WELCOME

EVENTS

Celebration of Ability – Dandenong Events

Access and Equity Showcase: Wodonga

Pursuing Purpose Expo: Wodonga

International Day Lunch for People with Disabilities from

Multicultural Backgrounds

TRAINING

Community Work Careers Information Session

Swinburne University of Technology TAFE – Certificates and

Advanced Diplomas in Disability Work

PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES

Election 07: Political Party Policies on Disability

Election 07: Disability Election Forum Highlights on YouTube

Election 07: Electronic Voting Locations

Publication: What is the deaf equivalent to voice telephony?

CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Call for Input: Yooralla CALD Respite Project 07/08

Deafness Forum Post Secondary Education Scholarships

PAID AND VOLUNTARY POSITIONS

Disability Accommodation Service: Disability Development and

Support Officer

Office of the Public Advocate: Manager, Community Based

Programs

Melton Shire Council: MetroAccess Officer

Action for Community Living: Disability Advocate (30hrs p/wk to

April 2008)

VCOSS: Administration Assistant, Sector Development

Disability Professionals Victoria: Admin Assistant (0.4 FTE)

Parkinson’s Victoria: CALD Project Worker, 12 months 0.4 FTE

City of Whitehorse Disability Advisory Committee

WELCOME

Hello, and welcome to the weekly update from the Disability Advocacy Resource Unit (DARU).  If you would like to be removed from this list or kept up to date another way, please reply to this email and let us know.

DARU has been funded by the State government. It is run by a governance group, including members of the Victorian Disability Advocacy Network (VDAN), and the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS). DARU’s staff currently includes a Co-ordinator, Sharon Granek, and a Project Administration Officer, Leah Hobson.

We are always happy to hear from people who are interested in what we do. If you have a question, an idea, some news you’d like to see in the next update, or even if you just want to tell us something we’re doing is good or bad, get in touch! Call us on 03 9639 5807 or email Sharon or Leah.

Please note that material contained in the DARU Update copy does not necessarily reflect the policy of DARU or the views of any staff members. Statements in the DARU Update do not comprise advice and readers should avail themselves of professional advice where appropriate.

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EVENTS

Celebration of Ability – Dandenong Events

When: 26th November – 7th December

Where: City of Dandenong and surrounds

The City of Greater Dandenong will host a program of free or low cost events to celebrate ability and promote awareness of disability issues.

You can among other things take bus trips to learn more about our city and visit the Independent Living Centre to see equipment for people with disabilities. You are invited to attend a live theatrical production by people with disabilities, experience a puppet show for children and introduce yourself to a computer at the library.

A forum for scooter and wheelchair users has been arranged and you can take a walk in a local accessible park. A musical event has been arranged for young people and children and parents are welcome to hear a story teller at the library. You could visit our sporting and recreational facilities and carers are invited to a morning tea to relax and enjoy the company of other carers.  

A detailed schedule of events is available here (Word format).

For more information, contact Chris Stewart (03) 9329 5153 (phone or TTY), or via email.

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Access and Equity Showcase: Wodonga

When: 9:00 – 3:00 29th November 2007

Where: Blazing Stump, Anzac Parade, Wodonga

The showcase will provide a unique opportunity for service providers to focus on the diverse range of accessibility issues that consumers experience when they try come into contact with service disability agencies. The showcase will educate service providers in the practical measures that they can take to ensure that access barriers are reduced or eliminated for vulnerable groups in our community.

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Pursuing Purpose Expo: Wodonga

When: 9:30 – 3:30 November 30th 2007

Where: Civic Centre, Wodonga

This event will have a focus on the opportunities available in our community for people with a disability in areas including education, recreation, employment and general community life. Shelley Taylor-Smith, seven time world champion marathon swimmer, author, motivational speaker and businesswoman will chair the event. A panel of local identities will share their stories highlighting their individual achievements and the challenges they have faced along their journey. A range of performances by local community and school groups will complete the day’s activities.

For more information please contact Jason Ballerini on 02 6056 2420.

