DARU Update
7 March 2011
- ON THE MOVE
- IN THE NEWS
- PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION REPORT NEWS
- PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES
- TRAINING
- SUBMISSIONS, CONSULTATIONS AND FORUMS
- FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
- PAID AND VOLUNTARY POSITIONS
ON THE MOVE
DPV has New Membership Officer
Disability Professionals Victoria (DPV)now have Jake Corcoran, as the new Membership Officer. Jake is working at DPV part-time on a six month contract and will be concentrating on streamlining and upgrading the membership databases and procedures.
Jake has recently graduated with a degree in Media and Communications and is currently running a web marketing service with a business partner.
He recently launched a membership website that provides training on Search Engine Optimisation and Online Marketing. Jake has a passion for solving technical and linguistic puzzles and will be a valued member of the team.
Jake will soon be in touch with members to confirm membership status and details. To contact Jake with membership enquiries,
New Manager at Arts Access
Arts Access Australia is pleased to welcome Kate Larsen, who takes over from Gareth Wreford as their new Manager. Kate is from the UK where she was Programme Director at Shape in London
Dr Chan Moves Interstate
Dr Jeffrey Chan recently resigned from the position of Senior Practitioner in the Disability Services Division. Jeff has accepted the new position of Chief Practitioner, Disability in the Department of Communities, Queensland.
Jeff was appointed to the inaugural position of Senior Practitioner in November 2006 following the introduction of the Disability Act 2006. Jeff established the office and has achieved recognition across Australia and internationally for his ground breaking work in protecting the rights of people with a disability subjected to restrictive interventions.
Jeff has made a major contribution to policy and practice development here in Victoria and has been a driving force for better outcomes for people with a disability.
IN THE NEWS
Shocking and Shameful: DHS Blasted over Disabled Abuse Cover-up
Michelle Griffin Megan Levy. The Age, 3 March 2011
The Department of Human Service- DHS has been condemned for its ‘‘shocking and shameful’’ response to the abuse of a severely disabled man, who received second-degree burns after allegedly being dragged down a hallway by carers in his Melbourne residential unit two years ago.
‘‘I have never come across a case before where there has been this level of cover-up and the fabrication of documentation around this matter,’’ Public Advocate Colleen Pearce said in response to a report into the incident, released by the state's Ombudsman earlier today. ‘‘It is shocking and shameful that it took two years for the department to respond to the continued requests from community visitors to provide accurate and timely information about this matter.’’
In the report tabled in parliament, Ombudsman George Brouwer found that acting manager of disability accommodation services Monica White ‘‘fabricated the preliminary assessment report,’’ which recommended no further action be taken, and also the record of a phone call. The report concluded that DHS staff failed to provide community visitors - volunteer inspectors working with the Public Advocate - with ‘‘truthful answers’’ or ‘‘timely and accurate responses’’.
The report states that on March 6, 2008, two female carers dragged the man along a carpeted hallway in his community residential unit in Clayton in an effort to force him outside and onto a bus, which was to take him to a scheduled appointment.
He suffered a second-degree carpet burn to the upper middle of his back, and still bears a scar. However he did not receive medical attention for more than 24 hours.
An incident report by one of the carers did not state that they had dragged him along the carpet. Instead, her report refers to him ‘‘crawling from upper back towards [sic] kitchen’’, implying his injury was self-inflicted.
The report found that at the time of the incident and its aftermath the department failed to investigate the matter, correctly categorise it, notify relevant parties or take appropriate action against the staff members responsible for the injury. It criticised the department’s response and found that the department had conducted an ‘‘informal information gathering process’’ and did not take any disciplinary action in relation to the resident’s carers.
Mr Brouwer recommends that the department consider taking disciplinary action against the staff involved in the assault and the managers who failed to investigate.
For more information on this story, visit
Statement from the Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge
The Hon Mary Wooldridge MP, Media Release, 3 March 2011
I am appalled by the incident described in the Ombudsman's report of an assault of a disabled man in March 2008 by DHS staff.
This incident should never have taken place and should not have been responded to in the manner outlined.
I have sought assurances from the Secretary of DHS that the man at the centre of this incident is safe and not at risk of further harm.
I have been advised that the Secretary has this morning stood down three staff pending a full investigation. A fourth staff member has been moved to duties not involving disability clients.
The matter has also been referred to Victoria Police.
The Ombudsman made a series of recommendations in his report, and I accept every one of them. However, a broader response is also necessary to ensure that an incident like this does not happen again.
