AMIDA NEWS Print Post Approved P.P 100000326 July, 2018 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. NDIS Appeals Are you unhappy with your ndis plan, or a decision made by the ndia? If so, the NDIS Appeals support service at AMIDA can help. What could you be unhappy about? The NDIA said you can’t get support from them (you’re not eligible) Your plan isn’t right (you need more or different supports) How does the service work? It’s free! It is for anybody who has received an NDIS decision that they are unhappy with. Helps you request a review, make an appeal and apply for legal aid (if needed). What can I do if I’m not happy with my ndis plan? Get in touch with Kathryn or Susan. email: appeals@amida.org.au or phone: 9654 2103 The NDIS Appeals Support service is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. For more information visit: https://www.dss.gov.au/ National Disability Insurance Scheme - Melbourne City Mission has developed a planning tool to help prepare for your NDIS plan. People from trial sites report that it sometimes took a few goes and it’s easy to forget things. There is a lot to consider and it is important you have time to talk to family and friends, to think and to plan. This tool is designed to help you do that. NDIS Planning Tool - http://www.daru.org.au/resource/12097 For more information about this resource, contact ABI & Disability Intake Services at Melbourne City Mission: Tel: 1800 343 287 The Self Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU) celebrated its 10th anniversary in June with performances, films and speeches given by self-advocacy groups from across Victoria. Heather Lawson from Deaf Blind Victorians spoke to the large audience of over 100 self-advocates and their supporters Colin Hiscoe from Reinforce and Lisa Brumtis from Brain Injury Matters cut the cake There was much celebration of the achievements of self advocacy groups over the last 10 years, thanks to the support of the SARU. Amanda Millear from Raising Our Voices formed a conga line. Beck and Fran represented Victorian Self Advocacy Network (VSAN) and Rainbow Rights self-advocacy was there too. Draft Disability Action Plan The government has recently released their Draft Disability Action Plan 2018-2020 and invited comments. AMIDA has written to endorse the recommendations in the plan -that all public housing redevelopments will be in future made accessible to the Gold Level of accessibility and -that more than 700 department run disability accommodation properties will be maintained and upgraded. We have seen in the last 10 years that large numbers of public housing stock have required upgrading. In fact the Auditor General found in 2010 that 10,000 properties were obsolescent. Thousands of public housing units have also been handed over to community housing providers, who do not have the resources to modify stock. AMIDA has therefore recommended that before stock is handed over it also must be upgraded to gold level standard or an agreement be made that it will be upgraded by the community housing provider. The AMIDA Committee for the 2017/18 year are: Chairperson - Peter Waters Treasurer - Carmel Laragy Secretary - Norrie Blythman Assistant Chairperson - Luke Stone Ordinary Member - James Teeken “ - Amanda Millear “ - Lincoln Humphreys WANTED - New Committee members AMIDA is looking for people with a commitment to human rights and an interest in improving the lives of people with a disability to support us by joining our committee of management. We are a disability advocacy group and support people with a disability to self advocate around problems they have with their housing. We also provide individual advocacy to stand beside people and speak with and for people when they need this. We have a commitment to systemic change too as the problems individuals face are often the result of wider systemic failings to respect people’s rights. Our committee has a majority of members who have a disability but we have a number of vacancies for anyone who shares our aims and can contribute to governance of our organisation. This involves helping with our policy and practice, monitoring finances and budgets, receiving worker reports and contributing to the planning of the group so that we work best to meet our aims. Committee meetings are held at Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne once every month on Tuesdays from 10.00am to 1.00pm. You are welcome to attend a committee meeting or phone AMIDA on 9650 2722 to find out more. We also have a website www.amida.org.au. If you receive a paper copy of the AMIDA NEWS, but would prefer to receive your AMIDA NEWS by email, please let us know: 9650 2722 or amida@amida.org.au. Of course, we are very happy to continue to post you the AMIDA NEWS if that is your preference. or Raising Our Voices Radio show on 3CR 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6.00 – 6.30pm Thanks to all those who supported our show in the 3CR radiothon in June. We raised $650 to keep 3CR community Radio and our program on the air. Our most recent show is on Disability and Sport and you can listen to a podcast. Raising Our Voices is now podcast - Go to: www.3cr.org.au/raisingourvoices 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 July, 2018 The AMIDA office is usually open: Monday - Thursday - 9.30 - 5.00 Friday 9.30 - 3.00 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 *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. AMIDA receives funding from the Commonwealth Department of Social Services, and the Victorian Department of Health & 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 July, 2018 2