Office for Disability Issues: Email Update
20 April 2007. This email is a regular update from the Office for Disability Issues on our work and recent disability-related news.
On this page:
Part 1: Office for Disability Issues and government news
01: Signing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
02: Repeal of Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act
03: New Zealand Disability Strategy implementation review
04: Disability Advisory Council
05: Parliamentary reception for Nominations Service
06: Disability Research Placement Programme
07: Updating the Children, Young Persons, and their Families Act 1989
08: Launch of Lu'i Ola: Auckland Pacific Disability Plan
09: Office for Disability Issues Newsletter April 2007
Part 2: Sector news
10: New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week 7-12 May 2007
11: New Zealand Federation of Vocational & Support Services (VASS) Training and Workforce Development Fund application information
12: NZ on Wheels website
Part 3: Events and conferences
13: Association of Supported Employment in New Zealand training workshops for 2007
14: Disability Services Directorate consumer forum and hui March - June 2007
15: Dementia Accross the Ages: Alzheimers NZ National conference 2007
16: Tutors in Supported Learning 3-5 July 2007
17: Enhancing Our Com(mon)unity 2007: Social Inclusion, Mental Health & Recovery 30 April-2 May 2007
Part 1: Office for Disability Issues and government news
01: Signing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
On 30 March 2007, New Zealand was one of 81 nations that signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This was an historic moment for several reasons:
- this convention was negotiated in record time over the last four years, which is the fastest for any international human rights instrument to date
- it was the first human rights instrument of the 21st century
- disabled people and their representative organisations were directly involved in the convention negotiations, including as part of official delegations. This was a first for the United Nations
- it was the largest number of nations signing a convention on the opening day.
New Zealand was represented at the United Nations in New York by the Minister for Disability Issues, Hon Ruth Dyson. The Minister was one of the few speakers at the main event of the day - the signing ceremony in the UN General Assembly.
Don Mackay (New Zealand Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva) chaired the afternoon discussions which had the theme "From vision to Action - The Road to Implementation".
The Convention marks a shift in thinking about disabled people. Nations that sign up to the Convention are obliged to ensure disabled people experience human rights and opportunities on the same basis as other people.
It takes 20 nations to ratify the Convention before it comes into force. The next step is for New Zealand to ratify the Convention. Government will be working on the necessary steps needed to ensure this can be done as soon as possible.
You can access further information on the Convention and the signing ceremony:
Statement on the signing of the UN Convention by Minister Dyson
Speech by Minister Dyson at the Signing of the United Nations Convention.
Proceedings on 30 March 2007, list of nations signing the Convention, and video of the signing and other events on the day
Text of the Convention
02: Repeal the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act
On 21 March 2007, Parliament voted to repeal the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act.
For more information:
Press releases from the Minister:
Victory for NZ workers rights 15 March 2007
Disabled workers to benefit from law change 21 March 2007
Statement from Council of Trade Unions
03: New Zealand Disability Strategy implementation review
On release of the New Zealand Disability Strategy in April 2001, a commitment was made to review progress on its implementation after five and ten years had passed. The five year review of implementation is now underway.
In March 2007, the Office for Disability Issues contracted a research and evaluation company, Litmus Ltd, to conduct the review. Key results from this work will be recommendations on the impact and any improvements that can be made in the Disability Strategy implementation.
The scope of the implementation review will not include revising the vision, principles or objectives of the New Zealand New Zealand Disability Strategy. A full evaluation of implementation is planned for the ten-year mark.
Litmus Ltd has met with the Disability Advisory Council to discuss their approach to the review, and the best way they can work with the disability sector. The review report will be due later in 2007.
The terms of reference for the implementation review
04: Disability Advisory Council
On 15 and 16 March 2007, the Disability Advisory Council met. This was its ninth meeting. The Council advises the Office for Disability Issues (and other government agencies) on implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy and emerging issues impacting on disabled people.
Members present at this meeting were: Marion Wellington, Mereana Hermara, Murray Peat, Mike Gourley, Christine Zander, Cheryl Wallace, John Ward, Kim Robinson, Tina French, Graham Stairmand, and Lose Tu’i’ile’ila.
Progress with the Office’s work programme was discussed. Council members commented on the need for government to prioritise making its information more accessible, such as having publications available in different formats.
Possible barriers to disabled people accessing affordable housing and ways to promote employment of disabled people were discussed.
Council members discussed the five-year review of implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy, which is being conducted by Litmus Ltd. Options for including the disability sector and disabled people in the review were explored.
The Office updated progress on its Review of Long-term Disability Supports, and outlined current directions of work.
The Ministry of Social Development discussed their development of Working New Zealand: Work Focused Supports, which are to be delivered by Work and Income. This discussion followed on from the last meeting, where improvements to supports and services aimed at disabled people and people with ill health getting into employment were discussed. The Ministry had recently advertised for both a Principal Disability Advisor and a Principal Health Advisor to assist the development of Working New Zealand.
Progress with the Council’s register of emerging issues was noted, and new issues for inclusion discussed.
