PDCN Bulletin #10 • May 6, 2001

latest news and views from PDCN

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Contents

1. NEW DEPARTMENT PLOUGHS ON WITH REVIEW OF DISABILITY ADVOCACY SERVICES
2. STATE PARLIAMENT LAUNCHES INQUIRY INTO REVIEW OF DISABILITY ADVOCACY & INFORMATION SERVICES
3. STATE PLANNING DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES PROPOSALS TO REFORM PLANNING PROCESS THROUGHOUT NEW SOUTH WALES
4. ACCESS TO PREMISES STANDARD - NATIONAL CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVES CHOSEN
5. PHYSICAL DISABILITY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA (PDCA) RELAUNCHES ITS WEB SITE
6. REAL: LIFE ON FILM - DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL, SYDNEY 9 - 13 MAY
7. BREAST SELF EXAMINATION: A HANDBOOK FOR WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES (CANADIAN PUBLICATION)
8. SEEKING SOLUTIONS - AUSTRALIA'S FIRST JOINT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT CONFERENCE
9. THE INFO XCHANGE LAUNCHES NEW SERVICE - THE GREEN PC

1. NEW DEPARTMENT PLOUGHS ON WITH REVIEW OF DISABILITY ADVOCACY SERVICES

The newly constructed Ageing, Disability and Home Care Services Department (ADHCS) is proceeding with the review of disability advocacy and information services announced on 6 February by the former Ageing and Disability Department. Adverts announcing an "Expressions Of Interest" (EOI) process appeared in Statewide and regional newspapers at the end of March. At the same time a number of information sessions were announced for various locations around the State during April.

PDCN remains opposed to the EOI process and the competitive tendering exercise that it represents. Our Management Committee has decided, however, that we have no viable alternative but to participate in the EOI by submitting a bid for funds by the deadline of 25 May.

Our representatives have attended EOI sessions in Chatswood, Parramatta, Sydney and Wagga Wagga. We have as complete a picture of what is expected as anyone is able to get from these sessions. In addition, we were fortunate to be able to arrange a meeting between the PDCN Executive Committee and Mr Warwick Neilly, Disability Policy Adviser to Mrs Faye Lo Po', Minister for Disability Services. This was very helpful to us in that we were able to get some matters cleared up directly from the Minister's Office. Although we did not agree on all points discussed during the two hours we met with Mr Neilly it was good, nevertheless, to get matters clearly explained.

As a result of meeting the Minister's Adviser we understand:

• Even if we do not succeed in a bid as part of the EOI we will be assured of at least 15 months funding from 1 July 2001.
• The Minister supports systemic advocacy.
• The Minister is not opposed to funding systemic advocacy infrastructure costs.
• The Minister is not opposed to Statewide, peak body and representative organisations.

These statements, if confirmed (as we believe it is intended they will be) directly contradict some of the verbal messages and written documents at and since the alarming ADD seminar of 6 February. We will keep readers informed of the developing picture as we understand it and let you know how the EOI process pans out.

As part of the campaign to revise the Department's approach to advocacy and information services the New South Wales Council of Social Services (NCOSS) and the Australian Services Union (ASU) held a community Summit on the 9th of April. Over 70 people, including representatives of PDCN, attended it. The Summit resolved several key messages:

• The community highly values advocacy;
• Systemic advocacy must not be funded on a project basis;
• Systemic advocacy must include the capacity for representation of people with disability through the structure of a range of funded organisations;
• The current process will not deliver good outcomes for people with disability and their families;
• The ADD Discussion Paper entitled Improving and Expanding Disability Advocacy and Information Services in NSW is seriously flawed and should be immediately withdrawn. The Summit agreed that a negotiated process of improvement involving consultation, discussion and debate in the absence of tendering threats will deliver the best framework for advocacy and information services in NSW;
• Funding to existing groups should not go to EOI;
• The Summit opposed the use of competitive tendering in order to reform the disability information & advocacy programme.

Watch this space for news and updates.

