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DARU Update

16 August 2010

AGENCY PROFILE

• IN THE NEWS

• ELECTION 2010

• EVENTS

• PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES

• TRAINING

• SUBMISSIONS, CONSULTATIONS AND FORUMS

• PAID AND VOLUNTARY POSITIONS

AGENCY PROFILE

Meet Disability Advocacy and Information Service (DAIS)

DAIS provides Individual advocacy, systemic advocacy, self advocacy training, court assistance and outreach across north east Victoria and southern New South Wales.

Office locations include Benalla and Wodonga. Wodonga has recently been renovated and now has two meeting rooms that allow for private and confidential interviews as well as a training room which will be used to conduct self advocacy training. The newly introduced logo and corporate image add to the fresh new look.

Funding form the Law Foundation of Victoria has just been received to provide justice support to people with disabilities attending Wodonga Court. The Justice Support Network will train volunteers to support people with a disability who need to attend court either as an accused, victim or witness. This service will expand the advocacy effort as staff will have more time for vital follow up once the outcome of a hearing has been determined.

IN THE NEWS

Disabled Australians Subjected to Hate Crimes

Annie Guest, ABC News Online, 7 August 2010

New research reveals thousands of Australians with disabilities are increasingly being subjected to hate crimes.

But the researcher making the claims, visiting US academic Dr Mark Sherry, says the lack of legal recognition of disability hate crime means it is often characterised as abuse and penalised lightly.

To read full article, visit

Scientists Develop Autism Brain Scan

The Australian, correspondents in London, 11 August, 2010

British scientists have developed a 15-minute brain scan they hope could be used to detect autism in children, cutting both the time and cost of diagnosing the disorder.

Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London today published details of the technique, which has been tested on adults and shown to have 90 per cent accuracy in detecting autism.

Children are presently assessed through a lengthy process that tests social interaction, communication and imaginative skills.

A confirmed diagnosis is rare before 18 months, and most often occurs much later.

Christine Ecker, a member of the institute's research team, said the new tool's benefits could be "immense". "It could help to alleviate the need for the emotional, time-consuming and expensive diagnosis process which ASD (autism spectrum disorder) patients and families currently have to endure.”

To read the full article, visit



Anger as Disabled Pupils Spend up to 4 Hours on Bus

Sunday Age, Natalie Craig, 15 August 2010

Disabled children are spending up to four hours a day on Victorian school buses, where they are banned from eating and drinking and cannot take toilet breaks.

Parents say their children have suffered dehydration, toileting problems and emotional distress on the free bus service that runs children to and from specialist schools.

The Education Department says it has introduced 89 bus services to special schools since 2007. But disability advocates say travel times remain excessive.

Matthew Potocnik said his nine-year-old son, who has Angelman syndrome and cannot walk unassisted or speak, is picked up from home in Brunswick at 7.20am and, after several stops to collect other children, arrives at Glenroy Specialist School about 9am. His round trip can be close to four hours.

''By the time he gets to school, he is just too tired to participate

Disability discrimination advocate Julie Phillips said she had heard similar complaints about the bus service from about 30 parents in the past two years.

''Normal children wouldn't spend 4½ hours a day on the bus - mainstream society wouldn't accept it,'' she said. ''But because we're a minority, they're not prepared to spend the money.''

Stephanie Gotlib, head of Children with Disability Australia, said conditions on the buses remained ''inhumane''.

For the full story, visit

Congratulations Wesa! - Young Victorian of the Year

Last month Wesa Chau was announced the 2010 Young Victorian of the Year for helping international students confront the issues she faced. She was given the award in recognition of her work with young people from CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) backgrounds.

Wesa founded the Australian Federation of International Students in 2002. She is also a counselor at ethnic community radio station 3ZZZ and deputy president of the Chinese Community Council of Australia.

Wesa works for ADEC (Action on Disability in Ethnic Communities) and is a committee member at Disability Connections Victoria.

ELECTION 2010

Time for Action has Arrived.