The Families Commission presented on recent research on families with disabled parents, and parents with disabled children. Issues impacting on families, especially support for disabled parents to enable families to stay together, were discussed.
The Ministry of Economic Development presented on the New Zealand Relay service, and current plans to promote use of the service.
The Ministry of Transport presented on current work impacting on disabled people’s ability to use public transport, including the collection of information and guidelines for accessible services.
05: Parliamentary reception for Nominations Service
On 20 February 2007 the Minister for Disability Issues hosted a reception at Parliament to promote the Nominations Service for disabled people to government, and business sectors. The Minister talked about the wide range of talents, skills and experience that disabled people can bring to government boards and committees. Two speakers, who are both on the Nominations Service database, illustrated the potential available. John Burton is an entrepreneur who imports coffee beans and tea. His business began in his garage and now it is a multimillion dollar operation. André Lubbe is a lawyer who is the Employment Relationships Manager for the ANZ National Bank.
For information about the Nominations Service and an application form
06: Disability Research Placement Programme
The Disability Research Placement Programme is designed to place disability research students with research teams in the health and disability sector. The key goal of the programme is to:
- train and support students in developing their own research proposals, by placing them in research teams with the knowledge and experience of publications and of securing research funding from the Health Research Council.
- provide better co-ordination and recruitment of students interested in establishing careers in disability research.
Applications for funding close on 28 May 2007.
For more information:
Moana Hadfield
Research Co-ordinator
Investment Process Group
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Phone: 09 303 5210
Email: mhadfield@hrc.govt.nz
Go to HRC website
07: Updating the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989
The Government has asked the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to consider whether changes or additions are needed to update and strengthen the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 (the Act).
MSD is looking at what changes, if any, can be made to:
- better achieve the objectives and fulfil the principles of the Act
- strengthen the family decision making model at the heart of the Act
- assist best practice in promoting the wellbeing of children, young persons, and their families.
As part of the update MSD is seeking feedback from people and organisations who work with the Act and the children, young people and families affected by it.
MSD is interested in views on:
- how the Act could better support best practice
- whether any current provisions are not working well or need to be fixed
- what might be missing from the Act
- what, if any, changes or additions you would like to see made to the Act to support the achievement of its objectives and fulfilment of its principles.
Feedback will be considered as part of a report to Ministers later this year.
A discussion document has been produced that identifies some of the major themes and ideas which have emerged from the work so far. The deadline for submissions is 1 June 2007.
The discussion document and online submission form
Email: cypfactupdate@msd.govt.nz
Fax: 04 917 5583
Mail: CYPF Act Update Team
Social Services Policy
Ministry of Social Development
PO Box 1556
Wellington.
08: Launch of Lu'i Ola: Auckland Pacific Disability Plan
Lu’i Ola, the Auckland Pacific Disability Plan was launched on Friday 20 April at the Telstra Pacific Events Centre, Manukau.
The Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector and Associate Minister of Pacific Island Affairs launched the plan.
Lu’i Ola has been co-sponsored by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs and has been endorsed by twelve local and regional Government agencies including the three District Health Boards in the Auckland region. Disabled Pacific people and their families around Auckland have been involved in developing the plan and have formally supported the end result.
Deputy Director-General of Disability Services, Geraldine Woods, says “Lu’i Ola focuses on improving disability support services to disabled Pacific people and their families, whanau and aiga in the wider Auckland region”.
“This is a great start in addressing some of the difficulties disabled Pacific people face. We now need to focus on building a national plan so that disabled Pacific people can live and participate fully in their home and communities”.
Fuimaono Les McCarthy, CEO Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs says, “This initiative is an excellent example of Government agencies working together to provide accessible, culturally appropriate support services to the disabled Pacific community in Auckland. We at the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs are privileged to have been involved in its creation”.
Lu’i Ola was developed following research commissioned by the Ministry of Health in 2005 from Dr Siale ‘Alo Foliaki for the PIASS Trust. This research identified a number of key recommendations and in particular, increasing intersectoral cooperation and coordination.
Leaders in the Pacific and disability community as well as Ministers, Mayors and media have been invited to attend the launch.
After the launch there will be a consumer fono for disabled people and their families, whanau and aiga who use Ministry of Health funded services.
For more information:
Manase Lua
Project Manager Pacific
Planning & Development
Disability Services Directorate
Ministry of Health
Phone: 09 580 9053
Mobile: 0274 807870
Fax: 09 580 9001
Email: Manase Lua
09: Office for Disability Issues newsletter April 2007
The April edition of the Office for Disability Issues Newsletter is online.
Part 2: Sector news
10: New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week 7-12 May 2007
The Deaf Association has a number of events scheduled for the week. They aim to raise awareness of NZSL as New Zealand’s 3rd Official Language and as part of the national culture.
