NEWS ABOUT AGEING, DISABILITY AND CARERS
10 August 2009

 

(You can download this bulletin as a Word document at the end of the text)

COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS, INFORMATION SESSIONS OR EVENTS
1. Volunteer Opportunity on Christmas Island NEW

The work involves the design and implementation of programs relevant to the 16 children on the Island and is most suitable for psychology, development studies and social work students. Currently looking for male students.

MINIMUM STAY IS ONE (1) MONTH.

If you are interested, please contact

Gary Taylor M: 0433355588.

2. Members for COTA NSW Consumer Forum - Expression of Interest

COTA NSW is establishing a Consumer Forum to raise issues of concern in the ageing landscape and provide input, suggestions, and feedback on policies and advocacy activities.

Consumers should be aged 50+ and have an interest in sharing their experiences and views which can be developed into policy positions for COTA NSW.

The Consumer Forum will meet quarterly for 2 hours and canvass issues of concern to consumers, provide input into submissions and consultations and provide advice for COTA's policy work. Like other COTA Working Groups, the Consumer Forum will feed into the Policy Council areas for further policy and advocacy for COTA NSW. From time to time the Consumer Forum may be approached to canvass issues for government or private service providers.

For more information,
Contact Carolyn Hodge, COTA NSW
E: Carolyn.Hodge@cota.nsw.com.au
T: 9286 3860

3. Indian Cultural Event - Mon, 17 August 2009 NEW

Organiser: South Sydney Community Aid
Where: Alexandria Town Hall, 73 Garden Street, Alexandria
Contact: 9319 4073

4. A Day in the Life of a Refugee - 21 August 2009 NEW

Hear about the struggles, successes and contributions of people from a refugee background.

Date: Friday, 21 August 2009
Venue: Redfern Town Hall, 73 Pitt Street, Redfern
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm start, ends 7pm
Cost: Free
For more information or to reserve a seat please RSVP to poneill@redcross.org.au

5. Brain Injury Awareness Week 2009 - 14 - 20 September 2009 NEW

BIA NSW will again support a media campaign to raise community awareness, as well as promoting the events being hosted across NSW by various brain injury services. For more information,

Contact Lesia on lesias@biansw.org.au.

6. Multilingual Community Speaker Volunteers - Cancer Council NSW NEW
- Closing date 18 September 2009

The Cancer Council NSW is dedicated to defeating cancer by building a cancer smart community. We are seeking well presented and enthusiastic volunteers with good communication skills for the position of Multi-lingual Community Speaker Volunteer.

- Focus is to present educational sessions about prevention and early detection of cancer to adult audiences in various locations and community settings
- Speakers required for Central Coast and North Sydney; and Central and Southern Sydney
- Speakers will present in their own community or in surrounding areas.

For all enquiries,
Contact Marion Carroll
E: volunteervacancies@nswcc.org.au
T: 9334 1857 M: 0423 915 718

7. National Scoping Study: Consumers speak: seeking a national voice: NEW
A project to inform the establishment of a new national mental health consumer peak

Participate and make the consumer's voice heard in the September consultations

SYDNEY METRO
- Wed, 23 Sep 2009 from 12.30-2.30pm at Platform 10 Conference Room, Level 10, 1 Lawson St Redfern for representatives of mental health consumer organisations and groups to discuss their organisation's views and ideas
- Wed, 23 Sep 2009 from 6.00-8.00pm at Platform 10 Conference Room, Level 10, 1 Lawson St Redfern open to all interested mental health consumers to come and discuss their ideas
- Thu, 24 Sep 2009 from 10.30 am- 2.30pm at Parramatta City Chambers
- Thu, 24 Sep 2009 from 3.30-5.30pm at Campbelltown RSL

SYDNEY REGIONAL
- Fri, 25 Sep 2009 from 12.30-2.30pm at Bateman's Bay Bowling Club for all interested mental health consumers

For more information,
Contact Leanne Craze, Mental Health and Social Policy Consultant, Craze Lateral Solutions
E: Leanne.Craze@bigpond.com T: 02 6238 1549 M: 0408 869 051

8. Disability Service Summit - Fri, 25 September 2009 NEW

Open to service providers, families and carers of people with a disability to discuss areas in disability services that are underfunded and underserviced, points of focus for Government attention and action, and changes that need to be made to disability funding in order to best assist those affected, their families and carers.

