PWD E-Bulletin |
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Issue 44, July 2007
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 newsThe inside storyNew publications and resourcesConferences and eventsAbout PWDPrivacy statement |
NSW news++Housing and Human Services Accord – supporting vulnerable peopleThe Housing and Human Services Accord, a formal agreement between NSW Government agencies, is a key part of the Reshaping Public Housing reforms. The Accord provides a framework for human service agencies – both government and non-government – to work in partnership to support the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community.The Accord recognises that affordable and stable housing can improve the effectiveness of other services, such as mental health support, disability services or family support. It aims to assist social housing tenants with complex needs to receive the support services they need to live independently and maintain their tenancies. PWD has been working with the Department of Housing as part of its Non Government Organisation (NGO) Reference Group in the development of the Accord. This work has included the development of a client information sharing schedule and a complex housing needs screening tool. Currently the Department is in the process of trialling some programs to determine how these tools work in practice. Many of the people who are involved in these trials are among the most disadvantaged in public housing and would have great difficulty in maintaining housing without support. Trials will include people with disability and substance abuse leaving gaol, young people leaving out-of-home care and aboriginal women leaving gaol under threat of homelessness. For further information please contact Digby Hughes at PWD. ++Licensed Residential Centres – PWD’s continuing advocacy for residentsResidents of Licensed Residential Centres (boarding houses) are among the most disadvantaged in our society, with many having multiple disabilities.PWD has been advocating for a many changes to how boarding houses are licensed, including new legislation. Despite numerous reports and inquiries over the years, it appears that there will be no new legislation until 2008 at the earliest. PWD believes that any new legislation must include measures to assist with the protection of the rights of residents, including mandatory police checks for staff. Over many years the licensed residential sector has been diminishing, and now there are less than 100 beds left in the sector. This year has seen the closure of three boarding houses. For all of these closures PWD has advocated for the rights of residents to have their concerns and needs listened to when their future accommodation is being considered. Where possible, options include independent living in the community. Following the closure of a boarding house in Western Sydney, three residents decided that they would like to share their own house. They recently moved into their own Department of Housing townhouse and each night have drop-in support. This is the sort of positive outcome for residents of boarding houses that PWD supports. For further information please contact Digby Hughes at PWD. ++Speaking UP projectPWD is working with Holroyd City Council on the Speaking UP project. The project is funded through a grant from the Western Sydney Areas Assistance Scheme (WSAAS).The aim of the project is to develop training resources that will give people with intellectual disability:
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Other states and territory news |
National news++Convention – Action towards RatificationPWD congratulates the Australian Government on being one of the first to sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) when it was opened for signature on 30 March 2007. Signing the CRPD marks the Australian Government’s intention to implement the CRPD. However for this intention to become an obligation, the Australian Government must now ratify the CRPD. To date, 101 countries have signed the CRPD and only two have ratified it. For information on countries that have signed the CRPD and those that have ratified the CRPD see the United Nations website at: www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/ Prior to taking the step of ratification, the Australian Government has to undertake a range of initiatives domestically. For more detailed information on the process of signing and ratifying conventions, see PWD E-Bulletin Issue 39, Special UN Convention Edition, March 2007, http://pwd-server1//pwd/publications/e-bulletin/pwd_e-bulletin_39.html#con5 On 27-28 June, PWD participated in a CRPD workshop auspiced by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC). The focus of the workshop was on developing the capacity of the disability community to engage with and contribute to the process of ratification and implementation of the CRPD. The workshop participants included representatives from peak human rights and disability advisory and advocacy organisations. The Commonwealth Attorney-General, the Hon Phillip Ruddock MP opened the workshop and thanked the disability sector for their cooperation and collaboration during the development of the CRPD. PWD was pleased that the Attorney-General also stated his commitment to commencing the domestic process that will lead to ratification, and issued a press release. The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to identify strategies to progress ratification of the CRPD by the Australian Government, ways of effectively participating in consultative processes that will be involved in the lead up to ratification, and strategies to progress implementation of the CRPD following