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Home > Publications > Twenty Most Recent Publications
Twenty Most Recent Publications
ADDE Newsletter - Spring 2011
ADDE promotes pro-active employment policies and practices for disadvantaged groups including people with disabilities, mature age workers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds as well as indigenous people. People who fall into more than one of these categories are recognised as being even more disadvantaged. Therefore, we see a greater need for a change of attitude and awareness.
In this edition:
• Quote of the season, A word from the editor
• ADDE President Report
• News: Diversity at Work Awards, ADDE Forum Feedback
• Disability Employment – The Issues: Forum Speakers Summaries
ENABLE Newsletter - October 2011
The Enable Newsletter is prepared by the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SCRPD) at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) with input from UN offices, agencies, funds and programmes, as well as from civil society.
In this issue:
• Status of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
• Highlights from the UN system
• Upcoming events
• Other news
Produced by DARU, 2008
A Disability Advocate is placed in a unique relationship. The role carries with it specific responsibilities that arise out of this relationship. This Code of Conduct provides Disability Advocates and Disability Advocacy organisations with a clear framework for understanding their responsibilities for effective advocacy practice.
This document is not prescriptive but provides a framework, allowing organisations to retain their autonomy and diversity.
A Disability Advocate is placed in a unique relationship. The role carries with it specific responsibilities that arise out of this relationship. This Code of Conduct provides Disability Advocates and Disability Advocacy organisations with a clear framework for understanding their responsibilities for effective advocacy practice.
This document is not prescriptive but provides a framework, allowing organisations to retain their autonomy and diversity.
National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children - Easy English version
An Easy English version of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children (the National Plan) has been released.
The National Plan is an agreement by all Australian governments to work together to reduce violence against women and their children so that they can live in safe communities. It recognises that women with a physical or intellectual disability are more likely to experience domestic violence, family violence and sexual assault compared to other women and the violence is likely to be more severe and continue for longer.
The National Plan recognises that women with disability experience higher levels of domestic violence, family violence and sexual assault compared to other women. Women with disability are not only more vulnerable to violence, they also often have difficulty accessing pathways to appropriate support and have fewer options to escape violence.
Women with disability face many challenges in accessing information, support and services. The National Plan aims to improve access to services and enhance service delivery to women with disability through:
• coordinating community based services
• assisting women with disability to access appropriate information, resources and services
• improving services to women with disability through a range of reform projects in the health sector
• increasing community awareness of the issues and barriers for women with disability in accessing domestic violence information and services.
• informing best practice service delivery to improve outcomes for women with disability
• funding a national telephone counselling service 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). An inclusive, free and confidential 24 hours a day, seven days a week professional counselling service that will give women and children access to immediate and ongoing assistance
• implementing The Line, a campaign primarily aimed at young people to encourage and promote respectful relationships
• funding Community Action Grants to support communities to reduce violence against women by working with community organisations and sporting codes to engage community in a range of primary preventions activities.
The Easy English version of the National Plan is available online or to request a hardcopy, phone (02) 6244 7192.
PIECES - practical support for community organisations
Produced by VCOSS Clearing House, October Edition
In this issue:
• VCOSS Clearinghouse Training and Development Opportunities
o Clever Ideas Forum 2011 - what's stopping you from using skilled volunteers?
o VCOSS Clearinghouse Training Calendar 2011 - governance, OHS, strategy, finance
o Bankmecu / VCOSS Finance Network - share ideas with other sector finance workers
o Human Rights Workshops - practical workshops throughout Victoria
o Doing I.T. Better - free workshop for disability advocates
o CSA Governance Support Program - free support for your board
• Other Training and Development Opportunities
o 2011 Not For Profit Summit: Think Resources - ideas, workshops, networking
o Anti-Poverty Week: 16-22 October - register an event now!
o African Think Tank Leadership Seminars - encouraging and supporting leadership
o Volunteering Victoria Workshops - learn about successful volunteer engagement
o Non-profit Masterclass in Advanced Strategy, Risk and Governance - book now
• Resources – Grants, Trainers, Skilled Volunteers, Office Space etc
o Skilled Volunteers: A Guide for Community Organisations - available now
o Human Rights Electronic Mailing Lists - keep up to date
o PilchConnect - legal help for community organisations
• Green Piece
o Moreland Energy Foundation - supporting community sustainability
o Coefficiency Australia - pilot program success!
To view this e-bulletin online, visit:
In this issue:
• VCOSS Clearinghouse Training and Development Opportunities
o Clever Ideas Forum 2011 - what's stopping you from using skilled volunteers?
o VCOSS Clearinghouse Training Calendar 2011 - governance, OHS, strategy, finance
o Bankmecu / VCOSS Finance Network - share ideas with other sector finance workers
o Human Rights Workshops - practical workshops throughout Victoria
o Doing I.T. Better - free workshop for disability advocates
o CSA Governance Support Program - free support for your board
• Other Training and Development Opportunities
o 2011 Not For Profit Summit: Think Resources - ideas, workshops, networking
o Anti-Poverty Week: 16-22 October - register an event now!
o African Think Tank Leadership Seminars - encouraging and supporting leadership
o Volunteering Victoria Workshops - learn about successful volunteer engagement
o Non-profit Masterclass in Advanced Strategy, Risk and Governance - book now
• Resources – Grants, Trainers, Skilled Volunteers, Office Space etc
o Skilled Volunteers: A Guide for Community Organisations - available now
o Human Rights Electronic Mailing Lists - keep up to date
o PilchConnect - legal help for community organisations
• Green Piece
o Moreland Energy Foundation - supporting community sustainability
o Coefficiency Australia - pilot program success!
