Call for Recognition of Mental Health Needs of People with Intellectual Disability

The Australian Government has been called on to provide leadership in recognising the mental health needs of people with intellectual disabilities.

NDS was part of a joint presentation of a proposal for action to the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler and Parliamentary Secretary McLucas at Parliament House on 24 March 2011. The proposal advocates a holistic response to the needs of people with intellectual disability and mental health conditions.
Coordinated by the National and NSW Councils for Intellectual Disability and the Australian Association of Development Disability Medicine, the proposal seeks:

1. Specific government funding for a network of specialist intellectual disability mental health psychiatrists, nurses and other professionals. These professionals would support mainstream mental health services through the provision of consultancy, training and research.
2. Enhanced joint planning by disability services and mental health services including shared case coordination.
3. Training in intellectual disability and mental health to be available for front line staff in disability and mental health services.

Funding of specialist professionals in both intellectual disability and mental health is a key component of the plan.
The proposal was warmly received and the Minister discussed how it could complement other current projects.
NDS will continue to advocate in support of the proposal.
Implementation of the proposal would be a step forward in addressing barriers to mental health services for all people with cognitive impairment.

Contact Information:
Trish Deane, Policy Advisor, NDS National, Ph 02 6283 3208, trish.deane@nds.org.au or
Philippa Angley, National Policy Manager, Ph 03 8341 4302, philippa.angley@nds.org.au 

Parent Testimony: people with disability should live in the community

PWD Australia 

MEDIA RELEASE

 21^st March 2011

“Research, lived experience, and moral judgement inform us that even those with the most profound disability have a better life when supported in individual ways in the community,” says Meg Sweeney, a parent of a young woman with disability, and a strong advocate for the closure of institutions.

People with Disability Australia (PWD) is excited to launch a new Vodcast looking at Meg’s experience of visiting institutions, and her reasons for why housing and support within the community should be pursued by Australian governments.

You can see the Vodcast here: http://www.youtube.com/user/ShutInAustralia

This Vodcast is the third in the Shut In series, which aims to raise awareness about the ongoing government funding used to support institutions for people with disability, and regressive government decisions that have let to the redevelopment of institutions, particularly in NSW.

“Many parents are fearful around the support needs of their family member, and rightly so. When you do have a family member that has high support needs, particularly if they have frail medical health, then often the life and death situation are lifelong,” says Meg.

“But to me that’s not linked to a location, that’s linked to support, good support, and to well-qualified and understanding professionals that you are relying on to help manage your son or daughter’s health. That can happen just equally as well in the community as it can in an institution,” says Meg.

The need for the next NSW Government to fulfil its commitment to closing all institutions is one of the key action areas highlighted in PWD’s 2011 NSW Election Platform.

“This is the third promise from the NSW Government to close institutions over the past ten years or more,” says Jan Daisley, President of PWD.

“Not only do we still have institutions but the NSW Government has, and continues to redevelop more, continuing the out-dated legacy for a new generation of people with disability,” says Ms Daisley.

The PWD NSW Election platform calls on the next NSW Government to:

·         Allocate and provide the resources necessary for residents to move to individualised community based housing and support options that will support their inclusion and participation in the general community.

·         Significantly increase the availability of social support services necessary for persons with disability to live in and be a part of the community (such as personal care, domestic assistance, and daily living skills support). These measures ought to be subject to explicit, measurable targets.

·         Stop the redevelopment of ‘contemporary’ institutions that are segregated simulations of the larger congregate style accommodation they take as their precedents.  They continue to segregate and isolate persons with disability from their non-disabled peers in contradiction to Article 19 of CRPD.  

To read the full PWD Election Bulletin, go the pwd website at www.pwd.org.au

For more information, contact

Daphnee Cook

Communications and Membership Development Manager

People with Disability Australia Incorporated

Phone                       02 9370 3100           

Toll Free        1800 422 015

Email: daphneec@pwd.org.au

People with Disability Australia Incorporated (PWD) is a national disability rights and advocacy organisation. Our primary membership is made up of people with disability and organisations mainly constituted by people with disability.  We have a cross-disability focus - we represent the interests of people with all kinds of disability.  PWD is a non-profit, non-government organisation.