ratification. Following the CRPD workshop, participants released a communiqué that calls on Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments to work speedily to ensure that Australia is one of the first to ratify the CRPD, maintaining its international leadership in this area. The communiqué calls for ratification by 3 December 2008, the International Day of People with Disability. It also invites governments of all levels to work with disability advocacy and advisory groups in developing the implementation and monitoring mechanisms required by the CRPD. This communiqué can be viewed on the HREOC website at: http://humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/word/workshop_communique.doc Since the workshop, a number of workshop participants, including PWD have written to all State and Territory Attorneys-General urging them to work cooperatively with the Australian Government to establish a timeframe for completing all necessary procedures to ensure ratification of the CRPD by 3 December 2008. PWD is continuing to work collaboratively with the human rights and disability advocacy and advisory sectors to progress ratification of CRPD. HREOC is expected to release background information and a workshop report on its website this week, at http://humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/index.html For more information contact Therese Sands at PWD. ++Commonwealth State Territory Disability AgreementAs reported in E-bulletin 41 (April 2007), PWD has serious concerns about the lack of positive developments in the ongoing negotiations between the Commonwealth and State/Territory Governments for a fourth Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA). This concern has continued to grow since mid-February 2007 when the Commonwealth Government announced it would not provide growth funding for disability services funded through the CSTDA, and it would cap indexation on funding at 1.9%. This announcement ignored the 8 February release of the report from the Senate Inquiry into the ‘Funding and Operation of the Commonwealth and State/Territory Disability Agreement’. One of the key findings of the report was that all governments need to provide significant additional funding to address the huge demand for disability services. This report is available online at: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/clac_ctte/cstda/report/index.htm At the 3 April 2007 meeting of Commonwealth, State and Territory ministers, negotiations broke down when the Commonwealth Government offered the State and Territory ministers a new deal. The deal required State and Territory ministers to produce data on unmet need in accommodation and respite, and then state how much funding they would provide to address this unmet need. The Commonwealth Government committed to match, dollar for dollar, the funding levels of each of the State and Territory. The State and Territory Governments were unanimous in their commitment to ensure that a multi-lateral agreement was reached and expressed concern that the Commonwealth Government was attempting to ‘splinter’ the States and Territories. The respective position statements from State and Territory Governments and the Commonwealth Government following the meeting is available from the CSTDA Alliance website at: http://www.cstdaalliance.org.au/ and follow the link, April Ministers’ Meeting. Many in the disability sector, including PWD, welcomed the offer of dollar for dollar matched funding as a significant step towards addressing critical unmet need. PWD’s support for the offer is conditional on the CSTDA remaining as a multi-lateral national agreement where States and Territories are treated fairly and equitably and where processes for funding allocation and distribution are transparent. On 28 June, the Commonwealth Government announced details of a Disability Assistance Package that will deliver $1.8 billion in new funding over five years. Again, many in the disability sector including PWD welcomed the additional funding, but expressed the following concerns:
Of particular concern to PWD is that the package aims to address the critical need for supported accommodation and respite care by creating ten-bed congregate care facilities that would not be consistent with disability services legislation. PWD will provide further information about the package and our advocacy efforts in future editions of E-bulletin. For more information on the package, see the CSTDA Alliance website at: http://www.cstdaalliance.org.au/ and follow the link, Disability Assistance Package. The State and territory Ministers welcomed the additional funding provided in the Package but called for additional growth funding of $3.4 billion over five years to be included in the fourth CSTDA. They argued that this was essential to address demand for specialist disability services On 4 July 2007, following the announcement of the Disability Assistance Package, the Commonwealth Government withdrew its offer of dollar for dollar matched funding to those State and Territory Governments that had failed to respond to the offer. WA, ACT and NT were the only governments that had responded at the time of the offer withdrawal. The Commonwealth Government’s media release on this withdrawal is available at: http://www.ypinh.org.au/index.php?