National Disability Coordination Officer Program Region 14

Newsletter

February 2014

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Welcome to the first addition of the NDCO newsletter for 2014. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the regions new NDCO program Support Officer Valerie Cooper. One of the projects Valerie will be working on for this year includes the inaugural NDCO Inclusive Learning Conference.If you would like information about special projects, networks and professional developmentopportunities in relation to education & employment for people with disability please contact the NDCO program.

Sally Bailey, National Disability Coordination Officer T (03) 9784 0400 M 0439 897 027 E

Valerie Cooper National Disability Coordination Officer ProgramT (03) 9784 0400 E

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Inclusive Learning Conference- Thursday 26 June 2014

Early Bird Bookings now open

Conference Address

Mark Tainish, Director Disability and Inclusion

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Inclusion and Schooling a state and national education context.

Keynote Speaker

Associate Professor Pamela Snow, Monash University,

School of Psychology and Psychiatry and the School of Rural Health

Improving the chances of at-risk adolescents receiving the additional support they need to overcome early obstacles in their lives.

Conference Streams

Recognition, Diagnosis and Support
Teaching and Learning Practice

Venue: Monash University Peninsula Campus Frankston

Target Audience

Suitable for professionals with an interest in learning and education for people aged 14 years and over.

Free Limited places available for Learn Local providers

For further information please visit or contact Valerie Cooper, National Disability Coordination Officer Program, T: (03) 9784 0400 E:

Cross Cultural and Disability Awareness

AimThe focus on learning specific values and behaviours of a variety of cultural groups including Vietnamese, Sudanese, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Participants will gain an understanding of behaviours and strategies required to generate trust and respect and develop the cultural intelligence to value cultural knowledge, experience and behaviours. The training will include the diversity of cultural perceptions of disability.

TrainerAnna Koren, Inter-culture

Time9.00am to 3.00pm

DateThursday 27 March 2013

VenueCity of Greater Dandenong

Formal Meeting Room 2.7 Cnr Walker & Lonsdale Street Dandenong

Cost$50 includes lunch

Targeting local community service providers and professionals working to engage CALD groups

Enquiries : Sally Bailey, National Disability Coordination Officer, T (03) 9784 0400 M 0439 897 027

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Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Classroom

Time9.00am to 12.00 pm

DateTuesday 18 March 2014

VenueSkillsPlus 1236 Nepean Highway, PO Box 2647, Cheltenham

CostFree

**Registration essential as places are limited

To register Email name and contact details E

Please include any special dietary requirements

Enquiries: Sally Bailey, National Disability Coordination Officer T (03) 9784 0400 M 0439 897 027

Trainer: Katrina Herbert (ASD) Case Consultation Practitioner

As part of the implementation of the Autism State Plan, the Department of Human Services (DHS) funds the employment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Case Consultation Practitioners in each DHS region across Victoria. They are responsible for:

Providing secondary consultation to disability services, so they can better support people with ASD, their families and carers

Developing or building on existing local networks across service sectors, to enhance linkages and pathways

Creating communities of practice to provide a means of continual learning and development for disability services staff

Mentoring Camp for Young Adults on the ASD Spectrum

I Can Camps 2014: Express Your Interest!

Have fun and make new friends!

Encourage others to say ‘I Can’

Build up The I Can NetworkThe first-ever I Can Camp (25-27 April) invites young adults (18-30-years-old) on the Autism spectrum to share their individual strengths, interests and quirks and make a difference for other young people on the spectrum.

At the I Can Camp you will develop a network of friends and learn how you can encourage other young people on the Autism spectrum. You will get to have fun, challenge yourself, reflect on the ‘I Can’ message and learn about mentoring.

Camp activities will include: Loads of good times! Storytelling, Intro to mentoring, Focus group chats, Outdoor activities, I Can MasterChef (making meals in teams), Free time for people to hang out and do their own thing, Thank You Arvo Tea for friends and family

We would love for you to be a part of our first-ever camp! Here are the full details for you to note down and express your interest.

Dates: Friday 25th – Sunday 27th April

Venue: Gilwell Scout Adventure Centre, Gembrook Launching Place Road, Gembrook VIC 3783

Cost: Approx. $100 - $150 **4 places will be sponsored by the NDCO program

Exact price will be available shortly Donations/ sponsorship to subsidise the costs of participants are being sought!

