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i:D Bulletin of the Disability Council of NSW
Welcome to the October edition of i:D, the electronic bulletin of the Disability Council of NSW – the State’s official advisory body on disability. We produce this newsletter once a month so that we can keep you informed of our activities and the Council’s areas of interest.
Please feel free to circulate this newsletter to anyone you believe may be interested in receiving it. If you decide that you would rather not receive it please send an email to us with the words UNSUBSCRIBE BULLETIN in the subject line. We hope, of course, you’ll be happy to read our newsletter and give us feedback.
If you have any topic you wish to raise with the Disability Council of NSW please contact us by email.
Dougie Herd
Executive Officer, Office of the Disability Council of NSW
1. Chair's Introduction by Andrew Buchanan
One
thing is clear to me about being Chair of the Disability Council of
NSW. The policy life of an official advisory body such as ours is
never boring. There is always something new to be considered; always
some new challenge.
Towards the end of September we appeared before members of the State Parliament’s Social Issues Committee to give evidence to the Upper House Inquiry into substitute decision-making by people lacking legal capacity. We made reference to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities, ratified by Australia in 2008. We referred Committee members to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Principles governing people with mental illness. We engaged in some ‘high order’, almost philosophical discussion with parliamentarians grappling with complex and sometimes controversial issues that go straight to the heart of what it means be human.
How, for instance, can we ensure that people with disability are respected and valued as autonomous decision-makers in their own lives? Recognising that all human beings benefit from advice, assistance and advocacy from time to time – whether its to do with accepting your first job offer as a teenager or buying your first home or which school to enrol children in or what, if any, instructions to leave in a ‘living will’ – concepts such as capacity, rights, best interest, protection and risk become much more complex to consider when overlayed with the real world consequences of disabling conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease, psychiatric disability, acquired brain injury and others.
You can read in the transcript of our evidence to the Inquiry (see the link below). One tried one’s best to answer complex questions openly, with an abiding commitment to the rights and best interests of people with disability. But anyone can see, I think, that issues surrounding ill-defined concepts such as capacity are not as easy to address, let’s say, as some of the more ‘traditional’ issues of the disability sector … public buildings, for example, are either wheelchair accessible or they’re not; information is available in alternative formats or it’s not; self-managed packages of community care support are offered as part of the spectrum of choice or they are not.
During the last month our staff team have joined me in giving evidence to the parliamentary inquiry. They’ve assisted Parliamentary Secretary Bill Shorten to prepare a major discussion next week at Kirribilli House on universal housing design. They’ve given a key note address at the national conference of open employment support providers, participated in the Premier’s consultation on the State Plan, given feedback to State agencies on several draft disability action plans and offered advice to decision-makers on matters as diverse as migration policy, counter-disaster planning, PADP, respite policy and more.
This much I know. Our work is not yet done. As we build on the policy and legislative successes of the 1980s and 1990s new challenges arise. Some of them – such as defining what we mean by capacity – will be as big as any we have faced before.
Regards
Andrew Buchanan
Chair
Disability Council of NSW
2. Parliamentary Inquiry into Substitue decision-making for people lacking capacity
The Disability Council of NSW provided written and verbal testimony to the NSW Upper House inquiry by the Social Issues Committee into substitute decision-making for people lacking capacity. The Council’s evidence was given in three parts.
- Introductory remarks to the parliamentary committee by Andrew Buchanan, Chair of the Disability Council of NSW.
- Written responses to questions from the Committee addressed specifically to the Disability Council of NSW.
- Written responses to questions addressed to all participants in inquiry hearings.
The Disability Council’s evidence can be viewed on our website at the following location:
The Hansard transcript of the Council’s appearance before the State Parliament’s Social Issues Committee on 28th September 2009 may be read at the following web location:
3. Inquiry into the Migration Treatment of Disability
There is still time to make a submission to the Australian Parliament's inquiry into migration policy and disability. The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator the Hon Chris Evans, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, the Hon Bill Shorten, have asked the Australian Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Migration to undertake an inquiry relating to the health requirement in the Migration Act.
