The Disability Information and Resource Centre

A new support group for support workers has been formed, named the Support Workers Support Group (SWSG). All support workers are invited to the first meeting of the SWSG on Friday February 24th.

This will be an opportunity for support workers across all organisations to liaise with one another and create supportive social networks.

RSVP by February 10th.

Full details are here.

A new support group for support workers has been formed, named the Support Workers Support Group (SWSG). All support workers are invited to the first meeting of the SWSG on Friday February 24th.

Full details.

The Victorian branch of ASID is hosting the 11th Annual Disability Support Worker conference, Research to Practice: Keeping the Promise.

Date: 2nd & 3rd November 2011

Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground

This conference provides a forum for Disability Support Workers from around Australia and New Zealand to come together, share experiences, listen, discuss and participate in presentations and workshops about the latest in practice, research, and issues in the disability sector.

The program will explore the following topics:

• Health
• Working with families
• Restrictive Practices-Office of the Senior Practitioner
• Person Centred Active Support and Practice Leadership
• Inclusion and Representation
• Sexuality and Relationships
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Speakers

Keynote speakers include:

Professor Pat Mirenda. Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education, University of British Columbia, Canada.

Professor Jim Mansell. Emeritus Professor of Learning Disability in the Tizard Centre, University of Kent, UK and Professor of Disability Studies, School of Social Work & Social Policy at La Trobe University, Melbourne.

Professor Eric Emerson. Co-Director: Improving Health & Lives: Learning Disabilities Observatory, Professor of Disability & Health Research Institute for Health Research, Lancaster University and Visiting Professor Faculty of Health Sciences University of Sydney.

Dr Wendy Lawson. Psychologist and author

John Della Bosca. Campaign Director, Every Australian Counts

Call for Abstracts

ASID are seeking papers and presentations that translate research into practice. This could be the work of researchers, practitioners in partnerships with researchers, projects undertaken by practitioners as part of the team or program development, or reflections on practice implementation that has been informed by research or training.

Submissions close July 25 2011.

Further information

Conference section on ASID website.

All enquires regarding the conference to ASID:

Tel: (03) 9925 7899

Fax: +61 (03) 9925 7303

Email: dswconference@rmit.edu.au

‘Research to Practice: Keeping the Promise’

2nd & 3rd November, 2011

Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)

More info: www.assid.org.au

The next DIRC Disability Forum is coming up on Thursday April 7th and is titled “Why would you want to be a Disability Support Worker?”. The forum will be presented by Peter Cookson, a PhD Research student in Disability Studies at Flinders University.

Full details about the forum can be found here.

A calendar of forum dates for 2011 can be found here.

The work4dementia project aims to find out about community care workers’ thoughts about their jobs, workplaces and caring for people with dementia. The project explores workers ideas about future care and the workplace.

The project is looking for support workers to complete an online survey about their experiences caring for people with dementia. All information collected is kept confidential.

For more information and to take part visit http://www.set.utas.edu.au/psychology/work-4-dementia.

The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) is seeking input from people with disabilities regarding issues they face with their support workers. They will be running consultation sessions in Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne.

Adelaide Session

Wednesday March 31, 11am to 3pm (Lunch provided)
Macleod Room, Julia Farr
104 Greenhill Road Unley

RSVP

Toll Free 1800 219 969
TTY 03 9662 3724
Email office@afdo.org.au

More Information.

If you are unable to attend, the AFDO also has a survey on their web site.

A position is available for an In Home Family/Support Worker to provide care for Michelle, a woman with profound, severe and multiple disabilities and her mother/family carer.

Full details can be found here.

“Where do we want direct support to go and how can we help it get there”?

A meeting and forum for direct support staff and others to express their views and opinions on the current problems and issues they face and suggest ways of improving our current support services.

July 29th, 6.30pm, Staff Room, Sturt Buildngs, Flinders University.

Flier with details and map (doc)