Events include:
- launch of NZSL Week - a nationally coordinated release of 15,000 butterflies
- launch of a dedicated New Zealand Sign Language website
- posters and finger spelling cards distributed throughout government departments and other public locations directing people to the website
- “Taste of Sign Language” classes all over New Zealand
- the 3rd Deaf National Short Film Competition - open to all short films made specifically for the competition by Deaf directors, writers and producers, with Deaf actors and actresses, according to the theme “Sign of the Times”.
- the distribution of information and education packs through schools and libraries.
For more information contact:
Amanda Everitt
National Co-ordinator
New Zealand Sign Language Week 2007
Email: nzslweek@deaf.co.nz
Deaf National Short Film Association
11:New Zealand Federation of Vocational & Support Services (VASS). Training and Workforce Development Fund application.
The purpose of the Fund is to enable staff at all levels of vocational and support services provider organisations to access a variety of training options relevant to their positions. Applications are now open.
The Deadline is 30 June 2007.
For more information contact:
VASS
PO Box 19209
Courtenay Place
Wellington
Phone: 04 384 2000
Email: VASS
12: NZ on Wheels website
The New Zealand on Wheels Trust has set up a website, in blog format, in which the wheelchair accessibility of New Zealand travel, accommodation and attractions are discussed.
The New Zealand on Wheels Trust are keen to hear from anyone who uses a wheelchair and would be interested in submitting a review about their experiences with travel or accommodation in NZ to the site.
Part 3: Events and conferences
13: Association of Supported Employment in New Zealand Training workshops for 2007
Programme: Marketing Supported Employment (One day)
Date: Thursday 24 May Presenter: Pam Lockwood
Suited to: All Supported Employment Practitioners
Venue: Wellington (Venue to be advised)
Programme: Career Planning (One day)
Date: Friday 25 May Presenter: Pam Lockwood
Suited to: All Supported Employment Practitioners
Venue: Wellington (Venue to be advised)
Programme: Introduction to Supported Employment (Two day programme)
Date: Thursday 7 - Friday 8 June
Presenters: John Taylor and Roy Wilson
Suited to: New Supported Employment Practitioners
Venue: Christchurch (Venue to be advised)
For more information:
Phone: Ian Harper 06 342 3899
Mobile: 0274 574 744
Email: asenz@xtra.co.nz
CHRISTCHURCH FORUM
On Tuesday 24 April 2007 from 1pm – 4pm the ASENZ forum will take place in Christchurch. The venue will be The Arts Centre, Hurst-Seager Room Cnr Hereford St and Rolleston Ave Christchurch.
The theme will be “What has Supported Employment done for me?” and clients and employers will share with you their experiences of Supported Employment. The ASENZ Board will be attending.
RSVP to Lachlan Keating by email.
14: Disability Services Directorate (DSD) consumer forum and hui March – June 2007
The Ministry of Health is visiting the main centres and some smaller and more rural places to find out how the disability support system was working for disabled people, their families, whanau and carers.
A list of the times when consumer forum and hui are held in your area is on the Ministry of Health website.
Registration is preferred prior to the day to ensure adequate resources are available, however, people are also welcome to just turn up.
For more information contact:
Phone: Janette Searle 09 810 9488
Freephone: 0800 373 664
Email: dsdforum@moh.govt.nz
15: Dementia Across the Ages: Alzheimers NZ National Conference 26-28 April 2007
Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington.
Register for the conference online
For more information contact:
Conference Organisers
Phone; 03 546 6022 or 04 472 0337
16: Tutors in Supported Learning 3 July - 5 July 2007
Waiariki Institute of Technology, Rotorua
The Waiariki Institute of Technology is hosting a conference on Pathways to Inclusion. The conference is for anyone interested in Tertiary education of disabled people, and their inclusion in the community.
For more information contact:
Warwick Hill
Phone: 07 3468908
Mobile: 0272 437595
Email: warwick.hill@waiariki.ac.nz
17: Enhancing Our Com(mon)unity 2007: Social Inclusion, Mental Health & Recovery 30 April-2 May 2007
Rotorua Convention Centre
1170 Fenton Street, Rotorua.
The conference is co-hosted by Standards Plus and the Mental Health Commission.
The conference's purpose is to contribute to our understanding of the critical relationships amongst all parties involved in enabling better lives for people living with mental illness.
Guest Speakers include:
The Hon Peter Hodgson, Minister of Health.
Liz Sayce who is Chief Executive of RADAR, the UK's leading disability network. Gregor Henderson who is the Director of Scotland's National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-Being. Julia Hughes who a Consumer Advisor with Community Mental Health Services in Whakatane. Sarah Gordon is the Managing Director of Case Consulting Ltd, and identifies as a person with experience of mental illness. Hineroa Hakiaha is a Senior Advisor with the Mental Health Commission. She is a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses, Kaiwhakahaere for Te Ao Maramatanga (New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses) and executive member of Te Kaunihera o Nga.
For more information:
Email: StandardsPlus@imaginebetter.co.nz
Phone: 09 262 5374
Fax: 09 262 5371
Postal:
Standards Plus
PO Box 23725
Hunters Corner
Manukau 2155
Imagine better website