/content/view/651/2/. To view Labor’s response to the withdrawal see: http://www.janmclucas.net/downloads/070704%20MR%20disability%20funds.pdf PWD is extremely disappointed and concerned by this development. We have been working collaboratively with disability sector organisations, the NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS) and the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) to ensure our concerns are being heard. We have endorsed a NSW sector Position Statement and Call to Action on the CSTDA; this document also provides information on what action individuals can take to make your views known. This Position Statement is available at: www.ncoss.org.au/hot/disability/cstda-final-17july07.pdf PWD has also written, with the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO), ACOSS and the State and Territory Councils of Social Service, a joint letter to the Commonwealth Government stating our concerns about the breakdown in CSTDA negotiations and concerns about the Disability Assistance Package. On 25 July, the Commonwealth and State/Territory ministers met in Sydney to continue discussions in relation to the CSTDA. Over 20 people with disability, their supporters, including representatives from disability advocacy organisations took the opportunity to gather outside and convey their views directly, where possible to ministers and ministerial advisors. However, there has been no significant change in Commonwealth and State/Territory positions arising from the meeting. While PWD is pleased that Ministers did reaffirm their commitment to a fourth multilateral CSTDA, agreeing to continue discussions regarding funding, the Commonwealth Government is still committed to a 1.9% indexation rate on funding it contributes under the CSTDA and the offer of matched dollar for dollar funding is still withdrawn except for WA, ACT and NT. The next meeting of the Ministers will take place in September. For more information Therese Sands at PWD.++‘The good, the bad and the ugly’ – HREOC launches CD on responsible application of Building Code of AustraliaThis CD, which is aimed at designers, builders, building certifiers, access consultants and access advocates, looks at 13 examples of common mistakes made in applying today’s Building Code of Australia (BCA) in areas such as handrails on stairs, use of Tactile Ground Surface Indicators, signage, visual indicators on glazing and kerb rails on ramps.The purpose of this resource is to explain why precise application of the BCA and its referenced Australian Standards is necessary by describing how people with disability benefit from good design and construction. A copy of the Commission’s ‘Guidelines on access to buildings and services’ is also included on the CD. Contact publications@humanrights.gov.au or telephone 1300 369 711 to order a free copy of this CD.++Height Adjustable Examination Tables – some positive gainsSince early 2006, PWD and Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA), on behalf of the disability advocacy sector, have been working with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) to address the lack of height adjustable examination tables in general practice facilities. Currently very few general practices have height adjustable examination tables despite research and anecdotal evidence that indicates the effect this may have on patients’ ability to equitably access general practice care. In many situations, patients with disability do not get a service at all, receive poor quality and undignified care, or are misdiagnosed. Women with disability are particularly disadvantaged by the lack of height adjustable examination tables as they are unable to access, or receive limited access to preventative women’s health procedures. PWD and WWDA have focussed on working with HREOC and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) on strategies to improve the availability of height adjustable examination tables and at providing general practices with more information on the importance of this equipment. In particular, we have advocated for the issue of height adjustable examination tables to become a mandatory requirement in the RACGP Standards for General Practices. We have also met with the Department of Health and Ageing (the Department) to discuss ways the Department could financially assist general practitioners to meet the costs of purchasing height adjustable examination tables. Following our discussions and similar issues being raised by HREOC, the Department has engaged in discussion with RACGP on the issue of improving the availability of height adjustable examination tables in general practice. While the Department and RACGP have both stated their support for increasing the availability of height adjustable examination tables in general practice, the Department has not as yet agreed to provide funding to support the purchase of height adjustable examination tables, and RACGP have stated that they will not at this stage make height adjustable examination tables a mandatory requirement in the RACGP Standards for General Practices. However, PWD and WWDA are very pleased that our advocacy efforts have resulted in RACGP updating their Standards for General Practices so that from 1 July 2007 they will include an additional indicator in relation to the availability of height adjustable examination tables. While not a mandatory indicator at this stage, RACGP has committed to a future survey of general practitioners in order to review whether the indicator should become mandatory. We also welcome RACGP’s commitment to providing guidance to general practitioners about the specifications for height adjustable examination tables based on information provided to PWD by the disability sector. In addition, RACGP have almost completed work on negotiating a preferred provider arrangement to reduce the costs for general practice in purchasing height adjustable examination tables. Despite these gains, PWD and WWDA will continue to advocate for height adjustable examination tables to be a mandatory indicator in the Standards for General Practices. We will also continue