The National Roundtable of Nonprofit Organisations Media Release, 9 August 2010

The National Roundtable of Nonprofit Organisations welcomes the ALP’s new policy on the Not-for-Profit (NFP) sector because it addresses some of the issues which are holding back the NFP sector from achieving its enormous potential for the Australian community.

“The NRNO welcomes the ALP’s commitment to strengthening the NFP sector by creating a dedicated office for the NFP sector, taking steps towards a ”one-stop shop” sector regulator and the proposed improvements in contracting arrangements for NFP agencies,” said NRNO Chair, David Thompson.

“After 15 years of debate and numerous reviews, Australia urgently needs to move beyond its antiquated and cumbersome regulatory, taxation and financing arrangements. An example of how far Australia has fallen behind is that Australia has 40 statutes and 19 government agencies responsible for NFP taxation,” he said. Mr. Thompson added that: “The major parties must commit to a decision-making timeline so that the NFP sector can move into the 21st century. The NRNO calls upon the Coalition to announce its plan, prior to the election, for change to the NFP’s regulatory, taxation and financing arrangements in light of the Productivity Commission report and the Henry Tax Review.

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Jenny Mercer on mobile 0400599339 or email jmercer@.au

Peacock Faulted for 'Handicapped' Gaffe

ABC News, 9 August, 2010

Disability groups are angered by former Liberal leader Andrew Peacock's comments that only "handicapped" people could fail to see what a poor state the Federal Government is in.

The former Opposition leader made the comments while campaigning in the Melbourne seat of Kooyong for the local Liberal candidate, Josh Fydenberg.

Mr Peacock told ABC News Breakfast that while he is now living overseas, what has been happening in the Labor Party is plain to see.

"You'd need to be pretty handicapped not to appreciate this Government is dissolving before your eyes daily," he said.

David Brant, spokesman for the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations, says Mr Peacock's remarks are insulting. "I was very upset by the comments," he said. "They imply that people with disabilities are people who can't think for themselves, who can't function. I'm upset by the comments because they certainly don't fit me and they don't fit the vast majority of people with disabilities."

Labor's parliamentary secretary for disabilities, Bill Shorten, says Mr Peacock is using nasty language to make cheap political points. "Why does he have to use someone's impairment to make a point?" he said. "He doesn't have to attack and use the intellectual disability of thousands of people and say that that is the distinguishing factor of whether or not you know what's going on in this country or not."

To read full article, visit



OZ Advocacy Election E-Postcard to Support Arts and Disability

To participate, copy the statement and dot points below into a new email message.

I support arts and disability and my vote counts

People with disability are 20% of Australia’s population yet significant barriers prevent their participation in arts and cultural life.

Over 90% of 812 respondents to a July 2010 survey on the National Arts and Disability Strategy agreed that access to career pathways and training opportunities are limited for artists with a disability and that improving access to the arts should be supported by dedicated funding in addition to making all funding programs accessible.

We are calling on the Australian Government to invest $20 million over the next four years to implement the National Arts and Disability Strategy, with an additional $4 million for Creative Ageing, so people with disability can take their place, as artists and audiences, alongside all Australians.

Then copy and paste these four addresses into the To: field of your email

peter.garrett.mp@.au, bill.shorten.mp@.au,

steven.ciobo.mp@.au, info@.au

EVENTS

Nominate Now for the 2010 Diversity@Work Employment & Inclusion Awards

Join the ranks of Australia’s leading academic institutions, government departments, multi-national corporations and not for profit organisations applauded for their leading diversity and inclusion initiatives and programs by submitting a nomination before Monday

23 August 2010.

Nominations can be accepted under the following categories:

The Employment & Inclusion of People with a Disability

The Employment & Inclusion of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Australians

The Employment & Inclusion of Mature Age Workers

The Employment & Inclusion of Indigenous Australians

The Employment & Inclusion of Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgender and Intersex

The Equal Advancement of Women within the Workplace

Today’s Youth - the Future of Tomorrow

For more information, visit the Diversity@Work website at



Eastern Recreation and Leisure Services Industry Briefing 2010

When: Wednesday 18th August 2010, 4:00pm – 5:30pm

Where: SportLink, 2 Hanover Street, Vermont South

To register: RSVP by phoning Olivia Nam on 9720 5944 or

email aaa3@

Is your organisation enabling of people with a disability?

