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i:D Bulletin of the Disability Council of NSW
Contents of this month's i:D
1. Chair's Introduction by Andrew Buchanan
3. Statutory review of 'CRAMA'
4. NSW Attorney General's Department 'Capacity ToolKit'
6. About the Disability Council of NSW
7. Your Privacy
1. Chair's Introduction by Andrew Buchanan
At
our Council meeting earlier this month I raised, from a personal
perspective, my thought that the Federal Government did not handle
well or intelligently the recent 'carers' bonus payment issue. I
noted how so much good work and spirit can dissipate so quickly to
create an air of uncertainty within the disability and ageing
sectors.
As you appreciate, the Prime Minister has since clarified the situation and it is hoped the clarification shall bear fruit! I sense it will.
Hindsight is, of course, a marvellous trait. The energy of a new government is admirable, but we can all learn from this incident. The need to be objective and "read the climate" is so important, coupled with clarity of communication.
Just last Thursday, our Executive Officer (Dougie Herd) and I met with Bill Shorten, the Parliamentary Secretary assisting Minister Jenny Macklin, Family & Community Services. I outlined my feelings in a frank manner to Bill re the 'carers' issue. He was receptive and reassuring.
Bill is clearly passionate regarding disability. He spoke enthusiastically of the ways in which he is keen to deliver reform for the sector and to be an active change- agent. He is highly impressive, personable, ambitious and clearly committed. I am sure he will be a true champion of disability matters inside Government.
Regards
Andrew Buchanan
Chair - Disability Council of NSW
2. Universal Housing Design
Amelia Starr, Project Officer with the Office of the Disability Council of NSW, is the National Convenor of the Australian Network for Universal Housing Design. Here, Amelia reports on an exciting new development that will substantially improve access to information about universal housing design principles and initiatives.
We are very pleased to announce that a partnership project by the Independent Living Centre (ILC) NSW and the Australian Network for Universal Housing Design (ANUHD) has been provided $50,000 support from the Federal Government’s Department of Health and Ageing, Office for an Ageing Australia. It will be used to develop a centralised information website for universal and ageless design in Australia by building upon the current ANUHD web site.
The project seeks to fulfil a key action point arising from the 2005 National Speakers Series: A Community for All Ages: Building for the Future.
This speaker series was successful in sparking dialogue among professionals involved in the planning, design and building of Australia's built environment. Through bringing together builders, planners, architects, designers, government and everyday Australians, the series sought to discuss and highlight the housing and community needs of today and tomorrow's Australians.
Recommendation 8 of the report resulting from the seminar series recognised the need to support mechanisms, initiatives and projects which promote lifecycle sensitive design. The report recommended the establishment of a national universal and ageless design initiative to assist all Australians to access information on lifecycle sensitive design. The funding provided to ILC NSW/ANUHD is the first step in fulfilling this recommendation. It will support the redesign and redevelopment of the ANUHD website. The project aims to establish the ANUHD website as the central location for information on universal and ageless design in Australia.
By working to establish partnerships with key housing and community living stakeholders, professional associations, academic institutions and manufacturers we hope to establish a website which allows a wide range of users to access the most up-to-date information on lifecycle sensitive, universal design. Ranging from case studies on universally designed homes, to information on 'user friendly' tap hardware the site will provide a unique mix of information of interest to both the professional and the individual. From the inquisitive architect to the active retiree, the site will be of benefit to anyone wishing to intelligently and elegantly incorporate universal design into their home and living environments.
This exciting project will be jointly co-ordinated by Amelia Starr (National Convenor, ANUHD and Project Officer with the Office of the Disability Council of NSW) and Sue Slattery (ILC NSW) and will involve both the redevelopment of the current website as well as the undertaking of targeted consultations with key industry stakeholders and consumers. The new website is scheduled to be launched later in 2008.
We look forward to providing you with further information on how you can become involved with the project over the coming weeks.
In the meantime please do not hesitate to contact either Sue (sue@ilcnsw.asn.au) or Amelia (Amelia.Starr@dadhc.nsw.gov.au) for further information.
- For more information on the ILC NSW go to www.ilcnsw.asn.au
- To view the existing ANUHD website go to www.anuhd.org
3. Statutory Review of 'CRAMA'
The NSW Parliament’s Committee on the Office of the Ombudsman and Police Integrity Commission has been conducting a Statutory Review of the Community Services (Complaints, Reviews and Monitoring) Act 1993 (CRAMA). The Terms of Reference call on the Committee to
“… review this Act to determine whether the policy objectives of the Act remain valid and whether the terms of the Act remain appropriate for securing those objectives.”
Section 3 of the Act states the objectives of CRAMA to be:
a) to foster, in community services and programs, and in related services and programs, an atmosphere in which complaints and independent monitoring are viewed positively as ways of enhancing the delivery of those services and programs,
b) to provide for the resolution of complaints about community services and programs, especially complaints by persons who are eligible to receive, or receive, those services, by families and by persons advocating on behalf of such persons or families,
c) to encourage, wherever reasonable and practicable, the resolution of complaints at a local level,
d) to encourage, wherever reasonable and practicable, the resolution of complaints through alternative dispute resolution,
e) to provide independent and accessible mechanisms for the resolution of complaints, for the review of administrative decisions and for the monitoring of services, programs and complaint procedures,
f) to encourage compliance with, and facilitate awareness of, the objects, principles and provisions of the community welfare legislation,
g) to provide for independent monitoring of community services and programs, both generally and in particular cases.
