Newsletter Start MDAA Newsletter June 2010 Page 1 IN THIS ISSUE: Women Emergency Services Training at Granville MDAA at Wetherill Park TAFE Youth Scholarships Picture Above: Emergency Services Training for Women on 05.05.10 organised by the NSW Network of Women with Disability Picture Below Picture: Group picture at the training on Legal Issues held by PIAC and MDAA on 19.05.10 You can contact us: Phone: (02) 9891 6400 or 1800 629 072 Fax: (02) 9635 5355 Writing: PO Box 9381, Harris Park, NSW 2150 E-mail: mdaa@mdaa.org.au Coming to the office: 40 Albion Street, Harris Park, NSW 2150. Monday -Friday, 9am -5pm Website: www.mdaa.org.au Page 2 Article: Are You a Female with Chinese Ancestry? Volunteers are needed to participate in a PhD research project titled: Chinese-Australian women’s experiences during the White Australia policy era, 1901-1973. A PhD Candidate at the School of Social Sciences, University of Western Sydney is conducting research on the experiences of Chinese-Australian women who were resident in Australia between 1901 and 1973. A primary focus of this research is uncovering these experiences as told from the voices of Chinese-Australian females themselves. The researcher is looking for female volunteers who: • have Chinese ancestry (including full-Chinese and mixed Chinese) • were resident in Australia before 1973 • immigrant and Australia-born Chinese women If you are interested in participating or for further information please contact Alanna Kamp Email: a.kamp@uws.edu.au Mobile: 0422 783 171 This study has been approved by the University of Western Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number H7778). Article: The Thalassaemia Society of NSW The Thalassaemia Society of NSW is a registered charity formed in 1978 as a non-profit self-help society. It is also the chief fund raising body supporting the comprehensive Thalassaemia services at The Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, The Children's Hospital, Westmead and The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown and patients at other hospitals when required. Thalassaemia is one of the most common inherited genetic disorders worldwide. It is a blood disorder affecting haemoglobin production in the red blood cells. Haemoglobin is important in carrying oxygen around the body. Thalassaemia is passed on from parent to child through the genes. The common form of this disorder is beta Thalassaemia of which there are two types. Thalassaemia minor – the carrier state and Thalassaemia major – the disorder. Patients with Thalassaemia major have a severe, chronic condition resulting in anaemia. This means the body produces abnormal red blood cells, which contain little or no haemoglobin. The signs of anaemia become apparent in early childhood. Affected children become pale, do not sleep well, lose their appetite and fail to grow properly. The anaemia causes bone expansion, enlargement of the liver and spleen and poor physical development. Without treatment, these children suffer ill health and may die. Treatment is based on regular blood transfusions for anaemia. These are started in childhood as the anaemia develops and then given every 2 – 5 weeks. Due to the high number of transfusions, iron builds up in the heart, the liver, the pancreas and other parts of the body, which in turn cause diabetes, heart disease and liver disease. To prevent this, the excess iron is removed from the body by a number of medications or injections depending on the individuals situation. The Society will continue in its mission to provide support for patients and carers of patients with Thalassaemia, Sickle Cell Anaemia, Blackfan Diamond Disorder and other haemoglobinopathies, while providing funding for treatemt, research and education. Support the Society – If you would like more information, to become a member of our Society or make a donation and help us achieve our goals, please contact by email coordinator@thalnsw.org.au or log onto our website www.thalnsw.org.au Article: MDAA NEW ADVOCATE IN BEGA My name is Elle Millsteed. I am the South East Advocacy (SEA) Individual Advocate in Bega. "I started work with Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association (MDAA) in April 2010. I am getting to know people and developing links with services to assist consumers" She said. Picture of Elle. Page 3 Article: CONSUMERS TRAINING ON LEGAL ISSUES CONSUMERS TRAINING ON LEGAL ISSUES (By Nidhi Shekaran) A forum on how to sort out your legal problems was held jointly by two organizations-Public Interest Advocacy Centre and MDAA on Wednesday 19 May to help people with different disabilities and with a mental illness deal with pre legal problems. A pre legal problem is a small fine or a debt before the debt becomes so big that the only way to solve the problem is to get a lawyer and take a person or an an organization to court. The main speaker was from PIAC who gave tips about what to do when you get a debt: You can pay it in instalments (small amounts); you can pay it in full; you can pay on the basis of your financial capacity; you can have the fine waived -you do not have to pay it at all. The best advice that was given was never ignore a debt as it will make the problem worse. Twenty or more participants attended the forum. We also were