Our vision is of a socially just, accessible and inclusive community, in which the human rights, citizenship, contribution, potential and diversity of all people with disability are respected and celebrated.  This vision underpins everything that we do.

Parliament recognises the need to lift the employment of people with disability

A unanimous resolution of the House of Representatives this morning highlighted the need to generate increased employment opportunities for Australians with disability.

Supporting a motion initiated by WA Senator Judi Moylan, the House acknowledged that the workforce participation rate of people with disability is too low, increasing only slightly between 1998 and 2009 (from 53.2% to 54.3%). The Australian Public Service's employment rate for people with disability has fallen over the past 15 years to a low of 3.1% in 2010.
The motion recognises that "there are still widespread misconceptions and stereotypes influencing the attitudes and behaviour of employers, recruiters and governments".
It identifies some positive recent policy changes including the uncapping of the Disability Employment Services program. The motion calls on the Government to provide leadership and improve participation rates of people with disability.
There is discussion across Government about the workforce participation rate of people with disability and the related growth of the Disability Support Pension population to almost 800,000 people. This discussion is related to long-term concerns about the effect of population ageing on the tax base. The ratio of people of working age to people aged over 65 years will almost halve over the next 40 years. Earlier this year the Prime Minister identified increased workforce participation as central to the Government's economic agenda and she highlighted people on DSP as a potential source of workers. This is a discussion in which the disability sector needs to be actively engaged. 
NDS's view is that a hasty narrowly-focussed response won't be effective. Experience suggests that tightening the eligibility for DSP, for example, would simply shift most people onto other forms of income support. What is required is a considered and comprehensive policy response that:

• has the employment of people with disability (not reducing the DSP population) as the primary focus
• reflects the heterogeneity of the DSP population
• recognises that some of the key barriers to employment lie outside the workplace (the shortage of accessible public transport, for example)
• focuses on ways to stimulate employer demand and receptiveness
• requires government to lead - as employers of people with disability and as purchasers from organisations that have a demonstrable commitment to the employment of people with disability
• strengthens disability employment service programs 
• reduces the disincentives to work - by lowering the pension withdrawal rate; and lifting the Mobility Allowance, for example

NDS is represented on DEEWR's Employment Partnerships Committee, which is actively debating employment participation policy. NDS's Policy Research Unit is also preparing a policy paper on the employment of people with disability. 

Contact Information:
Ken Baker, Chief Executive, NDS National, Ph 02 6283 3200, ken.baker@nds.org.au 

Centre for Civil Society FAMILY CARERS SURVEY.

The Centre for Civil Society is a social innovation and public policy institute for the empowerment of ordinary people and strengthening of civil society. Their web site is here http://www.civilsociety.org.au/.

If you are caring for a family member at home who has an illness or disability or aged frailty, please click here to participate in our  Family CarERS SURVEY.   

Dr. Bob Jackson Presents "Why stop now: Inclusive education at high school"

Hello 

We attach a flier for an upcoming workshop to be presented by Dr Bob Jackson on 4 May 2011.

Why stop now: Inclusive education at high school is a one day workshop for parents and education professionals keen to support students with disability to be included in regular classes.

The event will be helpful for families of students transitioning to and already at high school. Strategies will also be offered about how to foster social inclusion.

Dr Jackson will draw on his many years in the disability education arena where he has supported families and teachers to embrace and successfully implement inclusive practices.

Please do not hesitate to pass the flier onto other families that you know who may also be interested and do  make contact if you would like more information.

We can be contacted on 02 9869 0866, 1800 620 588 (NSW non metro callers) or by email at workshops@family-advocacy.com.

