Did you know?……
…..That ACL has a
discussion site on our web site? It’s there for you to air your thoughts about any
disability issue and discuss it with others. All you need to do is send us
an email at acl@advocacyhouse.org
for uploading.
Why not begin a
discussion on any of the following topics. ACL welcomes feedback on these
and any other issues that affect people with disabilities.
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Þ Welfare Reform Discussion Paper Released. See ACL website www.advocacyhouse.org for more
details.
Þ Inquiry into the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. See
page 5 for details.
Þ The closing date for
submissions to the Senate Inquiry
into Poverty in Australia has been extended to March 31st.
See page 6 for more details.
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q New
constitution approved.
q Annual
Priorities Conference will continue in April.
q A
number of new sub-committees, resource groups and action groups formed.
Information on membership recruitment on page 10.
q Community
Living Indicator Project (CLIP) workshop regarding Kew residents to be
announced soon. To indicate interest in attending please call us on 9489 2999.
q Welcome
to ACL new members Debbie Carter, Gloria Pinkham and Bryan Porter.
Media release 
$13.6 million for new
respite services for carers
Carers throughout Australia - particularly those in rural and remote areas
- will receive more respite care and counselling services following a $13.6
million funding boost announced by Federal Minister for Ageing Kevin Andrews.
More information freecall 1800 020 103.
Conferences
My Home, Your Workplace - National
Accommodation and Community Support Conference
When: Wednesday
2nd and Thursday 3rd April 2003
Where: Grand Hyatt
Hotel, corner of Russell and Collins Streets Melbourne.
This inaugural conference aims to enhance awareness of the needs of people with
a disability, realise the challenges that disability services face and shape a
future that supports people with a disability living in the community.
Disability professionals are attending from all states of Australia and
internationally.
This is a forum in which both ACROD and VICRAID bring
together non-government and government service organisations, people with
disabilities, carers and academics to participate and share leading edge
discussions, including case studies, which will shape the ideology and future
supports of people with disabilities living within the community.
Guest speakers include
ACL’s Maree Ireland
For more information call 1800 814 611 email ozaccom@ozaccom.com.au
www.acrod.org.au/nacs
Communities
in Control: Giving Voice - and
support - to grass roots community and non-profit groups. The conference
will explore the growing evidence that a community being "in control"
is a decisive factor in improving community wellbeing.
Guest speakers include
The Hon. Amanda Vanstone, Professor Fiona Stanley AC, Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE,
The Hon. Bronwyn Pike, Phillip Adams, AO.
When: April 7-8
Where:
Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre.
The
conference has been organised by ourcommunity.com.au
For more
information on the full list of speakers and workshop participants download the
full program at http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/files/Communitiesincontrol.pdf.
Or phone 9320 6802
Focus on the Person - CIDA
National Conference
Where: Melbourne Park Function Centre
When: 8-9 May 2003
Guest speakers include:
Dr John O'Brien, Director, Responsive Systems Associates, USA
Ms Sheree Anderson, Manager, Person Centred Planning Project, Oregon Technical
Assistance Corporation, Oregon, USA
Professor Eric Emerson, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Institute for Health
Research, Lancaster University, United Kingdom
Dr James F Gardner, President and Chief Executive Officer, Council on Quality
and Leadership, USA (to be confirmed)
The Hon Sherryl Garbutt, Victorian Minister for Community Services
More information call 8415 0155, fax
8415 0166 email cida@bigpond.com.au
The Australian Social Policy Conference (formerly the National
Social Policy Conference) University of New South Wales
Social Inclusion is the theme for the 2003 conference
Where: University
of NSW, Sydney, Australia
When: July 9 – July 11th
2003
Contact
E-mail: aspc2003@unsw.edu.au
Contact Phone: (02) 9385 7802
Fun 
Elvis goes Wild!
Where: North
Melbourne Town Hall
When: Friday April
11th
Time: 7 – 10pm
Cost
$10 (carers free) $8 if you book your ticket
Workshops from 5 – 6pm
on èProduction
Skills or èElvis
Impersonation
Workshops
are free but booking is essential. People participating in workshops may use
their new skills during the main performance.
For
more information and to book, please call (03) 5222 6522
Get Out is a visual
and performing arts program for adults with a disability, providing respite for
their family and voluntary carers. The program is coordinated by Arts Access in
partnership with the Wongabeena Association.
