WELCOME
Hello, and welcome to the weekly update from the Disability Advocacy Resource Unit (DARU). If you would like to be removed from this list or kept up to date another way, please reply to this email and let us know.
DARU has been funded by the State government. It is run by a governance group, including members of the Victorian Disability Advocacy Network (VDAN), and the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS). DARU’s staff currently includes a Co-ordinator, Sharon Granek, and a Project Administration Officer, Leah Hobson.
We are always happy to hear from people who are interested in what we do. If you have a question, an idea, some news you’d like to see in the next update, or even if you just want to tell us something we’re doing is good or bad, get in touch! Call us on 03 9639 5807 or email Sharon or Leah.
EVENTS
CSTDA Alliance National Day of Action
When: 12:00 noon to 2:00pm, 25th September 2007
In the lead up to the Federal Election people with disability, their families, agencies and supporters across Australia are coming together, to TAKE A STAND and FIGHT for the supports and services that should be there.
The governments of Australia are negotiating a new Disability Agreement (CSTDA). They are deciding, in effect, whether or not they will provide the support services that people with disability and their families need over the next five years. To date, it looks as if they will not!
Action is being planned to take place in every State and Territory between 12noon and 2.00pm on Tuesday 25th September. Put this date in your diary. Further information to follow.
For more information about the plans for Victoria, contact Michael Gourlay at the Association for Children with a Disability on (03) 9818 2000 or via email.
Our Community Board Builder Conference 2007 – Better Boards, Better Outcomes
When: 9:00 – 4:00 Monday 26 November 2007
Where: Moonee Valley Racing Club, Members Gate 1, McPherson Street, Moonee Ponds
Registration: You can register online or download a PDF registration form here. Our Community and our alliance partners are committed to access and disability and everything will be done to meet the needs of all people. Mr Alan Matic of Our Community will be delighted to assist any individual or organisation requiring any assistance. Alan can be contacted on telephone (03) 9320 6805, or email.
Cost: 1 person: $245 2 people: $445. A cancellation fee of $55 applies.
Keynote Speeches
· From Too Polite to Too Belligerent: the Right Balance for Responsible, Effective, Dynamic Boards
Professor Amanda Sinclair, Foundation Professor of Management, Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne
· Changing Direction Without Major Trauma: Using the Board's Strategic Planning Process to Negotiate Change
Dr Jim Cavaye, Director, Cavaye Community Development
Four concurrent sessions (you choose one for the morning and one for the afternoon)
· It's the LAW: Latest Legal Updates and Facts Every Board Member Must Know
Murray Baird, Senior Partner, Moores Legal - Not for Profit Law and Governance Advisers
· Financial Management: How to Read Financial Reports and Other Essentials
Westpac
· Board Relationships: Negotiating Board, Staff and Volunteer Relations
Dr Jim Cavaye, Director, Cavaye Community Development
· Board Renewal: New Members, New Ideas, New Directions
Catherine Brown, Director, Catherine Brown & Associates
TRAINING
Information Session: Certificate IV in Disability Work – Traineeship and Industry Delivery
When: 10:00am – 11:00am September 13th
Where: Croydon Campus, Swinburne University of Technology TAFE, 12 – 50 Norton Road, Croydon
Registration: Contact Lauren Wyatt on (03) 9214 6866 or email her.
This is a twelve month fast track course for workers in the disability, Home and Community Care and Aged Care industries. Workers must be working an average of fifteen hours per week throughout the course.
Government funded traineeship places and employer incentives are available for those eligible.
For workers with a Certificate III in Home and Community Care or Aged Care this is a chance to gain a dual qualification with recognition of current competencies.
Course Commences: Thursday 11th October, 2007
Classes Run: Thursdays 10am - 2pm for 40 sessions (excluding school holidays)
Course Completes: Thursday October 23, 2008
Location: Croydon Campus - 12-50 Norton Road, Croydon
Swinburne TAFE will be offering similar courses at the Prahran and Croydon Campuses throughout 2008. Expressions of interest are now being taken.
For more information about the course, please see the PDF flyer for workers or the PDF flyer for employers.
