The Disability Information and Resource Centre

Cross the Line – The dontcrosstheline campaign is an important part of the SA Government’s Anti-Violence Community Awareness campaign. The 2008-2009 State Budget has committed $868,000 over four years to the implementation of the campaign, which aims to inform, educate and ultimately reduce rape, sexual assault and domestic and family violence in South Australia. Yarredi Services Port Lincoln has won a grant to produce a DVD for young persons with a disability.

Would you like to be part of a focus group discussing healthy relationships and persons with a disability? Are you a parent/carer/interested community member? The information gained from the focus group will assist in developing a DVD for the Cross the Line campaign. The focus group will be held at the Kirton Point Children’s Centre 63 Stevenson Street Port Lincoln, Wednesday October 5th from 6pm-8pm. Dinner will be provided. Crèche available. Please RSVP to Yarredi by Tuesday 4th October on 8683 0311.

The Department of Families and Communities (DFC) has provided some one-off funding in 2011 to start a state-wide autism project (SWAP) to develop a service improvement framework for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Part of the one-off funding is allocated to undertake a “consumer and service provider survey by an independent contractor”.

The South Australian (SA) service improvement framework for ASD will be structured to reflect the key phases of the journey that an individual with ASD (and their family) will travel; diagnosis and assessment, early intervention, education, employment/day options, long-term care and care in advanced age. Mental health across the lifespan will also be addressed. Family support that encompasses adaptation to the diagnosis and at times of transition will also be a key component of the framework.

The intention of the framework is to drive improvements in services to achieve optimal outcomes for all South Australians with ASD through the provision of equitable, timely and effective services and support. The framework will also seek to reduce variations in support by outlining the services that all people with ASD should expect to receive from the Australian health and disability sectors, across the continuum of the condition.

The aims of the stakeholder consultation are:

1. To explore the experiences of key stakeholders with autism services within SA, and
2. To identify actual and perceived barriers and facilitators from the perspective of key stakeholders to the delivery of optimum services to people with ASD.

The stakeholder consultation is being conducted by Manya Angley Research and Consulting (MARAC), an organisation independent of Autism SA. Your responses will be anonymous and be treated confidentially.

If you prefer to communicate your views via the on-line survey, it may be accessed at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8PBXJ3D. Alternatively, if your preference is to participate in a semi-structured interview, which can be conducted by telephone, Skype or face-to face at your convenience, please contact: Manya Angley, Director of MARAC, to register your interest Ph: 0400 951 179 or email: manya@marac.com.au

It is anticipated that the survey or interview will take about half an hour.

Last Saturday, February 19th the S.A. Government advertised for applications for the Minister’s Disability Advisory Council on page 48 of the Adelaide Advertiser.

MDAC Information for Applicants has much of the key information potential applicants may require.

Full Information Package for Applicants, which includes:

1. MDAC Information Package January 2011 (5 pages)
2. Information for Applicants (2 pages)
3. MDAC Terms of Reference January 2011 (3 pages)
4. 5 Year Plan for the Department for Families and Communities (1 page).
5. MDAC Member Profiles

Can be obtained from:

Mr Noel Williams

Business Support Officer
Disability, Ageing and Carers |Community and Home Support SA

Department for Families and Communities
Government of South Australia

Plaza Level SE GPO Box 292
Riverside Centre, North Terrace Adelaide SA 5001 Adelaide SA 5000

Ph: 8415 4355 Fax: 8415 4399
noel.williams@dfc.sa.gov.au

Applications close 5.00pm Friday 11th of March 2011 attention Mr Neil Lillecrapp at disabilityservices@dfc.sa.gov.au.

Nominations for the November 2010 Local Government elections open on Tuesday 7 September.

Councils are holding public information sessions for anyone interested in standing as a candidate in the elections.

Sessions dates for some councils:

• City of Holdfast Shores – Tuesday 31 August, Saturday 4 September, Friday 10 September
• City of Port Adelaide Enfield – Thursday 2 September
• Port Augusta City Council – Monday 6 September
• City of Onkaparinga – Monday 6 September
• City of Salisbury – Tuesday 7 September
• City of Marion – Tuesday 7 September
• City of Playford – Wednesday 8 September
• Adelaide City Council – Wednesday 8 September, Tuesday 14 September

Contact your council for more details on times and locations.

Go to www.lga.sa.gov.au/goto/elections for more information on the local government elections, nominating as a candidate, and voting for your local representative.

Disability Speaks have released the following:

If South Australia funded Education Services in the same manner they supported Disability support parents would burn Parliament House to the ground.

