DARU Update
6 August 2012
· ON THE MOVE
· IN THE NEWS
· EVENTS & TRAINING
· PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES
· SUBMISSIONS, CONSULTATIONS AND FORUMS
· FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
· PAID AND VOLUNTARY POSITIONS
ON THE MOVE
CEO Named for NDIS Launch Transition Agency
The inaugural Chief Executive of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Launch Transition Agency has been named.
The Federal Government has appointed David Bowen as CEO of the body responsible for coordinating the implementation of the NDIS, which is set to begin its first stages in mid 2013, according TO the Federal Government.
Bowen is a lawyer with a background in administrative and insurance law and has worked as a consultant to the insurance industry, health and disability sectors.
He is the Chair of the National Injury Insurance Scheme Advisory Committee and was the General Manager of the NSW Motor Accidents Authority for 11 years. He was also the inaugural chief executive of the NSW Lifetime Care and Support scheme.
Bowen was a member of the independent panel that advised the productivity commission in its inquiry into a national disability care and support scheme.
The Gillard Government says it is delivering $1 billion over four years to start rolling out the first stage of the NDIS.
From mid-2014 the Government expects that the reach of the NDIS will be expanded to bring the total number of eligible people up to 20,000.
VCOSS Appoints New CEO
The Board of the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Penny Wilson as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Penny was selected after an extensive national search and recruitment process and is an outstanding appointment for VCOSS, the peak body of the community sector in Victoria. She will begin as CEO on 27 August 2012.
The role of CEO of VCOSS is critical in bringing together the diverse community sector to develop and influence policy to improve outcomes for all Victorians, particularly those who experience disadvantage, and to strengthen the capability of the community sector. VCOSS also plays an important role in policy advocacy at a national level, through the COSS network.
Penny has a wealth of experience in the community sector, government, and the private sector, a commitment to social justice, and the ability to bring together diverse interests to address complex issues.
Formerly Chief Executive Officer of the Responsible Gambling Advocacy Centre (RGAC) in Victoria, Penny led its work with community, government and industry to develop and promote consumer focused responsible gambling practices.
Penny was a member of the Responsible Gambling Ministerial Advisory Council, Chair of the Public Interest and Community Consultation Working Group in Victoria and has sat on many state and local committees considering gambling issues. She has also promoted youth mentoring throughout Victoria as a Board Director of the Victorian Youth Mentoring Alliance.
Penny has a strong background in policy and communications, including as a Deputy Director and Acting Executive Director of Strategic Communications in the Victorian Government. Her broad experience in both the public and private sector – including working in all levels of government – and in academic research will further strengthen VCOSS’s engagement with government, philanthropic organisations, and other state and national bodies, and its work to build a sustainable community sector.
As well, Penny is active in her local community, is an alumnus of the Myer Foundation’s Cranlana Executive Colloquium and a Williamson Fellow (Leadership Victoria).
The VCOSS Board looks forward to working with Penny in continuing to build VCOSS’s role and reputation as a strong advocate for social change and a strong sector.
A 'meet the new CEO' event will be held in September to welcome Penny to the role. Further information will be forwarded shortly.
The Disability Advocacy Sector Lost Two Tireless Champions Last Month
Ethel Temby
Ethel was an inspirational and courageous woman who was an independent thinker and had a tireless commitment to changing attitudes so that people with intellectual disability could experience inclusive lives with full citizen rights. She was a guiding light and mentor to STAR for more than 40 years. Her vision and life’s work will continue to imbue STAR’s work. Ethel led by example and her legacy is epitomized by this quote, which she valued and lived by:
"This above all to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day.
Thou canst not then be false to any man."
Geoff McLean
Geoff, the senior Coordinator at Northeast Citizen Advocacy, passed away on 27th June 2012. The Committee of Management, staff, advocates and protégés and the broader sector are all very saddened by the sudden loss of this much respected and warmly admired coordinator.
DARU would like to extend condolences to the family and friends of both Ethel and Geoff.
Marija Groen is Leaving Housing Resource & Support Service Inc.