to work with HREOC, RACGP and the Department on educating general practices and other health care providers about the legal issues and benefits of having height adjustable examination tables. For more information on progress made in relation to the availability of height adjustable examination tables in general practices throughout Australia, see the open letter recently released by HREOC. This open letter is available at: www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/health/open.htm The additional indicator in relation to height adjustable examination tables in the RACGP Standards for General Practices is available on the RACGP website at: http://www.racgp.org.au/standards/513 A report from a survey on the lack of availability of height adjustable examination tables, produced by Sheila King (PWD Director and WWDA Management Committee Member) is available on HREOC’s website at: www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/health/access.doc For more information contact Therese Sands at PWD.++National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day – 4 AugustNational Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day (NAICD) is celebrated on 4 August each year. The Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) encourages all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations, mainstream child and family welfare services, government agencies, schools, preschools, child care services and any organisations with an interest in children to celebrate the day.The theme for NAICD this year is 'Raise children strong in culture: pathways to healing and revival'. A central part of SNAICC’s advocacy has always been the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children being raised in their culture. For an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child, culture is a source of strength, resilience, happiness, identity and confidence. For some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in particular, such as those that are being raised away from their families, access to their culture is critical as it provides a link to their heritage and a source of strength and pride. SNAICC encourages everyone with some role in raising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to raise them strong in their Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander culture. Foster parents, carers and services working with our children should encourage children to feel proud of their Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identity, provide opportunities for children to participate in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural and community events and wherever possible have contact with their family so they can learn about their culture and heritage first hand. Strengthening our children’s cultural identity is the best way to build their confidence. Communities and families that raise their children strong in culture create many pathways to healing and revival: children develop confidence and pride in themselves, their families and their culture; and communities grow in pride and strength. SNAICC has produced a Children's Activity Kit for this year's NAICD. These were distributed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children's services across the country. Other organisations can download a PDF of the 2007 Activity Kit from SNAICC's website.
More information is also available by contacting SNAICC: |
International news++7th DPI World Assembly, Korea, 5-8 September 2007 ‘Our Rights, Our Convention, But for ALL: The Next Steps Toward Global Action’Venue: KINTEX, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, KoreaAt this key international event, persons with disabilities (PWDs) from around the world will attend conferences, session and events to report the status of PWDs in their countries, to discuss progress plans together, to adopt a resolution and to participate in various events. Plans include the proclamation of a new vision after announcing post-convention challenges and action plans. A parade of diversity and unity through downtown Seoul will be held on the final day, with all participants requested to bring their traditional clothes or flags. Visit the 7th DPI World Assembly website: www.dpiwa.net/eu/ for more information.++Intimate Encounters exhibition, New YorkDenise Beckwith, a staff member of PWD, travelled to New York for the opening of the Intimate Encounters exhibition on 9 July 2007 at the Museum of Sex. Denise was a participant in the Intimate Encounters project, which examines the issue of disability, sexuality and body image. Denise was a keynote speaker at the opening of the exhibition. Numerous members of PWD were also participants in Intimate Encounters.++Opportunities to work overseas with people living with disabilityAustralian Volunteers International, in partnership with APIDS (Australian Pacific Island Disability Support) and the Australian Government, is now recruiting volunteers to work with three disability support organisations in the Pacific.The three-month assignments will commence in March 2008 and are only open to Australians with disabilities. The roles include:
All volunteers receive airfares, a living allowance, pre-departure briefing, visas and insurance. Please advise AVI of any specific disability requirements for the recruitment process (this incudes a phone and face-to-face interview). Applications close 31 August 2007. For more information contact Erika Drury, AVI Recruitment on 03 9279 1729 or email: edrury@australianvolunteers.com AusAID, the Australian Government's overseas aid program, is proud to provide significant support for Australian volunteers who work in a development capacity overseas.