The Committee will investigate the assessment of the health and community costs associated with a disability as part of visa processing in Australia.
The Disability Council of NSW has previously stated its belief that the migration policy should not continue to be exempt from the Disability Discrimination Act. We believe that current arrangements can and do discriminate unreasonably against people with disability. We see no justification for such discrimination and our advice to Government inquiries in the past is that it should be eradicated.
The Committee is now calling for submissions from interested individuals and organisations. The terms of reference for the inquiry and information about making a submission are available via this link:
4. 650 specialist accommodation places for people with a disability
DADHC Media Release
Date - 8 October, 2009
The NSW Government will spend $68 million over the next four years to provide more than 640 specialist accommodation and support places for people with a disability.
Minister for Disability Services Paul Lynch said the range of accommodation options would also be expanded, giving clients the ability to choose services that better match their support needs.
“At least 75 percent of models currently under construction are models of housing that go beyond the traditional group home,” Mr Lynch said.
Mr Lynch said a panel of service providers would cut red tape to deliver better ways of delivering accommodation support options for people with a disability, their families and carers.
“The new system will simplify procurement practices and reduce costs and paperwork,” he said.
Organisations involved will benefit from a streamlined funding process and increased tendering opportunities and will have ongoing business relationships with Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) in the development and delivery of new and innovative accommodation support services.
Mr Lynch said that the establishment of the panel would allow the Government to purchase more than 640 specialist accommodation places.
National Disability Services (NDS) State Manager Patrick Maher said providers were looking forward to less red tape and more productive relationships with government.
“The panel and related procurement processes will provide opportunities to build and consolidate the disability accommodation support sector,” Mr Maher said.
“The opportunity to work more collaboratively with Ageing Disability and Home Care on service planning and proposals will result in improved outcomes to clients and their families,” he said.
5. Louis' memory unites a community
The
weather was magnificent and the community involvement was excellent -
these were the sentiments concerning a recent event entitled BOMB -
Braille on Manly Beach project.
Giant perspex domes were filled with wet sand by volunteer groups and other members of the community in Sydney on Sunday, 20th September.
The huge public art event was part of the Manly Arts Festival.
Braille advocate Bruce Maguire, of Baulkham Hills, was one of the coordinators of the concept which was conceived by artist Anne Walton.
"It was to mark the 200th anniversary year of the birth of Louis Braille - the French teenager who invented the system of reading for the blind,’’ he said.
"Such was the community involvement we finished two-hours ahead of schedule.
"People
at beach, or people walking by, would stop and ask 'can I
help’?’’
Mr Maguire said making the sand dots wasn’t rocket science but that it did require lots of water to hold them together. "When they were finished you could sit on them,’’ he said.
The words in Braille said "Braille Rocks’’ and photographs were taken from the air.
The plan was that at 9pm the high tide would meld with the Braille and it would be taken into the sea. Mr Maguire said it didn’t exactly happen that way!
"There were lots of children there and after we had a ceremony, the children jumped on the dots and broke them up,’’ he said.
"I didn’t mind ... at least they were immersed in Braille.’’
The Disability Council of NSW was represented at the event by Executive Officer, Dougie Herd.
6.Dementia awareness across NSW
DADHC Media Release
Date - 21 September, 2009
The NSW Government is working with Alzheimers Australia NSW to broaden the future management of dementia advisory services provided by the organisation.
As well, the Government has given $300,000 to Alzheimers Australia to promote dementia awareness across NSW this year.
Minister for Disability Services Paul Lynch said the Office for Ageing also supported Alzheimers Australia NSW with $1.1 million in annual funding and $237,000 for the advisory services.
He made the comments on World Alzheimers Day.
Mr Lynch said that the financial and other support provided by the NSW Government was important because of the growing incidence of dementia, of which Alzheimers disease was a part.
“Our population is rapidly ageing, and with that, comes an increase in dementia,” Mr Lynch said.
“It is forecast that by 2030, the proportion of people 65 years and over will have almost doubled from 14 to 22 percent while the number of centenarians will have increased eight-fold,” he said.
“Given that, there will be an increasing demand to tackle the issue of dementia and Alzheimers disease,” Mr Lynch said.
