Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Supported Living Fund - seminars for families and carers


Family Advocacy  invites families and carers of people with disability to a seminar about the Supported Living Fund that will explore:
·         information about supported living using real life stories to help you understand the building blocks on which supported living is based
·         detailed information about the Supported Living Fund and how to apply


For additional information and to register by phone, call 9869 0866 or 1800 620 588 (free call for NSW non metro callers) or email enquiry@family-advocacy.com

Kind regards,
Family Advocacy

Thursday, January 19, 2012

NDIS letter to Sunnyfield



Dear Caroline Cuddihy

I am writing to thank you for your continued support of the campaign for an NDIS.  Last year the campaign exceeded all expectations.  We have won bi-partisan support, with all parties ‘signing up’ to the scheme following our innovative lobbying.  Against the odds we have built a political movement to rival any in the nation as we continue to build community support for the NDIS.  None of this has happened by accident, it has taken careful planning, meticulous execution and a lot of old fashioned hard work.

I want to thank you personally, your board and your organisation for your financial contributions to the campaign.

The Job is not finished.  In 2012 we need to turn political goodwill into public reality. Every Australian Counts will re-launch on Australia Day for a new year with an approach aimed at taking advantage of the position we have built to make the NDIS inevitable.  We will be campaigning for bipartisan support for these distinct outcomes: a legislated statutory agency to run the scheme, the announcement of the launch sites and clear commitment to fully fund the NDIS.  These three commitments will guarantee the NDIS is not just a good idea, but a reality.

The campaign will ensure that the NDIS is central to the political agenda in 2012.  To deliver such substantial political reform requires a campaign that is active on both sides of the political divide, in the city and the country and which targets both national and state based parliaments.  To create a campaign that can deliver an NDIS we will need your year three contributions to the campaign at the end of this financial year. We will send you your final invoice in mid-May.

Once again I thank you for your continued support.  The campaign has already changed the political landscape. For the first time in living memory fixing the disability sector is a major part of the national political agenda.  I know that it took great courage for organisations such as yours to commit financially to the campaign.  I believe that in 2012 we can make the NDIS a reality.

Yours sincerely

John Della Bosca on behalf of the Every Australian Counts team

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

WARRINGAH DISABILITY NEWSLETTER No 272 - 4 January 2012


Hello!
 Welcome to the new year of 2012, with good wishes for our lives.

The first newsletter for 2012 is rather short, since many offices are still closed and events begin toward the end of January.  The next newsletter will occur on 30 January, since I am on leave from 5 to 25 January.

The newsletter starts with details of indoor cricket, holiday acting, accessible programs at the Art Gallery of NSW, a party, sailing at Manly, and courses offered by theMacquarie Community College.  There are programs for carers at Bradfield Park, school readiness for young ones, and training events for parents.

Financial matters include information on Centrelink payments and Paraquad scholarships.  Vacancies exist for Centrelink pensioners requiring lawn mowing.  There are two guides:  counselling people with communication difficulties, living with pulmonary disease.  Also Tips on beating the summer heat, ways to be ready for emergencies, and recognising stroke.  Two surveys invite your participation:  career development for youth with disability, and accessible tourism.  You can contribute stories on growing up with a parent having mental illness.  There is Board development training, and a meeting of the NB Mental Health NGO organisations.  Three conferences are flagged:  Accessible Arts, Print Disability, Opportunities for Full lives.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome, as always!  The next newsletter will be sent on 30 January 2012.


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

SLF Expressions of Interest: further instructions

Dear Members
Mark Clayton has wisely advised that this email be circulated to families considering an EoI for the new SLF funding (see posting immediately below).


Further to the information provided on the Supported Living Fund and the Expression of Interest, we would like to highlight the correct process for lodging your EOI Form with ADHC.
We understand that some people have had difficulty lodging their forms, and want to ensure that all EOI forms are received.
Instructions to Complete
  1. You should be connected to the internet while you are completing the form
  2. Complete the EOI Form fully (this is to ensure that we receive your information correctly)
  3. Click on the SUBMIT (Green) button at the end of the form
  4. This will generate an email with a PDF copy of your completed form
  5. The correct email address will be generated automatically. You should also see the PostcodeSuburb and Name of Applicant in the Subject HeadingIf you do not see this, the form has not been successfully completed (see below).  
  6. Click SEND
If an email fails to generate (steps 4 to 6 above) you should save the completed form to your local drive and then manually send to the email address:slfregistrations@facs.nsw.gov.au . This will arrive as a completed form. PLEASE NOTE that gmail, yahoo and other web based mail will not automatically generate an email.  Mac users should ensure the form opens in Adobe rather than the Mac Viewer, as the Viewer will also fail to generate an email.
Once sent, you should also have a copy of your email with the completed form attached in the Sent folder of your emails.
If you have any problems following these instructions, or you have any questions regarding the lodgement process, please contact the regional officer listed on the form, or call the Supported Living Fund team on (02) 9277 5633.
Regards
Michelle Dodd
Executive Director, Accommodation Policy and Development Directorate

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Supported Living Fund - new funding program


New South Wales

News Update

11 January 2012

Support Living Fund – Expression of Interest now open

The Supported Living Fund is a Stronger Together II initiative that aims to provide people with disability, their families and carers greater opportunity to create a good life, and build person centred and sustainable living arrangements.