EXPRESS INTEREST HERE: Please note that registrations will be open shortly.I Can: I can be successful. I can enable, not label. I can respect rights. I can invest in talent:

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PARENT TO PARENT

SUPPORT GROUP TO HELP OUR KIDS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES (e.g. Dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, C.A.P.D.)

Time: 7.00pm -9.00pm

Date: Feb 12, 2014

Venue: 21 Beach Rd. Sandringham (see attached map)

Film Night – Kids welcome

The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia

Future meeting: March 12 2014

Email if you can attend. Gold coin donation please.

Kids Like Us Australia Ltd is a registered charity and does not receive any government funding

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Learn To Communicate in Auslan

IN THIS AUSLAN LEVEL 1 DVD COURSE YOUWILL LEARN OVER 250 AUSLAN SIGNS IN 19 CATEGORIES PLUS OVER 70 SENTENCES.SOME BENEFITS TO YOU

Develop good receptive and expressiveAuslan skills
Be able to communicate in a wide range of everyday situations
Professionals will develop Auslan skillsto use within the workplace
Learn Auslan and KeyWord Signing
Gain a certificate - “Professional Development in Auslan Level 1” by responding to the 15 questionsend of week 6 on the DVD

More information about the DVD’s can be found at email Darren –

or call Tracey on 0404 091 772 for more information.

National Ticket to Work Network

The National Disability Employment Initiative (NDEI) has funded an eight month pilot project to continue to strengthen Ticket to Work and expand the program into other regions across Victoria and Australia. Ultimately, this will help to ensure that more young people with disability gain access to quality workplace opportunities via a Ticket to Work network operating in their region.

The NDEI funding (October 2013 – May 2014) will:

Work with approx. 20 Partnership Brokers / LLENs (particularly in designated Priority Employment Areas) across Australia to establish Local Ticket to Work Networks -
Develop operational resources and marketing collateral (including development of a website)
Continue to run the National Ticket to Work Network meetings
Support existing Local Ticket to Work Networks
Conduct research and develop case studies
Build sustainability in the model / advocate for youth disability employment opportunities.

For further information please contact:

Michelle Wakeford, National Ticket to Work Manager

T 9584-8845 M 0413 750 745 EW

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NDIS

NDS is pleased to announce the impending release of the NDIS Organisational Readiness Toolkit. This toolkit will be an invaluable aid to your organisation's preparation for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Workshops for service providers in the NDIS trial sites will help you to become familiar with the Toolkit and work out how the Toolkit might be used in your organisation. The NDIS Organisational Readiness Toolkit includes: Thursday, 27 February 2014 from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM (EST) Parkville, VIC.

The Readiness Roadmap Tool: A visual representation of how the new market for disability services will work, and what organisations need to do to prepare

The Seven Key Questions Tool: Critical questions boards and management teams need to answer in preparing their organisation for the NDIS
The Key Financial Ratios Tool: An insight into your organisation's current financial position and how easy - or difficult - it might be for your organisation to transition to a system of selling services and receiving payments in arrears
The Self-Assessment Tool: A core component of the Toolkit, you will be asked to assess and rate your organisation's readiness for the NDIS
A Guide to Acting on Your Results: Guidelines on how to move from analysis of readiness, to planning, to action

Organisations that complete and return the Toolkit will be eligible for a Benchmark Report comparing their readiness to that of like organisations, and may apply for up to three days of free business coaching and support on their organisational readiness.

Each workshop has a limit of 30 participants, and one representative per organisation. Attendees should be at CEO level or report to a CEO. The workshop assumes a reasonable understanding of the design and operation of the NDIS; at least a basic understanding of the implications of the NDIS for providers; and a wish to extend NDIS preparation or check readiness status.

For mental health/psychosocial disability providers new to the NDIS and organisational readiness, there will be special day-long workshops later in the year.

This project has been made possible by a grant from the National Disability Insurance Scheme Sector Development Fund.

News

Employment and Disability: a complex problem with no simple solution
Workforce participation of people with disability has been in the spotlight recently, with the Australian government announcing a review of the Disability Support Pension. Dr George Taleporos explores the issues and looks into some major government and business reforms to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Disability advocates fear NDIS impact of budget cuts
Cost blowouts and Government budget cuts have got people with disabilities and their advocates wary of assurances that the National Disability Insurance Scheme will go ahead as planned.

