DARU Update
2 May 2011
· IN THE NEWS
· EVENTS
· PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES
· TRAINING
· SUBMISSIONS, CONSULTATIONS AND FORUMS
· PAID AND VOLUNTARY POSITIONS
IN THE NEWS
Mother's Fears for Autistic Boy Denied School Aide
The Age, Goya Dmytryshchak, 29 April 2011.
Oscar French has started second term of school this week, and his mother fears the strain will be too much for him. The six-year-old Yarraville boy, who has autism, was deemed to know too many words to receive funding for an integration aide at his mainstream school.
His mother, Emma Stirling, said Oscar scored 73 on the Education Department's language test - three marks over the cut off for funding. Her son knows a lot of words - such as ''flexible'', which he picked up from Lego's ''flexible'' train tracks - but cannot use them normally.
Before his enrolment, integration support was strongly recommended by several experts, including specialists at the Royal Children's Hospital. But the Education Department disagreed.
Williamstown MP Wade Noonan said Oscar's plight reinforced why Education Minister Martin Dixon must order a departmental review of enrolment procedures for children with autism.
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development spokeswoman Megan McNaught said the enrolment criteria for children with autism were developed through consultation with experts.
''Students with additional needs undergo a range of assessments administered by qualified health and other professionals, which are consistent across the state.''
Oscar's case is similar to that of another Yarraville boy, Matthew Smoljko, who was refused entry to Western Autistic School's Niddrie or Laverton campus. Although he self-harmed and could not hold a pencil, Matthew was deemed to have scored too well in the language entrance test to be enrolled in prep. Following a February report, the department reversed its decision.
To read the full article, visit:
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/mothers-fears-for-autistic-boy-denied-school-aide-20110428-1dywt.html
Disability Employment Program
AFL BigPond Network, 27 April 2011
The AFL will launch a partnership with Disability Works Australia (DWA) and the Australian Government to create more job opportunities across the Australian football industry for people with a disability. The program will be officially launched by Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten before the match between the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast Suns at Etihad Stadium
Twenty two people with a disability are already working with the AFL and AFL clubs as a result of the program which has been funded through the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
AFL Disability Employment Program ambassador and Western Bulldogs player Sam Reid, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last year, said the program would make a significant difference to the lives of people with a disability and equally, organisations would benefit from the program. “Having experienced first-hand the contribution people with a disability can make to an organisation, and the positive impact it has on their lives, I’d encourage all businesses to consider their recruitment options,” he said.
Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten welcomed the new partnership between the Australian Government, the AFL and DWA. “Football is a game that captures the heart while being played with the head. I know, whatever your team, that all Australian football supporters are staunchly on the side of those around us who live each day with a disability. So this working initiative by the AFL is as smart as it is positive,” he said.
To read the full story, visit:
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/111182/default.aspx
Open Letter to UN Women: Addressing the Needs of Women with Disabilities
Stephanie Oltoleva, 22 April 2011
This 43-page Open Letter supports the expanded inclusion of women and girls with disabilities in the work of UN Women and accepts UN Women Under-Secretary-General Michelle Bachelet's invitation for partnership with women with disabilities, as offered in her 24 January 2011 speech to the UN Women Executive Board. The document offers concrete suggestions for the meaningful inclusion of women and girls with disabilities as UN Women develops its plans of action and in all of the publications, programs and activities of UN Women.
This paper also invites UN Women to specifically and concretely include women and girls with disabilities in the Strategic Plan to be presented to the UN Women Executive Board in June 2011 and to include women with disabilities as part of the NGO Advisory Group to be appointed by Ms. Bachelet.
To read the letter, visit:
http://sites.google.com/site/womenenabled/home
Charter Review Welcomed
VEOHRC Media Release, 20 April 2011
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission welcomed the Attorney-General’s announcement yesterday of the four-year review of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.
Chief Executive Officer Karen Toohey said the four-year review was an important milestone in the maturing of Victoria’s human rights framework.
“The Commission looks forward to working with the Attorney-General and the review body, Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee (SARC), on the review to deliver a comprehensive evidence-based report on the broad scope of the operation of the Charter and its impact on the lives of Victorians,” Ms Toohey said.
