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Charter for NSW Community Sector

October 7 2011

The Forum of Non Government Agencies (FONGA) endorsed the final Charter for the NSW Community Sector at its meeting on 7 October 2011.  The Charter has been prepared to define and communicate to other sectors of society (governments, business and the broader community) what the community sector is, and to raise awareness of its vital role and invaluable contribution to society.

The Charter promotes a unified community sector by presenting a shared identity, vision and values. It is intended to empower community organisations across NSW by providing a vehicle for asserting a strong collective voice, and in doing so, increase our influence towards achieving our vision of a fair and just society for all.

NCOSS has written to all FONGA members seeking their organisational endorsement of the Charter and agreement to use their logo in the published version.  The Charter will be continue to be updated with logos of the organisations which agree to endorse it.  The Charter is on the NCOSS website and can be accessed here.

 Organisations in the sector are free to use the text of the Charter in their own work, provided that it is not altered and that the document is acknowledged as the work of FONGA and NCOSS. 

FONGA endorses the paper Principles, Pillars and Practice of Social Inclusion

June 3, 2011

Forum of Non-Government Agencies (FONGA) endorsed the paper Principles, Pillars and Practice of Social Inclusion at its meeting on 3 June 2011.  The paper can be found on the NCOSS website by clicking here.

Disability Rights. Know Them & How to Protect Them

March 9, 2011.

The Disability Discrimination Legal Centre and City of Sydney are holding free information sessions for people with disability throughout the City of Sydney. Areas of focus include; disability and employment and Aboriginal disability. For more information on these free sessions, please click here.

Australia Reports on Rights of Persons with Disabilities to UN

December 6, 2010

The Federal Government is to deliver Australia’s first report under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to the United Nations. Finalising Australia’s first report coincided with the International Day of People with a Disability (December 3rd).

In a joint statement the Attorney-General Robert McClelland and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Jan McLucas said the Government is committed to removing barriers faced by persons with disabilities and accommodating the diverse needs of people with a disability to enable them to enjoy their rights on an equal basis with all Australians.

Under the Disabilities Convention, Australia is required to periodically submit a report on measures taken to promote the rights and freedoms of those with a disability.  The statement says the report outlines some of the major initiatives taken by the Federal Government to improve the lives of people with disability.

In particular, the report acknowledges the key role the National Disability Strategy will play in helping Australia fulfil its obligations by establishing a framework to promote, protect and monitor the implementation of the Convention.

The report also provides information on a range of measures taken by governments across Australia.

The Report notes work in progress, including the Government’s decision to commission an inquiry into a national long-term care and support scheme for persons with disabilities in Australia. The inquiry is being conducted by the Productivity Commission, which will report to Government in July 2011.

for Australia’s report to the United Nations on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, please click here.

Universal Periodic Review- National Report

5th November 2010. 

The preparation of Australia’s National Report was assisted by the work of National Human Rights Consultation carried out in 2009. The Consultation Committee travelled all around Australia to seek the community’s views, conducting over 65 community roundtables and public hearings in more than 50 urban, regional and remote locations. The Consultation Committee received 35 000 submissions and also commissioned focus group research to ascertain community attitudes towards human rights and to cast light on the experiences and opinions of marginalised and vulnerable groups. The Consultation generated a national discussion and debate about human rights which has helped to inform and frame Australia’s National Report.

Please click here for the full report

New Anti-Discrimination framework

The Federal Government has announced the intention to streamline federal anti-discrimination legislation into one comprehensive law.

 The existing Disability Discrimination Act 1992, Racial Discrimination Act 1975, Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and the Age Discrimination Act 2004 will be combined into a single Act, aiming to address inconsistencies and clarify rights and obligations.  This reform is in response to the National Human Rights Consultation Committee Report.

 These steps were welcomed by the Australian Human Rights Commission President Cathy Branson QC, however she also said she was disappointed that the Government had missed an opportunity to create an "adequate national system of protection".

The Committee's major recommendation was the development of a Human Rights Act, however this will not be implemented  at this stage.

 "Without a Human Rights Act, human rights protection in Australia remains piecemeal and inadequate.  There remain too many instances where a person whose human rights have been breached can do nothing about it," Ms Branson said.

Ms Branson urged the Government to revisit the idea of a Human Rights Act as part of its 2014 review of the Human Rights Framework.

Duet

It was love at first sight for 66 year old John Morgan when he met Cheryl at The Spastic Centre’s
Centre Industries in 1969. Both have CP, and together they have raised two children. This year will
be their 34th wedding anniversary.

Please click here to download the whole article.

Human Rights Not Negotiable

11 February 2008

The Physical Disability Council of NSW supports the investigation of the Loganlea Service Centre in Queensland. Observance of good hygiene practices and procedures are basic responsibilities for persons who provide care to another human being.

Please click here to read the whole article.

NSW Ombudsman to Review Community Participation Services

28 May 2008

Australia — As the independent and impartial watchdog for community services in NSW the Ombudsman encourages awareness of the rights and obligations of consumers and service providers under community welfare legislation. This is done, in part, by reviewing complaint handling systems across the community services sector.

Please click here to read to the whole article.

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