A newsletter for
people interested in issues relevant to people from 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.
Hello again all you patient
readers...we haven't forgotten you: we've just been very
very very very busy. Many apologies for not getting started
sooner this year, but to make up for our silence here is the
latest news from MDAA...
NEW at
MDAA
Mental Health Legal
Service pilot project
MDAA is very excited to announce that for the next 2
years a solicitor will be based at MDAA to work with
consumers with mental health problems. This project will
be conducted in a partnership between MDAA and the Public
Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC).
The solicitor will be based at MDAA three days a week,
providing direct legal assistance for MDAA consumers;
working with MDAA's individual advocates to develop their
knowledge about the legal system; developing
information/training to increase the legal knowledge of
consumers; working with the legal profession in western
Sydney to build networks, referral points and increase
solicitors' skills to respond more effectively to people
from NESB with mental illness. The solicitor will be
able to work within MDAA's intake system, with our
individual advocates across NSW.
Access to legal assistance is a major area of concern
to people from NESB with disability and their families.
MDAA conducts regular consultations with consumers and
this issue is raised every time. For our Surry Hills
consumers it is the number one issue of concern. We have
worked with the NSW Police and the NSW Legal Aid
Commission to try to improve their responses to people
from NESB with disability. Despite this, there remain
significant barriers for people from NESB with mental
health issues who are seeking legal support.
MDAA has been advocating for years for an innovative
approach to addressing the barriers our consumers face,
one that would provide culturally competent legal
assistance, develop the skills of non-legal professionals
who work closely with people from NESB, and develop the
capacity of legal professionals to make their services
more accessible to people from NESB.
This MDAA/PIAC project is one of four mental health
legal service pilot projects funded by the Law Society's
Public Purpose Fund. The aim of all the pilot projects is
to explore and develop new and improved ways of meeting
the legal needs of people with mental health issues. The
Fund has also provided money to evaluate each pilot and
the project as a whole. We thank the Fund and look
forward to working with PIAC on the project.
The other pilot projects are:
- A solicitor to provide an outreach legal service
to work with clients with mental health problems at
the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation
of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS)
- A Social Work Caseworker to provide outreach
services to work with young people with mental health
problems at the Shopfront Youth Legal Centre
- An Indigenous Mens' Access to Justice Worker with
Gamarada Indigenous Mens' Healing Program
Recruitment for the position at MDAA is underway.
Watch this space for further details.
Job opportunities at
MDAA
Disability Advocate - City and Inner West Disability
Advocacy (CIWDA)
Applications close 27 May 2009
City and Inner West Disability Advocacy (CIWDA) is
auspiced by the Multicultural Disability Advocacy
Association of NSW and co-located with the NSW Council
for Intellectual Disability in Surry Hills. We are
seeking a part time (30 hrs/wk) disability advocate (SACS
Grade 3). The position is permanent depending on
recurrent funding and there is generous salary packaging
available.
The role of the Disability Advocate is to:
- Provide a high quality individual advocacy service
to people with disability and their families living in
the City of Sydney and Inner West.
- Encourage personal development of self advocacy
skills for consumers.
- Raise awareness of CIWDA services and the rights
of people with disability in the wider community.
Selection Criteria:
- Demonstrated experience in advocating for peoples
rights.
- Demonstrated experience in best practice advocacy
processes and administration.
- Demonstrated experience in community development
and networking.
- Demonstrated oral and written communication skills
including the capacity to communicate and work with
people from diverse backgrounds.
- Proven skills in facilitating meetings and
organising community events.
- Proven skills in identifying and addressing
systemic issues.
- Ability to use computers within the workplace
including word processing, databases and email.
- Understanding of and commitment to the principles
of social justice including access and equality; equal
employment opportunity; understanding of the NSW
Disability Services Act and Disability Service
Standards.
- Understanding of and commitment to cultural
diversity and the rights of people from non-English
speaking backgrounds.
- Understanding of the disability sector and the
operation of not-for-profit community organisations
MDAA is an EEO employer and an affirmative action
policy applies to people from NESB with disability.