Over the next three years, 300 Supported Living Fund packages will be rolled out throughout NSW, totalling $60 million in funding.

ADHC have today announced that the opportunity to formally register an interest in accessing a Supported Living Fund package is now open.

The following information for applicants is available through the ADHC website:

Those wishing to submit an Expression of Interest must have read the available information prior to sending in the form. The Supported Living Fund application process will be complemented by information and capacity building workshops. These will provide an opportunity to receive further information about the fund.

The Expression of Interest process closes on Friday 27 January 2012. For more information, contact your local ADHC office or Katherine McLellan, Sector Development Officer NDS NSW, 02 9256 3137.

Please note: This is not the official application for the Support Living Fund. Further information on the application process will be made available in early 2012.

Allambie Auxiliary Meeting 26 Jan 2012


Dear Members
Please find attached a notice re the Sunnyfield Auxiliary BBQ to be held at the Sunnyfield Canteen, 185 Allambie Road, Allambie on Australia Day (26th January) - commencing at 8.30am.  The Auxiliary Meeting will commence after breakfast at about 9.30am.  Hope to see you there!!!

Also attached are Minutes from the November Meeting together with the Treasurer's Report and notes on the Superannuation system which costs Sunnyfield $100,000 per annum but after fees etc does very little to help Sunnyfield supported employees.  

Also attached is the Agenda for 26th January Meeting.


Look forward to meeting up with you and other members at the BBQ.

Regards
Robyn Chapman & Clare Stewart

Monday, January 9, 2012

Independent Living Support Initiative


The Independent Living Support Initiative (ILSI) aims to help people with a disability with low to moderate support needs, who have ageing carers and who have the goal of community-based accommodation.
Community-based accommodation can include a wide range of options including:
  • living in the family home;
  • renting your own flat or;
  • shared accommodation.
    It is up to you where you want to live.
    Your choice.
    ILSI provides support for you to live more independently through:
    • the creation of a person centred plan to help you achieve your life goals and aspiration
    • help to enhance and further develop your support networks and;
    • intensive living skills development.
    Full details are here http://www.ilsi.net.au/

    WARRINGAH DISABILITY NEWSLETTER No 271 - 21/12/11


    My apologies for this late newsletter – our IT system experienced problems on Thursday and Friday last week!

    The last newsletter for 2011 starts with access information for the Sydney Festival and the Belvoir Street Theatre, and invitation to watch the NSW state titles for boccia or an art exhibition at The Rocks, participate in a film in Melbourne, check access for people with vision impairment, and enrol in a TAFE course for youth with Aspergers.  The Young Carers NSW now has a Facebook page, and there is an online TEA room for teens with epilepsy.  Australian Hearing Services are extended from age 21 to 26, and there is a new online tool for carers of people with mental illness.  The Black Dog Institute has a writing competition for carers, and there are tips for carers of someone with dementia.  The Sydney Child Psychology Centre has some programs during the holidays, and there is some information about closures during the 2011 year-end.

    Financial matters include three positions (craft facilitator in Warriewood, policy officer and family support worker in Ryde), and the Garden Grants program.  Resources include presentations from two conferences, a report on Disability in Australia, and publications on community care.  A useful website reviews the suitability of many films and movies for children and youth, the free Go Play App and a booklet from the Autism Association present activities occurring in the holidays.  Two programs provide transport assistance for people aged 4-5 and older, and Fishabout has a wheelchair-friendly fishing boat plus half-price DVDs.  The section ends with the Suicide Call Back Service and unique accommodation for elderly parents and their adult children with disabilities.

    Relationships Australia and IFP present educational groups and seminars in 2012, and the initial Program for Person-Centred Champions is being offered.  Mature adults aged 60-75 can apply for free mental health courses online.  Conferences address criminal justice and intellectual disability, Prader-Willi Syndrome, mental health at all ages, and working with people who self-abuse.  NDS NSW and ACOSS are holding conferences in February and March 2012 respectively. 

    Your comments and suggestions are welcome, as always!  The next newsletter will be sent on 4 January 2012.

    Best wishes for a restful and invigorating transition between 2011 and 2012

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