Conferences

Inaugural NDCO Inclusive Learning Conference 2014

26 June 2014 Monash University Peninsula Campus Frankston

5th Annual National Disability Summit 2014
17th – 18th March at the Rydges, Melbourne.

ASID NZ 2014 Annual Conference
Wednesday 9th - Thursday 10th April 2014
Novotel & Ibis Tainui Hamilton, Hamilton, New Zealand

Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Conference
Saturday 17th May to Tuesday 20th May 2014
Brisbane Queensland

30th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity
May 19-20, 2014
Hawaii Convention Centre, Honolulu

9th National Deafblindness Conference-Call for Papers
4-6th June 2014 in Sydney Australia
Final date for Submission 28th January 2014.

Disability Studies in Education Conference 2014
The Disability Studies in Education (DSE) annual conference will be hosted in July 2014, by The Victoria Institute, Victoria University, Melbourne.
The conference will take place at the City Queen Campus, from 25 to 27 July 2014.

‘All Aboard’ - Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability Annual Conference
5-7th November 2014
Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle, Western Australia

Learning Differences Convention

6 and 7 August 2014 Sydney

Other resources

NEDA roundtable on NDIS recommendations and outcomes
In March 2012, NEDA and the National Disability and Carer’s Alliance (NDCA) held a parliamentary roundtable discussion to present five key position statements in regards to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the needs of individuals from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) and/or culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CaLD) with a disability. Recommendations and Outcomes from the Roundtable are now available from the NEDA website at the following link:

NDCO program professional development opportunities

The NDCO program regularly runs the free workshops for services in the region. If you or your network would like the NDCO to source expertise to meet your professional development needs in relation to inclusion of people with disability please contact Sally Bailey NDCO 9789 4232

Creating Confidence Supporting People with Disability in Career Development

This workshop provides an introduction to supporting people with a disability in career development. Creating Confidence workshops can be tailored to meet the needs of individual groups.

Topic covered

Aim

Apply understanding of the delivery of career services for people with disabilities including supporting the rights, interests and needs of peoples with disabilities in accessing and maintaining education training and employment.

Part One - Learning Outcome

Consider personal values and attitudes regarding working with people disability. Demonstrate a commitment to access and equity principles.

Part Two – Learning Outcome

Apply a general understanding of policy, regulatory, and legal requirements to working with people with a disability.

Part Three - Learning Outcome

Gain an understanding of the development of social theory and the inclusion of people with a disability in accessing and attaining education training and employment. Apply understanding of the key issues facing people with disabilities and their carers.

Part Four - Learning Outcomes

Apply understanding of strategies that assist people with disabilities to exercise self-determination and identify support requirements in a career development context.

Part Five – Learning Outcome

Apply understanding of the effects that specific disabilities may have on the learning and employment inclusion. Gain an understanding of how assistive technology including services supports and universal design can address barriers for people with a disability.

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Parents As Career Transition Support

Young people rely on the support of their parents to make confident decisions about the future. PACTS is a series of informal workshops that assists parents to provide positive guidance to young people. The NDCO can tailor a workshop to meet the needs of your school.

Victorian NDCO’s

The NDCO Program works strategically to assist people with disability access, and participate in ‘Tertiary Education’ and subsequent employment, through a national network of regionally based NDCOs. There are 31 NDCO regions in Australia with 7 in Victoria. Each NDCO region has an Advisory Committee with representation from key regional stakeholders. In Victoria the NDCO program has also established a state network to work on collaborative state priorities.

Region 11 - Inner Northern Melbourne NDCO: Kim Broad Email: Phone: (03) 9686 2354

Region 12 - Western Region NDCO: Linda Connor Email: Phone: 0439 113 364

Region 13 - Eastern Melbourne NDCO: Effie Kapsalos Email: Phone: (03) 9686 2354

Region 14 –Southern Melbourne NDCO: Sally Bailey Email: Phone: (03) 9784 0400

Region 15 - Northern Victoria NDCO: Mark Cottee Email: Phone: 02 6055 6309

Region 16 - Western Victoria NDCO: Pam Anderson Email: Phone:(03) 5329 1531

Region 17 -Eastern Victoria and South East Melbourne NDCO: Andrea Evans McCall Email: Phone: 0418 208 039