Do people with a disability feel comfortable coming into your organisation or club?

Simon Nette, Leadership Plus, will run an interactive session to look at enabling environments and workshop ideas on how you can make your organisation or club a welcoming place for people of all abilities.

For more information, download a flyer from the DARU website at

Access to Premises Standards Information Session

When: Tuesday 7 September 2010, 2:30 pm to 4:45 pm

Where: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Training Room 2

250-290 Spring Street, Melbourne

To register: RSVP by 31 August 2010 by phoning 9208 3015 or email daps@dpcd..au

The National Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards (Premises Standards) are due to come into force on 1 May 2011. They will lead to significant improvements in the level of access required in all new public buildings and existing buildings undergoing renovation.

The Access to Premises information session will cover:

The objectives behind the Premises Standards

Who is responsible for complying with the Premises Standards

Main features including exceptions and concessions

Areas of buildings and levels of access required.

For more information, download a flyer from the DARU website at

Rob McNamara Exhibition Aims for an Inclusive Society

When: 27 August – 9 September. Opening Friday 27 August, 5:00pm - 7:00pm.

Where: Collingwood Gallery, Smith Street, Collingwood

Field presents its annual art exhibition showcasing the works of artists with and without disability. The 2010 Rob McNamara Exhibition, exploring the theme Beyond First Impressions: What changes if you get to know me?

Now in its third year, the exhibition is a mixed media presentation, and includes painting, print-making, jewellery and written works by established and emerging Australian artists.

For more information, visit

Bar None Employment Exhibition

This week the Office for Disability launched the Bar None Employment Campaign in Geelong at the TAC. The Campaign features 15 Victorians with a disability ranging from teachers and business analysts to artists and opera singers and profiles their journey to employment.

To see images of the Bar None exhibition, touring council offices around the state, visit officefordisability..au

The Other Film Festival

The Other Film Festival is Australia’s only disability film festival, screening an outstanding program of Australian and international films by, with and about people with disabilities. The festival offers something for everyone, exploring the diverse experiences of disability and mental illness.

All films are Captioned and Audio Described and all events are Sign Interpreted in Auslan.

The Other Film Festival screens from 25 25-29 August 2010 at the Melbourne Museum.

For more information, visit

WESABI Presents Two Films - Not to be Missed!

When: Thursday 26 August, 6-8pm

Where: Ground Floor Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Cost: Gold Coin donation. Food and drink available at small cost.

RSVP: Email lbrumtis@

Brain Damaj’d and Disability Culture Rap provoke historical/hysterical version of people with a disability. A fabulous raffle of original artwork and photography by WESABI's award winning artists is another feature of the evening.

For more information, contact Larissa 9687 3231 or SARU on 9639 6856

PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES

A Guide to the UN Disability Convention

This guide has been developed by the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The Convention outlines the rights of people with a disability and is a valuable resource for both individuals and disability agencies.

Available formats include:

Online in PDF and Word to either view or download

Video format with British Sign Language and subtitles

Easy read version

For more information visit

 

TRAINING

People with Disability and How the Victorian Charter Can Help

When: 27 September 2010, 2-5pm

Where: Hayden Raysmith Room, 4th Floor, Ross House, 247 -- 251 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

To register: RSVP by 20 September 2010 to Julie Phillips, Disability Discrimination Legal Service by phoning 9654 8644, TTY 9654 6817 or e-mail manager@.au

Due to popular demand the Disability Discrimination Legal Service, Federation of Community Legal Centres and Human Rights Law Resource Centre is running another workshop for disability advocates on how to use the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act. Advocates are invited to submit questions or case studies that they may wish to be discussed in advance.

