A newsletter for
people interested in issues relevant to people from a
NESB with disability and their families and carers.
Produced by the Multicultural Disability Advocacy
Association of NSW (MDAA).
If you have any queries,
questions, comments or any other contributions please
contact us by email (mdaa@mdaa.org.au)
or phone (02) 9891 6400.
Somehow the regular
newsletter got lost in the past two months...anyhow here
is a bumper issue!
NEW at
MDAA
Information
Kits and a DVD about children with disability and their
families from Afghanistan, Sudan and Iraq- Seeking your
assistance…
The NSW Department of Ageing,
Disability and Home Care (DADHC) has contracted the
Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association (MDAA), the
Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) and the NSW
Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS) to
develop Information Kits and a DVD about children with
disability and their families from Afghanistan, Sudan and
Iraq.
The Afghan, Sudanese and Iraqi
communities are the three fastest growing refugee
communities in NSW, and generally know little about
disability and disability services in Australia.
We are hoping to explore the
following issues:
1. What is
disability? (Exploring the different types of
disability, but most likely resisting labelling and
diagnosis)
2. How can I find out if my
child has a disability? (Identifying some of the
key entry and turning points within the systems: GPs;
hospital; early childhood services; school;
etc.)
3. If my child has a
disability where will I get information?
[Exploring the information available in community
languages; key entry points into the system; does it
matter what migration status we have (refugee, TPV,
Australian citizenship, etc); what are some important
questions to ask?]
4. Getting services (what
services are there; what do they cost; are they
available in the city and the country; can I get an
interpreter; how can I be involved in the
service?)
5. Rights and
responsibilities (child's right to opportunities
regardless of disability; right to access services as
other people; right to go to school; right to
complain; right to be involved as a parent; right to
have culture and religion respected, etc; and
responsibility to participate in services, make
appointments, show up on time; etc)
There are several ways you could
assist us:
- You may know children with
disability and their families from those communities
who may be interested in getting involved, telling
their stories, coming to our story telling day,
wanting to know more, etc.
- You may have worked with
children with disability and their families from those
communities and can share some of your learning,
insights, understandings, etc.
- You may have some knowledge you
acquired elsewhere that could share with
us.
Please email theresa.clark@mdaa.org.au
or call her on 9891 6400.
MDAA AGM- put it
in your Diary Now:
It's the time of the year again..
Annual General meetings are being held everywhere..
what's different about the MDAA AGM? Well if you have
been before you know and if you have never been… you
better find out.
When: 21 November 2007
10ish to later
at MDAA offices in Harris Park..
RSVP Now.. call Judith on 9891 6400
or email her: judith.goddard@mdaa.org.au
Ethnicity and
Disability in Queensland Factbook
The Factbook is a resource book and
starting point for human services wanting to know more
about the culture and religion of their consumers and
wanting to provide a better, more culturally competent
service.
The Factbook aims to inspire you to
learn more, and to become better aware of diversity. This
Factbook will give you some answers, but it will mostly
leave you with many questions, questions such as, "How
does my own culture influence the way I think about
disability and the way I work with people with
disability?"
In Queensland, where every 7th
person with a disability is from a CALD background,
Queenslanders working with people with disability need to
know about this. There is information about 13 countries,
5 religions and lots more …
To place an order contact Judith on
judith.goddard@mdaa.org.au
mdaa cultural
abilities: Promoting to and networking with Ethnic
Communities
Date and Time 25
October 2007, 9.00-17.00
Venue MDAA, 40 Albion Street, Harris Park
Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to demonstrate:
- Respect for and inclusion of
culturally diverse people in all work practices
- Effective communication with
culturally diverse persons
- Use of effective strategies to
eliminate discrimination and bias in the workplace
Target group People who want
to work more effectively with consumers and co-workers
from a non-English speaking background (NESB).
Assessment Participants
wanting to obtain a Statement of Attainment for "CHCC405A
Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and
co-workers" must complete all assessments. Some
assessments will take place during the training course.
