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Integrated disAbility Action Inc (IdA)
IdA - A voice and support network for people with disability
E Bulletin
Issue 68 25 March 2015
A voice and support network for people with disability
IdA Patron His Honour, the Honourable John Hardy OAM Administrator of the Northern Territory
News and Views
Housing Still in the Headlines
Every Australian Counts are asking for “YOUR HELP.” They rightly say, “It is taking too long for the
governments to come up with a plan for housing, so we are making our own.” The Every Australian
Counts DIY Disability Housing Plan. They want you to tell them what kind of housing you need to
support you to live your life to the full, or tell them what options you want for someone that you support.
They will compile all the responses and present them to the ministers ahead of their April meeting. Just
go to: everyaustraliancounts.com.au and scroll down to the DIY Disability Housing Plan. If you are not a
member it is free to join and their website contains a lot of very valuable information on a wide variety of
topics. You will also receive regular updates about what is happening in relation to the NDIS as well as
many other disability issues. Alternatively contact our office and we will forward your response. Whilst on
the subject of housing, the Disability Service Minister in Queensland Coralee O’Rourke has announced
that Regional Housing Limited and the State Government will partner in a $1.4 million housing project
that will change the lives of four local families in Bundaberg. Regional Housing Ltd has received $1
million in capital funding and will contribute more than $400,000 towards building 2 two bedroom duplex
units. This accommodation will give elderly parent carers greater certainty and a sense of security for
when they can no longer care for their adult son or daughter with a disability at home. This type of
housing is certainly something the NT Government should consider to help cope with the housing crisis
for people who are disabled and/or aged.
What Value can we put on Election Promises
NSW Premier Mike Baird has made a pledge that if his government win the State election on Saturday,
the National Disability Scheme will begin in July this year starting in Penrith and the Blue Mountains one
year ahead of schedule. About 2000 children in the region are expected to be in the launch group, where
the focus will be on early intervention services. A National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) office will
open in Penrith in July. Children and their families are expected to begin receiving individual packages
from September, with 2000 children accessing the NDIS by June 2016. The latest national report from
the scheme shows the average financial package for services received by 11,000 disabled participants
across Australia is worth $35,300 a year.
Eating Out another challenge for disabled people
Most of us would agree that dining out is a significant aspect of community life and engagement, but it is
an area where people with a disability are often excluded. Over the next 12 months researchers at
Wollongong University in partnership with Shoalhaven Business Chamber and FOCAS Shoalhaven, will
conduct a survey of Nowra CBD restaurants and cafes to identify potential barriers to people with a
disability. IdA would also be very interested in hearing about your particular experiences when trying to
access these type of public places. As a result we maybe able to bring about some changes by
contacting the people or company concerned.
Disability to Aged Pension
Further to last week’s E Bulletin, this week we wrote on our members’ behalf to Hon Peter Styles MLA
Minister for Senior Territorians to ask him why people are being transferred to an Aged Pension from a
Disability Pension automatically once they reach 65, and are not given the choice by Centrelink to remain
on the Disability pension, although it clearly states that it is a person’s right to choose to do this on the
forms Centrelink provides. We also enquired as to the loss of benefits a person can experience when
transferring from one pension to another. We understand our letter has now been passed to the office of
the Minister for Health and Disability Services Hon John Elferink MLA and we will report back to you once
we have heard further from the Minister. In the meantime we have also been notified by Darwin
Communuty Legal Services DCLS that they have a specialist Welfare Rights Lawyer, Shelley Eder, who
can give legal advice and undertake appeals regarding Centrelink decisions. She may be contacted
through DCLS on free call 1800 812 953 Phone 08 8982 1111 Fax 08 8982 1112 Email info@dcls.org.au
Welcome
To new IdA member Lyn Tenby, Training Coordinator for Micro Business for people with a Disability. A
fully funded course for eligible participants through the NT Equity Training Grants – an Initiative of the
Northern Territory Government. For more information visit http://learningpotential.com.au/micro-business
Also to new Corporate members Deaf Queensland. Operating since 1903, Deaf Services Queensland is
the leading provider of support services and information to the Deaf and hard of hearing community in
Queensland. Please visit their link on our website for more information. Thank you both for your support.
Upcoming Forums and Events
Consultation for the National Framework on Quality and Safeguarding for the National Disability
Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
NDS would like to remind and encourage you to attend the public consultation next week being held by
the Commonwealth Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Northern Territory Government,
regarding the National Framework on Quality and Safeguarding for the NDIS. The consultation paper was
released by the Disability Reform Council on 16 February 2015. A copy of the paper including an easy
English version, factsheets and framework summary are located on https://engage.dss.gov.au/ndis-qsf/
The consultation will provide an overview of the Quality and Safeguarding framework, and you will have
the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. In the NT, the consultations will be held: 1 April in
Darwin at the Travelodge Mirambeena Resort and 2 April at the Alice Springs Convention Centre. Both
consultations are from 9.30am to 11.30am. You can register at https://engage.dss.gov.au Your
participation will be valuable to the NDIS. If you cannot attend a public consultation, you can make a
submission online at the above mentioned website. Contact john.trezise@nds.org.au for any queries, or
the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Team at DSS at ndisqualitysafeguards@dss.gov.au
IdA AGM
Wednesday 15th April 2015 at 5:00pm at our office in Nightcliff Community Centre. Guest Speaker The
Hon John Elferink MLA Minister for Disability Services. Remember only fully paid members are eligible to
vote at the AGM so if you haven’t renewed your membership please do so NOW. Please contact us on
office@idainc.org.au or 8948 5400 if you would like more information.
Being a member is the best way to ensure you receive information from us as it happens. Also if you wish
to continue to receive this E Bulletin, or have your say about a particular issue or concern, join IdA NOW!
Do you know of any upcoming news or events not featured in this bulletin? Do you have any questions or
comments on the items featured? We would welcome your feedback. Or if you wish to unsubscribe, email
us on office@idainc.org.au. http://www.idainc.org.au Our office is open Tuesdays to Thursdays 9:00am to
2:00pm at Nightcliff Community Centre, 4/18 Bauhinia Street, Nightcliff, NT0810. Ph: 8948 5400 P O Box
645 Nightcliff NT0814 Fax: 8948 5409.
IdA thanks the Northern Territory Government, Department of Health, Office of Disability for their
continued financial support