For an information package contact Judith, for further
enquiries contact Susan on 9891 6400.
Applicants must address all of the above selection
criteria.
Send applications to:
Diana Qian, Executive Director
MDAA
PO Box 9381
Harris Park NSW 2150
fax: (02) 9635 5355
email: mdaa@mdaa.org.au
Individual Advocacy Team Coordinator
Applications close 29 May 2009
MDAA, a leading advocacy agency for people from a
non-English speaking background (NESB) with disability
and their families in NSW, is looking for a skilled
advocate who will be responsible for the oversight and
management of the Individual Advocacy Service. This is a
fixed term contract for 12 months at 37.5 hrs/wk at SACS
Grade 5 or 6 depending on experience. Generous salary
packaging available
The role of the IA Team Coordinator - Quality
Assurance to:
- Undertake individual advocacy - 3 days per week
- Lead a team of individual advocates to achieve
specific outcomes
- Review and develop "best practice" policy and
procedures
- Maintain and support regional advocacy services in
5 locations (City/Inner West, Bega, Griffith,
Wollongong, Newcastle). This will involve travelling
to the regional offices.
- Oversight production of consumer newsletter and
contribute to resource development
Selection Criteria (Grade 5 & 6):
- demonstrated experience in advocating for people's
rights;
- best practice advocacy management processes and
administration;
- planning, evaluation and the development of policy
and procedure;
- staff performance & supervision;
- oral and written communication skills including
the capacity to communicate and work with people from
diverse backgrounds;
- demonstrated skills in service development;
- ability to create and encourage a cooperative work
environment;
- identify and address systemic issues;
- ability to use computers;
- understanding of and commitment to the principles
of social justice including access and equity; equal
employment opportunity, cultural diversity and the
rights of people from non-English speaking
backgrounds;
- an understanding of the NSW Disability Services
Act and Disability Service Standards; the disability
sector and the operation of not-for-profit community
organisations.
Additional Grade 6 Criteria:
- demonstrated qualifications in advocacy/case
management/service management;
- demonstrated ability to work independently to
resolve complex problems;
- ability to research and develop advocacy
standards;
- proven range of service management skills
including recruitment and performance management
MDAA is an EEO employer and an affirmative action
policy applies to people from NESB with disability.
For an information package contact Judith, for further
enquiries contact Diana on 9891 6400.
Applicants must address all of the above selection
criteria.
Send applications to:
Diana Qian, Executive Director
MDAA
PO Box 9381
Harris Park NSW 2150
email: mdaa@mdaa.org.au
NSW Domestic and Family
Violence Strategic Framework Discussion Paper
In March 2009 MDAA sent a submission to the Violence
Prevention Coordination Unit in the NSW Department of
Premier and Cabinet in response to the  NSW
Domestic and Family Violence Strategic Framework
Discussion Paper
1MB.
We referred to earlier work by MDAA on domestic violence
as it relates to women from NESB with disability,
including:
- MDAA's July 2008 submission to the Commonwealth
Office for Women in response
to the National Council to Reduce Violence Against
Women and Children
240
kb 'National Plan to Reduce Violence Against
Women and Children'. (For an update on what has
happened since we made this submission, see
Commonwealth News below.)
- MDAA's 2005 fact sheet 'Issues Faced By Women
From Non-English Speaking Backgrounds With
Disabilities Or Carers Who Experience Violence'.
That earlier work highlighted the nature of violence
against women from NESB with disability and barriers to
getting relevant support. It also set out detailed
strategies which could assist in improving the
circumstances for women from NESB with disability.
MDAA's specific comments on the NSW
Domestic and Family Violence Strategic Framework
Discussion Paper
1MB
emphasised the need for:
- human rights principles to guide the NSW
Framework
- the definition of violence to include a reference
to women with disability
- a high quality training package focusing on
violence against women from NESB with disability
- acknowledgement that women from NESB with
disability are an important target group and effective
strategies need to be developed to address their
needs
A copy of our submission is at www.mdaa.org.au/service/systemic/topics/women.html
Response to Australia's
Humanitarian Program 2009-10 and beyond
In January 2009 MDAA made a submission in response to
the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's (DIAC)
discussion paper 'Australia's Humanitarian Program
2009-10 and beyond'.