• When children turned 5 they would go on a waiting list for assesment to attend school
• When assesd they would go on a waiting list to attend school
• Some might not get to start school until they were 12
• Some might only get 2-3 hours schooling per week
• Some would be given 1-2 days a week of schooling
• No one would get the full service of 5 days of education
• Some would be told you cant attend school until some one else leaves the school ( or dies!)
• Some would be told you cannot have pencils and books until some one else has finished with them
• and some would be told if you want essential school equipment like a new computer go to Variety or Rotary

The South Australian Governments answer to the disability service crisis (yes people have been physically harmed and allegedly killed while waiting for services so that is really a crisis!) was to announce before the last election…….
another inquiry!!!!!!

Yesterday Kelly Vincent MLC (D4D) publicly advised that she and D4d could not support the Cappo Inquiry unless the SA Govt takes immediate action to address todays crisis. Disability Speaks totally supports Kelly and her courageous approach. A copy of the D4d press release is here.

There is nothing pretend about the crisis in SA. The Australian Productivity Commission report released in Jan this year 2010 (Table 14A.5) shows in 2004-2005 Qld spent $369.3 mill on disability services and SA $228.0 mill. Both states have approx 20,000 NDA clients. By 2008-2009 Qld had jumped too $598.0 up $230.0 mill or 62.2%. SA over five years had gone to $238.3 mill up $10.3 mill or 4.5%.

SA retains its unenviable record of being stone motherless last for disability funding nationally. This is a crisis!

It is little wonder that Kelly and the SA Disability Community is demanding that real action proceeds another inquiry!

Many in the disability sector regarded another government inquiry announced in a lead up to an election particularly from a government with a terrible track record of supporting people with a disability with deep suspicion. We are all aware numerous promises made as far back as 2001 by this Premier remain undelivered. We totally supports Kelly Vincent and the D4d approach. We need an immediate crisis aversion funding injection for disability services now, if the Govt expects widespread sector support for the Cappo inquiry.

This funding needs to be directed and delivered to 4 key areas with outcomes finalised in the next 3 years

1. The unmet need waiting lists be cleared as Kelly has demanded,
2. The closure of Adelaides very own disability ghetto Strathmont that is a disgrace,
3. The freeing up of SATAS transport and journey to work vouchers so they are flexible, poolable and transferable to assist people with a disability to access at their leisure better transport arrangements.
4. A sustainable equipment supply program

Mr Cappo said on ABC 891 radio yesterday (Abraham: Okay, your current brief though is to bring about a major reform of the disability sector … you’ve met with the new MP Kelly Vincent?) I have … her message is very clear. Support for what we’re doing in terms of bringing about a reform but her proviso is you need immediate action. There … are too many crisis points in the disability area in terms of the immediate needs of people for supported accommodation for respite, for equipment … a whole lot of areas and I’ve taken her message to heart … that means cash … in the next few budgets. (Abraham: … you’re a very senior Catholic Priest as well as a Social Inclusion Commissioner and … people are hurting in disabilities because there’s not enough cash and yet you’re also seeing a Government that’s splashing cash around on a stadium, particularly the latest $85m. How do you feel about that?) Well, it’s not a good look. I don’t think it’s a good look for Government and it’s not a good look for the community. (Abraham: How would you spend that $85m?) … with that sort of money we could certainly relieve some of the immediate pressures on people in the disability system. (Abraham: And would it be better spent doing that rather than writing another cheque for the Stadium Management Authority?) Well of course my bias is always the social issues affecting the community but I think the key message from me to Government is really, we’ve got to put disability far more at the top of our agenda than we have in the past. (Abraham: … do you think we get distracted by things like the stadium debate? … it’s been a major debate and both parties are having a bidding war on it and yet, things are done … there has been extra cash … to clear the waiting list, we’re told permanently for equipment for people with disabilities and yet that money has to be eeked out … and yet you see big cheques being handed over to SANFL and to SACA? Is that a question of priorities?) Well, it’s really not a good look at all and … I understand Government has a wide range of responsibilities to the community but I really hope that this particular year we can put the social issues really at the top of the list. (Abraham: … thank you for coming in to the studio.) It’s a pleasure. (Abraham: … in a moment we’ll have … we’ve had the priest, we’re going to have the sinner, we’ll have Kevin Foley, Treasurer and Acting Premier in the studio in just a tick.)

We think he has the message? But will Cappo have the Governments support?

David Holst

Chair

Disability Speaks Steering Committee

0418555683

www.disabilityspeaks.com.au

disabilityspeaks@internode.on.net

The SA Liberal party have released their Disability Policy Statement for 2010.

You can read it here.

The SA Labor Party have released their Disability Support Policy.

You can read it here.

The Rann Labor Government have announced that, if re-elected, they will inject an immediate $7.7 million to clear waiting lists for equipment for South Australia’s children and adults with a disability.

You can read their full media release here.

The South Australian Council on Intellectual Disability Inc (SACID) have released a document outlining their priorities for the 2010 SA state election.

You can read it here.