AMIDA NEWS Print Post Approved P.P 100000326 March, 2014 AMIDA (Action for More Independence & Dignity in Accommodation) is a disability advocacy group that works on housing issues. This means we speak up for people with a disability or help them to speak up for themselves about problems they have with their housing. AMIDA Committee: The Committee meets Tuesdays from 10.00am – 1.00pm at Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Norrie Blythman (Chair), Graeme Williams (Vice-Chair), Peter Waters (Secretary), Brenda Lacey (Treasurer), Luke Stone (Vice-Treasurer), Simon Chong, Kay Forstner, Ray Groves, and Lauren Rosewarne. Meeting Dates for 2014: Meetings are held Tuesdays at 10.00am – 1.00pm, Room 1.3, unless indicated otherwise. 8th April 13th May – Policies Meeting 19th June 8th July 12th August 9th September 14th October – AGM 11th November 9th December (Please let us know if you are coming to any meetings – 9650 2722 or amida@amida.org.au) Ground Floor, Ross House 247 Flinders Lane Melbourne Vic 3000 Phone: 9639-6856 Email: saru@rosshouse.org.au You can find out about SARU by going to the website: www.saru.net.au SARU sends out a Weekly Memo and a SARU Newsletter (available in DVD format). Please contact - 9639 6856 or Email: saru@rosshouse.org.au if you would like to receive them. Excerpts are included below: ‘Dates - 2014 Here are some dates and upcoming events to put in your diary: SARU forum: Self Advocacy and the Victorian State Disability Plan SARU will run a forum for self advocates to learn more about the state disability plan and how self advocates can use the plan to help with their advocacy work and have their voice heard. Come along and enjoy a great discussion and some yummy food. Date: Tuesday 29th April Time: 10.00 to 1.00 Address: Fourth Floor Ross House, 245 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Right – Arthur Rogers and Colin Hiscoe at the Why Self Advocacy Matters Forum Left - Members of DeafBlind Victorians meet former Prime Minister, Julia Gillard SARU Forum: Making Your Group Stronger This forum will look at ways of making your group stronger, funding ideas, finding new members, networking etc Date: June 24th Time: 10.30 to 1.30 Address: Hayden Ray Smith Room, Fourth Floor, Ross House, 245 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference Self Advocates across Victoria start getting excited!! SARU, DARU and DAV are again running the Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference. The theme for this two-day conference is “Champions of Change”. There will be lots of interesting sessions and SARU is organising 10 sessions about self advocacy and issues faced by self advocates. So definitely save the date for this one!!! Date: 4th and 5th August Address: Melbourne & Olympic Park Convention Centre, Batman Avenue, Melbourne SARU Forum – I would like SARU to… Come along and have your say about how SARU can best support self advocacy. We want your help to write our plan for 2015. It is also a chance for groups to celebrate their achievements in 2014 Date: Tuesday 28/10/14 Time: 10.00 to 1.30 Address: Hayden Ray Smith Room, Fourth Floor Ross House, 245 Flinders Lane, Melbourne’ Families and service providers working together The Office of the Disability Services Commissioner is working on a Family Engagement Project. Below is an update on the launch of a new resource developed by the office. Families and service providers working together is the second in a series of Occasional Papers on ‘Learning from Complaints’. This paper addresses the issue of families of adults with a disability and service providers working more effectively together. A consistent theme in the work of the office has been the resolution of complaints that have arisen from a lack of consultation and agreement between families and service providers on how supports are best provided. The office believes that for many people with a disability, the involvement of family and other natural supports and the relationship they have with the service provider is both integral to the person’s long-term wellbeing, and a critical safeguard in the provision of supports. In consultation with a range of people with a disability, families, service providers, advocacy organisations and academics the office has developed and proposed a set of policy principles and practice strategies that will support families and service providers to work more effectively together. Once feedback is received from the sector, each of these resources will be made available as stand-alone resources. The paper is available in PDF and Rich Text formats from the Office for Disability Services Commissioner website at www.odsc.vic.gov.au/occasional-papers Feedback will be accepted on this paper until 28 March 2014. Feedback