Where: Meeting Room, Level 1, Liverpool Library, George Street, Liverpool
RSVP: 1 September 2009
9601 2844 (between 10am - 2pm) 0432 327 096 info@aass.org.au

Close to Liverpool train station and next door to secure parking.

9. Australian Institute of Family Studies - Grandparents & Granchildren
Focus Groups were held on 28 July 2009.

Further information about AIFS at http://www.aifs.gov.au/ and about the Grandparents Study specifically at http://www.aifs.gov.au/familylawevaluation/grandparents.

10. Australian Disability Parking Scheme Consultation
Submissions were accepted until 31 July 2009. A summary of the feedback received will be available on the FaHCSIA website later in the year.

11. Information on Electricity & Gas Price Rises
Electricity and gas prices increased in NSW as of 1 July 2009. If you have payment difficulties
Contact Energy Australia
T: 13 15 35

 

SAMPLE OF FUNDED SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR
OLDER PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY & THEIR CARERS FROM
CULTURALLY & LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS

1. Autism Advisory & Support Services (AASS) NEW
AASS have recommenced their weekly Autism support meetings.

Frequency: Every Thursday, 1030am
Where: 88 Memorial Avenue, Liverpool [cnr of Hume Hwy and Memorial Ave, entry via carpark]

For more information contact: T: 9601 2844 M: 0432 327 096

2. Community Care Services for Arabic-Speaking Community
For more information contact: Tripoli & Mena 9758 1366
Kincare 1300 733 510

3. TeleCross T: 9229 4222
FREE service where a trained Red Cross volunteer makes a short, friendly telephone call to a Telecross client to ensure that they are safe and well.

Who benefits Elderly and people with disabilities to maintain their independence, thereby improving quality of life and reducing the necessity to move into residential care
Information in Arabic, Cantonese, Croatian, German, Greek, Italian, Maltese, Polish, Russian, Spanish

4. Carer Assist Services for people of Indian background T: 9750 9744
Carer Assist has Carer Advocates who provide individual support services and education and training for carers and families of someone with a mental illness within the boundaries of three Area Health Services:

Who benefits Carers of people with a mental illness gain Information, Education, Advocacy & Support
Website: http://www.sfnsw.org.au/Carer/Carer-Assist-Home/default.aspx

5. Disability Terms - Fact Sheets
Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association (MDAA) and Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) released a set of fact sheets explaining disability terms in Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Dar, Dinka, Farsi, Indonesian, Korean, Macedonian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese.

Website http://www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au/dadhc/People+with+a+disability/Disability+Terms+-+Fact+Sheets.htm

6. Eastern Sydney Day Program (Botany) T: 8337 3600
Day Program for people with disabilities offering opportunities for community participation and meaningful leisure and recreational activities.

Contact: Windgap Foundation W: www.windgap.com.au

7. Greek Welfare Centre T: 9516 2188
Aged Day Care services for Chinese, Greek and Russian frail aged persons who live in Botany Bay, Randwick, Sydney, Waverley or Woollahra Local Government Area.

 

SAMPLE OF UNFUNDED RESOURCES FOR OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY

1. South Asian Support Group for Carers - 23 August @ 2pm NEW
A support group for people who look after the needs of a person with a disability, mental illness or older person. Meetings held once every six weeks.

Contact: Rajni M: 0432 798 938

SAMPLE OF IMPORTANT RESOURCES FOR OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY

1. Alzheimer's Australia T: 9805 0100
http://www.alzheimers.org.au

Dementia information in a range of languages in different formats.

2. Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association - MDAA T: 9891 6400
http://www.mdaa.org.au/publications/openingdoors.html

3. Disability Terms - Fact Sheets
[see above]

 

USEFUL INFORMATION FOR COMMUNITY WORKERS & AGENCIES

1. Opening of MDS' Communication Resource Room - 17 August 2009 NEW

The Communication Resource Room provides a range of resources, equipment and real life examples of augmentative and alternate communication tools that can be utilised by therapists, disability workers, teachers and families to assist people with complex communication needs. These resources will enable the development of individualised functional communication strategies that will enable
improved communication and expression of needs and wants for children and adults in the Macarthur and surrounding regions.