Response
to Australia's Humanitarian Program 2009-10 and beyond
Discussion Paper
240kb
We are concerned that the Humanitarian Program has
failed to address the needs of one of the most vulnerable
groups: refugees with disability. Our response seeks
urgent reform of the Program.
We noted that because the Migration Act (1958) is
exempt from the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) the
Humanitarian Program actively discriminates against
eligible refugees and migrants with disability and their
families. They are not offered the same protections from
discrimination as Australian citizens. Eligible refugees
are refused protection from persecution and left in
dangerous conflict affected situations. MDAA is
extremely concerned that the Commonwealth Government and
DIAC continue to maintain discriminatory practices which
promote negative characterisations and perceptions of
people with disability.
We made 6 recommendations to DIAC to ensure that
humanity can become the paramount consideration of the
Humanitarian Program:
- Review the Humanitarian Program to ensure that its
policy and implementation are consistent and encompass
the principles of the UNCRPD.
- Create a subclass targeting refugees with
disability with a target of 10% of offshore refugee
places.
- Ensure application forms for the Refugee and
Special Humanitarian Program are available in formats
accessible to people with disability.
- Revise application forms and pilot test by
community representatives.
- Establish a reference group of community
representatives to oversee the development,
implementation and evaluation of the multi-year
framework.
- Increase the offshore Refugee and Special
Humanitarian Program intake to include the
resettlement of protracted refugees.
A copy of our submission is at http://www.mdaa.org.au/service/systemic/topics/immigration.html
mdaa cultural
abilities - training calendar available for
2009
You can find our 2009 training calendar at
http://www.mdaa.org.au/training.html
State
News
MDAA welcomes Jim
Moore, the new DADHC Director General...
Jim Moore was appointed Director-General of the
Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC)
and started in the position on Monday, 4 May. Mr Moore
joined DADHC in 2002 and as Deputy Director General since
2008 he was involved in developing and implementing
'Stronger Together', the NSW Government's 10 year plan
for improving services for people with disability in NSW.
Mr Moore also has lots of experience in the Commonwealth
bureaucracy including social security; education,
training and youth affairs; and occupational health and
safety.
MDAA looks forward to working with Mr Moore in his new
role.
...and thanks Brendan
O'Reilly, the recently retired DADHC Director
General
We also thank Brendan O'Reilly for his hard work in
persuading the Government to put a lot more money and
resources into services and programs for people with
disability. We wish him well in his retirement from the
NSW public service.
Commonweath
News
National Council to
Reduce violence against women and children
The Council was appointed in May 2008 for one year and
asked to draft a national plan to reduce the incidence
and impact of violence against women. As indicated above,
MDAA made a submission in response to the discussion
paper in July 2008.
On 29 April 2009 the Council released its report 'Time
for Action: the national council's plan for Australia to
reduce violence against women and children, 2009-2021'.
The government's response to the report was also
released.
The report is detailed (204 pages) and we are pleased
to note that its recommendations include a number of
issues raised and strategies suggested by MDAA:
- investing in research: Council recommends the
development of a 'National Centre of Excellence for
the Prevention of Violence Against Women' to focus on
research (page 40)
- acknowledging the financially vulnerable position
women with disability: Council recommends funding to
allow services access to professional interpreting
services (page 87 point 3.3.7) and to ensure that
interpreters are trained in issues relating to
domestic and family violence (point 3.38)
- need for community education: Council recommends
that community awareness and education programs are in
community languages and accessible to women from NESB
and women with disability
The full report is available at www.fahcsia.gov.au...TimeforActiontoReduceViolenceAgainstWomenandChildren
The Council's report will go to the Council of
Australian Government (COAG) and a final plan will be
released in 2010.