Auslan interpreters and attendant care available.

For more information, download a workshop flyer from

Leadership Program 2011

There is only six weeks to go until applications close, so don’t miss out.

An application kit, containing guidelines on how to apply, application form and seminar program, may be requested from Suzanne Thomas, Manager Leadership Programs, by phoning 03 9481 7154 or email sthomas@.

Applications close on the 24th September 2010

DARU Workshop – Need to be Media Savvy?

When: Wednesday 1st September, 2010, 10-00am - 4-00pm

Where: VCOSS Boardroom, Level 8, 128 Exhibition Street

Melbourne

To register: Complete the registration form available at or phone DARU on 9639 5807 or email admin@.au or phone DARU on 9639 5807.

This workshop will teach you the four principles to guide your communications including:

What Media Wants: know the rules of the game & get the media coverage you seek.

Communications Commandments: four principles to guide your communications.

Media Releases: writing, distribution and follow up, professional distribution options

Preparing the right answers to the right questions

For more information, visit the DARU website at

SUBMISSIONS, CONSULTATIONS AND FORUMS

The 2010 Grief Awareness Week Forum - Loss and Grief: Pathways to Resilience

When: Thursday 26 August 2010, 9:30am – 4:30pm (register from 9:00am)

Where: Caulfield Hospital 250 Kooyong Road Caulfield, Ashley Ricketson Centre (Building 22, entre via Gate No2). Melways 67 K3.

To register: Complete the registration form at

This forum is presented by The National Association for Loss and Grief (Vic).

The guest presenters will each examine the theme of the forum as it relates to their own area of expertise. The presentations will be of interest to all who work in or have an interest in Loss and Grief generally and Non-finite issues in particular.

For more information, download a flyer at

PAID AND VOLUNTARY POSITIONS

Publication Manager

Full time, fixed term until 30 June 2011

Immediate start

CBD location

Victoria Law Foundation is currently recruiting for a maternity leave cover for its Publications Manager.

The successful applicant will enjoy the challenge of working on a wide range of plain language legal publishing activities. Excellent publications project management, writing and editing skills essential.

For a full position description and information on how to apply, visit

Advocate/Guardian

• Full time ongoing

• CBD location

• Salary range $74,018-$89,556

The Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) is an independent statutory office accountable to the Victorian Parliament which has been established to protect the rights and enhance the position of people with disabilities in Victoria. Advocate guardians act under delegation from the Public advocate as guardians of last resort, conduct investigations and undertake advocacy on behalf of people with a disability

Key Accountabilities include:

• Under delegation from the Public Advocate, act as guardian for people with disabilities making complex decisions about lifestyle and medical treatment issues in situations which may involve significant conflict, consistent with the requirements and principles of the Guardianship and Administration Act 1986 (the Act).

• Provide guardianship decision making in emergencies and after hours, including assessing the requirement for, making applications in respect of and exercising the coercive authority of Sections 26 & 27 of the Act.

• Undertake complex investigations and provide sound advice and reports concerning disputed financial, medical and lifestyle matters involving people with disabilities for whom an application has been made to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

• Provide individual advocacy for people with disabilities who are at risk of or who are experiencing exploitation, abuse or neglect.

• Appear before, prepare and present written and/or oral reports to VCAT and other courts and tribunals as required.

• Participate in the community education program including undertaking speaking engagements.

• Participate as rostered in the Advice Service, providing advice or information on disability issues.

The full job description is available at

Enquiries about the position should be directed to Lisa Hong on 9032 3466 or email careers@justice..au to request the advertisement or any accompanying documentation in an alternative format.

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 an Administration Officer, Natasha Brake.

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 admin@.au.

Please note that material contained in the DARU Update copy does not necessarily reflect the policy of DARU or the views of any staff members. Statements in the DARU Update do not comprise advice and readers should avail themselves of professional advice where appropriate.

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