Part One: Office for Disability Issues and government news.
This is the Office's email update of 5 May 2010.
01: Message from Hon Tariana Turia, Minister for Disability Issues
I am pleased to formally announce this week, New Zealand Sign Language Week 2 - 8 May 2010 that we are reviewing the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006.
The review will assess how government agencies are implementing the aims of the Act and suggest improvements that may be needed. The Act specifies a review after three years because it was recognised how important it is to make sure that the Act is working for the Deaf community.
The Office for Disability Issues will be involving Deaf people in planning the review, prior to the consultation happening with the Deaf community, interpreters and other interested people.
I look forward to the findings of the review and will report back to Parliament later this year 2010.
Earlier this month I was also fortunate to launch the New Zealand Disability Support Network, which has a clear vision - a strong and collaborative community support sector that contributes to a society that values the lives, dreams and aspirations of disabled people.
As Minister for Disability Issues I have met with a range of incredible families, disabled people, advocates and groups who all seem to share similar goals and ideals.
I am fully supportive of organisations that are well connected, networked and committed to evidence based best practice.
The Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues is holding its next meeting 18 May 2010. A focus for this meeting will be monitoring of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by disabled people.
Mauriora!
Na
Tariana
02: Message from Hon Pansy Wong, Associate Minister for Disability Issues
This has been a busy month for me as Associate Minister for Disability Issues and I have enjoyed getting out and about meeting many people from within our disability community.
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Masterton teenager Bridget McLaren, who is the proud recipient of the Wairarapa region's first mobility dog, Goldie, which assists Bridget in her day-to-day activities.
Goldie is giving Bridget, who has cerebral palsy, more and more independence each day and I was impressed to watch a demonstration of Goldie's ability, including paying for items in shops.
This dynamic duo can be seen out and about around Masterton and are one of 21 mobility dog and handler teams in New Zealand. With the assistance of Goldie, I'm sure that Bridget will continue to thrive, including in her study in computer papers and spreadsheets.
Also, on Monday, 3 May, 2010, I was pleased to be able to join Wellingtonians in launching New Zealand Sign Language Week at an event organised by Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand and their guests at Turnbull House.
It was an opportunity for me to practice my sign language along with a group of foreign diplomats and members of the public, who also attended the launch.
New Zealand Sign Language is our country's third official language alongside English and Maori and I am passionate about promoting it.
New Zealand Sign Language is spoken by 24,000 people and it was a pleasure to participate in New Zealand Sign Language Week - including joining the line of signers along Lambton Quay, Wellington, later on in the day.
I want to encourage all New Zealanders to participate in the week, to embrace our country's deaf culture, and learn to communicate more effectively with Deaf people.
03: National Pasifika Disability plan 2009-2013
The National Pasifika Disability Plan 2009-13 has now been finalised. The Plan outlines a Pacific development framework with the vision to ensure ‘Pacific peoples with disabilities can live in their home and take part in their community in the same way other New Zealanders do'.
There are four key goals of the plan.
- Workforce: increase the capacity of the Pacific disability workforce and improve the capability of the disability workforce.
- Information and communication: strengthen the Disability Support Services (DSS) information for and communication with Pacific peoples with disabilities, their aiga and caregivers.
- Leadership: develop and foster leadership by Pacific peoples with disabilities.
- Provider Development: improve the capacity and the capability of the disability funded services to deliver quality services to Pacific peoples.
Le Va has been contracted by the Ministry of Health Disability Support Services (DSS) Group to develop and deliver the new Pasifika Disability National Coordination Service. This service has been established to assist the DSS Group implement the National Pasifika Disability Plan 2009/13.
For more information:
Contact: Feala Afoa, Manager Pacific Development
Email: feala_afoa@moh.govt.nz
04: Pasifika Church Disability toolkit
Lu'i Ola has developed a church engagement toolkit to help Pacific churches include disabled people in the church community.
An information manual, a training workbook and promotional materials as well as a DVD will all be part of the toolkit. Some of these resources will be translated into Pacific languages and the toolkit will be circulated to Pacific church communities in the Auckland region
A promotional campaign around this toolkit will start late May.
05: Workforce development
Te Pou, has been contracted to provide the National Training Coordination Service and Training Grant Scheme. This new service will coordinate training options for disability support workers who wish to study towards approved national certificates. Specific focus for disability workforce development is:
- Consumer Training and Leadership Fund - training for people with disabilities to better manage their own support services and their own resources.
- Leadership Development Scheme - reproducing sector led leadership initiatives that have been successfully used to build leadership capability.
- Graduate Diploma in Education (Disability Support) - a new qualification for needs assessors, service coordinators and case managers.
- National Certificate Disability Support Assessment Planning and Coordination (Level 5) - a new entry level qualification for needs assessors, service coordinators and case managers.
06: How Should We Care for the Carers, Now and Into the Future? Manaaki Tangata
In March 2010 the National Health Committee published How Should We Care for the Carers, Now and Into the Future?
This report from the National Health Committee makes recommendations to the Minister of Health about how to better support and provide services for informal carers. The Committee defined an informal carer as someone who cares for a friend, family member or neighbour who, because of sickness, frailty or disability, can't manage everyday living without help or support.
07: Do you need to file an income tax return?
It is the end of the tax year and if you earn business, rental, or overseas income, you'll probably need to file an IR3 tax return. Inland Revenue has a special calculator that can tell you if you need to file or not. If you're required to send in an IR3, an easy way of doing it is to file online.