disAbility Update Autumn 2014 - Disability Services Commission

disAbilit
Issue 60 • Autumn 2014 • www.disability.wa.gov.au
In this issue
3. WA NDIS My Way on track
7. CMI Youth Ambassador welcomed
13. Families show leadership ‘Side by Side’
1
Chair’s column
About disAbility Update
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DisAbility Update
Disability Services Commission
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West Perth WA 6872
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TTY: 9426 9315
ISSN 1442-343X
Email:
media@dsc.wa.gov.au
Website:
www.disability.wa.gov.au
Front page: Swan Districts
footballer Tallan Ames (centre)
with fans Cliff Newton (left) and
Peter Nazzari – ready for the
Count Me In round in this year’s
WA Football League football
calendar, on 16 August.
This is a time of great change in
disability services across Australia,
with a common objective in both
State and national reforms. More
information on these changes
appear throughout this edition of
disAbility Update.
Each reform will, in its own way,
improve the experience for individual
people, whether through changes to
funding approaches, service delivery
or the types of services provided.
The commitment to person-centred, individualised
approaches is echoed in the directions identified in the
Count Me In strategy. Count Me In was developed by the
Disability Services Commission nearly five years ago to
give a collective voice to West Australians with disability,
their families and carers.
It is timely that in this environment of the National
Disability Insurance Scheme, procurement reform and
improved quality systems, we consider the impacts these
changes may have on the way we continuously improve
the inclusion of people with disability in all areas of the
WA community. I’m referring to the good work of public
authorities in State and local government through their
disability access and inclusion plans, the endeavours
of not-for profit organisations to ensure welcoming
communities for all people and the Count Me In strategy.
While important and necessary reviews of supports and
services are being undertaken, we also need to maintain
our focus on participation in the WA community and seek
new opportunities to expand our efforts. Community
connections provide important natural supports to
individuals and carers. The vision of a fair go for everyone
needs to continue to energise us into action in our
neighbourhoods, community, region and State.
In the next few months, the Commission will consider the
continued implementation of Count Me In and the role of
our valued Count Me In Ambassadors. There will be more
work on the broader issue of participation, in the context
of changes at every level of the sector and the impact on
people who use disability supports and the services.
With some strategic planning, we can make the most
of the opportunities being presented by reforms to the
sector.
Bruce Langoulant
Chairperson
Disability Services Commission
2
WA NDIS My Way trial set to begin
Preparations are well underway for the WA
NDIS My Way trial – and Western Australia is
ready for the July 1 start.
WA NDIS My Way builds on the State
Government’s well-regarded and longestablished disability services model and will
be trialled in the Lower South West region
from 1 July 2014. The Cockburn-Kwinana area
will join in July 2015.
the WA NDIS My Way Reference Group, and
the first meeting was held on 22 January.
The group aims to bring together
representatives from the WA disability
community to provide high-level advice
and input to the Commission and State
Government on the development and
implementation of the WA NDIS My Way trial.
In another significant development, a Bill
seeking to amend the
Disability Services
Act has been passed
by the Legislative
Assembly in the WA
Parliament.
The amendments
will allow for both
the State’s existing
and new WA NDIS
My Way disability
service delivery
systems to operate
with appropriate legal
standing.
“These trials will
enable people
with disability, their
families and carers
The Commission’s WA NDIS My Way team is all set for the Lower South to exercise greater
West trial.
choice and control
over their lives and
access
more
individualised
supports and
In addition, a trial of the Commonwealth’s
services,” Ms Massey said.
model will commence in the Perth Hills area
on 1 July 2014.
Disability Services Commission Disability
Reform Executive Director Robyn Massey
said the Commission was ready for the WA
NDIS My Way trial and that participants could
expect a smooth transition to the new model.
“People with disability receiving services from
the Commission in the Lower South West are
already using the My Way model,” Ms Massey
said.
“At the end of the two-year trial period,
the State and Federal models will be
independently assessed to evaluate the
strengths and weaknesses of each system.
“The results will inform the way disability
supports and services are provided through an
NDIS into the future.”
For more information about the WA NDIS My
Way trial, visit www.disability.wa.gov.au >
WA NDIS My Way .
“We have been working hard to ensure that
when people join the WA NDIS My Way trial
it’s a straightforward process for them.”
This preparation has included the formation of
3
Bounce down for Count Me In
The WA Football League (WAFL) will be
kicking goals for access and inclusion in
Round 21 of this year’s local football league
season on Saturday, 16 August.
The Disability Services Commission will
promote the State Government’s Count Me
In vision at four WAFL games in a partnership
with the WA Football Commission and the
Department of Sport and Recreation.