Rick Hansen and Karen Tippett

Advocacy and Leadership

Family Advocacy

-------------------- PO Box 502 Epping NSW 1710 --------------------

Suite 305 16-18 Cambridge St Epping 2121

ph: 02 9869 0866  Freecall: 1800 620 588  Fax: 02 9869 0722

e-mail: familyadvocacy@family-advocacy.com

web: www.family-advocacy.com

Productivity Commission’s Draft Report on Disability Care & Support (NDIS & NIIS)

I read the Productivity Commission’s Draft Report on Disability Care & Support (NDIS & NIIS) and felt it was well researched and identified well with the issues. There were some interesting points:

Page 23 “The Commission has raised the possibility of an entirely new model for housing for people with long-term disability, based on ‘cashing out’ the costs of public housing and specialised accommodation. People could then decide where they might live and what type of dwelling they might like. They (and their families) would be able to add their own finances to any housing decision. This model would require cooperation with state and territory governments.”

Couldn’t find further explanation of this but sounds interesting - particulary for parents who want to club together and purchase a house for their children???

Page 39 “The Commission is sceptical of imposing any additional requirements for credentials and training of the disability services workforce. In particular, there should be no minimum training requirement to work as a personal support worker. These support workers are the most important group in that workforce, and the essential skills they bring — empathy, a capacity for listening and social skills — are intangible and not easily created through training. Moreover, the most important ‘training’ of workers is often by the person with a disability and their families. (It should also be emphasised that the overwhelming current source of care is unpaid and usually untrained family carers, who are usually preferred by people with a disability.)”

I agree all the training in the world will not change a person who has the wrong motivations for the job. I’m also impressed that they believe the person with a disability and their families is an important part of the “training”

Page 63 Australian governments should ensure that, across all jurisdictions, police check arrangements for paid workers providing services to people with a disability:

• apply only in cases where both the person with a disability is vulnerable AND the risks associated with delivery of services are sufficiently high

• not include disclosure of crimes covered by spent convictions legislation

Am concerned that people with a criminal record could be left to work alone with people who are vulnerable, I believe a criminal record (whether spent or not) should exclude employment in this field.

The final word from Politicians on our priorities for self directed support.

A letter from FAMILY ADVOCACY

We asked the 3 main political parties to respond to our campaign priorities so that we could provide you with the most up to date information prior to the election on March 26.

Peter Primrose responded on behalf of the ALP, Andrew Constance and the Liberal National Party Campaign Directors responded on behalf of the Coalition and Ian Cohen and the Campaign Coordinator responded on behalf of The Greens.

All responses [click on one/all above to read them in full] continued to endorse a self directed approach. None of the responses however provided greater clarity in relation to the features we are seeking.

The response of each party is attached for you to make your own judgment.

Our continued advocacy on the issues has shown us to represent voices that need to be heard in the implementation of a self directed approach in NSW.

We will continue to work with whoever forms government to see the implementation of our vision that people with disability and their families have a right to have as much choice and control in their lives as you and I have.

Campaign Priorities

Priority 1: Providing all existing and new users of government and non government disability services the opportunity to direct their own support.
We will be looking to ensure that:

·         people who want control over their resources have the opportunity at the earliest time;

·         individualised portable funding arrangements translate into choice, voice and control. 

Priority 2: Providing decision making support that is independent of government and service providers. We will be working to ensure that:

• the ‘decision making resources’ are independent of government and service providers, able to be accessed easily and give the person with disability control. 

Priority 3: Transition support for services
We will be working to ensure that:

·          the voices of people with disability and families are heard in the process of service transformation.

Priority 4: Administrative processes consistent with a self directed approach.
We will be working to ensure that:

• the Stronger Together goal of “choice, portability and flexibility in funding and supports” means that people have control over how the money is used;
• government and service provider processes do not intrude into people’s lives; and
• there is a minimum of bureaucracy and paperwork. 

