Office for Disability Issues: Email Update

On this page:

Working New Zealand: Work Focused Support
Folate Fortification
Youth Reference Group for Youth Parliament 2007
Care and Support in the Community Setting Report
Chief Electoral Office consultation document
Sign of the Times
Attitude programme 12 November 2006
Families Commission Questionnaire on Disability and Family Life
Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service
Post Graduate Diploma in Arts (Disability Studies) Applications
Results of New Zealand’s first national mental health survey
Health and Disability Workforce Research a priority
New Zealand Relay Service
International Day of Disabled Persons (Sunday 3 December 2006)
Conference Events

Working New Zealand: Work Focused Support

Social Development and Employment Minister David Benson-Pope has announced new measures to provide intensive employment support to every New Zealander who is receiving a benefit and is able to work. For more information go to www.msd.govt.nz

Folate Fortification

The Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council agreed on 24 October 2006 to the mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid. Food Standards Australia and New Zealand have been given 6 months to look at the technical issues regarding implementation of mandatory fortification, before the standard is implemented. Research has shown the effect of folate in reducing neural tube defects by up to 70%.

For more information contact:

Lyall Thurston
New Zealand-Australian spokesperson
Folate Fortification
Email: thurst@xtra.co.nz

Youth Reference Group for Youth Parliament 2007

The Youth Reference Group will provide advice and input from a youth perspective to the people organising the Youth Parliament 2007. The Youth Parliament will give young people an opportunity to have their views heard by our country's decision makers. Applications for the Youth Reference Group close on 7 November 2006

For more information and an online application form

Care and Support in the Community Setting Report

The Health Workforce Advisory Committee (HWAC) has published a report "Care and Support in the Community Setting" which considers priorities for the non-regulated aged care and disability support workforce. The report is available on HWAC's website. Paper copies are avialable by emailing your postal address to hwac@moh.govt.nz or ringing 04 4962125.

Chief Electoral Office consultation document

The Chief Electoral Office wants to improve access to the parliamentary election process for disabled people. A consultation document "Improving Access to General Elections for People with Disabilities" is being circulated for comment. This document is in two parts:

1. Information about the 2008 disability project and its consultation process, including a discussion of the issues the Electoral Office are seeking feedback on.
2. A questionnaire on the consultation document to complete and submit.

The document is available electronically at www.elections.org.nz.

Any organisation or individual can make a submission. Submissions must be with the Chief Electoral Office by noon on Friday, 8 December 2006. Address details are supplied below. Submissions can be made in one of the following ways:

• Hardcopy, by post, fax, or hand-delivery
• Electronically, by email, on floppy disk or CD
• Verbally, by telephone (by prior arrangement)
• In Sign Language, on video cassette or DVD.

Contact details:
Kelly Ryan
Project Leader
Chief Electoral Office
P O Box 3220,
Wellington

Tel: (04) 498 2314 or (04) 495 0030
Fax: (04) 495 0031
Email: Kelly.Ryan@justice.govt.nz

Sign of the Times

Sign of the Times is the first feature length documentary about New Zealand’s Deaf community, their language and culture. The film documents the community’s celebration of the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006, and looks at the Deaf community’s ongoing hopes and aspirations for their language and culture.

Film type: Documentary
Length: 52 minutes
Languages: New Zealand Sign Language and English, with English captions
Premier screenings:

Wellington
Reading Cinema, Courtney Place
4 November, 2pm
7 November, 6.30pm

Auckland
Rialto Cinema, Newmarket
12 November, 2.30pm
13 November, 6.30pm

Christchurch
Hoyst Cinema, Moorhouse
19 November, 4pm

ALL SESSIONS $6.00
Copies of the DVD will be available for purchase from 10 November 2006
Email: paul.victoria@paradise.net.nz

Attitude programme 12 November 2006

Another programme in the ACC series on Attitude is to be screened on TV One at 9.30am on Sunday 12 November. This week's story is of Kelly, a 19 year old who coped with cancer and treatment injury at the age of 19, and who with the support of ACC now has a full and independent life.

Families Commission Questionnaire on Disability and Family Life

The Families Commission has a new online panel for feedback on family issues called The Couch. Anyone can join The Couch and have their say on family-related topics though short polls and longer questionnaires. The latest questionnaire, Disability and Family Life, seeks to find out more about the issues facing individual disabled people and their families. The information gathered will help the Families Commission gain a deeper understanding of the issues facing families, and give it a stronger voice to advocate for better policies, services and support. To participate in the questionnaire join The Couch.

Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service

The Health and Disability Commissioner has set up a Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service from 1 October 2006. The contact details for the Auckland and Northern region advocates about any matter including organizing presentations or education sessions are:

Phone: 0800 423 638
Free fax: 0800 2787 7678
Email: advocacy@hdc.org.nz

For any questions about the new arrangements, contact the Transition Manager, Stacy Wilson on (09) 373-1072.

Post Graduate Diploma in Arts (Disability Studies) Applications

Applications for entry to the 2007 session of the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Disability Studies) program at Massey University are now being accepted. The program is offered extramurally and can be completed part time. The application deadline is January 31st, 2007; however, prospective students are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Information and admission details are outlined on the program website at: http://sspsw.massey.ac.nz/study/disabilitystudies.shtml.

For more information contact:

0800Massey (627739) ext. 2833
Email: M.J.Sullivan@massey.ac.nz.