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International Day Lunch for People with Disabilities from Multicultural Backgrounds

When: 11:30 – 1:30 December 3rd 2007

Where: Traveller’s Aid Society, Level 2, 169 Swanston Street Melbourne

Registration: RSVP to Traveller’s Aid by 16th November by calling (03) 9654 7690 or by email.

People with disability and their carers, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, are encouraged to attend. A light lunch of multicultural food will be provided. Disability support workers and interpreters are available upon request.

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TRAINING

Community Work Careers Information Session

When: 10:00 – 12:00 Tuesday 20th November

Where: Carnegie Library Meeting Rooms, Shepparson Avenue, CarnegieRegistration: To register, or for more information, contact Leasa on (03) 9564 1000 or via email.

The information event is being hosted by the EW Tipping Foundation, a not-for-profit community care organisation, and its partner organisation, Victorian Person Centred Services.

"Lots of people are interested in a career helping others, but they don't know exactly what it entails," said Senior Coordinator David Williams.

"Community support work can be incredibly diverse – it can range from taking someone out fishing to helping people become more independent in their home."

The information event will feature experienced speakers talking about working with older people, people with disabilities, and children.

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Swinburne University of Technology TAFE – Certificates and Advanced Diplomas in Disability Work

Certificate IV in Disability Work – Traineeship and Industry Delivery

Information Session: Thursday 6th December 2007, 10-11am (please call to confirm before attending)

Course Commences: Thursday 7th February 2008 Course Completes: December 2008 Course Delivery: Four hours once a week (excluding school holidays) over approximately twelve months.Times: 10.00am - 2.00pm

This is a twelve month fast track course for workers in the Disability, Home and Community Care and Aged Care industries.

Workers must be working at least fifteen hours per week throughout the course. And for workers with a Certificate III in Home and Community Care or Aged Care this is a chance to gain a dual qualification with recognition of current competencies.

Government funded traineeship places and employer incentives are available for those eligible.

Advanced Diploma Disability Work & Advanced Diploma Management

Information Session

When: Wednesday 14 November at 6.30 - 8.00pmVenue: Croydon Campus, 12-50 Norton Road, Croydon

These courses are designed to meet the needs of workers currently employed in the community work/aged care/disability work sectors who want to gain a higher qualification toward a management position.

There are opportunities for students to apply for either course or to study both courses concurrently. The Advanced Diploma of Disability Work offers electives in either a management or practitioner stream.

Classes are conducted with Saturday workshops once a month and through flexible online delivery.

Eligibility - To gain entry to the Advanced Diploma of Disability Work students should be currently employed in the sector and should have a Certificate IV in Disability Work or equivalent qualification.

For the Advanced Diploma Management students should have a relevant qualification and be currently employed in the human service/community work/aged care sectors.

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PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES

Election 07: Political Party Policies on Disability

Coalition (Liberal Party and National Party):

More Support for Pensioners (PDF)

Australian Labor Party

Disability and Carers Policy (PDF)

Australian Greens

Disability Policy (Online version and PDF)

Australian Democrats

People with Disabilities (PDF)

Family First

Supporting People with a Disability (PDF)

Christian Democratic Party

There are no disability specific policies from the CDP. General policy information can be found here (online version and Word).

Carers Alliance

The Carers Alliance has created a wiki for policy issues affecting carers. You can contribute to the wiki here. If you are unfamiliar with the wiki format, you can find out how to contribute here.

Pauline Hanson’s United Australia Party

This party has no disability specific policies at the date of publication. General policy information can be found here.

Socialist Alliance

This party has no disability specific policies at the date of publication. General policy information can be found here.

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Election 07: Disability Election Forum Highlights on YouTube

In conjunction with their AGM on Tuesday 30 October, the national Australian Association for Families of Children with a Disability (AAFCD) held an election forum ‘Disability Election Policies: Who is promising what?’.