can be provided via the options outlined on the ODSC website at www.odsc.vic.gov.au/occasional-papers Sandhurst Planning Entering Next Phase Government Media release, The Hon Mary Wooldridge MP, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Community Services, Minister for Disability Services and Reform, Thursday 6th Feb 2014 The closure of Bendigo’s Sandhurst Residential Services is entering its next phase, with client planning almost completed and the design of new services commencing. Minister for Disability Services and Reform Mary Wooldridge said a further 17 client plans have been finalised since December, leaving only one of a total of 29 to be completed. Clients will move from the existing facility into more individualised accommodation by 2016. “Through the planning process we’ve identified ways that we can innovate when developing new homes and will consider including private spaces, music rooms and outdoor living areas to meet the needs of residents.” The $7.9 million closure of Sandhurst Residential Services will be managed over the next two and a half years in close consultation with families, advocates, residents and staff. “Since July 2013 my colleague, the Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Community Services Andrea Coote, has attended bi-monthly forums with families and residents and she will continue to do this in 2014,” Ms Wooldridge said. For more information about the closure of Sandhurst Residential Services, visit: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/sandhurst. Media contact: Michael Moore 0400 719 355 michael.moore@minstaff.vic.gov.au Read the full story.... Download media release (PDF) ‘Speaking Up Over the Years’ A new book, ‘Speaking Up Over the Years’, is one of the major outcomes of collaborative research which explored the part of self-advocacy in building social inclusion for people with intellectual disability. It chronicles the remarkable achievements of the first generation of self-advocates in Victoria and their allies, and demonstrates the case for the continued support of independent self-advocacy groups such as Reinforce as one means of building more inclusive communities. The Melbourne launch was held on Monday 24th February, 2014, LaTrobe University City Campus, Franklin Street, Melbourne. Download a copy: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.9/212879. It will also be available online at www.reinforce.org.au. Alternatively you can order a copy of this book by emailing either Chris Bigby c.bigby@latrobe.edu.au or Patsie Frawley at p.frawley@latrobe.edu.au Raising Our Voices Raising Our Voices Radio show on 3CR 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6.00 – 6.30pm Raising Our Voices is now podcast. Go to: www.3cr.org.au and download Raising Our Voices to your computer. Copies of the radio shows are available from AMIDA on CD or audio tape, website www.amida.org.au Freedom Housing* is designed by the husband of a woman who suffered MS for most of their married life. They raised two children. This is the sort of care and accommodation they would have chosen for their family if it were available thirty years ago. This innovative care and accommodation model allows the person with disabilities - and the family - full independence from institutions. Freedom Housing is the recipient of the Australian Human Rights Commission Business Award 2013. It complies with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Freedom Housing is designed to meet your needs through every phase of life. Find out more at: http://www.freedomhousing.com.au http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml *Disclaimer: AMIDA does not recommend any product, activity, organisation, service or item – such details are provided within the AMIDA NEWS for general information and interest only. All information contained within is as accurate as possible and is provided in good faith – however it is not guaranteed. March, 2014 The AMIDA office is usually open: Monday 9.30 - 5.00 Tuesday 9.30 – 5.00 Wednesday 9.30 - 4.00 Thursday 9.30 - 2.00 Friday 9.30 – 2.00 Please phone AMIDA for an appointment: 9650 2722. Email: amida@amida.org.au Web: www.amida.org.au AMIDA, 1st Floor, Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane Melbourne Vic 3000 Phone: 9650 2722 Inc. No. A0016085V Print Post Approved PP 100000326 AMIDA receives funding from the Commonwealth Department of Social Services, the Office for Disability and the Victorian Department of Human Services. You can offer any comments you have on AMIDA Policy or Newsletter by phone, email or writing: AMIDA, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000 Phone: 9650 2722 Email: amida@amida.org.au Web: www.amida.org.au ABN 32993870380, Inc. No. A0016085V March, 2014