Belinda Epstein-Frisch AM

Family Advocacy

For information about Self Directed Supports: A NSW Campaign

http://www.family-advocacy.com/learn-more-about-this-campaign.html

-------------------- PO Box 502 Epping NSW 1710 --------------------

Suite 305 16-18 Cambridge St Epping 2121

ph: 02 9869 0866  Freecall: 1800 620 588  Fax: 02 9869 0722

e-mail: familyadvocacy@family-advocacy.com

web: www.family-advocacy.com

Are you going to finish stronger?

A great uplifting video well worth watching and even passing on to the rest of the family.

Thanks to Bob Jones from the Central Coast Auxiliary.

You can get a copy of this video if you want to email it to others from here

This guy is Nick Vujicic, from Brisbane, and you can read about him here http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/ 

Sunnyfield Charity Car Wash for the Queensland Flood appeal

Aaron is a young man who lives in a Sunnyfield group home and has a person centred plan.  He would like support in order to raise money for charity.  He has reacted to the appeals for help in Queensland floods and we have supported his idea to hold a charity car wash in order to raise money for the premiers appeal.

Attached is the poster Aaron did on the computer that was also provided to him due to his wish in his person centred plan.

We are appealing for donations of equipment we will need on the day such as buckets, sponges, car shampoo, polish, dusters, chamois leathers, rubber gloves, cotton inner gloves, an extra long hose and anything else people think will be useful to us on the day.

We are also appealing for volunteers to help Aaron to wash the cars on the day.

Finally we need customers!

Please contact  e.austin@sunnyfield.org.au 0405155396 by Tuesday 22nd March if you can help on the day or provide donations/loans of equipment.

Thanks for your support

 Emma

Every Australian Counts Campaign – Community Roadshow

The Every Australian Counts campaign for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is launching a community roadshow throughout NSW on Thursday 24 March 2011. The roadshow will give people with disability, their families and carers, disability service providers and other disability stakeholders the opportunity to hear about the campaign, discuss the Productivity Commission's Disability Care and Support Draft Report and ask any questions they might have.

The roadshow forums will also allow for discussion around how the disability community can collaboratively campaign for the introduction of an NDIS.
The first round of roadshows will be held on:
Thursday 24 March - Parramatta 
Friday 25 March - Petersham
Monday 28 March - East Maitland
Tuesday 29 March - Port Macquarie
Wednesday 30 March - Lismore
Thursday 31 March - Wollongong
Friday 1 April - Kogarah
Monday 4 April - Liverpool
Tuesday 5 April - Dubbo
Wednesday 6 April - Wagga Wagga
Thursday 7 April - Armidale
Friday 8 April - Chatswood
Friday 29 April - Queanbeyan


For times and venue information visit the campaign website. A second round of roadshows will be held in the second half of 2011.
Registration for the roadshows is essential. To register please send your name, any special requirements you have and the roadshow you wish to attend to the NSW Campaign Coordinator, daniel.kyriacou@ndis.org.au.
NDS encourages all disability service providers to attend these forums and to actively promote the roadshow to service users, their families and carers.
In addition to the roadshow there are a number of ways that service providers can promote the campaign:

• Place a button on your website linking to the campaign. All the information you require to do this can be found on the campaign website.
• Email your staff, supporters and clients and ask them to visit the website and register their support.
• Appoint a contact/point person to be the primary liaison with the campaign. This person should email daniel.kyriacou@ndis.org.au.
• Promote the National Disability & Carer Congress which will be held on 2-3 May at Etihad Stadium.

By promoting the campaign in these ways it will ensure that the positive publicity already created through the release of the Productivity Commission's Draft Report is capitalised upon.

Contact Information:
Daniel Kyriacou, State Campaign Coordinator, NDIS New South Wales, Ph 02 9256 3106, daniel.kyriacou@ndis.org.au  

Self-directed Support: Making it Happen

The NSW Chapter of In Control Australia proudly presents:
Self-directed Support: Making it Happen
10th & 11th of May 2011 @ Ryde/Eastwood RSL Sydney, NSW
This two-day event will bring together Steve Dowson (UK), speakers from across Australia, people with disability, families, carers, advocates, policy makers, support services, government & administrators to explore self-directed support in NSW.
We will explore questions such as: Where are we at now? Where are we going? How do we get there? What do we already know? What do we need to know?

