Part One: Office for Disability Issues and government news.

01: Message from Hon Tariana Turia, Minister for Disability Issues

In June I attended the Community and Disabilities Services Ministers' Conference in Adelaide, Australia.

It was an opportunity to share and learn about initiatives with Australian Federal, State and Territorial counterparts working in the disability areas.

Many of the issues dealt with and discussed were of real interest to me.

I was able to share about the value of the Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues in New Zealand and its ability to lead action on the New Zealand Disability Strategy. Also how in the latest Budget additional funding was provided for disability supports, promoting positive attitudes, promoting accessible housing and to provide for independent monitoring of the rights of persons with disabilities.

I was interested in hearing about the Australian experience - in particular the work they have done on a National Need and Supply Model. This model helps explore different scenarios to give a better measure of the need and prediction of future demand for disability support services.

We may be able to learn from this work and it is a conversation that I am keen to continue. It is also important that as the work evolves that the voices of the disability sector are also heard and have input.

The trip also gave me an opportunity to visit an NGO involved in supporting disabled people to live in the community and hear about their `Circle of Friends' concept.  This is a simple idea of support in which friends and extended family are invited and encouraged to look out for the interests of the disabled person by literally wrapping a circle of friends around them.

I am always keen to hear about how to assist disabled people live the life they want to live in their own homes.

Recently I also addressed the national conference of the New Zealand Federation of Vocational and Support Services in June 2010. Their theme - `Allies and collaborators' - is something I identified with. I appreciated the conference spent a lot of time for people to be able to tell their own stories, the stories of parents and professionals.

We can all learn from sharing our stories, collaborating and working together as we work towards an inclusive New Zealand.

Mauriora!

Na Tariana