Part One: Office for Disability Issues and government news.
This is the Office's email update of 17 April 2009.
01: Hon Tariana Turia appointed as Associate Minister for Disability Issues.
Hon Tariana Turia has been appointed as Associate Minister for Disability Issues. orking closely with the Minister for Disability Issues, Hon Paula Bennett, Hon Tariana Turia is now responsible for managing the government's relationship with the disability sector.
This will include:
- working with disabled people, providers, and stakeholder groups to manage and resolve issues and concerns as they arise
- advising other relevant Ministers on initiatives, policies and programmes that would strengthen and enhance outcomes for disabled people, and
- representing government in relation to the Government's international obligations; particularly under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Hon Tariana Turia is looking forward to working with disabled people, service providers and other stakeholders to advance these initiatives.
02: Video Relay Service Trial.
New Zealand Relay and the Ministry of Economic Development have announced a five month trial for a video relay service. The video relay service gives Deaf and hearing impaired people to opportunity to connect to a qualified New Zealand Sign Language interpreter using their computer and a webcam. The interpreter will be based in a call centre and will place the Deaf or hearing impaired person's call to the people they wish to speak to.
For more information and to order copies:
Contact: Chris Blum, NZ Relay Account Manager
Tollfree TTY: 0800 NZRelay or 0800 69 7352
Phone: 09 358 7192
Fax: 09 358 7189
Email: vrs@reachnzrelay.co.nz
Website: www.nzrelay.co.nz
03: Government sets priorities for broadcasting.
The Government has announced changes in its priorities for broadcasting. Ministers have agreed that work on improving access to broadcasting for vision and hearing impaired people will be kept on the broadcasting work programme. This work programme is led by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
04: Health Research Council: Request for Proposals.
The Health Research Council in conjunction with the Ministry of Health is requesting research proposals on the prevention of obesity and related chronic disease in disabled people. The objective of the research is to determine whether prevention of chronic disease is effective for people with disabilities and to identify the ways in which current practices can be modified to better meet the needs of disabled people. The deadline for submitting the Expression of Interest form is 7 May 2009.
For more information:
Contact: Phil Light, Project Manager, Partnership Programme
Phone: 09 303 5227
Email: plight@hrc.govt.nz
Website: www.hrc.govt.nz