A new Adverse Events Procedure to promptly deal with allegations of this kind in supported accommodation will be implemented this week and will be fully established within each DHS region by May.
In addition a formal alert system has been established so the Public Advocate can immediately escalate issues of concern to the Executive Director of Disability Services in DHS.
The vast majority of the 5,500 staff employed by DHS in supported accommodation houses do a great job in often difficult circumstances. However, actions of staff, as outlined in this report, are clearly unacceptable.
Given that investigations are pending, I do not intend to comment further at this time in the interests of not prejudicing any investigation.
For more information, contact Justine Sywak on mobile 0448 448 487.
Relatives Fight to Keep Centre for Disabled Open
Michelle Griffin, The Age, 28 February 2011
The future of one of Victoria's last big institutions for the disabled is on the line today as relatives of the residents of Colac's Colanda centre meet parliamentary secretary for community services Andrea Coote to plea to keep it open.
Meanwhile, disability activists are calling on Minister for Community Affairs Mary Wooldridge to close Colanda, home to about 115 intellectually disabled adults, along with Bendigo's smaller Sandhurst Centre, as the last dinosaurs of an age when the disabled were locked up and out of sight.
''The closure of institutions is ideologically driven,'' says Noel Bates, 77, president of the Colanda Parents and Friends Association. ''We're not pro-institutions, we're pro better services for the disabled, including upgrading the facilities here. Colanda is 35 hectares of beautifully laid out parkland, a beautiful environment. It has newer facilities [than Kew Cottages had], better staff and processes.''
A 2008 report on Colanda for the Department of Human Services noted the relatives' satisfaction with the quality of care, but concluded that the routines of a large-scale institution restricted the residents' ''individual choices … and their quality of life''.
''They should close it yesterday,'' says Kevin Stone, executive office of the Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability.
''As far as I am concerned, it belongs in a previous age. The tragedy is that these are the people time forgot.''
To read the full story, visit
Wolf Wolfensberger - 1934-2011
Erik Leipoldt, 1March 2011
Professor Emeritus Wolf Wolfensberger passed away on Monday 28th February, 2011.
Dr Wolfensberger made a huge contribution to people with disabilities. He was a visionary, a devastating analyst and honest critic. He was also controversial and ignited many debates, involving strong differences of view.
In 1999, seven major developmental disability organizations in the US proclaimed Dr Wolfensberger one of the 35 parties that had been the most impactful on "mental retardation" worldwide in the 20th century.
He was perhaps best known for developing social role valorisation theory from his, and Nirje's, concepts of normalisation.
Dr Wolfensberger also developed the concept of citizen advocacy, facilitating long-term relationships between a person with disability (or other vulnerable people) and a volunteer citizen. He developed PASSING, a detailed methodology for assessing disability services with regard to how well they rate on the needs of the people they serve. He authored over 40 books and monographs, over 250 chapters in books and many journal articles.
Many people who have disabilities have benefited from his work in a change in focus from disability as a medical issue, or captives of care to one where a good life means living with others and in settings that are normally valued in our society. His work was instrumental in the deinstitutionalisation of thousands of people with disabilities. It has informed disability advocacy.
Dr Wolfensberger's work is lasting and cannot be ignored. He inspired many people, practices and policies. .
For the full story, visit
Data Confirms Higher Rate of Disability Amongst Migrants
NEDA 4 March 2011
The National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) is the national peak organisation representing the rights and interests of people from non-English speaking background (NESB) with disability, their families and carers throughout Australia.
‘The latest data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) this week confirms what NEDA has been evidencing for years, the rate of disability of migrants from non English speaking countries is at times more than double of the average rate of disability’ states Juan de la Torre.
De la Torre notes, the figures indicate an Australian average rate of disability of 18.9 per cent, however for people born in Italy and Greece, the rate is 45.5 and 45.7 per cent respectively.’
Sibylle Kaczorek notes ‘NEDA has been advocating for better data collection, analysis and reporting with successive Governments and the ABS for years. Finally, we are proven correct with our own analysis in what is only the beginning of reporting on disability data with a breakdown of ethnicity.’
‘The timing could not be better’ adds Kaczorek, ‘given the Government’s new commitment to Multiculturalism and the release of the Productivity Commission’s first report on Disability Care and Support, these latest figures can no longer be ignored.’
‘NEDA will be advocating strongly for the need of a dedicated strategy for people from non English speaking background as part of the proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme. The first report is too weak in its recommendations when it comes to people from NESB with disability. The latest data confirms NEDA’s call for free interpreting services and dedicated advocacy services.’
