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Focus Group - Women/Couples who have had a Diagnosis of Fetal Abnormality - Wednesday, 29th July, 10:30-11:30am
The Women’s Wednesday 29th July, 10.30– 11.30am
The Women’s Hospital’s reproductive loss service is writing a fact sheet to help inform and support women and their partners who have just received a diagnosis of fetal abnormality. The are holding a focus group to help develop these fact sheets and invite women and couples who have experienced a fetal abnormality in the past and are willing to draw upon this experience to help us develop this information. Fact sheets will cover things such as:
* What is a fetal abnormality
* Specialists you may see
* Tests you may be offered
* Decision making
* What to expect if you decide to continue the pregnancy
* What to expect if you decide to terminate the pregnancy
* Supports available
* What to tell friends, family and children.
Free child care and parking available. Morning tea provided. To find out more, including how to arrange free child care and parking, please phone Pamela Smith on 9345 3050 or email p.smith4@unimelb.pgrad.edu.au or Vivienne Raymant or Sharon Kirsopp on 8345 2498.
Who Cares...? Better Support for Carers
A key report on how caring is managed in Australia was tabled in the House of Representatives on Monday 1st June. Called “Who Cares…? Report on the inquiry into better support for Carers”, it has the potential not only to affect carers and their families but all organisations that work in the aged, community care, disability and health care fields. Carers Victoria invite your support in encouraging the government to translate the report’s recommendations into realities for the 2.6 million carers and their families. If you are speaking with a politician on any matter, Carers Victoria invites you to mention this as well - especially as carer issues affect you, your family and/or your support group. There is no one voice in finding answers to reshape aspects of the care and health systems, but by working together with good will and consistent messages, we can improve the way care is valued and supported across Australia. See www.carersaustralia.com.au/?/national/article/view/via:15:1168 for the full report or contact Annalisa at Carers Victoria on (03) 9396 9500.
Victorian Charter of Human Rights
The Victorian Charter of Human Rights & Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic) is an Act of Parliament that sets out our rights, freedoms and responsibilities. Rights protected under Charter include recognition and equality before the law, and privacy. The Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission brochure (“Your right to rights”) says that the Charter is “a form of insurance to ensure that human rights are a priority for governments when making decisions and providing services such as healthcare, education and law enforcement. Most of us will not notice the operation of the Charter unless some attempt is made to remove or undermine a human right.”
To find out more about the Victorian Charter of Human Rights & Responsibilities, visit the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission website. The direct link to the Charter information is very long and complicated, so instead click on the site’s own s earch facility and type in “Victorian Charter of Human Rights”.
Human Rights Workshops run by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
From 1 January 2008, the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities will require organisations that provide public services on behalf of government to deliver their services and make decisions in ways that respect human rights. Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission workshops provide a brief introduction to the principles of the Charter. The Commission also runs a regular calendar of human rights specialist introductory and advanced training for community organisations. For dates and details, please call 03 9281 7111 or email: education@veohrc.vic.gov.au
Victorian Disability Services Commissioner website
It's OK to complain!!
Do you need some assistance to resolve a complaint with a disability service or service provider? The Disability Services Commissioner can provide a free and confidential service to assist you.
Are you a service provider interested to know about your obligations for complaints processes or what might happen if someone makes a complaint about you?
The Disability Services Commissioner (the Commissioner) can provide you with information about the legislation and the Commissioner's independent and accessible complaints process.
Visit the Victorian Disability Services Commissioner website to learn more.
Access to Premises Campaign Kit
The Access to Premises Campaign Kit addresses the issues of up to 4 Million Australians who are unable to access their own communities. The Kit provides information and tools to people with a disability that will help them speak out about the lack of access to businesses and services that they face in their local communities.
The campaign's key messages are that:
- People with a disability want access to the same buildings as everyone else.
- People with a disability want to be able to work, shop and experience cultural and leisure activities just like everyone else.
- Anything less than that is discrimination.
Visit the website to download the kit and for more information.
YouTube Video Clip: In my language
This eight minute clip has been developed by Scope to highlight some of the barriers facing people with different communication needs. It features a woman interacting with the world around her and then a translation of what her actions mean. The clip has captions.
Strength Together! - A voice for non-government school parents
All parents in each state/territory are encouraged to tell / write their story describing their experiences and issues in seeking a supported placement in a non-government school for their child with a disability. We need as many people as possible to support this area of Advocacy to make necessary and fair change ensuring full inclusion is available for all students with a disability in non-government / private schools. For more information contact the Victorian Parents' Council, "A voice for non-government school parents"; Suite 4A, 681 Burke Road Camberwell; P O Box 647 Hawthorn 3122; Tel 03 9804 0906 Fax 03 9804 0892
Website: The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC)
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) website now boasts a new visual design, improved menu and accessibility features set to make information-finding easier and faster for all.
Youthlaw: Individual Advocacy at the Youth DisabilityAdvocacy Service
The Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS) has commenced providing individual advocacy for young people with disabilities between the ages of 12 and 25 throughout Victoria. Michelle Bowler is the Individual Advocate for YDAS. Michelle can support young people to access their rights in a range of areas including employment, education, housing and social security benefits, disability services and discrimination and with a wide range of access and equity issues. Michelle works on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and is available to support young people with their individual advocacy needs.
For more information about this service, please contact Michelle Bowler, phone: 03 9267 3733 or 1300 727 176 (toll free).
Calling for Community Consultants!
Are you living with a genetic condition? Interested in health provision and policy? If you’ve answered yes to these questions, the GSNV would love your help in a new project to improve consumer representation in healthcare. In 2005-2006, our Advocacy Worker, Claire, trained 17 ‘Community Consultants’ to represent themselves and their peers on health policy and provision committees. Now, the GSNV is seeking volunteers to act as ‘emergency consultants’ for occasions when our Community Consultants are unable to help out due to illness or short notice – but when community representation is still needed. If you are living with a genetic condition – either your own, or as the carer of someone with a genetic condition – are interested in advocacy, and would available to attend occasional meetings (generally during the day, but sometimes on evenings and weekends), we’d love to hear from you. Training in advocacy is preferred, but not essential – our priority is to have a list of people to call on in emergency situations. Email Leah or call her on 8341 6315 to learn more.
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