federal Budget as part of the Welfare to Work package come into effect on 1 July 2007. The reforms significantly change the way income support payments, eligibility, assessments and participation rules apply to social security recipients, especially people with disability. For background information, please refer to earlier issues of PWD E-bulletin. ++Moving into work advertising campaignThe Australian Government has launched an advertising campaign designed to encourage employers to employ people with disability and other recipients of income support. The campaign includes television advertising and background information available on a new government websit ++Workplace Modifications SchemePart of the Welfare to Work changes includes new eligibility and administration rules of the Workplace Modifications Scheme (WMS). The Australian Government consulted on required changes to the WMS in order to provide more accessiblity to the workplace for people with disability. PWD participated in consultations earlier in the year. PWD argued that broader eligibility criteria needed to be developed and that people with disability needed easier access to the WMS to make moving into work and, when in work, moving to new positions simpler. Under the new arrangements, people with disability no longer need to be registered with an employment service or in receipt of the Disability Support Pension to access the WMS. However, people with disability not receiving an income support payment from Centrelink must demonstrate that they meet certain criteria. Other changes include broadening of co-contribution by employers to non-financial commitments including training and flexible work conditions. Changes to the way the WMS is administered will make it simpler and quicker for people with disability to access the scheme. PWD welcomes these changes as a way of providing faster, simpler and more practical support to people with disability seeking and gaining work. ++Have your say: Action networkPWD is supporting the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) Action Network on Welfare to Work. A new letter has been posted to the ACOSS website for individual and organisations to use. The letter is to remind politicians of the changes which leave many Australians worse off – cuts to payments and 8 week suspensions. PWD E-bulletin readers are encouraged to send the letter and to get your networks to log on and add to the numbers voicing their concern. You can also tell three friends about the Action Network with just a click of the button on www.acoss.org.au/tellfriends.aspx ++Framework for Disability Advisory Councils Working TogetherThe Disability Advisory Council (DAC) Network has recently released a report detailing findings intended to direct a framework that will better assist the DACs in their role of informing government policy. DACs advise state and territory governments on policy and other issues affecting people with disability and their families. The DACs are not directly affiliated with peak bodies or service providers. State or Territory governments or Ministers select DAC members. The DACs are required to operate in accordance with, and be guided by, relevant local and federal legislation. The National Network comprises DACs from each State or Territory. The National Disability Advisory Council (NDAC) is the body that informs the Australian Government on disability policy. NDAC is not a member of the network nor is its role to act as conduit of advice from DACs to the Australian Government. The report uses results garnered from consultation with external stakeholders on the role of DACs. Findings include:
PWD participated in the stakeholder consultations as part of the development of this report and welcomes the findings of the report. In particular, PWD looks forward to further developing our working relationship with the NSW Disability Advisory Council. |
International news++Accessible Voting Systems Required in Federal Elections in USAJanuary 1 2006 was the deadline by which voting systems used in federal elections in the United States of America (USA) had to be accessible under the Help America Vote Act. The law now requires every precinct in the country to have at least one voting machine or system accessible to people with disability, including people with vision impairments. Access is required so that persons with disabilities have the same opportunity for participation, including privacy and independence, afforded other voters. The Act was passed in 2002 and implements these and other reforms in response to the balloting controversies that arose in the 2000 Presidential election. In addition to access for people with disability, these reforms include measures that will allow all voters to verify and correct ballots before they are cast and remove language barriers. The law also authorised funding to states to help cover the costs of compliance. In December, the Election Assistance Commission, which was set up under the law to implement the reforms, issued new guidelines that states can follow on a voluntary basis to ensure that voting systems function accurately and reliably. The Voluntary Voting System Guidelines cover useability, including accessibility for people with disabilities, security and privacy. In addition to the Help America Vote Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has requirements for accessibility that are pertinent to polling places. Under the ADA, state and local governments must ensure access to their programs and services, including voting. The U.S. Department of Justice, which regulates and enforces this provision, has issued a guide on polling place accessibility. The ADA Checklist for Polling Places is designed to help local jurisdictions in selecting sites for polling places through an evaluation of architectural accessibility. It can be used to identify barriers to access and to determine how best to address them. Based on the ADA’s design requirements for buildings and facilities, the checklist covers access to parking, passenger drop-off areas, footpaths and entrances so that all areas and elements used by voters are accessible.
More information including the new guidelines and related information are posted on the Commission’s website at www.eac.gov |
Publications and resources++Welfare to Work package: Information materialThe introduction of Welfare to Work from 1 July 2006 will see major changes to the social security system. Please refer to article above in this issue of PWD E-bulletin. The National Welfare Rights Network (NWRN) has released training information on the welfare to work changes. The information is designed to give an overview of the most substantial of these changes. The NWRN website will be updated as additional information becomes available. More information is available from www.welfarerights.org.au/wrtraining/introduction.htm
++‘Living Stories’ bookletNSW Council of Intellectual Disability has published a booklet entitled ‘Living Stories’, which was launched on 22 May 2006. This booklet tells stories of people with intellectual disability and how they live. Some have lived in institutions and have successfully transitioned to the community. Some stories are told by family members who share their experiences when a loved one moves from an institution and moves into the community. Copies are available from the NSW Council of Intellectual Disability. Phone: 02 9211 1611 or 1800 424 065 (toll free), fax: 02 9211 2606, email: mail@nswcid.org.au ++HREOC complaint handling reportThe Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) has recently produced a report on its complaint handling work. The paper, Five years on: An update on the complaint handling work of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission outlines the findings of two research projects undertaken in 2004-05. The report is available at: www.humanrights.gov.au/complaints_information/publications/five_years_on.html ++HREOC Indigenous young people with cognitive disabilities and Australian juvenile justice systemsHREOC has recently released the findings of a research project that examined the issues of Indigenous young people with a cognitive disability and/or mental health issue in Australian juvenile justice systems. The research was undertaken by the Social Justice Commissioner with financial support from the Australian Government Attorney General. The report is available at www.humanrights.gov.au/social_justice/index.html |
Conferences and events++14-17 June 2006 2006 Society for disability studies 19th annual conference, Washington Plaza Hotel, Washington, USA, Gallaudet University. More information is available by emailing: Susan Magasi at smagas1@uic.edu or Joy Hammel at cg16@uic.edu
++14-16 August 2006
2006 ACWA conference incorporating the 7th International Looking After Children Conference, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney. For further information email: mailto:info@acwa06.com
++15-17 November 2006
The right to health care: Evidence, ethics and health in people with developmental disability. Sydney Masonic Centre Conference Centre, 66 Goulburn Street Sydney. Centre for Developmental Disability Studies [CDDS] and Australian Association of Developmental Disability Medicine.
For further information or to place your name on a mailing list to receive the conference registration brochure, please email: Tony Harman at tonyharman@med.usyd.edu.au
++18 November 2006
People with Disability Australia, Annual General Meeting. Venue tbc. More information is available from Allyson Campbell at PWD at allyc@pwd.org.au |
++About PWDPeople with Disability Australia Incorporated (PWD) is a national disability rights and advocacy organisation. Its primary membership is people with disability and organisations primarily made up of people with disability. PWD also has a large associate membership of other individuals and organisations committed to the disability rights movement. 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; we represent the interests of people with all kinds of disability. PWD is a non-profit, non-government organisation. For information about membership of PWD, contact Allyson Campbell at PWD. |
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Allyson Campbell at PWD. This newsletter contains links to websites. We cannot be held responsible for the privacy practices (or lack thereof) or the content of such websites. |
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