In addition, participants must undertake a further
assessment, to be completed within 2 weeks of the
training.
Pre-requisite
None
Costs NGO: $110 (+ $50 for
Assessment)
Government: $220 (+$100 for Assessment)
NSW and Commonwealth
News
2006
Census- New figures:
Based on the new census figure and
some previous data from the ABS and CRC we now estimate
that:
7% of the NSW
population (464,710 people) are people from NESB with
disability.
One in every 3rd person with
disability living in NSW is a person from
NESB.
( a
more detailed analysis of the available data
attached)
Commonwealth
State and Territory Disability Agreement
NATIONAL
ACTION!!
for a FAIR GO for
people with disability and their
families.
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!
We must send the clearest message,
in the strongest possible way, that this is not
acceptable!
With an election approaching, maybe
our politicians will listen!!
YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED
…
WE ARE CALLING ON PEOPLE ACROSS
AUSTRALIA TO
…DO THREE THINGS BEFORE THE
ELECTION…
1: VISIT YOUR LOCAL FEDERAL
POLITICIAN
Tell your politician your story.
Tell your politician that Australians in 2007 expect our
elected leaders to make sure, as an absolute minimum,
that people with disability and their families get the
supports and services that they need! For more
information go to www.cstdaalliance.org.au
2: WRITE A LETTER/SEND AN
EMAILTO MR HOWARD AND TO MR RUDD
Tell them your story. Tell them
that people with disability and their families and
supporters have been left with no choice but to take
their case to the public and take a stand in the lead up
to the election! For more information go to
www.cstdaalliance.org.au
3: NATIONAL DISABILITY DAY OF
ACTION - 25 SEPTEMBER 2007
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!!
THE MORE PEOPLE WHO CAN
TAKE A STAND THE BETTER
PLEASE GET EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO
TAKE A STAND
MR HOWARD
The Hon. John Howard
MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra
To send an email go to
www.pm.gov.au
MR RUDD
The Hon. Kevin Rudd
Leader of the Opposition
Parliament House
Canberra
Email Mr Rudd at
Kevin.Rudd.MP@aph.gov.au
FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION…
Please contact:
NSW
NSW CID: Amy McGowan
Ph (02) 9211 1511: Email amy@nswcid.org.au
Victoria
Association for Children with a Disability: Michael
Gourley
Ph (03) 9818 2000: Email michaelg@acd.org.au
Queensland
Unmet Needs Campaign: Geoff Trappett
Ph 1800 630 740: Email info@unmetneedscampaign.com.au
South Australia
SA CID: Dell Stagg
Ph 0400 9989 85: Email sacid@adelaide.on.net
Western Australia
DDC: Carol Franklin
Ph (08) 9420 7203: Email carolf_ddcwa@iprimus.com.au
Tasmania
Speak Out Association of Tasmania: Mary Mallett
Ph (03) 6231 2344: Email manager@speakoutadvocacy.org
ACT
Advocacy for Inclusion: Deborah Hamilton
Ph (02) 6286 9422: Email deborah@advocacyforinclusion.org
NT
Disability Advocacy Service: Janine Stewart,
Ph (08) 8953 1422: Email
coordinator@disabilityadvocacyserv.org.au
The National CSTDA
Community Alliance has been formed to bring
people with disability, families, friends, agencies,
organizations, supporters and concerned citizens from
across Australia together to take a stand for the CSTDA
that people with disability need …for a fair go for
people with disability and their families! Enquiries:
Co-convenors, Sue Harris and Su-Hsien Lee, c/- DDC, City
West Lotteries House, 2 Delhi St, West Perth, 6005. Ph:
08 9420 7203. Email: convenor@cstdaalliance.org.au
Web: www.cstdaalliance.org.au
Commonwealth
News
Consultations
for Disability Supported Accommodation options
As NESB and Disability News readers
know, the Commonwealth is proposing to fund 1750 new
supported accommodation places for people with
disabilities aged over 40 years.