Commission Director General Ron Chalmers
said the Count Me In message was being
promoted at the football to highlight the need
for community activities and services to be
accessible and inclusive for everyone.
“It is important that everyone has the
opportunity to participate in sport and
recreation, and there are many ways people
can do that,” Dr Chalmers said
“In football clubs that could mean involvement
as a member, player, supporter or volunteer, in
roles like scorekeeper, runner or ticket seller.
“The Count Me In vision is that we live
in welcoming communities that provide
environments we can all use and enjoy.
“Round 21 will put the spotlight on that
aspiration and we encourage everyone to
celebrate Count Me In by coming to the footy
on 16 August.
“Entry will be free for people with Companion
Cards and their companions that day, and
there will be giveaways to spread the Count
Me In vision.”
Swan Districts captain Tallan Ames (left)
and vice captain Tony Notte with fan Peter
Nazzari at training – warming up for the
WAFL Count Me In round on 16 August.
Players from the Integrated Football League,
an Australian Rules football league established
for people with intellectual disability, will also
play a demonstration game at one of the
matches.
In 2013, the Dr Louisa Alessandri Award for
Excellence at the Count Me In awards was
won by Fremantle CBC’s integrated football
team.
For more about the Count Me In WAFL round,
visit www.disability.wa.gov.au > About us >
Count Me In or www.wafootball.com.au .
Board welcomes members
Count Me In Ambassador Melissa Northcott
has been appointed to the Disability Services
Commission Board along with three other new
members, Gavin Robins, Julie Carr and Dr
Rachel Skoss.
A strong advocate for creating accessible
communities, Ms Northcott who is an
Armadale City Councillor, fundraises for the
Centre for Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis
Society of WA and Telethon.
Mr Robins is the principal of Sovereign Health
Care, an organisation that provides health
4
consulting services to the Australian and State
governments and United Nations agencies.
Ms Carr has worked as an occupational
therapist in remote Indigenous communities in
the Kimberley and North Queensland, as well
as local hospitals and aged care facilities.
Dr Skoss, the Ministerial Advisory Council
on Disability Chairperson, is a passionate
advocate for children with additional needs.
She holds a neuromuscular biomechanics
doctorate and works in applied research at the
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research.
China–WA friendship continues
Labor and Employment
Service Centre Deputy
Director and delegation
leader Xu Jun signed the
agreement for 2015–2019.
Dr Chalmers said the
Commission had enjoyed
a strong and productive
relationship with the
federation since 2009.
“I look forward to
continuing this valuable and
important relationship with
the federation, and thank
them for their willingness to
share information with us,”
he said.
Dr Ron Chalmers (left) with Mr Xu Jun after exchanging gifts
and signing the renewed agreement for ‘friendly exchange’.
Mobility technology
China’s Zhejiang Province and Western
developer Dreamfit, and disability employment
Australia have renewed an agreement for
providers Westcare, Workpower and
a ‘friendly exchange’ of information about
The Centre for Cerebral Palsy’s Goodwill
disability services.
Industries, hosted information sessions for the
delegation to broaden their understanding of
In February, a delegation of five members
the WA approach.
of the Zhejiang Provincial Disabled Persons
Federation visited the Disability Services
The Department of State Development
Commission to sign the agreement for
supported the visit, as part of the WA
another four years as well as learn more about Government’s wider commitment to an
employment options for people with disability. information exchange relationship with the
Zhejiang Province.
Commission Director General Ron Chalmers
and Zhejiang Provincial Disabled Person’s
Justice project on track
The development of a Disability Justice
Centre in Lord Street, Caversham, on the
border of Lockridge, is now progressing to the
construction stage.
Building of the 10-person centre is expected
to be completed by May 2015.
Legislation has been drafted to allow the
Disability Services Commission to operate
disability justice centres and is scheduled for
debate in State Parliament.
Disability Justice Service Manager Megan
Barnett has been appointed by the
Commission to operate the service.
The former primary school principal and
community-based project manager has
experience working in the community on a
range of justice projects.
The project’s Local Community Liaison Group
continues to meet monthly, providing the
community with an opportunity to contribute
feedback to the project.
For more, go to www.disability.wa.gov.au >
Reform > Disability justice centres.
5
Commission accommodates choices
The transition of about 60 per cent of the
Commission’s accommodation services to
the non-government sector is now underway,
allowing people with disability and their families
to consider their choices for future supports
and services.
Commission Accommodation Services
Directorate Executive Director Wendy Cox said
that for the first time, people in Commission
accommodation were able to look at options
for their living arrangements.