taught how to use a lawyer and also to ask a lawyer whether the first meeting is free or to get a list of all the charges. Read any contract carefully before agreeing to any payments. You can make a complaint to the Ombudsman and gain support from MDAA or Legal aid or Law Access or Community Legal Centres in your local area. A big thank you to the guest speakers and to Vanco Djoneski, MDAA Advocate who helped to organise the forum. Article: HOUSING NSW YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS Applications for the 2011 Housing NSW Youth Scholarships are now open. Young people living in social housing, who will be studying year 11 or 12 at a NSW high school or TAFE college for the HSC or TAFE equivalent during the 2011 academic year, are encouraged to apply. Each scholarship is a one off payment of $2,000 to be used on educational related items. The funds are administered by the school or TAFE college on behalf of the student. The Housing NSW Youth Scholarship Program assists eligible young people living in social housing or on the NSW Housing Register to complete their HSC or TAFE equivalent. Entries close 5pm on 30 July 2010. More information on www.housing.nsw.gov.au or phone 1300 468 746 Article: MDAA Community Voices (CV) Talked to Wetherill Park TAFE Students CV member Elvira made a presentation for a group of senior students from Wetherill Park TAFE Disability Course regarding some of the needs and issues clients from non-English speaking background may bring to advocates. The meeting was held on 09.06.10 and organise by Monique, TAFE Teacher. Thanks to everyone at Wetherill Park for having us on the day! Picture of Elvira with TAFE students. Page 4 Article: Productivity Commission Inquiry into a Long Term Disability Care and Support Scheme Productivity Commission Inquiry into a Long Term Disability Care and Support Scheme What is this inquiry about? There have been many reports over the past few years about the services and funding people with disability and their families and carers are receiving. These reports have shown that many people are frustrated by current arrangements or get insufficient support from disability services. The Government has asked the Productivity Commission to look at a new system to improve long term care and support services for people with disability, their families and carers. The Productivity Commission has to prepare a report which will be finished in July 2011. Some of the ideas the government is thinking about are: • How to ensure that people are able to get the services they need regardless of how their disability developed? • How could people with disability have more power to make their own decisions? • How to make more money available to people with disability to meet their needs? • What can be done in rural and remote areas where it is harder to get services? How can you become involved in the Inquiry? The Productivity Commission would like to hear your ideas about how things can be improved, based on you experience as a person with disability, carer or family member. This inquiry is also a good opportunity to tell the Government about some of the difficulties people from non-English speaking backgrounds with disability are having. You can tell them your ideas by: 1. Writing a letter– this can be few paragraphs or pages. Please send your ideas to: Disability Care and Support Email: disability-support@pc.gov.au Productivity Commission GPO Box 1428, Canberra City ACT 2601 2. Make a speech at the public hearing If you would like some help to prepare your letter you can attend a meeting with Adama on: Date: Friday July 16 2010 Time: 2pm –4 pm Venue: MDAA Office, 40 Albion Street, Harris Park Please call Adama on 9891 6400 to let her know you are coming. Or you can call the Productivity Commission on (02) 6240 3221. For more information go to www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/disability-support Please note that all comments are due by August 16, 2010. Article: International Conference on Human Rights Education If you are human rights education expert, practitioner or simply wish to learn more and establish networks, join us at the International Human Rights Education Conference "Educating for Human Rights, Peace and Intercultural Dialogue". The Conference will be held at the Parramatta Campus of the University of Western Sydney on 4-6 November 2010. For more information and register please go to www.humanrightseducationconference2010.com.au Article: Religious and Significant Days JULY 9 Martyrdom of the Bab * Baha’i 13-16 Ulambana / Obon ** Buddhist/Shinto 19 Lailat al-Miraj Islam 20 Tisha B’av * Jewish 24 Pioneer Day Mormon Christian 25 Guru Purnima** Hindu 26 Asalha Puja Day** Budhist Lailat al Bara’ah ** Islam AUGUST 6 Transfiguration of Christ Orthodox Christian 11 Ganesh Chaturthi ** Hindu Ramadan begins * Islam 15 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Christian Dormition of the Theotokos Orthodox Christian 24 Raksha Bandhan ** Hindu Note: * Usually begins sunset the day before; ** local customs may vary this date. Dates and information largely obtained from the Interfaith Calendar at www.interfaithcalendar.org More details about each day can be found at www.mdaa.org.au on the Frequently Asked Questions page. End of Newsletter