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Foreword by MDAA Management
Committee
It is with great pleasure that the
Management Committee of the Multicultural Disability
Association of NSW (MDAA) presents 'Directions 2004-2007'.
This document outlines what we aim to do to promote and
protect the rights of all people from a non-English speaking
background (NESB) with disability and their families and
carers living in NSW over the next three years. It is this
document which will keep us 'on track' and against which we
will measure our success and achievements. We also encourage
our members, consumers, stakeholders and others to measure
us against the objectives and signs of success stated in
this document.
This three year strategic plan has
been evolving for some time, with ideas and suggestions from
many people. In 2001, MDAA held meetings with consumers,
members and stakeholders to find out what MDAA should do to
promote and protect the rights of people from a NESB with
disability and those of their family and carers. In 2002
this planning process stopped temporarily with the expansion
of MDAA and the implementation of some of those ideas and
suggestions. In 2003, the planning process began again, with
MDAA staff and the Management Committee revisiting and
adding to the contributions previously made. This document
is the culmination of that process.
This Strategic Plan is divided into
four key areas:
- Individual Advocacy and Advocacy
Development
- Social Change and
Research
- Industry Development and 'cultural
abilities'
- Organisational Autonomy,
Grassroots Linkages and Alliances
Our vision "Working for a NSW where
the diversity of disability and culture is anticipated,
supported and celebrated" will also provide us with a
guiding light. NSW is becoming an increasingly diverse
community with increasingly diverse needs demanding that we,
as a significant part of the community, respond and create
cohesion and community harmony.
'Directions 2004-2007' is our plan to
put our vision into action and help create this cohesion and
community harmony. This document outlines how we will work
over the next three years so that the diversity of
disability and culture is anticipated, supported and
celebrated in all services delivered by government and
non-government agencies across NSW, and by the community as
a whole.
MDAA Management Committee
December 2003
VISION
Working for a NSW where the
diversity of disability and culture is anticipated,
supported and celebrated.
MISSION
To promote, protect and secure the
rights and interests of people from a NESB with
disability and their families and carers in
NSW.
BELIEFS
- All people from a non-English
speaking background with disability and their families
and carers are individuals who have the inherent right
to respect for their human worth and dignity, and to
enjoy freedom from discrimination on the basis of
race, ethnicity, linguistic skill, religion, class,
culture, gender and disability.
- All people from a non-English
speaking background with disability and their families
and carers are entitled to share, maintain and develop
their culture without prejudice or
disadvantage.
- All institutions must
acknowledge, reflect and respond to the multicultural
and multilingual diversity of Australia.
- All people from a non-English
speaking background with disability and their families
and carers are entitled to the opportunity to
participate fully and be included in society and in
the decisions which directly affect them.
- All people from a non-English
speaking background with disability and their families
and carers are entitled to enjoy equal opportunities
and have equitable access to, and an equitable share
of, resources.
- All people from a non-English
speaking background with disability are entitled to
the support required to achieve their maximum
potential as members of the community.
- All people from a non-English
speaking background with a disability are entitled to
be valued, respected and portrayed in positive
ways.
- All relevant programs and
services must be tailored according to individual
needs and goals and in a manner that results in the
least restriction of the person's rights and
opportunities.
- All people from a non-English
speaking background with a disability are entitled to
advocacy support, to ensure maximum participation in
decision-making.
- The principles of Access and
Equity (A&E), based on equitable access to
services and entitlements, are equally applicable to
people from non-English speaking background with
disability and their families and carers.
- Social Justice requires a
socially just, sustainable and culturally rich society
for all Australians.