He said the NSW Government’s financial support through DADHC and the Office for Ageing was directed at programs dealing with dementia training, carer education and resource services.
“The specialised services provided by Alzheimers Australia NSW are very important to help people through the trauma of caring for a relative or friend with dementia and to support them,” Mr Lynch said.
8. End of poverty for disability
A National insurance scheme for people with disabilities is on the radar for the Rudd Government after persistent warnings the existing system is in crisis.
An expert panel established by the Government will recommend a feasibility study be commissioned to determine the cost.
''It's both economically rational and socially responsible,'' said Bruce Bonyhady, a member of the Disability Investment Group. He likened the introduction of such a scheme to the push for Medicare and superannuation. ''Despite our intention to minimise risk, stuff happens,'' Mr Bonyhady said.
''We all pay premiums for health or car insurance because we want to make sure if something happens we are covered.''
An insurance scheme would involve a universal, compulsory, no-fault insurance scheme providing essential care and support for those disabled at birth or through an accident or illness.
It would be similar to workers' compensation or third-party car insurance, and funded by a new levy on taxpayers or through an increase in the Medicare levy.
The idea is being pushed by the parliamentary secretary for disabilities, Bill Shorten, who believes the existing system of care is inadequate and poorly targeted.
''There is a poverty of disability,'' Mr Shorten said. ''Disability has been seen as a welfare issue when it should be an economic one.''
An insurance scheme has the support of the public service, with the head of the Department of Families and Community Services, Jeff Harmer, in favour of examining it.
The support of the states would be crucial to any scheme because it would involve a radical restructuring of health, welfare and other services.
The inadequacy of the existing care system is beginning to catch up with the Federal Government. Complaints about the adequacy of payments and services are frequently raised with MPs and senior ministers at community events.
People with disabilities are living longer and the bill for care has been estimated at $30 billion.
The ageing of the population also means the Government needs people now occupied with caring to be in the workforce.
Mr Bonyhady said the cost of care was ''an unfunded liability on the national balance sheet''.
The proposal comes at a time when the Government is fighting to rein in its budget deficit. But it is also increasingly nervous about the growing cost of the disability pension.
There are 720,000 people on the disability support pension. Only 3 per cent ever stop receiving it.
If that figure could increase to 4 per cent, $1 billion could be saved over a decade.
9. 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: Kristine.Schneider@dadhc.nsw.gov.au
Upcoming Events
- Carers Week 2009
Join in celebrating the important role carers play in our society. Carers Week is between 18th and 24th October 2009 and will be officially launched by Her Excellency, Ms Quentin Bryce AC the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on Monday 19th October 2009.
For further info, visit the National Carers website: www.carersweek.com.au
Other news
- WANTED: Volunteers for a project on sexual activities and
physical impairments
A study is being conducted by the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Health Sciences in investigating the sexual activities of adults with physical impairments. The study, conducted by Occupational Therapist and Masters Student, Natalie Hamam aims to investigate the practices, equipment and adaptive strategies that people with physical impairments use to carry out their sexual activities. The focus of the study will be on the experiences of individuals who have adapted to their impairment and wish to offer strategies and share suggestions with others.
If you would like to participate in this study, or would like further information please contact Natalie Hamam: nham3523@uni.sydney.edu.au Ph: (02) 9351-9641
Volunteers for the project must be over 18 years of age.
10. 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:
disabilitycouncil@dadhc.nsw.gov.au
Web: www.disabilitycouncil.nsw.gov.au
10. 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 email 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.
SOURCES
Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care
- www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au/dadhc/media_releases.htmRob Bennett. ‘Louis memory unites a community’ The Manly Daily (Sydney) 23 September 2009
- www.manly-daily.whereilive.com.auFaculty of Health Sciences Discipline of Occupational Therapy, University of Sydney. Participation Information Statement:Title - Investigating the sexual activities of adults with physical impairments
Stephanie Peatling. ‘End the poverty of disability’ The Sun Herald (Sydney) 4 October 2009
- www.smh.com.au/national/end-the-poverty-of-disability
