In This Edition
- Policy submissions
- Events and activities
- General news
- WWDA Youth Network
Recent WWDA Policy Submissions
WWDA has been working hard to ensure that the voices of our members, and indeed, all women and girls with disabilities are represented, acknowledged and valued in national and international policy that concerns us. Our recent submissions are listed below and links to download are provided below. There is also an opportunity to contribute to the National Disability Employment Framework Consultation.
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Framework Submission
NDIS Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) Policy Framework SubmissionSubmission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Development of a General Comment on the Rights of AdolescentsSubmission to the CRPD Committee, Day of General Discussion on the Right to Education for Persons with DisabilitiesNDIS Quality and Safeguards Framework Submission
WWDA collaborated with People With Disability Australia (PWDA) on a submission to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Quality and Safeguards Framework consultation in May 2015. The joint submission addressed key overarching issues concerning the development of a comprehensive and rigorous NDIS Quality and Safeguarding framework that protects the rights and interests of all people with disability.
Download the WWDA NDIS Q&S submission [DOC] [PDF]
NDIS Information, Linkages and Capacity Building Policy Framework Submission
WWDA contributed a brief submission to the NDIS Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) Policy Framework consultation. WWDA provided six recommendations regarding the ILC framework. You can download an Easy English version of the framework and read more at the NDIS website.
Download the WWDA NDIS ILC submission [DOC] [PDF]
Submission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Development of a General Comment on the Rights of Adolescents
In April 2015 WWDA made a submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) to inform the development of a General Comment on the rights of adolescents. The CRC Committee is a body of 18 independent experts that monitor the implementation of the CRC by States parties. General Comments are developed by such committees to clarify and expound articles contained in UN conventions and treaties. WWDA’s submission will contribute to informing a General Comment on the Rights of Adolescents under the CRC, from the perspective of women and girls with disabilities.
Download the WWDA CRC submission [DOC] [PDF]
Submission to the CRPD Committee, Day of General Discussion on the Right to Education for Persons with Disabilities
WWDA was invited by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CPRD) Committee to provide a written submission to contribute to a day of general discussion on the rights to education for persons with disability. WWDA’s Submission considered CPRD Article 24 [the Right to Education for Persons with Disabilities], and the development of a General Comment, in the context of the intersection of disability, gender and discrimination.
Download the WWDA CPRD Education Submission [DOC] [PDF]
Opportunities to Contribute
National Disability Employment Framework Consultation – Easy English Guide Released
The Department of Social Services has released the Easy English guide for contributions to the National Disability Employment Framework consultation.
WWDA will be making a submission to this consultation, drawing on much of the work we have already done around improving employment for women with disabilities in Australia.
Some of the key questions the Department is interested in hearing your thoughts on include:
How can we help people with disability to find and keep jobs?How can we encourage employers to hire people with disability?What can we do to promote the benefits of hiring people with disability?How can we support people at different stages of life?
To make a submission, visit the Disability Employment Framework consultation page. For dates and to register for a public forum, visit the Attend a Public Forum page.
Events and Activities
Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) Annual Disability Advisory Meeting
WWDA attended the annual AEC Disability Advisory Committee Meeting on Thursday 4th June to assist with informing the ongoing AEC Disability Inclusion Strategy.
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) CEO’s Forum Workshop
WWDA will be represented at the National Disability Agency CEO’s Forum and Workshop in late June. This forum will provide further opportunities for WWDA to contribute to the development of a robust and gender inclusive NDIS.
Australian Cross-Disability Alliance Workshop
Carolyn Frohmader attended a recent workshop with the four other founding organisations of the Australian Cross-Disability Alliance to begin work on high-level planning. The workshop was productive and WWDA is proud to be a part of this collaborative effort. While work continues on establishing the alliance, current members of the Australian Cross-Disability Alliance include:
- First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN)
- Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA)
- People With Disability Australia (PWDA)
- National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA)
Debrief and Panel on the 59th Session on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
WWDA will be attending the CSW follow up event, ‘The international fight for women’s rights – a debrief and panel on the 59th Session on Commission on the Status of Women’ in late June. The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
WWDA was represented at and contributed significantly to the 59th session held in New York earlier this year. Look out for a feature article regarding this event on the WWDA website soon.
This year’s CSW marked the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing women’s rights. The meeting was particularly significant in the way it connects to the ongoing negotiations around the Sustainable Development Goals, which will replace the Millennium Development Goals at the end of this year.
General News
New Part-time Staff Member
WWDA is happy to announce that Christopher Brophy (Chris), who has been working as a consultant for WWDA on and off for some time will be employed part-time for 3 days a week beginning in July. Chris’ official role will be Director of Strategic Communications and he will continue to work on establishing communications infrastructure and systems to meet the increasing demand and profile of WWDA’s work at national and international level. He will also assist WWDA in its role as a member of the Australian Cross-Disability Alliance and will continue to contribute his skills to the policy, research and project work that WWDA undertakes.
Chris is a social worker by background and has previously worked in the Tasmanian disability sector. He is part way through his PhD in social work, though this remains on indefinite hiatus. He has also taught in social work at the University of Tasmania for several years. In addition to working for WWDA, Chris is employed part-time with a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) support and education service in Tasmania.
Outside of work, Chris enjoys film photography, painting, and reading.
Chris can be contacted by email
WWDA Applying for United Nations ECOSOC Consultative Status
WWDA has applied for Consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). ECOSOC is the central platform for reflection, debate, and innovative thinking on sustainable development. WWDA has worked extensively with the various United Nations functions and bodies, and consultative status would further WWDA’s capacity to do this important and high-level international policy development work. A decision on WWDA’s application is expected in early 2016.
WWDA Endorses Universal Housing Position Statement
WWDA was happy to endorse the Australian Network for Universal Housing Design’s (ANUHD) position statement and campaign. You can access the position statement on the need for minimum access features in housing design and add your voice to the campaign from the ANUHD website.
WWDA Youth Network
The aim of the WWDA Youth Network is to empower young women and girls with all types of disabilities to become strong, confident, proud and educated on their rights.
Check out WWDA Youth on Facebook and Instagram!
New Book on the Intersections of Youth and Disability
In Youth and Disability, Jenny Slater uses the lens of the reasonable to explore how normative understandings of youth, dis/ability and the intersecting identities of gender and sexuality impact upon the lives of young disabled people
Find out more about “Youth and Disability: A Challenge to Mr. Reasonable” by Jenny Slater at the publisher’s website.