“The four-year review will give Victorians an opportunity to have their say about the importance of human rights.”
During the last three years the Commission has undertaken broad community consultation on issues which will be considered during the review, including the rights of women, Indigenous self-determination, rights of people with disabilities, and economic, social and cultural rights.
The consultation reports, the Commission’s annual reports on the operation of the Charter and other resources about the Charter are available on the Commission’s website at:
http://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=1371&Itemid=147
Victoria Faces Bleak Budget
The Age, Josh Gordon and Reid Sexton, 19 April 2011
Kim Wells is preparing to unveil a bleak first budget that will deliver the state government's election commitments but little else, with a national spending slump expected to slice an extra $1.5 billion from Victoria's GST collections.
Welfare groups and unions are worried the government will use the budget as an excuse to make cuts to jobs and services. Victorian Council of Social Service chief executive Cath Smith has heard rumours of looming cuts and was concerned the government was preparing to ''rob Peter to pay Paul''.
''If you are going to deliver an electricity concession to a family that is struggling to pay the bills, you don't want to be pulling out spending on health, education and transport that is going to affect that same family,'' Ms Smith said.
To read the full article, visit:
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/victoria-faces-bleak-budget-20110418-1dlp0.html
The Wallara Potter Street Redevelopment - A Shared Vision
Wallara’s Potter Street Dandenong redevelopment is a joint venture with Wintringham, a leading aged-care provider for older disadvantaged people. The state-of-the-art integrated facility and jointly co-ordinated management is a pioneering model that addresses pressing needs confronting the Disability sector.
For the first time ageing people with disabilities can transition into ‘aged care’ supported by Wallara and Wintringham, with minimum disruption and distress, seamlessly within the same ‘familiar’ location.
For some, previously the lack of appropriate care for older people with disabilities has meant that they have been forced to spend their final days in a hospital environment.
In addition, people living with older carers are increasingly going to outlive their parents. Parents’ worst fears are based on the lack of facilities available for their adult children when they are no longer able to care for them. Wallara presently supports a number of parents over 80 who support a child who is 50+ years old. These parents and others like them could live in the Wintringham Aged Care facility on the same site as their family member with a disability, supported by Wallara. This integrated support promotes continuity of the family group and provides vital peace of mind for the parents.
To find out more about this project, visit:
http://www.wallara.com.au/redevelopment/overview/
EVENTS
Conciliation Tips for Advocates
When: / Wednesday, 11 May 2011, 4.00 pm – 5.00 pmWhere: / Lionel Murphy Centre, 360 Queen Street (between La Trobe and A’Beckett Streets) Melbourne CBD
Register: / RSVP: (03) 9269 0353 or
Cost: / Free
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and Victoria Legal Aid are presenting a series of free anti-discrimination seminars.
The fifth seminar in the 2011 series will provide practical tips about how advocates can achieve positive outcomes for clients with complaints of discrimination and harassment.
The session will include presentations by Emrys Nekvapil, barrister at the Victorian Bar, and Karen Toohey, Chief Executive Officer at the Commission.
Video conferencing facilities will be available.
For more information, visit the Commission’s website at:
http://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=1207&Itemid=717
Mentoring – What, Why, and How?
When: / Wednesday 11 May 2011, 6pm - 9pm (session, followed by a networking dinner)Where: / Golden Gate Hotel, 238 Clarendon St, South Melbourne
Register: / Download a Registration Form from http://dpv.org.au/files/PVL7P48AM3/Leadership_SIG_May_2011.pdf
Mentoring is an important career development experience, as a way to enhance skills and achieve long-term career aspirations. Mentoring is about developing talent and leadership.
Join the Leadership SIG in an intimate fireside chat about mentoring programs, and how you can benefit! Hear from Roxanne Addley, Executive Officer DPV, and Sue Hurly, General Manager Human Resources, Australia/NZ at CPG Consulting, about the Australian Human Resources Institute's Mentoring Program.