Two professional artists and four qualified support workers will run workshops
in visual arts (painting, textiles, sculpture, drawing) and performing arts
(drama, puppetry, music, dance).
Dates: Every second Saturday from 22
March to 28 June 2003 and three days over Easter, 22,23, 24 April
Time: 10am to 4pm
Venue: Cube 37, Frankston Arts
Centre, 37 Davey Street Frankston
Cost: $42 for seven Saturdays
$18
for Easter Holidays ($6 per day)
$60 for the total ten sessions
Number of places: 20
Eligibility: participants must
·Live with a family member or voluntary carer
·Be over 18 years of age
·Live in the Frankston or Mornington Peninsula local council areas
For more details and to book
contact Anne Riggs
Contact E-mail: ariggs@artsaccess.com.au
Contact Phone: 03 9699 8299 Thurs and Fri only
Kayaking for All disAbilities is a joint
project of The Kayak Shop and Joint Councils Access for All Abilities. For
details on how to register for the program, contact Gabor at The Kayak Shop on
9597 0549.
Location: The Kayak Shop, Jetty Rd
Sandringham. Mel Ref 76 F8
Dates: Sunday March 23rd, April 6th
and 20th
Time: 10.30am-12.30pm
Don't miss the Yarra River paddles
too, only $20 per person for a unique view of Melbourne from the Yarra River.
Date: Saturday April 26th
Time: 1.30-3.30pm
Contact Gabor Stumpf 9597 0549 gstumpf@bigpond.net.au
SWEAT is an
aquatic exercise to music group that meets at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic
Centre every Tuesday and Friday from 2.30-3.30pm. It is open to anyone with a
disability and is just the tonic if you're in need of some exercise and some
fun!
Feel free to join the other participants afterwards in the cafe too, it's a
SWEAT tradition and a fantastic way to unwind with your new exercise buddies.
Get details on the day about joining the group from Bruce.
Contact Name:
Bruce McCulloch
Contact E-mail: milford@austarmetro.net.au
Contact Phone:
9315 9425
Reviews 
Productivity Commission Inquiry into the Disability Discrimination Act 1992
The inquiry will examine the social
impacts of the legislation on people with disabilities and on the community as
a whole. Among other things, the Commission is required to assess the costs and
benefits of the DDA and its effectiveness in achieving its objectives, which in
summary are to:
·
eliminate as far as possible discrimination on the
grounds of disability
·
ensure equality of people with disabilities before the
law
·
promote recognition and acceptance of the rights of
people with disabilities.
The Commission will publish an issues paper shortly and will
be holding public hearings in May. A draft report is planned for September
2003. The Commission is required to report to the Government by 5 February
2004.
For those agencies and individuals interested in making a
submission to the review, the Office of the Public Advocate is holding a
meeting on March 21.
Contact details for the review:
Freecall 1800 020 083 TTY 1800 803
344 Fax
(03) 9653 2305
Email dda@pc.gov.au Web site www.pc.gov.au/inquiry/dda/index.html
More
details about the OPA meeting
from Angela Savage VCOSS
Ph: (03) 9654 5050 Fax:
(03) 9654 5749 Mob: 0417 505 938
Welfare Reform
Discussion Paper Released
A report released in early February, ‘Building a simpler
system to help jobless families and individuals’ outlines issues in promoting
participation and improving incentives to work. It also raises a number of key
questions for public debate. Perhaps the most significant is whether the
proposed changes are punitive or incentive based. See ACL website www.advocacyhouse.org for more
details.
Senate
Inquiry into Poverty
Written submissions are invited and
should be addressed to:
The Secretary
Senate Community Affairs
References Committee
Suite S1 59
Parliament House
Canberra ACT
2600
email: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au
Information relating to Senate
Committee inquiries, including notes to assist in the preparation of
submissions for a Committee, can be located on the internet at http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/wit_sub/index.htm
For further details contact the
Committee Secretary, Phone: (02) 6277 3515,
Fax: (02) 6277 5829.
E-mail: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au
Closing date
for submissions has been extended to March 31st
Housing 
Community Housing Information and Referral Services (CHIRS)
provide readily accessible
information about Victorian community housing support and referral services.
