Baillieu Must Come Clean on Election Promises
DARU Update
10 September 2010
- STATE ELECTION NEWS
- IN THE NEWS
- EVENTS
- PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES
- TRAINING
- SUBMISSIONS, CONSULTATIONS AND FORUMS
- PAID AND VOLUNTARY POSITIONS
STATE ELECTION NEWS
Baillieu Must Come Clean on Election Promises
The Office of the Treasurer, Media Release, 10 September 2010
Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu must come clean and declare how he will pay for the billions of dollars of election promises he has made in this week alone.
Treasurer John Lenders said Mr Baillieu was treating Victorians with contempt by making promises with billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money, but refusing to say how he would pay for them.
This week alone, the Opposition has promised, but refused to say how it will pay for:
- More than $2 billion worth of uncosted tax cuts for home buyers (Kim Wells, Herald Sun,10 September, 2010);
- Billions for a new rail line in Melbourne (Terry Mulder, Metropolitan Transport forum, 8 September, 2010);
- $5 million for Mildura Hospital (Peter Ryan, 8 September, 2010)
- $130 million for the Kilmore-Wallan Road (Mr Baillieu, 7 September, 2010); and
- $630 million for the Bendigo Hospital today.
“Mr Baillieu won’t tell Victorians where all the money is coming from, because he has never had to worry about where the money is coming from,” Mr Lenders said.
To read full article, visit
IN THE NEWS
Prime Minister announces new Ministry
Julia Gillard Media release, 11 September 2010
Prime Minister Julia Gillard today announced the new Ministry of the Gillard Government.
The Ministry will work together to deliver a stronger, sustainable economy and better services for all Australians.
The Prime Minister said the Ministry includes experienced members of her Labor team remaining in Cabinet positions to continue their outstanding work in the most senior portfolios.
They will also work closely with the Independents and the Greens to deliver stable and effective government for all Australians for the next three years no matter where they live.
The Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan will remain as Treasurer to continue to build our economy and bring the budget back into surplus by 2013.
This will provide Australia with economic stability at a time when many other developed countries continue to feel the brunt of the global financial crisis.
To read the full article and a list of appointments so far, visit
Autistic Student Sues Over Test
Jewel Topsfield, the Age, 10 September 2010
A 17-year-old student with autism is suing the Education Department for discrimination because his teacher refused to modify questions in his maths tests.
Lewis Walton, who received an A-plus in general maths and B-plus in maths methods in year 11, said his scores plunged in VCE specialist maths because his language difficulties meant he struggled to interpret open-ended questions that related to real-life situations.
''I was sitting there freaking out and I had to leave the test halfway through. Sometimes when I get stressed my eyes go fuzzy and I was about to pass out,'' he said.
To read full article, visit
Melbourne Uni Students Try to End Mental Illness Stigma
Nic Price, Melbourne Leader, 02 September 2010
A group of university students is trying to shake the stigma from mental illness in the lead-up to Mental Health Week in October.
The three Melbourne University undergraduates - Juhee Tulshyan, Catherine Tran and Isabella Ikadara - are hoping to bring to light the experiences of people with a mental illness.
Ms Tulshyan said many young people found mental health a frightening subject.
“We were talking to the counselling department at the uni and they were saying the problem is that young people find it scary,” she said.
“We’re hoping to change perceptions.
“Mental illness can affect anyone and we want to highlight that your best friend could be depressed and there’s nothing wrong with that.
“It’s a pretty ambitious thing, but if we can do just a little bit we’ll be happy.”
To read the full article, visit
McCallum Re-elected to UN Treaty Body
Australian Human Rights Commission, Media release, 2 September 2010
Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes expressed his pleasure today at the re-election of Professor Ron McCallum AO to the UN treaty body for the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.
"Professor McCallum has made a very positive contribution to the committee during the first two years of his membership, including his role as its Chair during the last twelve months." Commissioner Innes said. "It is very pleasing, and a great honour to Australia, that he will now serve a further four year term."
Professor McCallum is well-known in Australia as a leading authority on industrial relations law. He is also a person with a disability.
To read full article, visit
EVENTS
Healing Mental Illness – Just a Matter for the Professionals?