(From MDAA Constitution 1998
(amended 2001)
KEY PRIORITY 1:
INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY AND ADVOCACY DEVELOPMENT
To promote and protect the
rights of people from a non-English speaking background
and those of their family and carers and to empower
people to advocate for themselves
OBJECTIVE
1.1 Provide a high quality, accessible, state-wide
individual advocacy program
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- 5% annual increase in
individual advocacy cases successfully
resolved
- 5% annual increase in
consumers
- 5% annual increase in
non-metropolitan consumers (where there is no local
MDAA office)
- Consumer diversity in terms
of disability type, ethnic background, location,
age, etc. increasingly reflects the composition of
the population of NSW
- Evaluations of MDAA services
and activities demonstrate high quality of services
delivered
OBJECTIVE
1.2 Enhance the capacity of individuals and groups of
individuals to self-advocate
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- 5% annual increase in people
with disability and family members attending
self-advocacy skills and knowledge
training
- 5% annual increase in people
with disability and family members attending
consumer and rights forums
- 5% annual increase in
individual advocacy consumers
self-advocating
- 5 Reports on 'success
stories' annually
OBJECTIVE
1.3 Develop a volunteer advocacy program
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- Volunteer Advocacy Program
developed
- Volunteer Advocates Training
program developed
- 5 volunteers successfully
participate in pilot phase then 25% annual increase
in number of volunteer advocates in
program
- Volunteer Advocates Training
program delivered regularly and
evaluated
- Number of consumers steadily
increases with the increase of volunteer
advocates
OBJECTIVE
1.4 Develop regional and rural networks of people
with disability
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- 30% annual increase in
number of new networks across NSW
- 50% annual increase in
people with disability participating in
networks
- Membership of the networks
reflects the diversity in the target area (ethnic
background, languages spoken, age, disability
type)
- Evaluations demonstrate high
levels of satisfaction with network
functioning
KEY PRIORITY 2:
SOCIAL CHANGE AND RESEARCH
To influence public policy
and advance knowledge in the areas of disability and
ethnicity
OBJECTIVE
2.1 Develop annual research agenda and conduct
research
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- Research agenda developed
annually
- Maintain 50% grant
application success rate to implement research
agenda
- Research agenda produces
research considered influential by key
stakeholders
- 5% annual increase in the
number of papers delivered, published and
presented
OBJECTIVE
2.2 Promote equity of access for people from a NESB
with disability to disability and other human
services
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- MDAA has developed 'Equity
of Access Action Plans' for the key human service
departments and those plans are endorsed by peak
ethnic and disability organisations
- Involvement in key
government and non-government initiatives advancing
equity of access
- Representations are made
annually to Ministers, politicians,
Directors-General and senior bureaucrats in the key
human service areas to address equity of access
issues
OBJECTIVE
2.3 Identify key priority issues and develop and
implement a 3-year strategy
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- Regular consultations are
held with members, consumers and other stakeholders
to identify and re-confirm key
priorities
- 3 year strategy developed
and implemented and annual goals for each issue are
met
OBJECTIVE
2.4 Respond to and 'be on top of' key policy
initiatives, emerging issues and service
developments
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- MDAA is invited and asks to
be part of key government and non-government
committees, networks, debates and
discussions
OBJECTIVE
2.5 Enhance the capacity of people from a NESB with
disability and their families and carers to participate
actively in the political process
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- Political lobbying resource
kits are developed and distributed to interested
members and consumers
- Training on "How to
participate actively in the political process" held
annually for a minimum of 40 consumers and their
family and carers
- 25% annual increase in
participation in the political process measured by
total number of visits and letters written to local
MPs and candidates,
- 25% annual increase in the
number and diversity of MDAA representatives on
external boards and committees
KEY PRIORITY 3
INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT AND 'CULTURAL ABILITIES'
Develop culturally competent
and disability inclusive human services
OBJECTIVE
3.1 Enhance cultural and disability competence of
disability and human services
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- 20% of disability services
in Cumberland/ Prospect area participate in
regional NESB Access Project
- The cultural competence of
two Commonwealth funded advocacy services is
enhanced by the establishment of two partnership
projects
- Develop one cultural
competence policy and practice model annually in
cooperation with organisations that provide a range
of disability services (Recreation and respite, Day
Programs, Early Intervention, Supported
Accommodation, PSO/ Atlas)
- Hold one conference or forum
for disability organisations annually
- Resources are developed in
consultation with and responsive to the needs of
the disability services sector
OBJECTIVE
3.2 Work with ethnic communities to enhance their
capacity to provide services to people with disability
and their families
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- One Community Linkages
project per year
- "What is Disability"
available in 10 Community languages and 500 copies
distributed annually
- "Disability and Ethnic
Communities" training sessions developed and
delivered annually to 50 workers and regularly
evaluated
OBJECTIVE
3.3 Promote and further advance the Community Voices
project