Results of New Zealand’s first national mental health survey

Results of New Zealand’s first national mental health survey (Ta Rau Hinengaro) has been published. The New Zealand survey is part of an international collaboration with the release of 14 similar surveys in other countries. View the complete document.

Health and Disability Workforce Research a priority

The Health Research Council has recently revised the priorities of its funding committee, the Health and Disability Sector Management and Services (HDSMS). The HDSMS will include health and disability workforce research, as a priority. If you would like further information on this change, please contact Charlotte Adank, Policy Analyst – Policy, Evaluation and Business Development Group, email: cadank@hrc.govt.nz.

New Zealand Relay Service

New Zealand Relay (NZ Relay) is the telecommunications service for people who are Deaf, hearing-impaired, deaf-blind, or speech-impaired.

• The New Zealand Relay Service and the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) are looking for a hearing impaired representative to become a member of the New Zeland Relay Advisory group. The closing date for applications is Friday 24th November 2006.
• The New Zealand Relay is looking for Outreach contractors who will be responsible for providing information, advice, training and support to speech impaired customers and their families in accessing the New Zealand Relay Service.
• New Zealand Relay Service is looking for Deaf, Deafblind, hearing impaired and speech impaired people to be part of a promotional video. The closing date for applications is 4 November 2006

For further information contact Chris Blum Phone 09 3587192, Fax: 09 3587189 TTY: 0800697352 or email: Christoph.A.Blum@sprint.com.

International Day of Disabled Persons (Sunday 3 December 2006)

The Office for Disability Issues would like to publicise the events being organised around the country to mark the International Day of Disabled Persons. Could you please send details about your event including venue, time, contact details and a brief outline of event to: carol.ratnam001@msd.govt.nz by 18 November 2006.

The United Nations theme for this year’s International Day of Disabled Persons is accessibility to information technologies, and the day will be referred to as E-Accessibility Day. Through its efforts, and collaboration with others, the United Nations aims to raise appreciation among Governments, private entities and the public of the significant benefits to persons with disabilities and society when they are empowered with increased access to information technologies.

Conferences and Events

November 2006

BACK ME UP: a Forum for family carers 9 November2006 at the New Plymouth District Council Chambers in Liardet Street from 9.30am-12 noon

Taranaki Quarterly Disability Forum on BACK ME UP is a Forum for family carers and will provide information about support services and peer support groups that might help. Keynote speaker is Carers NZ Director Laurie Hilsgen from Northland, and speakers from Access Ability and Work and Income will provide information about services For further information contact Kathy Glass on 06 753 5083 or 06 7597303.

The Australasian Conference on the Clubhouse Model, Pacific Park, Dunedin 9-12 November, 2006

The conference theme is “The threads of life”.

Please direct all enquiries to:

Tapestry Clubhouse
2-4 Calder Street
St Kilda
DUNEDIN

Email: trudy@sfotago.org.nz
Phone: (03) 455 1873
Fax: (03) 455 0035

Accommodation bookings are available online at:
Email: reservations@pacificparkdunedin.co.nz

Ageing in New Zealand: Reporting Research Progress 13 November 2006, Te Papa, Wellington

Hosted by: New Zealand Association of Gerontology & New Zealand Institute for Research on Ageing, with support from the Ministry of Social Development.

Information & registrations: www.gerontology.org.nz.

For further queries about the conference, please contact:

The conference company
Phone: (09) 360-1240
Fax: (09) 360-1242
Email: ageing@tcc.co.nz

Annual conference of the Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) is being held on 24-26 November 2006, in Auckland

The theme of the conference is “Leading the Change Together”. The conference is being held at the Wellesley Campus, Auckland University of Technology (AUT).

For more information contact:

Mark Scherer
Phone: 09 940 2211
Mob: 027 4577 577
Fax: 09 377 6522
Email: leadingchangetogether@point.net.nz
Visit the website.

March 2007

Certificated Behaviour Training available February/March 2007

Team Teach are providing 6 and 12 hour behaviour training in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington in late February and early March 2007.

Autism Queensland have chosen Team Teach as their approach. Their key message is that 95% or more of all incidents should be managed without recourse to physical intervention. The emphasis is on protecting and promoting positive relationships.

Early bird registration ends on 17 November 2006.

For more information contact:

Nick Burnett
Director Team Teach Australia
Ph: 0405 411 871
Fax: 07 3203 7052
22 Kristen Court
Redcliffe
Queensland 4020
Email: nick@team-teach.com.au
Visit the website.

April 2007

Social Policy, Research and Evaluation (SPRE) Conference 2007, to be held at the Wellington Convention Centre, Wellington, New Zealand on 3-5 April 2007

The Social Policy, Research and Evaluation Conference 2007 is being hosted by the Ministry of Social Development. This conference will provide a forum for a diverse audience of policy practitioners, non government organisations, researchers and evaluators, and the wider community to come together to discuss and debate the landscape of social policy in New Zealand in an open, engaging and innovative way. For more information on how to submit an abstract visit the website.

Alzheimers New Zealand National Conference: Call for Abstracts. 26 – 28 April 2007 Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington

The theme for the conference is “Dementia Across the Ages”. This looks at dementia across time (past, present and future) and dementia across different age groups (such as how children are affected and younger-onset dementia).

For more information on the Alzheimers conference go to the Alzhiemers New Zealand website for up-to-date information on the keynote speakers, accommodation, the conference programme and registration.

Helen Galloway
Administration Coordinator
Alzheimers New Zealand National Office
Phone: (04) 381 2364
Fax: (04) 381 2365