In addition to coverage in The Age newspaper (and The Australian) on Wednesday 31 October, for those of you who weren’t there, can view some video ‘highlights’ which have been posted on a AAFCD page on YouTube. You can get there via a link on the front page of either www.aafcd.org.au or www.acd.org.au

For those of you unfamiliar with YouTube you might find it all a bit confusing, and be warned you’ll need to have a half decent computer to be able to view the videos, so if your computer is a bit on the old side, you might struggle. You can provide feedback on the Forum contents to Michael Gourlay via email.

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Election 07: Electronic Voting Locations

A list of all locations for the electronic voting trial for people who are blind or vision impaired can be found here. Pre poll voting is now available at these centres for people who are blind or vision impaired.

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Publication: What is the deaf equivalent to voice telephony?

This paper outlines the views of Australian Association of the Deaf (AAD) and its members in relation to accessibility in the telecommunications environment in Australia, with particular focus on what the Deaf community perceives to be equivalent to voice based telephony.

You can read the full paper online here.

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CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Call for Input: Yooralla CALD Respite Project 07/08

What are the Aims of the 2007/08 CALD Project?

• Strengthen respite services in the East to be more CALD responsive.• Identify best practice models & strategies for enhancing access by CALD clients and delivering culturally inclusive respite services.• Identify agency & staff needs (e.g. staff training) to implement best practice model.• Develop a tool, such as a CALD Service Guide, to be used by respite providers to assist them in delivering culturally inclusive services.• Produce a report informing on project findings.

How you can assist this project:

• Complete the respite service providers’ survey (10mins) if applicable, and email / fax to Susan on numbers below.• Email / phone project worker with your ideas, challenges, experiences and strategies that worked well for including CALD clients in your respite programs. If you are a service user from CALD background, we would welcome your feedback on respite services within the Eastern Metropolitan Region.• Service Providers: be willing to trial the CALD respite service guide at your service, and give feedback.

Contact Details – Susan Marryatt, CALD Project Worker (Monday, Tuesday andThursday).

Tel: (03) 9831 5643 Fax: (03) 9830 0003Email: susan.marryatt@yooralla.com.auAddress: RIDE - Yooralla

Suite 2, 587 Canterbury RoadSURREY HILLS 3127

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Deafness Forum Post Secondary Education Scholarships

Closing date: February 8th 2008

Deafness Forum provide educational scholarships to facilitate the participation of people who are Deaf or people who have a hearing impairment in post secondary education.

Deafness Forum delivers these scholarships to:

Provide financial assistance to Deaf and hearing impaired people to enhance their participation in further education

Increase the number of Deaf and hearing impaired students in further education

And in particular to increase education opportunities for Deaf and hearing impaired students from the indigenous community, regional communities and non-English speaking backgrounds.

 In 2008 two Scholarships will be available for support such as tuition, text materials or any other support considered necessary and approved by the Selection Panel for the Scholar(s) to successfully undertake an educational program. Typically between $1,000 and $2,000 will be provided to any one Scholar. Support services such as interpreting, transcription typing and purchase of assistive listening devices or other services deemed the responsibility of the tertiary institution, under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, will NOT be considered under this scholarship. Scholarship recipients will receive complimentary membership of the Deafness Forum for 12 months. The scholarships are available to students planning to undertake further education and are expressly designed to support students who are deaf or hearing impaired by contributing to ongoing costs for their tuition.

For more information please visit: http://www.deafnessforum.org.au/scholarships.htm

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PAID AND VOLUNTARY POSITIONS

Disability Accommodation Service: Disability Development and Support Officer

Closing date: 16th November 2007

Are you interested in a rewarding career where you can make a difference?

Looking for a challenge?

The Southern Metropolitan Region, Disability Accommodation Services (DAS) currently has a number of Disability Development and Support Officer ongoing part-time positions available in the Bayside, Dandenong and Peninsula Areas.

DAS program provides high quality, community-based supported accommodation to people with a disability. This support encourages developmental opportunities and client choice, enabling maximum integration and a lifestyle that emulates the general community.

We are seeking applications from people who have a qualification or experience working with people with a disability. However an applicant may be appointed as an unqualified DDSO or trainee working towards gaining a qualification. (Note: Selection to ongoing roles will be conditional upon applicants committing to commencing a traineeship to obtain Certificate IV in Disability Work qualification).

