Disability Justice Project

Newcastle COPS

Communities of Practice (CoP) – Minutes

Note this meeting occurs on 1st Wednesday of each Month

Date & Time: / Wednesday 6th September 10am -12pm
Location: / Life Without Barriers - 352 king St, Newcastle- Front room
Attendees: / Refer to attached Attendance List
Apologies: / Pamela Smith & Aaron Gow
Time / Description / Facilitator/Speaker
Update of Communities of Practice
ONLINE COURSES available are:
  • Involvement in the Justice System – Sociological Risk Factors
  • Supporting Aboriginal Peoples in Contact with the Justice System
Peter from ADHC has provided up the link to the podcast he mentioned within our meeting:
3DN has launched two podcast series on responsible psychotropic prescribing to people with an intellectual disability. The podcasts can be freely accessed on the 3DN website. These new podcasts aim to educate health and mental health professionals on how to recognise mental illness in people with an intellectual disability; when to prescribe psychotropic medication; and how to institute, monitor and discontinue treatment. The podcasts have been developed for medical and mental health professionals including psychiatrists, paediatricians and mental health nurses. They would also be beneficial for mainstream mental health professionals who want to improve their practice when working with people with an intellectual disability and co-occurring mental ill-health.
The podcasts belong to a wider suite of resources on Positive Cardiometabolic Health for People with Intellectual Disability, including an early intervention framework; online resources for clinicians, carers and people with intellectual disability; and new e-Learning modules.
Click for Link / Peter Conway
The ORS Group – NDIS Coordinator
I have attached the NDIS information sheet for ORS, as well as the Job in Jeopardy Program that was discussed. / Matthew Frearson
Community Corrections | NSW Department of Justice
Michael has provided us with further information regarding his role:
Project Coordinator Co-Existing Disorders
The Management of Community Based Offenders with Co-Existing Disorders Projectwas established in 2005 as an initiative of the NSW Drug Summit. The Projectoperates in five locations across NSW – Bathurst, Gosford, Newcastle, Nowra andSydney City. Each location hosts a Project Coordinator based in the local office ofCorrective Services NSW (CSNSW), Department of Attorney General and Justice.
The aim of the Project is to improve interagency case management of supervisedoffenders on community based orders who have been identified as having an alcoholand other drug (AOD) problem, as well as a mental illness or intellectual disability.
The Project objectives are to:
1) Improve awareness among partner organisations about the needs of the target
group;
2) Identify strengths, gaps and challenges in current service delivery for the target
group;
3) Establish workable and sustainable strategies for the ongoing management and
delivery of services to the target group; and
4) Reduce recidivism of medium to high risk offenders in this group. / Michael Akhurst
11:45 am / Next Meeting: Will be 2nd week of September (due to public holidays) – October 11th 10am at the Life Without Barriers Office on King St  / Kendall Hill -Smith