To find out what people want the
Department of Family, Community Services and Indigenous
Affairs will be holding consultations. In NSW the
consultation are planed for:
Parramatta 2 October; Gosford 3
October; Sydney 4 October; Newcastle 9 October; Albury/
Wodonga
9 October; Orange 10 October; Gold Coast 11 October
Written submissions will also be
accepted up to Friday 26 October
A discussion paper on this
initiative is available from
 www.facsia.gov.au...supported_disability_accommodation_discussion_paper.pdf
and by calling 1800 045 394.
To get details of the public
meetings and register your interest, call 1800 045 394 or
email disabilityaccommodation@nationalmailing.com.au.
MDAA is concerned that the
Commonwealth Government is moving towards investing funds
into new institutions when all the evidence available
suggests that those facilities do not deliver good
outcomes for people with disability. There is no doubt
that supported accommodation is one of the crisis points
for people with disability and their carers, (see also
AIHW report below) and MDAA has strongly supported
developing more opportunities and options for people to
live in the Community (see for example our "Everybody
needs a home" report). We strongly oppose, however, the
provision of services which limit and restrict people
with disability to congregate settings and isolated
environments.
News from across
the World
Pakistan
Book 'Disability Framework in
Pakistan' launched (By Saadia Khalid) Islamabad.
Pakistan
Disabled persons must be given
representation in the local and provincial governments
and the Senate, said Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar on
Thursday.
She was addressing the launching
ceremony of the book "Disability Framework in Pakistan"
prepared by Leaders of Persons with Disability (PWDs) in
collaboration with Sightsavers International and
Special Talent Exchange Programme (STEP).
"Only a disabled person can
understand the problems of other disabled people,
therefore their representation in the government is
necessary to solve their problems," she said. According
to the national census of 1998, disabled people
constitute 2.49 percent of the total population of the
country but according to a United Nations census, they
are 10 percent of the total population, said
Bakhtiar.
She said the government was hiding
the actual count of disabled people, as they would have
to allocate a comparatively larger amount of funds for
the disabled if they revealed their actual number. "This
is the typical attitude of every government, which
instead of facing problems prefers to shut their eyes and
hide the exact figures from the public," she
said.
Bakhtiar said that during her
tenure as social welfare and special education minister,
she had announced a two percent quota in jobs for special
persons but it was not yet implemented. Bakhtiar said she
was aware of special persons problems as they had no
accessibility to jobs, no special parks or entertainment
centres and no seat was reserved for them in public
transport.
Special Talent Exchange Programme
(STEP) President Muhammad Atif Akram Sheikh said
resources provided by the government for special persons
were insufficient to meet their needs. "The issue of
disability is gaining more and more importance all over
the world as well as in Pakistan due to the movement for
a 'right based society' by the organisations of PWDs
since the last two decades," said Sheikh.
He said that to take any action for
the welfare of disabled persons, there was a need for
more accurate data and research on causes, prevention,
and curative efforts to understand the social and
economic realities and possibilities with regard to
disability. Sightsavers International Pakistan Country
Representative Dr Haroon Awan said the book would
motivate many national and international organisations to
join hands and work towards mainstreaming the disabled in
development of Pakistan.
A three days leadership training of
persons with visual impairment has also started.
Participants from all parts of the country will attain a
holistic understanding of a wide range of disability
issues. Muhammad Ayaz from Peshawar, Hafiz Mahmood
Subhani from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Amir Shafique from
Sialkot, Shahzad Hussain from Islamabad, Ali Asghar from
Islamabad and Faisal from Karachi have been selected for
the leadership training programme.
Source www.dailytimes.com.pk
_______________________________________
Barbel Winter
Executive Director
Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of NSW
PO BOX 9381
Harris Park, NSW 2150
Australia
ph: + 61 (0)2 9891 6400
www.mdaa.org.au
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