If you are interested in applying for one of the ongoing part-time positions and require further information, please phone the DAS Recruitment Number on 03 9767 8834. Leave your name and a contact number and our Recruitment Officer will get back to you to provide further information about the positions on offer.

Interviews will commence in the week starting 26 November 2007.

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Office of the Public Advocate: Manager, Community Based Programs

Closing date: 16th November 2007

The position is located at Office of Public Advocate on Level 4, 456

Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

Department:   Department of JusticeWork Type:   Ongoing - full timeJob Function:    Community Services - ManagementClassification:   VPSG6Work Location:   Melbourne - CBDReference:   VG/DJ2698Closing Date:   16-Nov-2007Salary Range:   $85,350 - $114,216Job Duration:   N/A

Contact:   Lisa Hong 03  9281 7123

Position Details

The Manager, Community Based Programs reports to the Public Advocate. Together with four other managers they make up the senior management team of six.

Within the Program for which the Manager is responsible there are nine staff with an EFT of 8.1.  These are:

Community Visitors Program - 4 Co-ordinators (Grade 5); 1 Recruiting Officer (Grade 3); 1 Training Officer part-time (Grade 4); 3 Administration Officers part-time (Grade2)Independent Third Person Program -  Co-ordinator (Grade 4) and 1 Assistant Co-ordinator (Grade 3)Volunteers - there are approximately 480 Community Visitors and 200 Independent Third Persons.

Questions relating to conditions of service and the role of the job can be directed to the Co-Ordinator, Human Resources & Payroll on (03)9281 7123.

You can find a full job description, including the Key Selection Criteria online at:  www.careers.vic.gov.au Specific enquiries regarding this role should be directed to Lisa Hong on (03) 9281 7123.

A statement addressing the Key Selection Criteria should be provided for your application to be considered. Any attachments such as resumes/statements addressing the Key Selection Criteria etc should be in 'Word' format and can be uploaded with your application. All appointments to the Department of Justice are subject to the following checks: reference checks, criminal record check.  Some positions may also be subject to a 'Working with Children Check'.

If you would like a copy of this advertisement or any other relevant documentation in an accessible format, such as large print, please email recruitmentrequest@justice.vic.gov.au

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Melton Shire Council: MetroAccess Officer

Closing date: 5:00pm 16th November 2007

12 Month Temporary PositionExcellent Career OpportunitiesFriendly Team EnvironmentSalary range is $55,083 to $59,983 plus 9% super

This exciting opportunity requires an energetic and dedicated community development worker with skills and experience in project and community work.

This position focuses on providing an inclusive community for people with disabilities and their families with the aim of improving access to information, building and strengthening community capacity, facilitating integrated local community planning and

facilitating community action.

This project is a partnership between Melton shire Council and the Department of Human Services.

For further details please contact Maree Heaney on 97477358.All applicants must address the key selection criteria contained in the Position Description available from Council's website at www.melton.vic.gov.au or by contacting Diana Pickering on 9747 7233.

Applications to be forwarded to the Manager Organisational Development, Melton Shire Council, PO Box 21, Melton, 3337 or email to: careers@melton.vic.gov.au

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Action for Community Living: Disability Advocate (30hrs p/wk to April 2008)

Closing date: November 19th 2007

ACL is a statewide disability advocacy organization that is looking for someone with a strong commitment to the rights of Victorians with a disability to provide individual advocacy within the metropolitan area. We are looking for someone with the skills and ability to provide individual advocacy within a human rights framework. The successful applicant will have a commitment to working towards the protection and promotion of justice and positive social change for people with disabilities.

ACL is an affirmative action employer. People with a disability are encouraged to apply for this position.

For further details about this position contact Gillian Meldrum on 03 9489 2999 or email a.newbery@advocacyhouse.org

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VCOSS: Administration Assistant, Sector Development

Closing date: November 21st 2007

The Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS), peak body for non-government community services in Victoria, is looking for an Administration Assistant to work within the Sector Development team. This position supports two main projects currently being undertaken by VCOSS – the Clearinghouse and the Community Sector Occupational Health and Safety Project, as well as supporting the Sector Development Manager.