Medicare health checks
reveal hidden suffering!
The following article provides information about the
results of annual health checks covered by Medicare for
people with intellectual disability. It also explains
how people can get a health check. Thanks to Jim Simpson
and the NSW Council for Intellectual Disability for this
article.
Jim Simpson, NSW Council for Intellectual
Disability
GPs around Australia are reporting great results from
using the annual health assessments of people with
intellectual disability that are now covered by Medicare.
From July 2007 to December 2008, 8,700 people with
intellectual disability had assessments.
An Adelaide woman who was thought to be
"uncooperative" was found to have significant hearing
loss. She now has hearing aids and her first word after
they were fitted was "Birdies!" - it was a long time
since she had heard birds cheeping.
Another woman was found to have a serious malignant
cancer which is now being treated.
Hobart GP Nick Cooling reports often finding up to
three previously untreated conditions when doing the
assessment. These include reflux, tooth decay, skin
cancers, side effects from medication interactions,
excess ear wax and various visual problems. Dr Cooling
suspects that the assessments will be of greatest use for
detecting the less acute conditions which may have long
term consequences if not treated early.
Dr Bob Davis is Director of the Centre for
Developmental Disability Health in Melbourne. He also
works in a general practice. Even with his expertise in
intellectual disability, Bob is finding that the new
assessments are helping him to pick up important health
problems. For example, he recently found that a patient
had an inflamed oesophagus - the assessment had revealed
that the patient often wakes up quite distressed and then
settles with a glass of milk.
Are people you know getting the benefit of the
Medicare assessments?
It is a promising start that 8,700 assessments have
occurred in the first 18 months. But, that is only a
small proportion of the population of people with
intellectual disability. Hopefully, the take-up on the
assessments will steadily grow as word spreads about the
practical benefits they are bringing.
You can ask the GP to do the assessment. In their
busy practices, GPs will not all be aware of the
assessments or think to offer them. When making the
appointment, explain that you are seeking an assessment
under Medicare item 718 and request a long appointment.
If the assessment needs to be done at the patient's home,
the GP can charge extra under item 719. Take the
person's medical records and current medications to the
assessment. Someone who knows the person well should
attend the appointment to help provide the information
the doctor needs.
In NSW, the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home
Care requires supported accommodation services to ensure
that each resident has an annual health assessment. The
Department provides the Comprehensive Health Assessment
Program (CHAP) tool to be used in the Medicare
assessment. The CHAP has a section to be completed by
the person, family and support worker to give the doctor
information about the person's health situation. The
CHAP is also used by the disability departments in
Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.
Parliamentary Inquiry into
Better Support for Carers
In July 2008 MDAA and NEDA made a joint submission to
Inquiry into better Support for Carers conducted by the
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family,
Community, Housing and Youth. The Inquiry received more
than 1300 submissions. The Committee's report was
released on Friday 1 May 2009.
The report includes chapters on Carer Identification;
A National and Strategic Approach to Carer Recognition
and Policy; Information, Skills and Capacity Building;
Financial Assistance; Access to Supports and Services;
Employment and Education; and Health and Wellbeing.
The Inquiry took place at the same time as several
other inquiries (e.g. Pension Review, National Disability
Agreement, National Disability Strategy, National Mental
Health and Disability Employment Strategy, Australia's
Future Tax system and COAG Reform agenda). Some of the
issues discussed in the Inquiry are also discussed in
these other inquiries.
Several issues raised in MDAA and NEDA's submission
were also mentioned in the Committee's report.
Specifically, on page 20 of the report MDAA and NEDA's
comments were included on hidden carers and people from
NESB identifying with the term 'carer'. Our comments
about the complex assessment and application process for
applying for financial assistance and difficulties NESB
carers experience when doing this were also
mentioned.
The Committee made 50 recommendations about expanding
the data and frequency of the Survey of Disability,
Ageing and Carers conducted by the Australian Bureau of
Statistics be expanded; developing a national campaign to
promote the role of carers; developing complementary
state and national carer legislation; developing a
national strategy to address training and skills
development of carers; increasing carer payments.