“This process affords people the opportunity to
choose a service provider that best suits their
needs,” Ms Cox said.
individuals in Commission accommodation as
well as the alternative service providers, who
will provide detailed information to ensure they
are offering the highest quality of service.”
The first group of people began discussions
in January to consider which of the 40-plus
providers would best suit their needs, and the
second transition group has commenced the
same process.
“A Commission Transition Team is facilitating
meetings with people and families involved in
the change to work through what their future
supported accommodation arrangements will
be,” Ms Cox said.
“Individuals can stay in their existing home with For more information, visit www.disability.
their housemates, or move elsewhere.
wa.gov.au > Reform > Accommodation
services transition
“There is no rush – each transition will take the or email dsc@dsc.wa.gov.au .
time it takes, and be at a pace that suits the
The Ride drives safety message home
The film, The Ride, tells the story of four
men who swap their wheelchairs for quad
bikes and ride 5,000 km across Australia
to visit the sites where their lives changed
forever as a result of a serious accident.
From October through to December, The
Ride screened in 45 towns across WA
and audiences were able to talk to the
film’s executive producer Jim Cairns. The
Disability Services Commission Count
Me In Ambassador is also one of the men
whose story is told in the film.
Mr Cairns recounted his experiences at a
showcase event in Midland in March, which
aimed to raise the profiles of people with
Ambassador Jim Cairns (front) with supporters disability and the issues that impact on
their daily lives.
before a screening of The Ride.
A documentary about road accidents that
changed lives has toured Western Australia to
promote road safety, while also showing the
impacts of living with disability.
6
Mr Cairns talked about the positive
outcomes of the regional screenings before
a screening of the film. Representatives from
the City of Swan, Fairholme Disability Support
Group, the Commission and Mr Cairns’ fellow
Ambassadors attended the event.
Count Me In Youth Ambassador Sarah Wardle (centre) with her parents Keith and Marian
(left), Professor Fiona Stanley and Riverton LAC Janet Parker.
Youth Ambassador promotes
employment for people with disability
Improving open employment prospects for
people with disability is one of the key goals
for Western Australia’s first female Count Me
In Youth Ambassador.
Sarah Wardle, 21, of Rossmoyne, is the
newest of the 33 Ambassadors who spread
the Count Me In message across WA.
Miss Wardle, who has Down Syndrome, was
inducted as an Ambassador at an event at
Piney Lakes, Murdoch, in February.
continued on page 8
Family, friends, community­– a good life
7
continued from page 7
Local mayors, fellow Ambassadors, disability
employment agencies, Down Syndrome WA
patron Professor Fiona Stanley and Count Me
In Ambassador patron Bruce Langoulant were
also at the event.
Miss Wardle, with the support of the
Commission’s Riverton Local Area
Coordinator Janet Parker, has been liaising
with a contractor to employ non-clinical
workers at the Fiona Stanley Hospital.
“It would be great if people with disability can
be employed to work in the hospital,” Miss
Wardle said.
“I know just how hard it is for people with
an intellectual disability to get a job. As an
Ambassador, I can promote to employers the
skills and talents that people with disability
can bring to a workplace.”
Mr Langoulant said Miss Wardle was
passionate about improving employment
options for people with disability after facing
barriers when she was seeking work in her
area of interest.
“She recognises that people with disability
are often not recognised for their skills, talents
and commitment because many potential
employers don’t look beyond their disability,”
he said.
“Sarah is therefore very passionate about
improving employment opportunities for
people with intellectual disability.”
Miss Wardle is studying music and computing
at Challenger TAFE. She is also a keen
fundraiser, and volunteers at Manna Assist, a
charity in Victoria Park.
Earlier this year, she went to Bali to deliver
money raised in a fundraising event to the
Kupu Kupu Foundation, a not-for-profit
organisation that provides support for people
with disability.
The Count Me In Ambassador program was
launched four years ago, and Ambassadors
are chosen for their influential nature and their
passion to improve access and inclusion for
people with disability in WA communities.
The Ambassadors champion the Count Me
In vision that all people live in welcoming
communities that facilitate citizenship,
friendship, mutual support and a fair go for
everyone.
For more on the Ambassadors, visit www.
disability.wa.gov.au > About us > Count Me In
> Count Me In Ambassadors .
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8
8
Young analyst treasures job and
family support
Self-determination and family support have
been crucial in assisting Robert Kett to
achieve his goals, and he is now reaping the
rewards of his commitment to having a good
life.
The 21-year-old, who has autism, is now a
contract analyst with the State Government’s
Department of Treasury, after gaining a
Bachelor of Science majoring in mathematics
from Murdoch University.
“I give full credit to my family, especially my
Dad for the help he’s given me,” he said.