This position is responsible for organising and supporting meetings, including taking minutes and booking venues, administering the free training program, updating the website, as well as general administrative duties.

You are a well organised person with a strong administration background, who has the ability to prioritise a demanding workload. You are able to work without supervision, while at the same time enjoy working as part of a team. You have well developed interpersonal skills so you can effectively deal with the diverse range of people that make up VCOSS members and stakeholders.

This position is full time and is fixed term ending December 2009.  

Applications must address the Key Selection Criteria. Applications failing to address the Key Selection Criteria will not be considered.

Please refer to the position description for further details: Administration Assistant Position Description (Microsoft

Word Document) Administration Assistant Position Description (PDF)

Please address applications quoting the Ref No. AASDD to Angela Savage, Sector Development Manager, and queries, to human.resources@vcoss.org.au.

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Disability Professionals Victoria: Admin Assistant (0.4 FTE)

Closing date: 5:00pm, 23rd November 2007

Are you looking for an interesting position where you can be a part of a developing organisation?

The Administrative Assistant (AA) will support DPV's role in member support and member activities in Victoria. The key role will to be to provide support to the Executive Officer.

Disability Professionals Victoria (DPV) aims to promote excellence and leadership in a vibrant disability profession by providing opportunities for recognition, learning and connection. DPV supports its members by providing: §        peer support through networking, mentoring and social activities. §        information sharing through newsletters, web forums, and special interest groups. §         special interest groups§        world-class learning & development opportunities through conferences, seminars and forums. DPV is the result of the creation of a single professional association for disability professionals in Victoria which took place in December 2004. DPV now has approximately 400 members, some of whom were members of the two prior associations: the Institute of Disability Services Management and the Disability Managers Association of Victoria. We are looking for someone who is a good "people person" who is self-motivated and accountable, who has self-sufficient computer skills, and who is willing and able to attend to administrative detail.  The position is part-time (15 hours per week). The hours will build up to full-time in the lead up to the conference (held in early March). Post-conference, the hours will return to 15 hours per week.  For further information or to obtain a position description please contact Gail Reardontelephone: 8637 1238gail.reardon@dpv.org.au

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Parkinson’s Victoria: CALD Project Worker, 12 months 0.4 FTE

Closing date: 23rd November 2007

We seek an enthusiastic, experienced, well networked Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Project Worker to implement “Bridging the Gaps” – an information and awareness strategy for people living with Parkinson’s in the CALD community.

Applicants must possess qualifications to Bachelors level in Community Development, Social Work or related disciplines, as well as a successful track record with similar projects. A second language is preferred.

The position is two days per week based at our Cheltenham office. A current driver’s licence is essential.

Applications addressing the key selection criteria may be forward to Amanda Spillare, Client Services Coordinator. The job description is available at www.parkinsons-vic.org.au

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City of Whitehorse Disability Advisory Committee

Closing date: 12th December 2007

Council is calling for interested people to participate on the Whitehorse Disability Advisory Committee. Prior experience of committees is not required. The committee provides Council with strategic advice on issues concerning people with disabilities. Council is seeking representation from all sectors of the disability community.

People interested in joining the committee can obtain an Expression of Interest form and a copy of the draft Disability Advisory Committee Terms of Reference by phoning Council’s Community Development Department on 9262 6443. Both documents can be made available in audio format if requested.

A copy of the Whitehorse Disability Action Plan is also available on Council’s website.

Applications for the Whitehorse Disability Advisory Committee should be addressed to:

Manager Community DevelopmentWhitehorse City CouncilLocked Bag 2Nunawading Delivery Centre 3131 Alternatively, send a fax to 9262 6117 or email customer.service@whitehorse.vic.gov.au or TTY 9262 6325. For further information, phone Leonie Boyle in Council’s Community Development Department on 9262 6101.

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