2. STATE PARLIAMENT LAUNCHES INQUIRY INTO REVIEW OF DISABILITY ADVOCACY & INFORMATION SERVICES

The Hon Arthur Chesterfield-Evans MLC, on behalf of the Hon Dr Brian Pezzuti MLC, Chair of the NSW Legislative Council's General Purpose Standing Committee No. 2, has written to PDCN and other disability and community organisations to inform us of a Parliamentary Inquiry into the review by ADD (now Ageing, Disability & Home Care Services Department) of the funding of disability advocacy groups in NSW. The following terms of reference were adopted by the Committee for the Inquiry:

" That the General Purpose Standing Committee No 2 inquire into the decision of the Minister for Disability Services and Ageing and Disability Department to subject the funding of grants to peak, advocacy, information and related disability service providers to competitive tender.

The Committee shall take into consideration:

1. The adequacy of consultations between the Minister and the Department with advocacy groups preceding and following the decision to change the current funding arrangements.
2. The possible impacts affecting the operation of organisations subject to the proposed funding arrangement.
3. Any possible impacts on the representative structure of non-government disability advocacy sector and the effects on people with disabilities and their families in NSW.
4. The implications of implementing competitive tendering in the community services sector, particularly in relation to systemic advocacy.

The Committee is currently seeking submissions from interested individuals and organisations. The closing date is FRIDAY 18 MAY".

For more information, you can contact the Committee secretariat on

Phone 02 9230 3544

Fax 9230 3416

E.mail gpscno2@parliament.nsw.gov.au

PDCN will lodge its submission with the Inquiry secretariat by 18 May. We will also place our submission on our own Web site.

3. STATE PLANNING DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES PROPOSALS TO REFORM PLANNING PROCESS THROUGHOUT NEW SOUTH WALES

"Plan First" is the name given to a new State Government proposal to reform and "modernise" the plan making system in New South Wales. "Plan First" proposes significant changes to the planning process of the State.

The Governments Proposals

Changes will be made to the form and content of plans at local, regional and state levels. There will be:

• a single local plan for each council area
• a single regional strategy for each region in NSW, to give a common direction for local plans
• state policies in a single document to improve accessibility and inform regional planning

Accompanying a White Paper issued by the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (DUAP) is Ideas for Community Consultation, which suggests methods for effective community consultation. It is in draft form for your feedback.

What will these proposals mean for your local area?

Plan First proposes changes to how plans are developed in local areas. This will mean:

• one single plan for your area
• a 'place based' approach that looks at all issues related to your area
• government services which are planned together and better coordinated
• plans that are easy to understand in clear, simple, jargon-free language
• community input at the beginning of the planning process
• easy to access plans available via the Internet
• strong guidance for the local area from the regional strategy
• sustainability a guiding principle in the planning process
• regular monitoring and review to keep your local plan up-to-date
• clear rules and controls to help business invest and create more jobs.

The PDCN Management Committee has established a working party to prepare our response to the Department's consultation paper. We will submit a response based on fundamental belief that any and all planning process must address the needs and aspirations of people with physical disability from the outset.

Information about the DUAP proposals and a feedback form can be accessed on the department's Web site at

http://www.duap.nsw.gov.au/ (go to "The Planning System" then "Latest Reforms: PlanFIRST")

The deadline for feedback is 1 June 2001

4. ACCESS TO PREMISES STANDARD - NATIONAL CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVES CHOSEN

The DDA Standards project has finalised its appointment of 3 National Consumer Representatives for future work on the Access to Premises Standard. They are:

Mr Robert Jones, an Access Consultant from Brisbane who has over 10 years of experience in this field.

Elizabeth Jardine, from Adelaide, who has worked extensively in the disability field, carrying out research projects, agency and programme evaluations, equity raining, and developing Access Action Plans for a variety of organisations.

Max Murray is an Access Consultant from Townsville who has 12 years experience in this area. He is a current member of Standards Australia's ME/64 Committee

Mr Maurice Corcoran, National Coordinator of the DDA Standards Project said that "the Project is now in great shape to continue its work towards an Accessible environment which can be used by all people in a way that is independent, equitable and dignified. What's really important is that each of the representatives also has a personal experience of disability so they live with the access problems confronting people with disabilities across Australia."

For more information, contact Maurice Corcoran 08 82422700.

5. PHYSICAL DISABILITY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA (PDCA) RELAUNCHES ITS WEB SITE

The Physical Disability Council of Australia has relaunched the PDCA website. There is a new look, updated sections and "much, much more information".