Multicultural Equity and Access Program: Understanding People from CALD Backgrounds
The Migrant Information Centre is running cultural training sessions between August and October. All sessions will cover local demographics, customs and beliefs, health issues, attitude towards older people and aged care, and barriers in accessing services.
To obtain registration forms or for further information, please contact Wina Kung or Niquita Myers on phone 9285 4888 or Email or .
Topics / Date / Time / VenueTips on Cultural Planning and Implementation
Presenter:
Wina Kung and Niquita Meyers
MIC / Thursday
16 August 2007
(Suitable for HACC funded organisations) / 9.30pm to 12.00pm / Whitehorse Room, Box Hill Town Hall, Whitehorse Road, Box Hill.
Understanding Cultures for people from former Yugoslavia
Presenter:
Slavia Ilich & Mirjana Piljic
Victorian Multi Ethnic Slavic Welfare Asso. / Tuesday
18 September 2007 / 9.30am to 11.30am / Heide Room, Manningham Function Centre, 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster
South Sudanese Culture
Presenter:
Nyadang Dei Wal
MIC / Tuesday
25 September
2007 / 9.30pm to 12pm / Heide Room, Manningham Function Centre, 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster
Topics / Date / Time / Venue
Muslim Culture
Presenter:
Safieh Loulagar
MIC / Friday
12 October 2007 / 9.30am to 11.30am / Whitehorse Room, Box Hill Town Hall, Whitehorse Road, Box Hill.
For more information contact:
Assunta Morrone
Direct Line 03 9342 9726
Mobile 0400 912 659
Reception 03 9342 9700
www.ceh.org.au
www.nrchc.com.au
Free Australian Institute of Management Training for VCOSS member organisations
Through our ‘Just In Time’ agreement, the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) has been providing free training opportunities to VCOSS member organisations with an annual income of less than $100,000 since January 2007 in the form of spare places on their short courses (subject to availability). VCOSS members have accessed almost $40,000 worth of training since January this year through this partnership between AIM and VCOSS.
Our recent survey of VCOSS members’ professional development resources showed that the average annual professional development budget of VCOSS members with an income between $100,000 and $500,000 was $1,100. Several members in this category did not have any budget at all to spend on professional development in the last financial year, and one organisation had not spent anything in the previous 5 years due to financial constraints. Some need to include volunteer training in these limited budgets.
Based on this data, VCOSS applied to extend the criteria for the AIM ‘Just In Time’ offer to include VCOSS member organisations in the $100,000-$500,000 income range.
AIM generously agreed to this proposal and this month we celebrate the extension of the ‘Just In Time’ offers to the staff and volunteers of VCOSS members organisations with an annual income of less than $500,000.
Places are offered on a first come, first served basis, with priority given to organisations that have not yet benefited from this service before. If you are a VCOSS member organisation not currently receiving ‘Just In Time’ offers, or you have questions about the program, please contact Kate Johnson at the Sector Development Clearinghouse by email.
PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES
Correction: YouTube Article, 29th August
DARU mistakenly informed you that the YouTube video in last week’s update was developed by Scope. In fact, the video was developed by A M Baggs, the woman featured in the video. We would like to apologize for this error and any inconvenience it may have caused.
AFDO Access to Premises Campaign Kit now available
The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations today launched the Access to Premises Campaign Kit. The Kit will provide information and tools to people with a disability that will help them speak out about the lack of access to businesses and services that they face in their local communities.
“The kit provides an opportunity for people with a disability to speak out about their experiences.” said Australian Federation of Disability Organisations’ Acting CEO Samantha Jenkinson. “People with a disability will be able to share the various ways they have been affected by the lack of accessible buildings in their local communities”
The Campaign’s message is that:
· People with a disability want access to the same buildings as everyone else.
· People with a disability want to be able to work, shop and experience cultural and leisure activities just like everyone else.
· Anything less than that is discrimination.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 has set out basic guidelines making discrimination against people with a disability illegal.