Andrew Buchanan and Dougie Herd recently gave verbal evidence to the committee of inquiry in support of the written views submitted by the Disability Council of NSW in late 2007. In summary, we expressed the following key points.
1. The Objectives of the Act … as set out in Section 3 … remain valid, worthwhile and necessary.
2. We believe the service system as a whole has not yet fully realised CRAMA’s goal that complaints and complainants should be seen as legitimate and welcome … as well as positive indicators of quality assurance within service delivery systems.
3. Complaining can be problematic and perceived to be risky for clients, many of whom are already vulnerable. People with disability may not feel safe enough to risk making a complaint. The pressures at play here can be subtle but strong.
4. We believe that complaints are handled best and dealt with most effectively as near to the client as can be. Escalating them up the ladder ought to be avoided but where it becomes necessary the systems in place should facilitate not inhibit complaint resolution.
5. Complaining should not be reduced to a battle between right or wrong / winner and loser. We favour alternative dispute resolution tools such as mediation and conciliation designed to change behaviour … leading to better outcomes.
6. Independent complaint systems and agencies are critically important to good quality assurance and complaints resolution.
7. The Ombudsman’s Office is a key agency. Its Community Services Division, led by Steve Kinmond, does excellent work on behalf of vulnerable clients. It responds to individuals, addresses systemic problems and takes seriously the essential voices of advocates and advocacy organisations. Its role should be enhanced.
8. We re-stated our belief that the right under CRAMA to appeal a Minister’s decision under the Disability Services Act ought to be realisable. Some of our stakeholders have told us that this is currently not the case. If that is indeed correct, Parliament needs to fix the problem in favour of the right to make an appeal to the Administrative Decisions Tribunal.
Further information about the inquiry is available at the Committee section of the web site of the NSW Parliament at:
The full text of our representatives’ verbal evidence can be viewed at:
4. NSW Attorney General’s Department 'Capacity Toolkit'
On
Monday, 31st March 2008 the Diversity Services unit of the NSW
Attorney General’s Department launched two new publications:
- A [legal] Capacity Fact sheet, and
- The Capacity Toolkit
The Capacity Toolkit aims to assist people in correctly identifying whether an individual has the capacity to make their own decisions. This is important (writes Laurie Glanfield, Director General of the Attorney General’s Department) since an incorrect assessment can result in the denial of a fundamental human right; the right to autonomous decision-making or ‘self-determination’.
The Capacity Toolkit is a guide to assessing a person's capacity to make legal, medical, financial and personal decisions.
5. People and Places
Every month in i.D we like to pass on news about the people and organisations that make up the disability sector in NSW and beyond. If you have snippets of news about people joining, moving within or leaving your agency pass it on to us and we’ll share it with broader community. Indeed, if you’ve any news about your agency that people might like to read about, send it to us. We’ll try to find space to put it in but please … keep it brief.
Contact us at: info.disabilitycouncil@dadhc.nsw.gov.au
Best Buddies Australia
JANE SORENSEN is leaving Best Buddies Australia to live and work in the southern highlands. We’ll miss Jane not just because of the contribution she has made to BBA but because Jane has worked out of our office for the last year or so. Bon voyage Jane.
BBA WEB SITE: www.bestbuddies.org.au
Brain Injury Association of NSW
RACHEL MERTON has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Brain injury Association of NSW. Congratulations to Robyn who previously worked at the Mental Health Co-ordinating Council.
BIA NSW WEB SITE: www.biansw.org.au
6. About the Disability Council of NSW
The Disability Council of NSW is the official advisory body to the State Government on disability matters. We also provide advice to the Commonwealth on the effect of national policy at a State level.
We seek to provide best quality advice to Government and promote a positive vision of the future for all people with disability.
For us that means working with others to achieve a socially just community in which Government policy and practice reflect the lives and experiences of people with disability as individuals, family members and participants with many roles in a broad range of diverse settings. At all times we strive to remain mindful of the rights of people with disability, respecting their choices, celebrating their diversity and valuing their contributions.
Our role is clearly set out by an Act of Parliament, The Community Welfare Act of 1987. We have three duties as a result of that Act. They are:
- To advise Government on disability matters;
- To raise community awareness about people with disability and their aspirations; and
- To promote participation by people with disability.
We are committed to building and sustaining partnerships across sectors around a shared purpose. It is our hope that you will feel encouraged by our goals and will want to work with us as we organise to achieve them.
Contact Details of the Disability Council of NSW
Disability Council of NSW
L19, 323 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2000
Tel/TTY: (02) 9211-2866
Fax: (02) 9211-2271
Tollfree (Voice/TTY) 1800 044 848
Email:
info.disabilitycouncil@dadhc.nsw.gov.au
Web: www.disabilitycouncil.nsw.gov.au
7. Your Privacy
We are committed to protecting your privacy and commit ourselves to conforming to the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Bill 2000, which came into effect in December 2001 and the National Privacy Principles issued by the Australian Privacy Commissioner.
This electronic bulletin is distributed by email. You have provided us with an email address. This email address will be used only for the purpose for which you have provided it. You can have your email address removed from the list for this bulletin at any time by sending an e.mail to the Disability Council of NSW
This Bulletin may contain links to external websites. The Disability Council of NSW cannot be held responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such websites.