NEDA’s Patron for 2011 Professor Ron McCallum, Senior Australian of the Year 2011 and the Chair of the UN Committee of Experts on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) will be highlighting the urgent need for improvement in service access and service delivery for people from NESB with disability.
Prof McCallum notes, ‘NEDA’s work has been given new legitimacy and relevance with the latest ABS data. In line with the spirit of multiculturalism and the rights enshrined in the CRPD, the Australian Government has a clear mandate to guarantee that the higher rate of disability among its ethnic migrants is investigated, addressed and serviced in a cultural informed and competent way.’
For the full story visit
Productivity Commission Report News
The Productivity Commission released its Draft Report into Disability Care and Support on Monday February 28th. Below is a snapshot of the media coverage received.
Draft Report into Disability Care and Support Released by the Productivity Commission,
John Della Bosca, 28 February 2011
The Productivity Commission has released its long awaited draft report. The Commission has recommended the introduction of a National Disability Insurance Scheme and has outlined a number of recommendations about the way it could operate and be funded.
The report is long and detailed, examining many of the complex issues that must be addressed before the NDIS can be introduced and implemented. The key points are:
- The Commission has accepted that the disability system is "inequitable, underfunded, fragmented and inefficient and gives people with a disability little choice ... a real system for people with disabilities is required." The Commission has therefore accepted the need for reform and for an NDIS.
- has accepted that the nation must better meet the needs of those people who currently do not receive any or only inadequate support and that their improved support packages would be portable across state and territory borders.
- recommends the introduction of a fully funded National Disability Insurance Scheme with individualised funding to ensure people with a disability and their families are able to exercise greater choice and control about the supports they need.
- has suggested an entirely separate scheme for people requiring lifetime care and support for catastrophic injuries. To be known as the NIIS, a no-fault National Injury Insurance Scheme it would draw on the best schemes operating around Australia.
For more information, visit
Bipartisan Support for Disability Revamp
Stephen Lunn and Sue Dunlevy, The Australian, 1 March 2011
A high-cost national insurance scheme to revamp the care of the disabled has won rare bipartisan support, with both sides backing the Productivity Commission's call for more spending on disability services..
Despite the commission putting a $7 billion price tag on its blueprint to fund additional aids, support and services for the severely disabled, and respite for their carers, both Labor and the Coalition say they are committed to changing the system.
Neither party explained whether spending cuts, new taxes or increased government spending was the best way to fund the scheme that will cost every person an extra $310 a year, or $1200 for a family of four.
The commission has recommended that the commonwealth foot the entire bill for disability care and support. Its preferred model is for the funding to come from general revenue despite a push from some advocates for a
"People with a disability and their families have a very low threshold for partisan point-scoring when it comes to support for people with a disability. We want to see a better system and we're going to work towards that," opposition disabilities spokesman Mitch Fifield said yesterday.
The commission yesterday called for an additional $7bn to be spent on disability services to ensure people with disability receive high-quality care and support. Its much-anticipated draft report on disability care and support proposed two new insurance funds to ease the burden on people with disabilities and their carers.
The first is a National Disability Insurance Scheme, to "fund long-term high quality care and support", including specialist therapy, aids and appliances, home and vehicle modifications, and more respite for carers.
The second proposal is a $685m National Injury Insurance Scheme to provide lifelong care for those who suffer a catastrophic injury such as loss of a limb or spinal cord damage.
The commission said radical changes were needed to an "underfunded, unfair, fragmented and inefficient" system, and proposed a federal government takeover of the sector.
Tens of thousands of severely disabled people are falling through the cracks, unable to access subsidised equipment such as wheelchairs or special beds, respite care or help with food and personal care.
Even though two people might suffer the same disability, the support they receive, if any, often depends on how the disability is acquired and the state they live in.
Disabled people and their carers have very little control over the services they receive and many services are costly and inappropriate.
To read the full story, visit
National Disability Scheme could Cost $10b
Naomi Woodley, ABC News, 1 March 2010
Disability advocates are renewing their campaign for the Federal Government to fund a national disability insurance scheme, saying it would help those with a disability contribute more to society and the economy.
The system could cost more than $10 billion, but disability advocates say it is long overdue and it would help those with a disability contribute more to society and the economy.
The chairwoman of the Government's advisory council on disability and carer issues, Rhonda Galbally, says the issue is a forgotten area and needs to be addressed before it "erupts".