Sue Egan, Executive Officer of PDCA writes, "Have a look and let us know what you think." The Web site is located at: www.ozemail.com.au/~pdca/

6. REAL: LIFE ON FILM - DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL, SYDNEY 9 - 13 MAY

REAL: Life on Film is one of the few festivals in the world to exclusively showcase documentary film. REAL aims to address diverse and challenging subjects through a thematic framework of social justice, human rights and identity politics. During the festival's run in Sydney the programme will feature a session entitled "Redefining Disability". Two documentaries will be shown:

Liebe Perla by Shahar Rozen, 1999, 53 min, Israel/Germany

During the Nazi regime, Dr. Josef Mengele conducted "scientific" experiments on and shot "research" footage of a Jewish family of dwarfs. Fifty years later, Hannelore, a short-statured woman born in post-war Germany, and Perla, the only surviving family member, set out to locate the films. This astounding, intimate film tells us as much about the present moment as it does about the fate of disabled people in Nazi Germany.

Stairway to Heaven BY Errol Morris, 1998, 28 min, U.S

Renowned documentarian, Errol Morris (The Thin Blue Line, Fast Cheap and Out of Control) creates a stylised portrait of Temple Grandin, an engineer who became famous for her compassionate redesign of slaughterhouses. Diagnosed with autism as a child, Grandin has a restless mind and a unique, camera-like ability to visualise the world through the eyes of others. Author of the critically acclaimed memoir, 'Thinking in Pictures', Grandin considers her invention a humane way to accomplish a necessary task

More details at www.reallifeonfilm.com

7. BREAST SELF EXAMINATION: A HANDBOOK FOR WOMEN WITH DISABILITY

Barbara Anello wrote to advise women with disability that DAWN Ontario has put on the Web its Handbook for Women with Disabilities re: Breast Self-Examination. The handbook is available online.

The Web site with graphics is http://dawn.thot.net/BSE_Handbook.html

The text only site is http://dawn.thot.net/text/t-BSE_Handbook.html

8. SEEKING SOLUTIONS. AUSTRALIA'S FIRST JOINT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT CONFERENCE

5th, 6TH & 7TH September 2001
Park Royal Hotel n Queensland's Gold Coast

Organised by Combined Women's Crisis Services Gold Coast Inc.

Incorporating Domestic Violence Service, Sexual Assault Support Service & Macleod Women's Refuge

Carolyn Frohmader, Executive Director of Women With Disabilities Australia WWDA) writes, this exciting three-day conference aims to bring together, for the first time, specialists in the area of domestic violence and sexual assault from across Australia and overseas. Acclaimed keynote speakers will address a variety of topics on a broad range of issues, research, emerging trends, innovative programs, responses and practice models relating to Violence Against Women. Many prominent Australian speakers with expertise and experience across the domestic violence and sexual assault sectors will be invited to address the conference.

To place your name on the mailing list, please contact the Seeking Solutions Conference Organisers, PO Box 409, Southport QLD 4215 or send an E.mail to domviol@fan.net.au or sass@onthenet.com.au

9. THE INFO XCHANGE LAUNCHES NEW SERVICE - THE GREEN PC

The Green PC is a social enterprise initiative of "The info Xchange", which makes available low cost recycled personal computers to community organisations and individuals on low incomes. Major sponsorship of the effort has been provided by the Department of Human Services and the State Government's Community Jobs Programme. "The info Xchange" expects donations to grow from corporate sponsors and other government departments over the next few months. You can place your order by visiting the site below: www.greenpc.com.au

For further information contact the Green PC Team on 9417 7039

Dougie Herd, PDCN Executive Officer
St Helen's Community Centre,
3/184 Glebe Point Road,
Glebe NSW 2037
E_mail: pdcnsw@pdcnsw.org.au;
Web: www.pdcnsw.org.au

Tel: (02) 9552 1606; 1 800 688 831
Fax: (02) 9552 4644

PDC NSW Inc is funded by the NSW Government's Ageing and Disability Department. Views expressed by PDC NSW Inc are not necessarily endorsed by the NSW Government.

©PDCN, Physical Disability Council of NSW • 184 Glebe Point Road, GLEBE NSW 2037 Australia
Phone (02) 9552 1606 • Fax (02) 9552 4644 • TollFree 1800 688 831 (within NSW) • TTY (02) 8223 7579
URL www.pdcnsw.org.au • Email pdcnsw@pdcnsw.org.au