Coming Soon: Full Program & Registration Forms
Please register your interest by emailing Michael Bleasdale: michaelb@pwd.org.au

For more information about In Control Australia please visit our website: www.incontrol.org.au

VALE – Henry Stephenson

Another Sunnyfield stalwart has left us.

Henry died at six o'clock Tuesday morning (8 March 2011) after a protracted illness.  He was mobile & in good spirits when friends met him last Sunday and this has been my overriding memory of him as he battled with his illness over the last 2-3 years – occasionally tired, not always happy but always realistic and determined to make the best of it.  He was, in my opinion, a man of great courage.

It was a great relief for him and all his family that Sunnyfield could work to convince ADHC that his son Warwick should be funded for accommodation in a Sunnyfield community house a year or so ago. After 20 years of hard work for Sunnyfield it seemed the right and best thing to do. Warwick has worked at Sunnyfield Enterprises Allambie for many years.

Henry was old school Sunnyfield and some ten years ago wrote a letter to my wife & I that documented his views on Sunnyfield and what Membership meant. He also attached a short history of Sunnyfield that he helped complete 25 years ago. He regretted the “something for nothing” attitude (my words not his) prevalent today and did think that Sunnyfield had to find a way to get Members to be actively involved in Sunnyfield’s present and future.  He certainly did his bit for the best part of twenty five years to make a very positive difference for all of us.  Every Member should read this letter (click here).

Our thoughts are with Henry’s family.

Chris Howells

Disability Speaks Media Release - National Disability Insurance Scheme, read the report for yourself

THE REPORT MEANS NOTHING WITHOUT 100% BIPARTISAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT - Media Release:- Wednesday March 2nd 2011

It will come as no surprise that the 2011 Australian Productivity Commission Report on Disability services reports just how grim things are for people with a disability in Australia

We all knew what it would say because countless state and federal reports over the last decade on disability services have already placed in front of our parliamentary leaders the grim statistics of over 360,000 people with severe and multiple disabilities living in despair.

To read for yourself please click the following link ( we suggest you download the 80 page summary first)

 http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/disability-support/draft

Key recommendations include

·         Proposing that the Federal Govt take responsibility for funding the entire needs of NDIS

·         Proposing that funding double from $6.2 billion per annum to $12.5 billion

·         Proposing the creation of the National Disability Insurance Agency

·         Proposing clients accessing services have much more choice

·         Proposing funding be provided as individualised support packages

·         Proposing full implementation by 2015

Click Here for copy of Report Summary
Public comment will be available in Adelaide on Monday 18^th April, Hotel Grand Chancellor, 65 Hindley Street (times to be advised)

Please do not assume this insurance program is going to happen

At this stage it is simply a draft discussion paper and your ongoing support to raise public awareness and support is essential

Disability Speaks looks forward to keeping you informed of progress in this important program

                                                            

EXCERPTS FROM A MEDIA CONFERENCE BY

Kevin Andrews MP

Shadow Minister for Families, Housing and Human Services

Senator Mitch Fifield

Shadow Minister for Disabilities, Carers and the Voluntary Sector

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE 28 February 2011 [Click Here for full release]

COALITION WELCOMES PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION DRAFT REPORT ON DISABILITY CARE AND SUPPORT

The Opposition today welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission’s Draft Report on Disability Care and Support.

The Coalition has strongly supported the Productivity Commission’s work. The Draft Report is an important step towards providing a better deal for Australians with disability and their carers.

The current system of support for people with disability is broken. The status quo is not an option.

The Coalition recognises that people with disability, their carers and families deserve a better deal than they get and we need reform.

There needs to be a new system that puts the individual at the centre and in control.