NEDA and MDAA's submission are available at www.mdaa.org.au/service/systemic/topics/carers.html
and www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/fchy/carers/report.htm
Stepping Out of
the Shadows: Reducing Stigmas in Multicultural
Communities
This resource is a new training package developed for
culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community
workers to educate their communities about mental health,
to help reduce stigma towards mental illness.
The package includes a DVD and bilingual mental health
fact sheets.
The training package aims to:
- reduce stigma
- help individuals, families and communities from
CALD backgrounds deal with mental illness and address
the stigma associated with it
- increase their knowledge about mental health and
decrease stigma
The training package aims to build a greater awareness
of mental illness, dispel myths and misunderstanding,
raise acceptance of mental illness as another illness,
break down the stigma associated with mental illness,
assist families and encourage them to seek the medical
help required.
MMHA has already piloted the training kit nationally.
Expert Trainers have already been selected from each
state and territory under the direction of MMHA. Some of
the Expert Trainers have since trained their community
leaders, who will be supported by MMHA during this
funding round, to roll this stigma reduction training kit
into their immediate communities. The Community Trainers
are responsible for working at the grassroots level in
raising awareness and acceptance of mental illness.
The implementation of the training kit will rely on
the commitment and goodwill of many people working in the
mental health and multicultural community sectors around
the country.
To be involved in the national roll-out of this
training, please call MMHA - 02 9840 3333
News from across the
World: International
Ghana
Vice President Inaugurates Disability Council - 8
April 2009
The government on Tuesday fulfilled a campaign promise
by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) when it
inaugurated the Governing Board of the National Council
of Persons with Disability (PWD) at the Castle, Osu.
The physically challenged had for years lobbied for
the establishment of the Council and the NDC pledged that
it would do so within 100 days after assuming the reigns
of power.
On Tuesday, Vice President John Dramani Mahama
inaugurated the 13-member Board which is under the
chairmanship of Mr Andrew Okaikoi, a business
executive.
The inauguration is seen as crucial in promoting the
welfare of PWDs who are believed to constitute more than
five per cent of the population, but have over the years
been denied many rights offered their able bodied
counterparts.
A remit of the Council would be to work towards
removing cultural and structural barriers that tend to
stifle the integration of physically challenged persons
into all aspects of society.
The Vice President urged the Council to help dismiss
norms and taboos that had been employed over the ages to
stigmatize PWDs and work towards proscribing them.
He said government would be assiduous in working for
the inclusion of the disabled in all aspects of the
society to ensure that they were not left behind or
discriminated against on the basis of their
infirmities.
"They deserve as citizens to fully participate in the
progress of the country without being discriminated
against," Vice President Mahama stressed.
Vice President Mahama charged the Council to ensure
that all children with disabilities had access to formal
education.
The issue of PWDs having difficulty in using public
buildings also engaged the attention of the Vice
President.
He directed the Council to ensure that institutions
which were yet to provide easy passage for PWDs at their
premises were made to comply with the relevant
legislations.
Similarly, he charged the Council to work with
Metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies on the
modalities to be adopted in disbursing two per cent of
their share of the common fund to PWDs as demanded by the
relevant laws.
Mr Okaikoi, commended the NDC for having the courage
in inaugurating the board, and promised to work towards
ensuring that the potentials of PWDs which had been left
largely untapped were realized for the benefit for the
country.
He also paid tribute to all those who helped in the
passage of the Disability Act for their persistence in
promoting the welfare of PWDs.
Source: www.modernghana.com
Bangladesh
Spondon Get-together and PWDs' Excursion held -
Saturday, April 4, 2009
"Spondon Friends' Circle" organized a get-together and
excursion on 27 March 2009 at the Pine Forest of National
Botanical Garden, Dhaka Bangladesh. People with
disabilities from diverse background and types
enthusiastically participated in this auspicious event.
