Office for Disability Issues: Email Update

On this page:

Part 1: Office for Disability Issues and government news
01: Work and Income appoints Principal Disability Advisor and Principal Health Advisor
02: Family Violence: It's not OK!
03: Deputy Director General Health and Disability National Services appointed
04: Summary of Disability Services Consumer Forums 2007
05: Health Research Council: Disability Research Placement Programme
06: District Health Board elections
07: Local Government elections: publication of resource handbook
08: Te Hononga - a picture of mental health and addiction services in 2015

Part 2: Current consultations
09: Building Code Review: Performance requirements: discussion paper

Part 3: Sector news
10: Launch of Inclusive Education website
11: 2007 World Wheelchair and Amputee Games in Taipei, Taiwan
12: AUT University Community Partnership Scholarship Programme 2008
13: Weekend art courses for the Deaf

Part 4: Events & conferences

Part 1: Office for Disability Issues and government news

01: Work and Income appoints Principal Disability Advisor and Principal Health Advisor

Work and Income have appointed a Principal Health Advisor and a Principal Disability Advisor to provide strategic leadership and advice to staff about support required by clients. They will also help improve Ministry of Social Development's ability to engage effectively with other health and disability sector agencies such as Ministry of Health, ACC, District Health Boards, Primary Health Organisations and the not-for-profit sector.

Dr David Bratt has accepted the position of Principal Health Advisor. David has extensive experience in general practice and health service governance. Most recently David has been employed by Capital and Coast DHB as their Primary Care Advisor.

Anne Hawker has accepted the position of Principal Disability Advisor. Anne has extensive experience in rehabilitation. Most recently Anne has been employed by ACC as their Strategic Programme Manager -Rehabilitation. Anne is currently the President Elect of Rehabilitation International.

Other roles supporting Work and Income to better help clients are:

• 13 Regional Health Advisors and 13 Regional Disability Advisors
• 13 Health and Disability Co-ordinators
• 67 Employment Co-ordinators.

For more information: Working New Zealand - Information for health and disability practitioners.

02: Family Violence: It's not OK!

The campaign on Family violence is a major initiative of the Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families which advises the government on family violence issues.

The campaign is being led by the Ministry of Social Development and the Families Commission, in association with communities. It is supported by ACC, the Ministry of Health, and the New Zealand Police.

There is an 0800 Family Violence Information Line 0800 456 450, and a website www.areyouok.org.nz.

The 0800 Family Violence Information Line provides support, information and access to services to help people understand the impact of family violence and how they can make changes in their lives. Community providers and government agencies with a range of experience in running helplines have helped to develop the line.

The information line covers abuse including elder abuse and abuse of disabled people. There is a TTY for Deaf people.

The 0800 number (0800 456 450) will operate from 9am-11pm, seven days a week. An after-hours message will redirect callers in the case of an emergency.

The Campaign Website – www.areyouok.org.nz

The campaign website provides information about family violence and details about the services available to help people experiencing family violence.

The site has links to the many government and non-government websites which have a connection to family violence, such as the Women’s Refuge website, Relationship Services, The Family Violence Clearing House and Preventing Violence in the Home. The website has media releases, background information, key contacts and links to research. It will be updated regularly and is a resource for information on family violence.

For more information about the campaign for Action on Family violence:
Email: areyouok@msd.govt.nz
Website: www.areyouok.org.nz

03: Deputy Director General Health and Disability National Services appointed

Geraldine Woods has been announced as the Deputy Director-General Health and Disability National Services in the Ministry of Health. She was appointed to this position in September 2007 following two and a half years managing the Disability Services Directorate at the Ministry. Geraldine will be responsible for leading the Directorate and for planning, funding and providing services not currently funded by District Health Boards.

04: Summary of Disability Services Consumer Forums 2007

The Disability Services Directorate held consumer forums in May - June 2007 to hear first hand about the issues affecting disabled people. The information consumers provided will help guide the strategic direction and work programme of Disability Services, Ministry of Health.

The summary of the issues and comments raised at the consumer forums is now on the Ministry of Health website. The issues raised fall broadly under five headings:

• inflexible systems
• support for families
• workforce
• communication and information
• vision feedback and comments about Disability Services or Ministry of Health priorities

For more information: Disability Services Consumer Forums 2007

05: Health Research Council: Disability Research Placement Programme

The Health Research Council has set up the Disability Research Placement Programme. This is a capacity building initiative designed to place disability research students with world-class research teams in the health and disability research sector.

The Disability Research Placement Programme is designed to:

• build academic and disability research capacity in New Zealand
• coordinate the placement and participation of disability research students within well established research teams
• foster the development and growth of disability research
• encourage recruitment of disability researchers by New Zealand research teams
• promote research opportunities and careers in disability research within the community generally and for disabled people generally
• identify, support and mentor future disability research experts and leaders.