After 15 years as CEO, Marija has decided to move on. Marija wrote, “ As I have always maintained, "it takes a village" and any success of mine or HR&SS have come from the fabulous partnerships, inventive thoughts, brave trust, inspiring personalities and the collaborative shoulders to the grind. I can never thank the wonderful Boards, workers and consumers I have worked beside enough, as well as acknowledging my indebtedness to all my colleagues in external agencies and services for all the learnings and developments. For this and so much more, I really thank you all. I am sure that you will delight in your continued support to HR&SS, and to their great work well into the bright futures of the disability and housing sectors.
Leadership Plus has moved
Leadership Plus has moved from the ADEC office in Preston to the CBD. Please update your details to 21 - 25 Flinders Lane Melbourne 3000. All other details remain the same.
IN THE NEWS
Macklin Defends Low Disability Support Pension Cancellation Rate
Patricia Karvelas, The Australian, August 2
New figures reveal that despite more than 12,000 Disability Support Pension medical reviews last financial year, only 135 people on it had their payment cancelled.
Disability Reform Minister Jenny Macklin said despite the low cancellation rate, the government's reforms to slow the growth of the ballooning pension had been working.
Since the government's DSP reforms began on July 1, 2010, the rate at which DSP claims are granted has fallen from 63.3 per cent to 42.3 per cent last May, a drop of more than 20 per cent.
The total number of people receiving DSP fell this year for the first time since 2006 from 831,594 in January to 827,512 in May. The number of DSP recipients has reduced every month since January.
Greens disability spokeswoman Rachel Siewert said evidence from the Senate budget estimates process reveals only 1.1 per cent of medical reviews of disability support pensioners resulted in a cancellation of their pension.
"The government has done its best to ensure that access to DSP is extremely difficult and the low level of cancellations reflects that those seeking the Disability Support Pension are in fact in genuine need," Senator Siewert said.
"In light of this low rate of cancellations, it is increasingly clear to me that the government's latest approach, which keeps new applicants on the much lower Newstart rate for the first 18 months…is excessive and merely condemns individuals to live $130 a week below the poverty line.
"Rather than focusing on making the process of accessing the Disability Support Pension so unpleasant, and keeping recipients in a state of anxiety about the implications of trying out part-time work, the government could focus more on supporting employers, tackling workplace discrimination and skills training."
But the government said the DSP reforms were not intended to change the process for reviewing existing DSP recipients.
The reforms focus on improving the process to assess new DSP claims and supporting people with disability who may have some capacity to work.
Ms Macklin said those who had some capacity to work should be working. "Work provides independence, purpose and dignity and a sense of achievement," Ms Macklin said.
From September 3 last year, people applying for the DSP (other than people who have a severe disability or illness) are required to show that they have tried to get help to find work, or tried to get skills for work before they can be eligible for the disability pension.
Previously, people could apply for the DSP without having to demonstrate that they had looked for work.
To read the full story visit http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/macklin-defends-low-disability-support-pension-cancellation-rate/story-fn59niix-1226440704498
Call for Mental Health to Be Part of NDIS
Pro-Bono News August 1, 2012
The Chair of the newly formed National Mental Health Commission (NMHC), Professor Allan Fels, has called for mental health to be included in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Prof Fels highlighted that the NDIS should extend to people with mental disabilities as well as physical disabilities as the Productivity Commission recommended.
“It is critical that it not only applies to persons with physical disability but also to persons with significant and enduring psychiatric disability,” Prof Fels said. “There are many other persons with mental illness outside the proposed NDIS who need care, treatment, support, accommodation, employment and other services. “We are conscious there will be pressure to reduce costs by restricting the scope of the program. The NMHC will closely watch to ensure that current policy is maintained.”
Prof Fels also said that an emphasis should be placed in maintaining people with mental health disabilities in the workforce to reduce the cost to the Australian economy.
In an emotionally charged speech, Professor Fels said it was a great responsibility to be the Chair of Australia’s first National Mental Health Commission. “In fact it’s the greatest responsibility I’ve ever had both as an economist and carer,” he said.
Prof Fels spoke of his own daughter’s battle with schizophrenia and the issues she faced as part of his driving force.