When: Wednesday 15 September 7:30am
Where: BMW Edge theatre, Federation Square, Melbourne
Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry will join Archbishop Freier and social change leader Kerry Graham in a public conversation on mental health.
Mental illness is on the rise in Australia, yet there is a tendency to believe that we should leave treatment of mental illness to the professionals. But what about the place of love, hope and relationship in healing? How can ordinary Australians help? What can faith teach us about the healing and prevention of mental illness?
For more information contact Roland Ashby on 9653 4215 or mobile 0418 342 561 or visit
PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES
Australian Centre for Human Rights Education e-Update
September 2010
Articles in this edition include:
- What We Are Doing in the Classroom: Learning about fair trade and corporate social responsibility - Dr. Liz Branigan
- Restrictive Practices: Legitimate Treatment or Human Rights Violation? Paul Ramcharan
- New ACHRE Team Member Profile: Christina Davidson
To read this newsletter, visit
Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) Annual Report
The Annual Report for the 2009-2010 funding year is now available. WWDA’s Annual Report gives a brief synopsis of performance and key achievements over the 12 month period, and contains a number of tributes and testimonies from around the world. The Annual Report is structured to report against the five goals of WWDA’s Strategic Plan, which are to:
- Promote and protect the rights of women with disabilities nationally and internationally.
- Undertake systemic advocacy in specific areas of concern to women with disabilities.
- Continue to build on WWDA’s key role in the consolidation, production and dissemination of high quality information, publications and research on issues relevant to women with disabilities.
- Further develop the internal and external operations of the organisation in order to achieve its vision, goals and objectives.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of Australian Government policies affecting women with disabilities.
WWDA’s Annual Report 2009-2010 is available for download (in PDF, Word and Plain Text formats) from the WWDA website at For an email version or hardcopy please email to request this.
TRAINING
Post Graduate Information Sessions at RMIT
When: Tuesday 28 September, 6pm
Where: State Library of Victoria, Conference Entre, La Trobe Street
Expert teachers, passionate researchers, deep connections to industry and a strong practical focus means RMIT postgraduates are among the most employable in Australia. Attend an information session to begin your journey.
For more information about courses, Information Sessions and how to register, phone 9925 2260 or visit
SUBMISSIONS,CONSULTATIONS AND FORUMS
Victorian Young People In Nursing Homes Consortium - Call to Action
On June 21st 2010, the Young People In Nursing Homes (YPINH) Consortium held a Summit on the issue of Young People in Residential Aged Care.
The Summit was attended by 79 members of the community sector, people with a disability and government representatives. At this event, attendees reviewed current progress against the ‘my future my choice’ initiative, and formulated a view of required future actions.
From the information gained during this consultation, the YPINH Consortium has now developed a Call To Action, which will be distributed to key State and Federal Government politicians, departmental representatives, and stakeholders within the sector.
For further information on the Call To Action, and details of the Summit findings, please phone Marc Paradin on 03 9939 8602 or email Philip Shirrefs at
PAID AND VOLUNTARY POSITIONS
Limbs 4 Life (L4L) is seeking volunteer board members
- Part-time
- Commencing November 2010
Limbs 4 Life is looking for creative, committed and empathetic community members to become part of the Board of Management team.
Applications are being sought to fill the following positions:
- Chairperson
- Deputy Chairperson
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- General board member
Established in 2004, Limbs 4 Life (L4L) is a young and dynamic non profit organisation and the peak body for amputees in Australia; established to provide information, support and access to resources individuals affected by limb loss.
The Board provides strategic leadership and governance; Board members are highly skilled with a range of qualifications and experience.
For an Information Pack or any further enquiries please phone 1300 78 2231 or email . More information is also available on the L4L website at
Applications close COB 30 September 2010.
Launch of New Volunteer Matching Portal
The state-of-the-art volunteer opportunity matching service will be launched on 24 September 2010, which will include powerful functionality targeted to the needs of organisations, and current and prospective volunteers.
Registrations are now open for not-for-profit organisations and Volunteer Resource Centres to submit their opportunities which will be advertised via the matching service portal upon its release.
To register, visit
For any queries about the registration process or submitting your opportunities, email: or phone 03 9658 4393.
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