Successful applicants will receive a career development award and the chance to work within a highly skilled and experienced research team in an area of interest to them.

Applications are invited from students who are eligible to undertake a Masters or PhD programme; and research teams who wish to register their interest to have a student placed with them

Applications for funding close on 2 November 2007.

For more information contact:
Moana Hadfield
Research Co-ordinator
Investment Process Group
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Phone: 09 303 5210
Email: mhadfield@hrc.govt.nz

06: District Health Board elections

The election of District Health Board members is part of the Local Government elections being held in October 2007.

District Health Boards are made up of elected and appointed members. The Minister of Health appoints four people to each District Health Board.

The Minister for Disability Issues can nominate candidates for the Minister of Health’s consideration. The Office for Disability Issues Nominations Service is currently preparing a list for the Minister for Disability Issues to consider from its database of suitably qualified disabled people.

For information about the Nominations Service.

07: Local Government elections: publication of resource handbook

A booklet entitled "Inclusive Community" has been published as a resource to help councils, territorial local authorities and district health boards work more effectively with disabled people. Voters can use the document to become more familiar with disability issues and to help identify candidates who are informed and have fair disability policies.

The publication of the booklet is a collaborative effort by DPA, CCS Disability Action, IHC, Deaf Association, People First, Workbridge, Central Potential and the Office for Disability Issues.

Copies of the booklet are available online: Easy to read guide to voting.

08: Te Hononga - a picture of mental health and addiction services in 2015

"Te Hononga 2015, Connecting for greater well-being" was launched by the Minister of Health, the Hon Pete Hodgson on 14 August 2007.

The publication describes the Mental Health Commission's view of what mental health and addiction services will be like in 2015. Te Hononga places service users and a whanau ora/recovery focus at the heart of the delivery of mental health and addiction services, with service users being the drivers of their own recovery.

For more information and to obtain copies of Te Hononga:

Email: info@mhc.govt.nz
Phone: 04 474 8900
Fax: 04 474 8901

Part 2: Current consultations

09: Building Code Review: Performance requirements: discussion paper

The Minister for Building and Construction has announced the release of a discussion document on the performance requirements of the Building code.

Some of the key points relating to the disability sector are:

• consideration of internal space requirements for housing to improve people' well being and to also better meet the needs of disabled people
• a new way to design buildings for people to be safe in the event of a fire.

Copies of the discussion document are available from the Department and Housing website or by phoning 0800 242 243.

Submissions close on 28 September 2007.

Part 3: Sector News

10: Launch of Inclusive Education website

The Inclusive Education Action Group (IEAG) launched its website on 22 August 2007 at a reception in the Beehive co-hosted by the Minister for Disability Issues, Hon Ruth Dyson and Metiria Turei MP, Green Party spokesperson for Disability Issues. The IEAG group came together out of the Children's Rights Seminars hosted by IHC last year, and is based on the inclusive education principle that all people are equal and should be respected and valued, in accordance with basic human rights.

For more information:
Website: www.ieag.org.nz

11: 2007 World Wheelchair and Amputee Games in Taipei, Taiwan

The International Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) has held the 2007 World Wheelchair and Amputee Games in Taipei, Taiwan. New Zealand athletes have won seven golds, one silver and two bronze medals at the games.

For more information: Paralympics New Zealand.

12: AUT University Community Partnership Scholarship Programme 2008

The AUT University is offering scholarships to increase participation, retention and success of Maori, Pasifika and disabled people who have demonstrated the academic potential to succeed at tertiary level.

Applicants for the scholarships need to be selected by AUT's Community Partner School, Private Training Establishments or Partner Organisations.

Disabled students are able to negotiate part-time study options on an individual basis.

The deadline for applications is 31 October 2007.

For more information:
Contact: Todd Fernie, Disability Recruitment and Training Adviser
Phone: (09) 921-9999 x8487
Fax: (09) 921-9849

13: Weekend art courses for the Deaf

The Learning Connexion (TLC) is a school of art and creativity based in Island Bay, Wellington. They have recently extended their programme to the Deaf community and are currently looking at the option of offering a one-off weekend course exclusively for Deaf people.

TLC are inviting expressions of interest from the Deaf community and hearing impaired people for weekend classes in watercolour painting from 10am-5pm on a Saturday & Sunday, or alternatively for one day courses.

The courses would be held before the end of 2007. TLC would provide a communicator for the weekend to aid with communication and translate between the tutor and those who attend the course.

For more information:
Contact: Ann Williamson
Email: a.williamson@tlc.ac.nz

Part 4: Events and conferences

Information about the following events and conferences can be found on the Office website: Events and conferences.

Conferences

• 5-7 October 2007. Living with Blindness – Building Relationships conference 2007.
• Association for Supported Employment Conference 19-20 November 207, and post conference workshops on 21 November 2007.

Events

• Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN) Canada: seminar series 12-25 November 2007.