“Our first National Report Card will be highly targeted to action and outcomes. Our sole purpose is to improve people’s lives and experiences. “I’ve no intention of wasting my time, the time of my fellow independent Commissioners, or taxpayers’ money on just another government commission.
“The National Mental Health Commission is going to make a difference and if it doesn’t, I’ll be the first to call for it to be shut down. “But make a difference we shall, and that will be because we’ve kept true to our aim of grounding ourselves in the experiences of ordinary people whose lives have been affected by their or their loved one’s mental health."
To read the full story, visit: http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2012/08/call-mental-health-be-part-ndis
Homelessness Law Needs Major Re-Think, says PIAC
Homeless Persons' Legal Service, August 2
The Federal Government’s draftHomelessness Bill 2012 needs a major re-think in order to have a positive, practical impact on people who are homeless or at risk ofhomelessness.
That’s the message delivered today by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) to the Federal Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness, Brendan O’Connor. ‘The draft Bill expressly states that the new law is intended to have no effect on legal rights or obligations in relation to homelessness. I have never seen a law that does this, and it would completely undermine the good policy that the Bill is intended to implement,’ saidPIACchief executive, EdwardSantow. ‘Because of this, the Bill will be of little or no help to the growing numbers of men, women and families who are in housingcrisis.’
‘PIACurges the Housing Minister to revise the draft Homelessness Bill. The proposed legislation must at least require homelessness services to meet basic human rights standards when delivering assistance to people in need,’ Mr Santowsaid.
The Ministerreleased the draft homelessness legislationlast month and called for comments by 3 August2012. ‘In explaining why the Bill failed to take a rights-based approach, the Minister stated that the Government does not have the constitutional power to regulate housing or homelessness. To download the legislation visit http://www.brendanoconnor.fahcsia.gov.au/node/54
‘On the Minister’s advice,PIACsought legal advice on this questionfrom constitutional experts, Arthur MosesSCand Professor Patrick Keyzer. That advice refers to the most recent High Court decisions on this point, and shows that the Federal Parliament clearly has the power to pass effective homelessness legislation,’ Mr Santowsaid.
‘PIACurges the Minister to revise the draft legislation accordingly. This is an important opportunity to legislate for standards that ensure the human rights of homeless people are recognised, respected and fulfilled,’ Mr Santowsaid.
Read theadvicefromArthur MosesSCand Professor Patrick Keyzer. http://www.piac.asn.au/sites/default/files/news/attachments/advice._17.7.12.pdf Read the Homeless Persons’ Legal Servicesubmission on the Homelessness Bill http://www.piac.asn.au/sites/default/files/news/attachments/hpls_submission_on_homelessness_bill.pdf
What about the Husband and Children I Never Had?'
Julia Medew, The Age , 27 July 2012
Having lived for 50 years with deformed legs and without arms, only some fingers attached to her shoulders, Mary Henley-Collopy was incensed to discover yesterday that her disabilities could have been prevented.
The Melbourne victim of the side-effects of thalidomide said she was ''infuriated'' that German pharmaceutical company Grunenthal ignored and covered up warnings about the anti-nausea drug her mother took while carrying her in 1961.
''I'm outraged,'' she said yesterday afternoon. ''It's been a few hours now since I read it and I'm still shaking.''
Ms Henley-Collopy said that complaints made to Grunenthal about thalidomide in 1959 and 1960 - well before the drug was banned in late 1961, about the time of her birth - meant the company might have prevented the damage that took place in the womb to her and thousands of others like her.
''If anything, one could only assume that they, Grunenthal, deliberately kept a blind eye closed. And I have to say, I think they are still doing it,'' she said.
''Until we can get a firm apology and satisfactory compensation, I honestly don't know how they can sleep. There are a lot of parents out there who have had a lot of heartbreaking nights wondering what is going to happen to their children.''
While Ms Henley-Collopy received an undisclosed amount of compensation from Diageo, the company that bought thalidomide distributor Distillers in 1997, she said it was not enough to cover the cost of her care, which includes assistance in showering and dressing.