For more information, contact Disability Professionals Victoria on phone (03) 9639 5959 or email
Multi-faith Disability Inclusion Project Talk and Lunch
When: / Tuesday 17 May 2011, 9:30am – 4:00pmWhere: / Uniting Church Centre, 130 Little Collins Street
Melbourne
Register: / RSVP to David Wang by phoning 9251 5255, or email
Cost: / Gold coin donation
We want to find out what helps or stops people with a disability joining faith communities - joining in worship, teachings, social activities and festivals. We want you to share your ideas.
PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Multidisciplinary Perspectives
Table of Contents
· Part 1: UN CRPD- why and what?
· Part 2: 'Traditional' disability rights and the UN CRPD
· Part 3: Participation of persons with disabilities
· Part 4: New trends in disability rights
This book is available online at no cost in both PDF and Word formats. To download this book, visit:
http://www.kynnys.fi/vike.html
What's Disability to Me?
The third film in the "What's disability to me?" series, promoting the forthcoming launch of the World report on disability
In the film we meet Mia, a woman with intellectual disability from Lebanon, who talks about discrimination in education, and the importance of self advocacy.
The film was produced by Jazz Shaban, and the production was funded by the Government of Australia and CBM.
The World report on disability will be launched on 9 June 2011 in New York.
The film is currently available with English, French and Spanish subtitles (click the "CC" button). Chinese, Arabic and Russian will be coming soon. To view it live on YouTube visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_2ZEwhh9WQ
Commission e-Bulletin
April 2011
This is the newsletter from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
In this issue:
· News from the Commission
· Recent comment from the Commission
· Jobs at the Commission
· Community news
To read this e-Bulletin, visit:
http://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1373:commission-ebulletin-apr-2011&Itemid=385
Access News
Volume 1 2011
In this edition:
· New Access to Premises Standards – Certifiers in the Front Line
· Premises Standards – What’s changed?
· Do the Premises Standards apply to public toilets and footpaths?
· What are the main differences between the Premises Standards and existing access provisions?
· Can complaints still be made under the Disability Discrimination Act about premises?
· Disability and Access Terms Crossword
· Students Australia wide to attend IATA Certificate IV in Access Consulting Course
· Japan Haneda Airport Adopts Universal Design
· Did you know?
· IATA Access to the Built Environment Training Calendar 2011
· Access Standards Updates Seminars - 3 hours
To download this newsletter in PDF or Word format, or to subscribe, visit:
http://www.accessauditsaustralia.com.au/aaa_news.aspx
Disability Services Commissioner Newsletter
Autumn Edition 2011 Issue 11
This is a quarterly newsletter providing regular updates on the work of the Disability Services Commissioner.
In this issue:
· Regional Forums
· Malcolm’s story
· Plain English newsletter
· Having a Say Conference
· Protocol with DHS
· If you have a complaint relating to…
To download this newsletter in PDF or Word format, or to subscribe, visit:
http://www.odsc.vic.gov.au/publications#newsletter
TRAINING
The Mandt System – 5 Day Course
When: / 23 - 27 May (5 day course, Monday – Friday)9:00am - 5:00pm
Where: / Monash University Clayton Campus, Japanese Studies Centre, Building 54
Register: / Go online to http://www.mandtsystem.au.com/
Bob Bowen, CEO of The Mandt System, Inc., will be presenting a 5 day, train-the-trainer program on The Mandt System®, which is the most experienced of all the programs designed to prevent, de-escalate and, if necessary, intervene in the prevention of aggression.
The program was developed in 1975 and is used in all 50 of the United States and most Canadian provinces.
The Mandt System® is a comprehensive, integrated approach to understanding the origins of “behavioural challenges” and how to respond to those challenges in a way that understands behaviour as communication, and as the result of complex neurological and sensory processes. We believe that all behaviour must be understood in the context in which it occurs. We must also understand that when the significant adults in the environment (parents, family, staff members) interact with each other in ways that demonstrate dignity, respect, and trust, it provides a beneficial context in which the person feels safe and then can act safe. However, when staff interact in toxic ways with each other, the environment is unstable and the person may then act in unstable and challenging ways.
Upon completion of training, participants will receive a certificate empowering them to teach The Mandt System® in their organisation for a period of two years, after which re-certification is required. Staff within the organisation must be re-certified annually.
For more information, phone (02) 8014 9464 or download the brochure from: