Post by Banker on Dec 14, 2011 5:12:28 GMT 7
Below is some information about the work undertaken by AFDO staff and AFDO representatives over the past year. If you would like to find out more about any of this work, or to discuss other issues of concern, please contact our office on 03 9662 3324 or office@afdo.org.au.
National Disability Insurance Scheme
In February 2011, the Productivity Commission released their draft Report into Disability Care and Support, sparking a second round of consultations. AFDO conducted consultations in rural and regional Australia thanks to a grant from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Affairs and Indigenous Affairs. Some of the grant money was given to other organizations to consult within their local networks.
When the final report was released in August, the Federal government moved quickly to give its in-principle support for an NDIS. A Select Committee of Commonwealth, State and Territory disability ministers and treasurers has been established to work on general principles for an NDIS. The Committee will be informed by an advisory group with members from the community, including people with disability. Working groups will be formed underneath the Advisory Group to look at specific issues in detail. On December 3, International Day of People with Disability, the government announced the establishment of an agency to oversee the introduction of an NDIS, and launched a government NDIS website. The website can be found here.
In late November, AFDO met with a range of disabled persons organizations and advocacy groups to develop a work plan and discuss implementation issues for the NDIS. AFDO and its partners in the sector will continue to lobby for the input and participation of people with disability throughout this process.
Every Australian Counts Campaign
AFDO has continued to participate actively in the Every Australian Counts Campaign for an NDIS. Most of our involvement has been through the Campaign Steering Committee and the National Disability and Carer Alliance, the two bodies overseeing the campaign. However, AFDO staff have also been speaking to groups about the campaign, attending events and raising the media profile of the campaign where-ever possible.
In August, AFDO received funding from the Campaign to assist disabled persons organisations and advocacy agencies to participate in the campaign. The project staff contacted groups across the sector, assisting with materials, information and presentations. The survey results will be collated to inform the future work of the campaign, making sure it meets the needs of people with disability and their organizations.
You can visit the campaign website here.
National Disability Strategy
There has been little movement on the National Disability Strategy throughout 2011. The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments have developed a first year report, including an implementation plan.
In spite of the NDS commitment to consult with people with disability and their organizations about the roll out of the Strategy in the first year, there has been no further consultation as of the publication of this update. AFDO and its member organizations continue to lobby for adequate consultation.
Shadow Report
Along with other disabled persons organizations and advocacy groups, AFDO has been working on the production of the Shadow Report for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UN CRPD). The Shadow Report will highlight community concerns which may not be picked up in the Australian government report to the UN CRPD Treaty Committee, and will help the Treaty Committee make recommendations to the government.
Most of the work throughout 2011 has been on re-writing the draft of the Shadow Report into a shorter, more accessible format. The Shadow Report will be released for endorsement in 2012.
Disability Discrimination Act
Consolidation of Anti-Discrimination Laws
In late 2011, the Attorney General’s office released a discussion paper about bringing together all of Australia’s national anti-discrimination laws, including the Disability Discrimination Act. AFDO has attended face to face meetings, and is in the process of writing a submission, due in February 2012.
For more information on the consultation, visit the Attorney General's Department website here.
Disability Standards on Education
In the first half of 2011, the Australian Government publicly consulted about how well the Disability Standards on Education have worked over the past five years. AFDO responded to the consultations by developing a submission. It is anticipated that the final report from the review will be released soon.
Disability Standards on Accessible Public Transport
After several years of lobbying by AFDO and other groups, the government released the final report of the 2007 Review of the Disability Standards on Accessible Public Transport mid 2011. The government’s response to the report recommendations was also released at the same time. The final report and government response can be found here.
Many of the recommendations have been referred to specialist committees on the accessibility of public transport, namely the Accessible Public Transport Joint Committee (APTJC), made up of governments across the country, and the Accessible Public Transport National Advisory Committee (APTNAC), which includes community and industry representatives. AFDO has two representatives sitting on APTNAC, which is now working through the recommendations.
Employment
AFDO has primarily been involved in work on the reform of Disability Employment Services (DES) throughout 2011. This work has mostly been conducted through two AFDO representatives sitting on advisory committees for the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to oversee the reforms. AFDO representatives have called for better performance outcomes, more transparent data and greater access to tailored, longer term support for people with disability who want work or already have a job.
Income Support
The government is in the process of introducing three changes to the Disability Support Pension:
As of September 2011, people applying for DSP must prove that they have undertaken a program of support – such as rehabilitation, training or looking for work – for up to 18 months in the three years prior to their application;
As of January 2012 applicants for DSP will be assessed under new Impairment Tables to determine whether they are medically eligible for DSP; and
As of July 2012 people receiving DSP who are under 35 will need to attend participation meetings with Centrelink on a regular basis (every three or six months) to encourage them to look for rehabilitation, training, voluntary or paid work.
AFDO has been represented on two committees working on the changes: the Impairment Tables Advisory Committee and the DSP Advisory Group. Work in this area will be ongoing into 2012.
International Work
AFDO is the Australian member of Disabled Peoples International. Throughout 2011, AFDO has been involved in a number of international events. AFDO has also provided advocacy training to groups including people with disability from developing countries who have come to Australia under Australian Leadership Award Fellowships funded by the Australian government. In addition AFDO is represented on the Executive Committee of the Australian Disability and Development Consortium.
Attendance at international events included:
Pacific Disability Forum meeting: a general meeting of Disabled Persons Organisations from across the Pacific Island region;
Disabled Persons International – Asia Pacific Conference: a conference bringing together Disabled Persons Organisations from across the Asia Pacific region to discuss regional issues;
Disabled Persons International General Congress: The world gathering of Disabled Persons Organisations, where AFDO delegates presented about the inclusion of people with intellectual disability in meetings and conferences, and issues facing people with psychosocial disability in Australia.
Pacific Disability Forum Monitoring and Evaluation Training: Training in monitoring and evaluation techniques used in international aid work for Disabled Persons Organisations in the pacific island region.
Representation
AFDO has had representatives on a number of disability-specific and generalist committees during the past year. They are:
ACCAN – Standing Advisory Committee on Disability Issues (until June 2011)
Accessible Cinema Advisory Group
Accesible Public Transport Advisory Committee
Aviation Access Working Group
FaHCSIA Impairment Tables Review
Disability Employment Services Working Group
Inclusion for People with Disability through Sustainable Supported Employment
Advisory Group (AFDO withdraw from this committee)
Insurance Council National Consumer Reference Group
Medicare Australia Consumer Consultative Group
Retiring from ADE Forum
Telstra Disability Forum
www.afdo.org.au/node/389
National Disability Insurance Scheme
In February 2011, the Productivity Commission released their draft Report into Disability Care and Support, sparking a second round of consultations. AFDO conducted consultations in rural and regional Australia thanks to a grant from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Affairs and Indigenous Affairs. Some of the grant money was given to other organizations to consult within their local networks.
When the final report was released in August, the Federal government moved quickly to give its in-principle support for an NDIS. A Select Committee of Commonwealth, State and Territory disability ministers and treasurers has been established to work on general principles for an NDIS. The Committee will be informed by an advisory group with members from the community, including people with disability. Working groups will be formed underneath the Advisory Group to look at specific issues in detail. On December 3, International Day of People with Disability, the government announced the establishment of an agency to oversee the introduction of an NDIS, and launched a government NDIS website. The website can be found here.
In late November, AFDO met with a range of disabled persons organizations and advocacy groups to develop a work plan and discuss implementation issues for the NDIS. AFDO and its partners in the sector will continue to lobby for the input and participation of people with disability throughout this process.
Every Australian Counts Campaign
AFDO has continued to participate actively in the Every Australian Counts Campaign for an NDIS. Most of our involvement has been through the Campaign Steering Committee and the National Disability and Carer Alliance, the two bodies overseeing the campaign. However, AFDO staff have also been speaking to groups about the campaign, attending events and raising the media profile of the campaign where-ever possible.
In August, AFDO received funding from the Campaign to assist disabled persons organisations and advocacy agencies to participate in the campaign. The project staff contacted groups across the sector, assisting with materials, information and presentations. The survey results will be collated to inform the future work of the campaign, making sure it meets the needs of people with disability and their organizations.
You can visit the campaign website here.
National Disability Strategy
There has been little movement on the National Disability Strategy throughout 2011. The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments have developed a first year report, including an implementation plan.
In spite of the NDS commitment to consult with people with disability and their organizations about the roll out of the Strategy in the first year, there has been no further consultation as of the publication of this update. AFDO and its member organizations continue to lobby for adequate consultation.
Shadow Report
Along with other disabled persons organizations and advocacy groups, AFDO has been working on the production of the Shadow Report for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UN CRPD). The Shadow Report will highlight community concerns which may not be picked up in the Australian government report to the UN CRPD Treaty Committee, and will help the Treaty Committee make recommendations to the government.
Most of the work throughout 2011 has been on re-writing the draft of the Shadow Report into a shorter, more accessible format. The Shadow Report will be released for endorsement in 2012.
Disability Discrimination Act
Consolidation of Anti-Discrimination Laws
In late 2011, the Attorney General’s office released a discussion paper about bringing together all of Australia’s national anti-discrimination laws, including the Disability Discrimination Act. AFDO has attended face to face meetings, and is in the process of writing a submission, due in February 2012.
For more information on the consultation, visit the Attorney General's Department website here.
Disability Standards on Education
In the first half of 2011, the Australian Government publicly consulted about how well the Disability Standards on Education have worked over the past five years. AFDO responded to the consultations by developing a submission. It is anticipated that the final report from the review will be released soon.
Disability Standards on Accessible Public Transport
After several years of lobbying by AFDO and other groups, the government released the final report of the 2007 Review of the Disability Standards on Accessible Public Transport mid 2011. The government’s response to the report recommendations was also released at the same time. The final report and government response can be found here.
Many of the recommendations have been referred to specialist committees on the accessibility of public transport, namely the Accessible Public Transport Joint Committee (APTJC), made up of governments across the country, and the Accessible Public Transport National Advisory Committee (APTNAC), which includes community and industry representatives. AFDO has two representatives sitting on APTNAC, which is now working through the recommendations.
Employment
AFDO has primarily been involved in work on the reform of Disability Employment Services (DES) throughout 2011. This work has mostly been conducted through two AFDO representatives sitting on advisory committees for the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to oversee the reforms. AFDO representatives have called for better performance outcomes, more transparent data and greater access to tailored, longer term support for people with disability who want work or already have a job.
Income Support
The government is in the process of introducing three changes to the Disability Support Pension:
As of September 2011, people applying for DSP must prove that they have undertaken a program of support – such as rehabilitation, training or looking for work – for up to 18 months in the three years prior to their application;
As of January 2012 applicants for DSP will be assessed under new Impairment Tables to determine whether they are medically eligible for DSP; and
As of July 2012 people receiving DSP who are under 35 will need to attend participation meetings with Centrelink on a regular basis (every three or six months) to encourage them to look for rehabilitation, training, voluntary or paid work.
AFDO has been represented on two committees working on the changes: the Impairment Tables Advisory Committee and the DSP Advisory Group. Work in this area will be ongoing into 2012.
International Work
AFDO is the Australian member of Disabled Peoples International. Throughout 2011, AFDO has been involved in a number of international events. AFDO has also provided advocacy training to groups including people with disability from developing countries who have come to Australia under Australian Leadership Award Fellowships funded by the Australian government. In addition AFDO is represented on the Executive Committee of the Australian Disability and Development Consortium.
Attendance at international events included:
Pacific Disability Forum meeting: a general meeting of Disabled Persons Organisations from across the Pacific Island region;
Disabled Persons International – Asia Pacific Conference: a conference bringing together Disabled Persons Organisations from across the Asia Pacific region to discuss regional issues;
Disabled Persons International General Congress: The world gathering of Disabled Persons Organisations, where AFDO delegates presented about the inclusion of people with intellectual disability in meetings and conferences, and issues facing people with psychosocial disability in Australia.
Pacific Disability Forum Monitoring and Evaluation Training: Training in monitoring and evaluation techniques used in international aid work for Disabled Persons Organisations in the pacific island region.
Representation
AFDO has had representatives on a number of disability-specific and generalist committees during the past year. They are:
ACCAN – Standing Advisory Committee on Disability Issues (until June 2011)
Accessible Cinema Advisory Group
Accesible Public Transport Advisory Committee
Aviation Access Working Group
FaHCSIA Impairment Tables Review
Disability Employment Services Working Group
Inclusion for People with Disability through Sustainable Supported Employment
Advisory Group (AFDO withdraw from this committee)
Insurance Council National Consumer Reference Group
Medicare Australia Consumer Consultative Group
Retiring from ADE Forum
Telstra Disability Forum
www.afdo.org.au/node/389