CHIRS
comprises the following components:
·
State-wide Accommodation Vacancy Register.
·
Directory of housing and related support services.
·
Links to other relevant housing sites.
·
Communication Forums.
·
Reference Library.
CHIRS Help Desk
Phone: (03) 9486 9355
E-mail: communitybuilding@infoxchange.net.au
Hours of Operation: 9am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday.
Special
Needs Accessible Housing
real estate
For
further information or an inspection on properties or to discuss your personal
requirements contact either:
Sarah McFarlane on 0408 807 782 or Geoff Buck on 0418 306 588.
Email: sarz@melbpc.org.au
Ed note: ACL have no association or experience with this company.
It is listed here for your information only.
Resources 
arbias was established in 1990 to
provide services for people with alcohol related brain injury (ARBI). arbias has expanded and now provides services for people
with acquired brain injury (ABI) from any cause, whilst maintaining its
specialisation in the areas of alcohol and other drug related brain injury
Postal
address: PO Box 213, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Street
address: 183 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC
Telephone: (03) 9417 7071
FAX (03) 9417 7056
Email: arbias@arbias.com.au
Website URL: www.vicnet.net.au/~arbias
Bear in Mind is a
self-help group for people with people with acquired brain injury. BIM has
regular meetings in different regions of the State to
·
Meet other Bear in Mind members
·
Share ideas and experiences, hopes and dreams
·
Find ways to make life better
For more information call 9639
7222
Aquatics for All Abilities (AAA)
Workshops
The
aim is to amalgamate instructional techniques, safety and strategies to empower
people with disabilities to participate in the wonderful world of water. For
venues and dates contact the Victorian Aquatic Industry Council
Phone
9761 3722 fax 9761 3755 email Einfo@vicswim.org.au
web
page www.vicswim.org.au
Performing Arts Project Register
As
part of the Access for All Abilities (AAA) Performing Arts Project at Darebin
City Council
· Performing artists with disabilities
· Performing arts groups including
artists with disabilities
· All performing artists who are
interested in acting as mentors and in support roles
· All performing arts workers (including
production, direction etc) who are interested in inclusive practice, that is,
arts practice that includes all members of the community
are
invited to be part of an ongoing practice by the Council to expand on
performance opportunities accessible to everyone.
Contact
Leesa Nash, Performing Arts Project Officer Darebin City Council
Web sites:
Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/clac_ctte/inst_care/index.htm
HREOC
Disability Rights
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/index.html
Disability News http://www.infoxchange.net.au and
click on Disability News at the bottom of the home page
New site on
disability http://www.monmouthhumanservices.org/disabilities/">Monmouth
Easy to read and fairly
comprehensive material on many mental
illnesses http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/index
Respite West is a website designed to improve communication and
access to information for all people with an interest in respite issues living
in the
Western Metropolitan Region. www.respitewest.infoxchange.net.au
Better Health Channel subscriber newsletter is available at
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/newsletter
Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/instruments/0/79/rtf/2003010902.rtf
National Abuse and
Neglect Hotline www.disabilityhotline.org
Go the Demons!!
Enjoy the
excitement of tipping your way to the top!
All you need
to do is send us your contact details and we’ll send you the rules of how it
works.
Only $2.00
per week
It’s fun! It’s challenging! It’s rewarding!
Call Patti now – don’t delay!
9489 2999
email p.bradbury@advocacyhouse.org
And
now for more fun –
join
us in our Membership Drive
We’ll
be meeting at the pub, probably in the Outer East to begin with. The purpose is
to talk to people about ACL and the work we do and encourage them to join us to
fight for a better deal for people with a disability. It will be a great way to
meet new people and enjoy sharing ideas and interests. And even more fun over a
counter meal and a glass of vino (or whatever your poison!) Please spread the
word and talk to us about any fully accessible pubs in the Outer East that you
can recommend. Maybe we can have a door prize? Any other ideas?
Please
talk to us!! Brenda and Patti 9489 2999
How do you get to read the
newsletter? Some people have a
paper copy mailed to them and others are sent an email informing them that the
newsletter has been placed on our web page. Many of the emails are returned
with an undeliverable message on them. If you have changed your email address
in the past year can you please let me know either by phone 9489 2999 or email
p.bradbury@advocacyhouse.org or TTY 9489 1179. The newsletter is published in
March, June, September and December so even if you don’t receive an email,
check our web page at www.advocacyhouse.org.quarterly.