The Coalition will study the Draft Report carefully.

Providing better support for people with disability should be core government business, and we note the Productivity Commission’s view that these services should be funded from core government revenue.

Good budget management is key to funding disability support.

The Coalition notes the funding options canvassed in the Draft Report and approaches them and the Final Report with an open mind. People with disability aren’t focussed on funding 

WARRINGAH DISABILITY NEWSLETTER No 250 - 4/03/11

Hello!

The newsletter starts with film-making and dance, then powerchair football and paralympic football, boccia day camps and Boccia State titles.  For carers, there are fine arts, cooking, memory loss of younger people, grandparent advisors, information regarding autism, support groups.

Financial matters concern the Better Start for Children with Disability (from 1 July), grants for education or for accessible communities or for safe communities.  Resources include the Disability stories, life story cards for men, mobility scooter safety, NCOSS election fact sheets, disability friendly apartments, the safely home program.  Your participation is invited to respond to the Disability Care and Support Scheme, social skills of people with brain injury, social work student placements, the criminal justice system and people with brain injury, and the need for accessible premises for an employer of people with high support needs.

Workshops and training address leadership, bush fire protection, aggression, Caring for Older Australians report, I-CAN facilitation, dementia, sensory processing, effect of conflict, child sexual abuse, teens’ back chat, functional assessment and behavioural intervention, assessing capacity.  Organisations are meeting regarding mental health support, HACC activities, interagency activities.  Training is offered by the AICPG, IFP, Northside, Paraquad, and there are calls for papers to two conferences.  There are also three job positions.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome, as always!  The next newsletter will be sent on 18 March.

Regards, Marjorie Janz, Disability Information Officer, Warringah Council.

Phone 9942 2686, fax 9942 2371.  Also janzm@warringah.nsw.gov.au.

Breaking News: Productivity Commission Draft Report Released - 28/02/11

Caroline Cuddihy asks that this be notified to all members.  Please sign to pledge to join (see below in Della Bosca's message) and go and talk to your State and Federal local Members so that they understand where your vote stands.

This afternoon the Productivity Commission released its long awaited draft report into Disability Care and Support.

The Commission has recommended the introduction of a National Disability Insurance Scheme and has outlined a number of recommendations about the way it could operate and be funded.

The report is long and detailed, examining many of the complex issues that must be addressed before the NDIS can be introduced and implemented. As a result it will take some time for us to go through all the detail. In the meantime the key points are:

·  The Commission has accepted that the disability system is "inequitable, underfunded, fragmented and inefficient and gives people with a disability little choice ... a real system for people with disabilities is required." The Commission has therefore accepted the need for reform and for an NDIS.

·  The Commission has also accepted that the nation must better meet the needs of those people who currently do not receive any or only inadequate support and that their improved support packages would be portable across state and territory borders.

·  The Commission recommends the introduction of a fully funded National Disability Insurance Scheme with individualised funding to ensure people with a disability and their families are able to exercise greater choice and control about the supports they need.

·  The Commission has also suggested an entirely separate scheme for people requiring lifetime care and support for castrophic injuries. To be known a the NIIS, a no-fault National Injury Insurance Scheme it would draw on the best schemes operating around Australia.

Thank you to the many individuals and organisations who took the time to make a submission to the inquiry to make the case for change - the Commission has listened to your stories and acted on them.

There has been considerable media interest in today's announcement - you will find all the coverage on our website and our facebook page as it becomes available.

But positive recommendations are only one step on this journey. We are still a long way from all parties committing to implementing the Commission's recommendations.

We need to maintain the pressure on Members of Parliament and opinion leaders to introduce the NDIS. We need to continue to spread the word, and increase the number of people who have taken the "Count Me In" pledge on the website.

Please continue to spread the word among your family, friends, neighbours and colleagues.

The Productivity Commission thinks every Australian should count. Now let's convince the people and the parliament.

John Della Bosca and the NDIS team
www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au