Part One: Office for Disability Issues and government news.
This is the Office's email update of 4 July 2008.
01: Office for Disability Issues: Vacancy for a Policy Manager
Fixed Term Contract or Secondment – 6 months
Full Time National Office - Wellington
- Key leadership and relationship management role
- Focus on disability issues
- Great breadth in work programme
We are very proud of the progress this office has made so far – including working on the NZ Sign Language Act and taking a leading role in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We are now ready to step our capability up and really get disability issues on the agenda.
This six month contract is one of two new leadership positions in the Office for Disability Issues. The role is responsible for influencing and leading policy development on critical disability issues. The Policy Manager also has responsibility for leading the development of the ongoing capability of the Office’s policy staff, and building effective relationships across the Ministry and with disability sector stakeholders.
The successful candidate will have a strong background in public sector policy processes and an understanding of parliamentary and legislative processes. They will also have team management experience and the proven ability to lead high quality, balanced analysis and advice on a range of complex issues. Experience with, and a passion for, the disability sector is desirable.
To learn more about this Office please visit www.odi.govt.nz. To obtain a position description or to apply online, please visit our website www.msd.govt.nz/careers and follow the online process to upload your resume, covering letter and complete the online application form. Enquiries can be directed to Shelley Curham on 04 9163683 or email shelley.curham001@msd.govt.nz.
Applications close Friday 11 July 2008 at 5pm.
02: Office for Disability Issues: Vacancy for a Senior Advisor- Strategy
Responsiveness Permanent, Full Time, National Office - Wellington
- Exciting senior leadership opportunity
- Focus on disability issues
- Great variety and challenge
We are very proud of the progress this office has made so far – including working on the NZ Sign Language Act and taking a leading role in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We are now ready to step our capability up and really get disability issues on the agenda.
The Senior Advisor role is one of two new leadership positions in the Office for Disability Issues. The key focus of this role is to promote, implement and monitor the NZ Disability Strategy and to increase the influence and effectiveness of the Office in fostering active responsiveness to disability issues across central and local government as well as the wider NZ society.
To achieve this we are looking for someone with strong sector knowledge and an understanding of best practice in the disability area. They will be able to provide intellectual leadership, and have proven ability to take policy through to practice. Expertise in strategic communications and in managing the production of material for publications, news and electronic media is desirable. This role has a small team reporting to it and requires some leadership experience. The ability to form effective relationships with disabled people, disability sector organisations and central and local government is vital.
This is a unique and exciting opportunity to be part of improving outcomes for disabled people. The successful candidate will have a hand in achieving attitudinal and systemic change, and make a real difference in the lives of the 600,000 disabled New Zealanders.
To learn more about this Office please visit www.odi.govt.nz. To obtain a position description or to apply online, please visit our website www.msd.govt.nz/careers and follow the online process to upload your resume, covering letter and complete the online application form. Enquiries can be directed to Shelley Curham on 04 9163683 or email shelley.curham001@msd.govt.nz.
Applications close Friday 18 July 2008 at 5.00pm.
03: The Law and Mental Health: Legal Services Agency training kit
The Minister of Justice Hon Annette King launched the law related education kit on “The Law and Mental Health” on 19 June 2008.
The kit has been designed as a comprehensive training and education kit for community service providers who provide information and support for people experiencing mental illness, their support people, whanau, family and friends.
Copies of the kit cost $60 including GST and postage within New Zealand. A reduced price is offered to non-profit community organisations.
For more information:
Contact: Legal Services Agency
Postal: PO Box 5333 Wellington
Phone: 04 495 5910
Fax: 04 495 5911
Email: info@lsa.org.nz
Website: http://www.lsa.govt.nz
04: Bioethics Council Launch of Pre-Birth Testing Report: "Who Gets Born?"
The Bioethics Council launched “Who gets born? a report on the cultural, ethical and spiritual issues raised by pre-birth testing” on 18 June 2008.
The report presents the findings of the 'Who gets born? Pre-birth testing' project run in 2007 and early 2008. It includes sections on the public deliberation process used for the project, how participants worked through the issues, and the Council thinking and recommendations to the government.
The public deliberation process, the report and speeches made at the launch are on the Bioethics Council website.
For more information:
Contact: Simon Wright, Bioethics Council Secretariat
Postal: P O Box 10362
Phone: 04 439 7656
Fax: 04 439 7704
Email: Simon.Wright@mfe.govt.nz
Website: http://www.bioethics.org.nz
05: Ministry of Health: changes to vehicle purchase and equipment
The Ministry of Health has approved:
- changes to the funding guidelines for family vehicles for families with disabled children aged 15 years and under
- removal of income and asset testing for modifications (such as vehicle hoists)
- increasing the maximum amount for vehicle modification
- separate funding consideration for vehicle purchase and/or vehicle modifications
- funding guidelines for several new and extended services:
- Hearing Assistive Technology; this includes visual or vibrating alert systems (e.g. visual smoke alarm) for Deaf, Deafblind and hearing impaired people to ensure that they are able to live at home safely.
- Postural Management: additional support for people with a significant physical disability
- Communication Assistive Technology funding for equipment and training to support people to communicate more effectively in their daily lives has been increased. New guidelines have been prepared and the Assistive Technology Alliance of New Zealand (ATANZ) will be delivering training workshops in main centres across the country. There is no cost to attend.
For information about the Communication Assistive Technology workshops:
Contact: Ann Smaill, Chairperson, ATANZ Trust
Phone: 09 815 3232 ext 806
Fax: 09 815 3230
Mobile: 0275 585 018
Email: ann.smaill@talklink.org.nz
Website: www.atanz.org.nz
For more information about the funding changes:
Website: http://www.disabilityfunding.co.nz
Website: http://www.accessable.co.nz/accessonline.php?ShowAllSect1=Y
06: Science Media Centre
The New Zealand Science Media Centre was launched to the media on 30 June 2008 and officially opened on 1 July 2008. The Centre is an independent organisation managed by the Royal Society and operates under the direction of an Advisory Board.
The terms of reference of the Advisory Board include being a first port of call for media that want science and technology based information, and proactively providing timely information and material on science and technology topics. For more information on the Terms of reference of the Advisory Board: http://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/about/
For more information:
Contact: The Royal Society of New Zealand
Postal: PO Box 12-474, Thorndon, Wellington
Phone: 04 499 5476
Mobile: 0275 585 018
Email: smc@sciencemediacentre.co.nz
Website: www.rsnz.org