People with a disability are still struggling to access their basic rights as citizens of Australia – the right to work, the right to the same level and quality of education as everyone else and the right to go freely where everyone else can go without hindrance or unnecessary barriers being put in place.
The Access to Premises Campaign sets out to help people with a disability gain more power and control in their lives by helping them to assert their rights and to share their stories within the community in which they live.
The campaign kit is available from the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations website in Word and Rich Text Format. Easy English copies of the kit are available for download at the same location.
Education to Employment: Website for Graduates with Disabilities and Employers
Looking for a job can be very challenging for new graduates, including university and TAFE graduates with disabilities. Challenges may include understanding your rights and responsibilities in the work environment, when, if and how to disclose your disability and negotiating workplace adjustments with an employer.
The Education to Employment Packages also features a section for employers to assist in the process of employing people with disabilities. Some employers feel uncertain as to their role in recruiting people with disabilities such as developing appropriate recruitment processes and inclusive workplaces, implementing workplace adjustments and understanding the services available to assist them through the process.
The Education to Employment Package has been developed to address these issues by providing information, services, resources and contacts for graduates with disabilities and employers.
Grasp the Nettle: A collection of tertiary transition experiences from people with learning disability
These mp3 recordings are taken from the Grasp the nettle CD: a project funded by the Office of Training and Tertiary Education (OTTE), and coordinated by the Disability Coordination Officer project. The CD shares the experiences of 11 individuals with learning disability who have made the transition into further education. Its aim is to aid in an improved transition experience for future students who have a learning disability.
MP3 versions of the interviews are available here
Guardianship and Administration Advocates’ Guide 2007
The Guardianship & Administration Advocates’ Guide is a joint initiative of the Mental Health Legal Centre Inc. and Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service Inc. It was written and researched with the support of the Disability Law Committee, Law Institute of Victoria.
The Guardianship List at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), among other things, conducts hearings to determine whether a person with an alleged disability should have a guardian and/or administrator appointed. The aim of this publication is, in part, to increase legal representation for people appearing before the Tribunal, with a focus on representing the person on their instructions and wishes.
The Guardianship & Administration Advocates' Guide was supported by a general grant from the Victoria Law Foundation and was officially launched by The Hon. Rob Hulls MP, Attorney-General Victoria on Tuesday 14 August 2007 at the Victoria Law Foundation.
Who can use this Advocates' Guide?
The Guardianship & Administration Advocates' Guide is designed as a resource for legal advocates representing people appearing before the Guardianship List at VCAT. However, in many cases a non legal advocate or support person may assist the person.
The Advocates' Guide is written in an accessible style and is intended to be widely available. A PDF copy of the Guide can be downloaded here.
CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS
Expressions of Interest: Hosting Forums on the New Disability Act and Quality System
Closing date: 13th September 2007
Expressions of interest to host a one day forum on the revised quality framework and new disability legislation are being sought from advocacy agencies.
The forums will present information on the changes introduced by the new Disability Act and the revised quality framework that are relevant to advocates and the practice of advocacy.
We hope to provide you with a good opportunity to strengthen your own understanding of the new Act and Quality system, as well as to ensure your members and clients also have a good grasp of their rights within the new framework.
The forums will be coordinated by VALID and Action for Community Living.
The target group for the forums are people with disabilities, advocacy agency staff and their boards, and others working to promote the rights of people with disabilities. As a host you will be asked to promote the forum among other advocacy agencies and networks in your region.
If you agree to host a forum, we will cover the costs associated with organising the forum such as venue hire, equipment costs, any attendant care required and catering.
We plan to hold two forums per DHS region across Victoria, preferably in different parts in each region to ensure the widest coverage, within the next 3 months. Your support for these forums is vital to ensure their success.
Please forward Expressions of Interest to Anita Newbery at Action for Community Living Inc on (03) 9489 2999 or by email.
Victoria Law Foundation: General Grants
Closing date: 19th September 2007
The Victoria Law Foundation General Grants program offers funding to support innovative legal projects that benefit Victoria and meet the Foundation’s statutory objects and guiding principles. The Foundation has two General Grant rounds each year.