People with disabilities gathered in this event to learn
about each other, make individual friends & fellows
to share their knowledge and experiences to find their
common matters where they can help each other to address
their own challenges.
"Spondon Friends' Circle" is an effort of
AWDP-Bangladesh to create an avenue for free sharing of
information, experiences, views and opinion on the issues
of their own and to strengthen their relation and
friendship among all categories of PWDs at very
individual level.
During this get together a festive environment was
created at Pine Forest where people with disabilities
enjoyed full freedom of their choice for sharing and
performing things whatever they liked to (talking,
chatting, singing and other performance). Participants
celebrated birthdays of ten PWD friends and marriage
anniversaries of three PWD members of the Friends'
Circle. It was a very exceptional and emotional event
that ever-held among people with disabilities in
Bangladesh. They also celebrated marriage of a couple
with blindness Jolly and Shohel who have been newly
married. They participated in Spondon Friends' Circle
get-together for the first time. They mentioned that it
was an amazing experience for them to feel the warmth of
friendship from Spondon Friends.
Participants felicitated Jannatul Ferdous Ivy for her
excellent literary works and two publications during the
Ekushe Book Fair in February, one of which was
bi-lingual. (her blogsite is
http://jannativy.blogspot.com). It's a great blessing of
almighty Allah that Ivy could save her life just before a
couple of days when she was attacked and badly injured by
a group of miscreants. She attended the event though she
wasn't fully cured. Participants wished her early
recovery. PWD Friends also felicitated Antora Ahmed for
her big achievement, promotion to the post of AVP of AB
Bank Foreign Remittance Department. She is the first PWD
who could reach up to this level in the Banking sector in
Bangladesh. (her blogsite is
http://antorabd.blogspot.com)
There was no preset agenda for this get-together. But
the participants shared on many issues. Prevailing
scenario of opportunities of participation in the
socio-cultural and recreational activities of all
categories of PWDs, accessibility issues,
challenges/barriers of getting married/having conjugal
lives by PWDs, real understanding of the category
specific difficulties and limitations of PWDs, advantage
and limitations of group affiliation of people with same
types of disabilities and others.
The venue Pine Forest was a very beautiful, green and
natural place of the Botanical Garden where PWDs of all
categories got their access to most places. Getting such
a favorable environment people with disabilities started
talking and chatting from the beginning to the end. Young
participants didn't forget to get aloof at downstairs of
lotus pond or behind the bushes in pairs. They expressed
their feelings by saying that they dreamt for
participating in such an event for long and `Spondon
Friends' Circle' brought their dreams into reality. 54
participants attended this get-together. The next
get-together is expected to be held at an accessible
historic place of the country.
Source: http://awdpbd.blogspot.com/
Philippines
Caloocan pushes programs for persons with disability -
Pete Laude. 4 May 2009. Manila
The Caloocan City government said yesterday it has
created various programs and measure to help alleviate
the plight of persons with disability (PWDs).
Mayor Enrico Echiverri said he facilitated the
creation of the Caloocan City Federation of Persons with
Disabilities and provided them with an office at the City
Hall building, where they now conduct their affairs.
The city social welfare department (CSWD) had recently
identified at least 800 more persons with disability and
they were given immediate assistance, he said.
Echiverri said the city government was able to screen
and select athletes from this sector, who won in the
Special Olympics national games in Lingayen City last
March 12.
Echiverri said the city government is set to release
this month some 40 additional wheelchairs to
beneficiaries screened earlier by the CSWD.
The CSWD has also been continuously conducting
seminars and other awareness programs that will make
these less fortunate individuals know their basic rights,
the mayor said.
Special express lanes had also been created for PWDs
that would allow them faster and more convenient
transactions with the city government.
Source: www.philstar.com
_______________________________________
Diana Qian
Executive Director
Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of NSW
Ph: (02) 9891 6400 Fax: (02) 9635 5355
PO Box 9381, Harris Park NSW 2150
www.mdaa.org.au
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