For more information about APIDS, please visit: www.apids.org |
The inside story++Launch of PWD Strategic Plan – Members’ event, Friday 21 September 2007PWD members are invited to the launch of our 2007-2010 Strategic Plan at Redfern Town Hall on Friday, 21 September at 4.00-6.00pm. Join us for drinks and food to celebrate the future. Representatives of PWD who will be attending the 7th DPI World Assembly in Korea (5-8 September) will present on conference highlights for members. An exhibition of Korean dance will be performed by Ms Young-Joo Byun, a member of the Deafness Forum of Australia and recipient of a recent award from the Sydney Korean Women's Welfare Association at the celebration of the first Australia-Korean Women's Day.
For further information about this event, contact Allyson Campbell, PWD. |
Publications and resourcesReturn to top |
Conferences and events++1 August 2007Flight to the Future: Towards 2017 - NCOSS Sector Development Conference, NSW, at Teachers Federation Auditorium, Surry Hills.
This major sector development conference is a ‘Big Picture Day’ designed to enable us to anticipate and build the sort of sector we will need by the year 2017. ++12-14 September 2007Australian Association of Developmental Disability Medicine Conference 2007, at Holiday Inn, Adelaide.
This conference will be for everyone with an interest in the health of people with developmental disability, health research, practice and ethics. ++26-27 September 2007Arts Activated Conference: Leading examples of inclusion of people with disabilities in the Arts, at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney.The Arts Activated Conference, the first of its kind to be held in NSW, is organised by Accessible Arts, the peak arts and disability organisation across New South Wales, in partnership with the Spastic Centre. The Arts Activated Conference in 2007 will be a celebration for all those passionate about people with disabilities and their active inclusion and participation in the arts. It will be an opportunity to participate in seminars and practical workshops in dance, theatre, visual arts, audience development and community cultural development and to acknowledge, share and network with other practitioners and administrators. Come and be inspired by innovative and groundbreaking programs, ideas and facilitators all in the beautiful surroundings of the Sydney Conservatorium.
These are just some of the sessions on offer so for more information, a registration form and a detailed program of seminars and workshops go to:
http://www.thespasticcentre.com.au/artsactivated/
++18-19 October 2007Public Interest Advocacy Conference, at Wesley Centre, Sydney.
This year is the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC). To mark the occasion PIAC is holding a conference that will focus on the development of public interest advocacy in Australia and its future direction and challenges. The conference is being held in Sydney and will include a celebratory dinner. ++25-26 October 2007The Odyssey…a journey of enrichment and possibility, at the Mercure Hotel, 818-820 George Street, Sydney.Family advocacy’s first national conference will provide an exciting opportunity to hear of real experiences and examples from an impressive array of inspirational local, national and international speakers. You will also have the opportunity to meet with the speakers and other people attending the conference to share ideas and experiences, both informally and at an optional social event on the evening of 25 October. For more information about the conference content and for information about accommodation options visit: www.family-advocacy.com and click on Conference 07.If you have any queries contact Family Advocacy by email: conference@family-advocacy.com or phone: (02) 9869 0866 or 1800 620 588. ++3-4 November 20073rd Annual Conference Mental Health Association NSW Inc, Mind & Its Potential, at Sydney Masonic Centre, Sydney.
The conference will cover: the fundamentals of mediation; the results of Western scientific research on meditation; instruction on how to meditate from world-leading experts.
This will be a world-class forum, featuring four international speakers and over 500 delegates over one weekend! |
++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, PWD. ++PWD's training servicesPWD has extensive experience in the development and delivery of professional training across a wide range of disability areas, including:
Training packages developed are flexible and tailor-made to meet the needs of the particular organisation. To find out more about PWD's training services or to discuss your specific training needs, contact Manager, Information & Education, Kathryn Knight or Ph 02 9370 3100. |
++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 issued by the Australian Privacy Commissioner. This newsletter is distributed by email. You have provided us with an email address. This email address will be used only for the purpose for which you have provided it and you will not be added to any other mailing lists unless you specifically request that this be done. Your email address will not be disclosed without your consent. You can have your email address removed from the mailing list for this newsletter by sending an email to
Allyson Campbell, 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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