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- 10% annual increase in
presentations made by Community Voices
- The current number of active
Community Voices is maintained
OBJECTIVE
3.4 Develop a disability and cultural competence
accreditation system for disability and human
services
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- Research and develop
accreditation system
- Government accepts and
adopts accreditation system as a measure of
disability and cultural competence and provides
additional rewards for agencies complying with the
system
- System accepted and
implemented by disability services and broader
human services sector
OBJECTIVE
3.5 Provide training and consultancy
services
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- MDAA established as
RTO
- 1 accredited and 4
non-accredited training packages
developed
- Training calendar available
with a minimum of 2 training sessions offered per
month
- Pool of consultants
established and a diverse range of resources are
collected, developed and available for training and
consultancy services
- 3 consultancies undertaken
annually
OBJECTIVE
3.6 Develop resources for human services that advance
their capacity to provide services to people from a NESB
with disability and their families
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- 25% annual increase in the
number of Factsheets available
- 25% annual increase in the
distribution of Factsheets
- Review and add 2 communities
annually to Disability and Ethnicity
Factbook
- 150 Factbooks sold
annually
- Hits on MDAA website
increases to an average of 80 hits per
day
- The Discussion Forum on the
MDAA website is launched and the number of
contributions posted each year increases by
200%
- Current range of
publications is maintained and two publications
aiming to enhance the cultural competence of
disability and mainstream service providers are
added annually
KEY PRIORITY 4:
ORGANISATIONAL AUTONOMY, GRASSROOTS LINKAGES &
ALLIANCES
To increase MDAA's standing
and autonomy; links with people from a non-English
speaking background and their families and carers; and
alliances and partnerships with other
organisations
Increasing
standing
4.1 Promote MDAA's work to people
with disability and people from a NESB
- Strategies for the
dissemination of MDAA promotional materials to people
from a NESB and their families and carers are
developed and implemented
OBJECTIVE
4.2 Promote MDAA and our work amongst disability,
ethnic and other human service organisations
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- Strategies for the
dissemination of MDAA promotional materials to
disability, ethnic and human service organisations
are developed and implemented
- Strategies are developed and
implemented linking with specific disability,
ethnic and human service organisations in regional
and rural areas
- 10% annual increase in
relationships with key ethnic community
representatives
- 10% annual increase of
organisational members
Increasing autonomy
OBJECTIVE
4.3 Diversify sources of funding
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- At least 50% of grant
applications made each year will be to new funding
bodies
- All funds are invested at
best interest rates
- 5% annual increase in
sponsorship/corporate partners, access to trusts,
bequests and other funding sources
- 5% annual increase in money
received through fundraising
OBJECTIVE
4.4 Undertake a range of business ventures
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- 10% annual increase in net
profit from business ventures
- Business plans developed for
various ventures
- MDAA established as
RTO
- Annual training calendar
developed from 2005 onwards
- 20% of all staff trained in
CAT IV Workplace Training and
Assessment
- Sufficient funds raised to
maintain a self-funded training unit
- Pool of consultants and
diversity of resources available to support range
of business ventures
- 3 consultancies undertaken
annually
Increasing links with people from
a NESB with disability and their families and carers in
NSW
OBJECTIVE
4.5 Increase consumer and family
membership
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- Constitution reviewed and
confirmed
- Consumer diversity in terms
of disability type, ethnic background, location,
age, etc. increasingly reflects the composition of
the population of NSW
- 10% annual increase in
members from regional and rural areas
- 10% annual increase in
consumer and family members
OBJECTIVE
4.6 Develop a successful Volunteer Program,
specifically targeting people from NESB with disability,
their families, carers and communities
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- Volunteer Training Program
developed and implemented
- 10 Volunteers are active in
key activities of the Association at any
time
OBJECTIVE
4.7 Support members to participate in MDAA's
planning, delivery and evaluation of services and
programs
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- 20% of all consumer and
family members participate in MDAA's key activities
annually
- 3 planning and evaluation
activities are organised annually to which members
are invited to participate annually
OBJECTIVE
4.8 Create a strong, diverse, committed and involved
Management Committee
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- Succession plans developed
and implemented
- Management Committee buddy
system developed and implemented
- Clear job descriptions and
expectations developed and implemented
- Management Committee
reflects the diversity of the target
community
Increasing Alliances and
Partnerships
OBJECTIVE
4.9 Develop incentive scheme to attract
organisational members and enhance distribution of
resources
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- Paper written outlining
options for MDAA to offer incentives to attract
organisational members and preferred options
implemented
- Organisational members' day
held annually
OBJECTIVE
4.10 Increase organisational membership of
MDAA
SIGNS OF
SUCCESS
- Constitution reviewed and
confirmed
- Members reflect diversity of
ethnic and disability organisations, regional
organisations
- 10% annual increase in
organisational membership, including regional
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