Happy reading! (and contributing pieces to
publish – please!) Ed
GETTING HEARD AND GETTING
CHANGE PROJECT
CALL
FOR NOMINATIONS FROM VICTORIANS TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT
GROUP
This 27-month project is about developing leadership skills and strong
networks amongst people with disabilities so they can lobby and advocate
their cause. The
project now has $100,000 funding so we’re nearly ready to start. It’s therefore
time for the interim Project Steering group to hand over to a Project
Management Group.
We are looking for people who wish to become a
member of the Project Management Group for the first eighteen months when the
Project will focus on Victoria. There will be eleven positions and the majority
will be people with a disability. The Group will be drawn from the following
categories:
·
Individuals
with a disability who are actively involved in the disability rights movement
(3)
·
Action
for Community Living (our host organisation)
(1)
·
Disability
Advocacy (3) (to be nominated by an
advocacy organization or network of advocacy organisations)
·
Federation
of Disability Organisations (1)
·
Disability
Australia (1)
·
Our
philanthropic sponsors (2)
We need people who can demonstrate all or most of
the following:
- A commitment to the empowerment of people with a disability;
- Experience of project management;
- Experience of network development / support groups;
- An understanding and enthusiasm for this project;
- An ability to stay with the project for the first 18 months;
- An ability to think creatively and assist the Group to develop job
descriptions, project directions and realistic goals;
- A willingness to speak for the Group at various forums and
meetings.
It is anticipated that the
Group will meet monthly in Melbourne. Travel costs within Victoria and
disability support costs to enable attendance at meetings will be met by the
Project.
If you are interested in becoming
a member of the Project Management Group, please contact Cath McNamara. She can be contacted at Action for Community Living on 03 9489 2999 TTY 039489 1179 or by E
mail to c.mcnamara@advocacyhouse.org If you want to read about Getting Heard and Getting Change look at
the Action for Community Living website
or ask Cath to send you a copy of our submission.
Closing date for nominations: 28th March 03
Please send your nomination
to Cath via email or by post to ACL, 179 High Street, Northcote, Victoria 3070.
Enclose your CV and a covering letter demonstrating how you meet the selection
criteria. If you are being nominated by
an advocacy organisation or network the covering letter should be from them.
A panel made up of the
existing steering committee and at least one ‘outsider’ will consider all the
nominations. We will contact you within a month of the panel meeting.
Panel date: April 7th
2003
The ‘FEELING GOOD ABOUT USING ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT’ project is
about supporting people to learn to confidently use public transport
Have you tried the low floor buses and trams or used the
trains?
Public transport is becoming more accessible for people who
use mobility aids, however many people do not know about it or do not feel
ready or comfortable about using it.
If you….
- use a mobility aid such as a walking stick, frame, scooter
or wheelchair
- use public transport eg. trams, trains or low floor buses
- are a carer for someone who uses a mobility aid
- would like to use public transport to visit friends, go
shopping, get to appointments or to travel further a field
- live, work or study in the
Darebin community
…. Darebin
Community Health invites you to be a peer volunteer or participant in this
project
We welcome and encourage people from non-English speaking
communities to join us. Interpreters are available
The project is a combination of workshops and supported
travel training. A ‘peer volunteer’ is a person who can encourage and support
another person to do travel training to become confident enough to use public
transport. .‘Participants’ are people who would like to learn how to use public
transport. Project staff provide support to all those people involved in the
project.
Please call us to talk about becoming a
peer volunteer or participant
If you need an interpreter, call the multicultural line at
City of Darebin 9230 4353, stating the language you speak and ask for Livia
LoGiudice. Otherwise call Geni or Angela on 9489 1388 extension 451. Project
Days are Weds – Fri 9am – 5pm
The
project brings people together to learn from one another and to enjoy each
other’s support and friendship
“GOVERNMENT DIRECT SERVICE,
CUSTOMER SERVICE?”
There is no Victorian
Government direct service provision competing in the market place – all enjoy a
captive market share! A captive market
share negates any perceived need for customers and customer service!
It is almost impossible to have service
level and quality accounta
