Start Newsletter MDAA sHARE Newsletter October 2009 MDAA Contact details: by phone: (02) 9891 6400 or 1800 629 072 by fax: (02) 9635 5355 by e-mail: mdaa@mdaa.org.au Website: www.mdaa.org.au by writing: PO Box 9381, Harris Park NSW 2150 by coming to the office: Monday -Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm, 40 Albion Street, Harris Park NSW 2150 IN THIS ISSUE: Migration & Disability Consultation at MDAA Morning Tea at Harris Park, MDAA News Migration & Disability Consultation at MDAA 9 September 2009 Three pictures of the Migration & Disability Consultation at MDAA 9 September 2009: Picture one: Migration and Disability MDAA Consultation Speakers and Audience Picture two: Partial view of the Consultation participants Picture three: Consultation Participants Fatima and Fouzia smile for the camera during the Consultation. Page 2 MDAA News Susan Baxter New MDAA Advocate: Hello my name is Susan Baxter and I work at Harris Park office as an Individual Advocate. As an Advocate my goal is listen to clients needs and empower them to make the best decisions for their lives. I have worked in the disability sector for over ten years and am just as passionate today about social justice issues for people with disability as I was then. Together we can make a change! Picture: Community Voices member Elvira taking care of MDAA stall at the Opening Day of Auburn Diversity Service on Auburn Diversity Services Open Day on 30 September 2009 Women's MNulticultural Walking Group: A free 9 week group for women from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds. From: Tuesday 20 October to Tuesday 15 December 2009 At: 9:45 am-12 noon Where: Penrith Women’s Health Centre, Cnr Henry & Station St Penrith. For more details phone Penrith Women’s Health on 4721 8749 or Marisa Mob 0427 782036 Liverpool/Fairfield Mental Health Carer’s Support Group: Provides advocacy, support, education and information for people who care for their family and friends who have a mental Illness. It is a diverse group of carers who meet on the first Thursday of every month, 11am-1pm, at Cabravale Diggers RSL Club at Canley Vale. Other relevant information about the group: 1) We usually have a guest speaker talking first, followed by morning tea, then time for the carers to share their experience. We have two (2) carers that facilitate the group. 2) The group is well resourced and we usually have fliers about community events, information on mental illness, and other service information fliers available. We are also in the process of ordering a lot of resources for the group (books and DVD’s on mental illness) 3) This is a group for carers only 4) Predominantly, the group is comprised of older carers who are caring for someone with schizophrenia 5) It is a mental illness support group only - we do not support carers who care for someone with Alzheimers, Dementia or intellectual disability. For more information: contact Nicole, ph 9750 9744 or email nicole@carerassist.org.au or Linda, ph 4620 5255 The NSW Department of Housing provides information 24 hours a day seven days on housing issues through the Contact Centre on 1300 468 746 Page 3 MDAA Morning Tea on 30 September 2009 four Pictures: Picture one: Part of the audience takes a break under the trees during the Morning Tea at Harris Park Picture two: Morning Tea Participant Steven and Individual Advocate Vanco say hello to the camera. Picture three: Left Guest Speakers David (MDAA Vice Chairperson) & Stein (MDAA Consultant) during the Membership Morning Tea Picture four: MDAA staff Garry smiles for the picture. Reclaim the Night (RTN) is an annual global event where women march to protest violence against women and children. RTN represents a claim for women’s’ and children’s’ basic human right to live in freedom from discrimination and fear of violence. The NSW Network of Women with Disability has been involved with RTN for several years and this year will be no exception! We will be marching in full Network spirit at this year’s Sydney event, on Friday 30 October. If you would like to come and join us in the march and/or would like more information, please call Ace on 9891 6400. Page 4 STARTING SCHOOL: STORIES FROM PARENTS WITH CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY DVD NSW Minister for Ageing, Disability Services & Aboriginal Affairs, 10 September 2009. The NSW Government and Lady Gowrie Child Centre have joined forces to help families who have a child with a disability starting school. Minister for Disability Services Paul Lynch said a DVD - Starting School: Stories from parents of children with a disability - identified strategies to ease the transition to school. Some strategies include: • You need to start planning early - one or two years before your child is due to start school. Selecting a school involves exploring choices. It is important for you to gather the information you need to assist you to make the best decision for your child • Before you start your search for a school it's a good idea to choose an advocate - someone to support you, as you support your child. This could be a friend, relative or someone from a support or advocacy service. Choosing a school can be a very emotional time for a family and having a third party to support you can be useful • Once you have chosen a school, you can begin working with that school in preparation for the school year. There can often be a need for the school to plan ahead to access any funding available to support your child. It is important to allow adequate time for this process to take place The DVD features the stories of six families who tell of their experiences as they prepared for their child to go to school for the first time. "This resource reinforces important messages that encourage parents to talk with a range of people when making decisions about the choice of educational setting for their child," Mr Lynch said. "Parents, siblings and grandparents, as well as personnel from schools and early intervention services discuss the process of supporting the child from their different perspectives," he said. The resource was produced by the Lady Gowrie Child Centre with funding of $148,000 from the NSW Government. Mr Lynch said the DVD highlighted the importance of parents and schools working together to identify the levels of support needed for each child. "Importantly, it sets out the challenges they are likely to face and provides practical guidance for parents," he said. Mr Lynch said that the information kit, produced in Arabic, Cantonese, Dari, Dinka, English, Korean, Mandarin and Vietnamese, would be available on request to the Early Childhood Intervention Infoline 1300 65 68 65. Source: SWS Families NSW Facilitation Project Religious and Significant Days NOVEMBER 1 All Saints’ Day Christian 2 All Souls’ Day Catholic Christian Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Sikh 12 Birth of Baha’u’llah * Baha’i 15-24 Dec Nativity Fast** Orthodox Christian Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Sikh 25-28 Hajj Islam 26 Day of the Covenant Baha’i 27 Eid al Adha * Islam 28 Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha Baha’i DECEMBER 3 International Day of People with Disability United Nations 8 Bodhi Day (Rohatsu) ** Buddhism 10 Human Rights Day United Nations 12-19 Hanukkah * Jewish 18 Al – Hijra ** (New Year) Islam 25 Christmas * Christian Zarathosht Diso (Death of Prophet Zarathushtra) Zoroastrian 27 Ashura** Islam Note: * Usually begins sunset the day before; ** local customs may vary this date. Dates and information largely obtained from the Interfaith Calendar (www.interfaithcalendar.org/2009.htm). More details about each day can be found at www.mdaa.org.au on the Frequently Asked Questions page. Inserts: Flyer Carers Chill out meeting on 23 October 2009 (Harris Park NSW) Flyer Planning for the Future Consumer Conference on 28 October 2009 (Granville NSW) (For more information on this two meetings call MDAA on 9891 6400) End of October 2009 newsletter