The Disability Information and Resource Centre » national disability strategy

Participants sought for 1 in 4 Poll

admin — Fri, 27 May 2011 04:15:55 +0000

The first Australian 1 in 4 Poll is seeking people to respond to a survey on social inclusion. The Poll can be completed by:

people with disability; and
carers who are family members or who are paid. Carers can support a person with disability to complete the survey or can complete it themselves.

The information will be used by the researchers – Deakin University and Scope – and by National Disability Services (NDS) to influence government policy and inform future practice and research.

The 1 in 4 Poll is a national survey, to be conducted at regular intervals over the next 3 years. It takes its name from the fact that disability touches the lives of one in every four Australians – either directly or indirectly in the case of carers. It aims to provide a vehicle for people with disability to voice their opinions on current social issues.

The results from this survey may assist in building impetus for a National Disability Insurance Scheme and the implementation of the National Disability Strategy.

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National Disability Strategy launched

admin — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 04:30:12 +0000

The National Disability Strategy was officially launched in Melbourne on Friday 18 March by Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Jan McLucas, together with Dr Rhonda Galbally AO, Chair of the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council, Mr Simon McKeon, Australian of the Year and Professor Ron McCallum AO, Senior Australian of the Year.

‘This is the first time in Australia’s history that the Commonwealth, State and Territory, and Local Government have agreed to a unified, national approach to improve the lives of people with disability,’ Parliamentary Secretary McLucas said.

‘We will continue to work with people with disability, their families and carers, and the disability services sector, to deliver changes that will improve people’s lives. The strategy provides $11 million in new funding for accessibility packages to improve access to cinemas, local communities and library materials as well as liveable housing design, leadership development and the new ABC Ramp Up website.’

The long term strategy is supported by six key areas which aim to remove barriers and expand opportunities for people with disability and their carers through the support of:

inclusive and accessible communities;
rights, protection, justice and legislation;
economic security;
personal and community support;
learning and skills; and
health and wellbeing.

For more information visit www.fahcsia.gov.au.

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Shut Out – excluded from education

Jane — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:02:25 +0000

Children with a disability are being left behind by the education revolution, according to the patron of a national disability organisation.
“It is still possible for a child with a disability in this country to leave school without the ability to read or write,” Dr Rhonda Galbally said today.
“Children with a disability lag behind on a whole range of indicators – yet very little progress has been made in closing
the gap. “The statistics are outrageous – but where is the outrage?” she said.
Dr Galbally made her remarks during an address to the National Press Club in Canberra today.
A long time campaigner for disability rights, Dr Galbally is the patron of the National Disability and Carer Alliance and is Chair of the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council.
During her address Dr Galbally presented material from Shut Out: The Experience of People with Disabilities and their
Families in Australia, a report recently released by the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council.
Shut Out is the product of extensive consultations across the country with people with a disability, their families, friends and carers. It is the first comprehensive picture of what contemporary life is like for people with a disability in this country.
The report details the discrimination and exclusion experienced by people with a disability and the multiple barriers they face in accessing employment, education, housing, health care and recreation.
Dr Galbally also used her address to add her support to the growing campaign for a National Disability Insurance
Scheme.
Dr Galbally said the introduction of such a scheme would provide government with a responsible economic solution to
the funding crisis which confronted them. At the same time it would ensure people with a disability, their families and
carers had the support and resources they needed to become full participants in the economic, social and cultural life of the nation.
“A National Disability Insurance Scheme would enable people with a disability to finally get what they need when they
need it to participate more fully in the life of the community,” she said.

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Federal Government Summarises Their Year in Disability

carolyn — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:57:52 +0000

The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous
Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities
and Children’s Services, Bill Shorten, have progressed a range of
initiatives to support people with disability, their families and carers, over
the past twelve months. Read more in the full document (PDF)….

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