To view this e-bulletin online, visit:
VCOSS Submission to Taxi Inquiry
The main points of the VCOSS submission to the Taxi Inquiry are:
•Taxis are an essential part of the public transport system, and meet the needs of some people with mobility impairments, as well as filling gaps in public transport in particular places, times, and circumstances;
•We believe that that the regulatory system needs to move from a system that controls the quantity of taxi vehicles to ensures the quality of taxi services
•The taxi system still needs strong regulation for consumer protection and improve service standards;
•We recognise the need for improvements to the MPTP to ensure that people can afford to use the services they need.
To request a hardcopy of the VCOSS reports, or the Inquiry’s responses to submissions, contact Llewellyn Reynders, Transport and Disadvantage Policy Analyst on phone (03) 9654 5050, mobile 0449 553 396 or email llewellyn.reynders@vcoss.org.au
VCOSS Taxi Forum: The Voices of Taxi Users
The main findings of the VCOSS Taxi Forum, held in July, were:
•Significant numbers of people are dependent on taxis for basic mobility, because they cannot use other forms of transport including seniors, people with disabilities, people in rural and regional areas;
•Taxi users see driver attitude and assistance as an integral part of the service – including driver’s conduct, communication and awareness of people’s requirements;
•Reliability is essential to a good service, including confidence that the taxi will turn up, and respond in a timely manner;
•Users require taxis that are affordable and accessible, including good taxi design and appropriate levels of support through the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP);
•Taxi users support significant reform, focussed on improving the quality of taxi services, and greater choice and flexibility in the transport options available.
To request a hardcopy of the VCOSS reports, or the Inquiry’s responses to submissions, contact Llewellyn Reynders, Transport and Disadvantage Policy Analyst on phone (03) 9654 5050, mobile 0449 553 396 or email llewellyn.reynders@vcoss.org.au
Individual Advocacy Policy & Guidelines
Produced by VALID, September 2011
VALID, the peak State-funded advocacy organisation for adults with intellectual disability, has released its Individual Advocacy Policy & Guidelines to assist advocates in fulfilling their often complex and challenging role.
The VALID E.O. Kevin Stone says: “One of VALID’s primary aims is to protect the right of people with intellectual disability to be free from domination, manipulation and abuse. Sometimes that means having to question the claims made on a person’s behalf by others, including family members, support staff or professionals. In the midst of claims and counter claims, the advocate must avoid being influenced by wishful thinking or pressure from vested interests.
Advocates must rely on clear and objective evidence presented by credible experts. Unless we can be sure that the views and decisions being expressed are truly coming from the person concerned, we might well become complicit in deception and deceit. Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires that if decisions are made that relate to a person’s capacity to understand, then there must be safeguards against abuse. There should be a regular and independent review of the steps taken to make sure that there is no conflict of interest and that the disabled person’s rights and interests are properly respected.”
The Guidelines state:
• Consistent with its Systemic Position Statement on the Use of FC, VALID considers that:
• The use of occasional physical prompting (or facilitation) may be a legitimate accessing (or teaching) strategy which might lead to the development of independent communication but
• Communication which arises from the use of FC without objective validation should not be regarded as having the same degree of reliability as independent communication.
• The Individual Advocate should therefore not accept, without objective validation, communication produced through the use of FC as an adequate basis for receiving direction or instruction, nor as a reliable basis for supported decision-making.
• There are many other AAC methods that have a sound empirical base and can help a client to independently communicate his/her wishes or opinions. When selecting an AAC method, a thorough assessment of the client should be conducted. This should preferably be conducted by a multidisciplinary team comprising a speech pathologist (for language assessment) and a psychologist (for cognitive assessment).
To download the Facilitated Communication Position Statement, visit:
http://www.valid.org.au/FCPosition/index.htm
VALID, the peak State-funded advocacy organisation for adults with intellectual disability, has released its Individual Advocacy Policy & Guidelines to assist advocates in fulfilling their often complex and challenging role.
The VALID E.O. Kevin Stone says: “One of VALID’s primary aims is to protect the right of people with intellectual disability to be free from domination, manipulation and abuse. Sometimes that means having to question the claims made on a person’s behalf by others, including family members, support staff or professionals. In the midst of claims and counter claims, the advocate must avoid being influenced by wishful thinking or pressure from vested interests.
Advocates must rely on clear and objective evidence presented by credible experts. Unless we can be sure that the views and decisions being expressed are truly coming from the person concerned, we might well become complicit in deception and deceit. Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires that if decisions are made that relate to a person’s capacity to understand, then there must be safeguards against abuse. There should be a regular and independent review of the steps taken to make sure that there is no conflict of interest and that the disabled person’s rights and interests are properly respected.”
The Guidelines state:
• Consistent with its Systemic Position Statement on the Use of FC, VALID considers that:
• The use of occasional physical prompting (or facilitation) may be a legitimate accessing (or teaching) strategy which might lead to the development of independent communication but
• Communication which arises from the use of FC without objective validation should not be regarded as having the same degree of reliability as independent communication.
• The Individual Advocate should therefore not accept, without objective validation, communication produced through the use of FC as an adequate basis for receiving direction or instruction, nor as a reliable basis for supported decision-making.
• There are many other AAC methods that have a sound empirical base and can help a client to independently communicate his/her wishes or opinions. When selecting an AAC method, a thorough assessment of the client should be conducted. This should preferably be conducted by a multidisciplinary team comprising a speech pathologist (for language assessment) and a psychologist (for cognitive assessment).
To download the Facilitated Communication Position Statement, visit:
http://www.valid.org.au/FCPosition/index.htm