In this Edition

  • Australian disability advocacy framework review
  • Australian disability education Senate Inquiry
  • General news
  • International news
  • WWDA Youth Network update

Review of the Australian National Disability Advocacy Framework

The Australian Government has announced a review of the National Disability Advocacy Framework. The framework underpins disability advocacy services across Australia and is designed to provide a way for government to support people with disability protect their rights.

The review, facilitated by the Department of Social Services (DSS) will look at how the framework might operate within or alongside the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

In a recent joint submission to the NDIS quality and safeguards framework consultation, WWDA and People With Disability Australia (PWDA) encouraged Government to ensure that disability advocacy is sufficiently funded and accessible to all people with disability, as a fundamental human rights safeguard.

You can contribute your thoughts to the review of the national advocacy framework through the Department of Social Services engage.dss.gov.au portal. Feedback from the review, together with insights from recent NDIS consultations, will be used to develop the new framework, which will be released in early 2016.

You can make a submission at engage.dss.gov.au/ndaf/ before 24 July 2015.

To assist with making a submission, you can download or listen to the discussion paper:

Easy English version of the discussion paper:

If you or someone you know would like to access a disability advocate, you can use the National Disability Advocacy Program finder at http://finder.dss.gov.au/disability/ndap/

Young girl using wheelchair at school surrounded by three of her friends

Australian Government Senate Inquiry into Access to Education for People with Disabilities

On 17th June the Australian Government announced a senate inquiry into current levels of access and attainment for students with disability in the school system, and the impact on students and families associated with inadequate levels of support. The Australian Cross Disability Alliance will be putting tog a submission for this inquiry. You can add your thoughts to the inquiry by making a submission.

  • The full terms of reference for the inquiry (what the inquiry will explore) are available at the senate inquiry website: http://goo.gl/kxPWtq
  • Easy English terms of reference are not yet available.
  • You can access general instructions on how to make a submission from the inquiry: http://goo.gl/NJGDXW​
  • Call for submissions closes 21 August 2015
  • You can access assistance to make a submission by contacting the Committee Secretariat:

Senate Education and Employment Committees
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Phone: +61 2 6277 3521
Fax: +61 2 6277 5706
Email: eec.sen@aph.gov.au

General News

Australian Cross Disability Alliance Update

WWDA continues to collaborate with other members of the Australian Cross Disability Alliance (ACDA) to establish an underlying framework and processes for the Alliance, including identification of strategic priorities and responding to incoming requests from government and the community.

Drafting has started on a (basic) ACDA website which will provide a snapshot of the ongoing work of the Alliance as it gains momentum.

Sea of hands on top each other in a sign of unity

WWDA Member Representation Opportunities

Work is underway on an easier system to allow members to express interest in and undertake, representative activities on behalf of WWDA. WWDA is frequently asked to attend forums, reference groups, steering committees and events and is keen to ensure that members are provided with meaningful opportunities to share their knowledge and lived experiences.

Disability Services Commissioner Fails to Investigate Abuse Reports

WWDA was disappointed to learn that the Victorian Disability Services Commissioner failed to conduct any investigations into abuse of people with disability between 2010 and 2014, despite numerous complaints received by them regarding Victoria’s biggest disability services provider. Fairfax reported that the admission was made at the ongoing Victorian parliamentary inquiry into abuse in Victoria’s disability sector. The inquiry is looking at why abuse in disability service providers is not reported or acted upon.

Read the full article at The Age website: http://goo.gl/O3egLx

International News

AWID LogoWWDA invited to Attend 13th AWID International Forum on Women’s Rights and Development, Brazil, May 2016

WWDA has been invited to present a session at the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) 2016 forum in Brazil. AWID is a global feminist membership based organisation working to achieve gender equality, sustainable development and women’s human rights worldwide.

The theme for the 2016 forum is ‘Feminist Futures: Building Collective Power for Rights and Justice’. WWDA will develop and finalise a proposal for the forum in early July.

You can find out more at the AWID website (http://www.awid.org/) and the forum website (http://forum2016.awid.org).

[Report] Voice & Agency: Empowering Women & Girls for Shared Prosperity

The World Bank has released a major report that collates and analyses hundreds of studies of issues and constraints facing women and girls worldwide, including gender-based violence, biased laws and social norms that prevent them from owning property, working and making decisions about their own live.

You can access the full 218 page report from: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/19036

[Report] United Nations Special Rapporteur Violence Against Women Report to the UN Human Rights Council 2015 Released

The United Nations special rapporteur on violence against women,  its causes and consequences, Rashida Manjoo, has released a report on the systems and provisions for addressing violence against women in the African, European and Inter-American human rights systems. In the report she discusses the existing legal standards and practices regarding violence against women in these three regional human rights systems.

To access the full report, go to http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session29/Pages/ListReports.aspx, scroll down to report A/HRC/29/27 and select language.

Alternatively, download the document directly [English, DOCX].

WWDA Youth Network LogoWWDA Youth Network

WWDA Youth Network continues to grow and gain a strong following. Be sure to check out WWDA Youth Network on Facebook, Instagram and now Twitter!