When Monday, 17 August 2009 - 9am for 9.30am commencement
Where MDS, Level 8, 138 Queen Street, Campbelltown
Morning tea and light refreshments provided
RSVP 12 Aug Jeanie Partridge T: 4621 8400

2. IMPACT Website NEW

What is IMPACT?
A continuing conversation about the way human services could be re-focused

IMPACT Services - Supporting HACC Consumers' Active Participation in Their Community was developed by the NSW Industry Forum in late 2008 as a new brand against which HACC service providers in NSW could position themselves as a part of a refocus on client-centred approaches.
The IMPACT website has gone live. Check out www.impactnsw.com and contact the Team to book a presentation for your organization and staff.

3. Intimate Partner Violence in Immigrant & Refugee Communities NEW

Report available from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Must read for those working with immigrant and refugee families. No time to read the entire report .... read the Recommendations from page 34 onwards.

Search key: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation [document under Publications and Research]
http://www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?id=41231

4. HACC Handbooks in new languages: Hindi and Tamil NEW

Will shortly be available from Cumberland-Prospect and Northern Sydney and Central Coast Multicultural Access Project Officers.

5. MDAA Positions - close 21 August 2009 NEW
Training Coordinator, F/T, SACS 5
Individual Advocacy Team Leader, F/T, SACS5

For more information and more job ads please visit www.mdaa.org.au

6. Metro South Needs Analysis of People with Dementia & their Carers
Consultation held on Tue, 21 July. If you still want to make comment, contact Carrie Hayter (carrieh@iprimus.com.au).

7. Frail older men and HACC services - research project
Consultation held on 21 May 2009 but will follow up for access to findings which promise to be useful for a range of services.

Who University of Western Sydney contracted by Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care
Dr Anni Gethin E: agethin@uws.edu.au, T: 4758 7151, M: 0420 311 020

8. Briefing & Consultation for Respite and Social Support Providers
Consultation held on 25 May 2009 with Providers to update the industry on key projects and initiatives, and solicit feedback on concepts and development of these projects.

More information?
Contact Kevin at 0417 273 889 or kevinm@interchangensw.com.au

9. Alzheimer's Australia T: 9805 0100
http://www.alzheimers.org.au

Dementia information in a range of languages in different formats.

10. Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association - MDAA T: 9891 6400
http://www.mdaa.org.au/publications/openingdoors.html
Link to good resource that aims to respond to those vexing questions about communicating with people with disabilities from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

11. Disability Terms - Fact Sheets
[see above]

12. Multicultural Mental Health Australia (MMHA) T: 9840 3333 W: www.mmha.org.au
Stepping Out of the Shadows: Reducing Stigma in Multicultural Communities
... a stigma reduction training kit and audio series launched on 19 Feb. 2009

 

 

SAMPLE OF TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY WORKERS, AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY

CONFERENCES

Connecting our Community: working with consumers in a changing environment, 25-26 August 2009
Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care
http://www.agedservices.asn.au/cgi-bin/WebObjects/ASA2.woa/wa/subcat?s=2000396

Multicultural Access Project Network Conference
Presentation available on www.cnet.ngo.net.au and www.supportservices.org.au

TRAINING

All you want to know about Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
Training: All day and ½ day sessions that cover
Contact: Brain Injury Association of NSW T: 9868 5261 W: www.biansw.org.au

Disability Seminars @ UNSW's Disability Studies & Research Centre
12.30 - 1.30pm
Contact 9385 9908 E: dsrc@unsw.edu.au

Smoking: a matter of social justice NEW
Rates of smoking are highest among the most disadvantaged and marginalized. How can community workers assist an individual's decision to reduce or quit smoking?
A 2-day training session by CCWT gives you the strategies to raise such an issue with your clients, gives you casework tools, resources to support clients to quit.

Cost? $50 per day
Who should attend? Anyone interested in addressing smoking with clients
Where? Rooty Hill, 2-3 September Wagga Wagga, 29-30 September
Contact Sonia Hoffman T: 9281 8822 E: sonia@acwa.asn.au

For more information about Home & Community Care Services contact :
Caroline Romeo
Ethnic Communities' Council of NSW
Home & Community Care (HACC) Multicultural Access Program (MAP) Officer
T: 9319 0288
E: hacc@eccnsw.org.au
W: www.eccnsw.org.au

Download Bulletin