“This job at Treasury was my first choice
because it’s the best place for me to apply my
maths skills.
“It represents everything I’d worked hard for
over the past decade. It is also important to
me because of the regular social contact I get
from it, and that is a stepping stone to living
independently.”
Mr Kett’s previous Disability Services
Commission Local Area Coordinators (LACs)
Janelle Cooper and Michelle Lyall identified
his life goals and helped him take incremental
steps to achieve them.
Current LAC Edgar Ruiz will continue to work
with Mr Kett to support him in various ways,
such as socialising with other young people
with disability who live in the Rockingham
area, via the Young Adults Rockingham
Network (YARN).
“YARN has helped me make new friends and
expand my social network in the past three
years,” he said.
Mr Kett also received support from Edge
Employment Solutions during his first week at
work in January.
Robert’s father John said his son recognised
symbols and numbers as a toddler and was
diagnosed with autism when he was three
years old.
“We bought Robert a computer on which he
ran maths programs and it had a large ballshaped mouse because he had fine motor
skills problems,” John Kett said.
Robert Schipp (left) is supervising Robert
Kett during Mr Kett’s six-month tenure at
the Department of Treasury.
Robert Kett’s family said they were thankful
for the dedicated attention he received at
Malibu Specialist School. This enabled him
to enter mainstream school in Year 5 and
then complete secondary studies at Shenton
College, where he achieved a TER score of
99.5 and won the Applicable Maths prize.
Mr Kett failed his TER English yet there was a
silver lining — Murdoch University accepted
him as an equity student as part of their
commitment to inclusion and diversity within
the student community.
He has this advice to other families in similar
situations: “Just work hard. If you get a
roadblock, keep plugging away until you get
through it. I feel lucky to have such loving
parents who pushed me to do well and I think
basically parents should look to encourage
their children to be the best they can be.”
Family, friends, community­– a good life
9
My Way plan supports a good life
My Way planning and
support is assisting
Cowaramup woman
Teneal Duggan, 30,
to enjoy a range of
social, recreational and
employment-related
activities in her local
community.
Ms Duggan’s mother
Trina said planning is
crucial because it gives
her daughter choices
and opportunities in life.
“These opportunities
help ensure she is
included in our local
community and has an
active role,” Mrs Duggan
said.
My Way planning and support, with assistance from LAC Valerie
In 2001 when Ms
Mansfield (right) has helped Teneal Duggan, enjoy a good life.
Duggan left school, the
Ms Mansfield said with flexible funding,
Commission worked with
activities and opportunities that reflected Ms
her to look at how she could participate in
Duggan’s interests, My Way support planning
activities other than employment.
was paying dividends for the entire family.
Mrs Duggan manages her daughter’s funding
arrangements because there are no local
service providers.
“Teneal works part-time at the Augusta
Margaret River Shire Council, and also helps
out at the local Flight Centre and First National
Real Estate offices,” Mrs Duggan said.
“Having a healthy lifestyle is important and
Teneal’s interests include attending the Count
Me In gym and dance sessions and swimming
at the local recreation centre.”
My Way Coordinator Valerie Mansfield said
Mrs Duggan was aware that young people
needed to have social opportunities with their
peers.
“Trina was one of the driving forces behind
Margaret River’s highly successful Artzability
program established five years ago,” Ms
Mansfield said.
“Teneal still meets up with her friends at the
Monday art sessions.”
10
“For example, funding contributed towards
the costs of Teneal’s tandem bike means the
whole family is now enjoy riding activities
together,” she said.
“My Way planning has also enabled Teneal
to have regular weekend visits with friends in
Busselton.”
Ms Duggan has taken part in cooking
sessions so she can build on her independent
living skills as well as contribute to the family’s
meal planning and preparation.
Mrs Duggan said the next big step in her
daughter’s transition planning is looking at
longer-term sustainable housing options.
“Teneal is a young woman now and when the
time is right, the family want to make sure
that she is safe and secure, living happily and
independently in her own home.”
Enhanced quality system prepares
for rollout
The Disability Services Commission’s quality
assurance system is being enhanced to align
with the new National Standards for Disability
and the National Disability Insurance Scheme
from July 2014.
The Commission’s quality policy has been
updated and more policy guidelines are
being developed to support disability service
providers, users and independent evaluators
who will undertake the quality assessments.
Key components of the upgraded quality
system include independent evaluation, selfassessments, safeguarding, serious incident
reporting, complaints, referrals and reporting.
The Commission is collaborating with service
providers and users in the development of
the new processes and procedures that
will support the enhanced system. Their
involvement is critical to ensure effective,
quality assurance for disability services in
Western Australia.
The Commission will continue to raise
awareness, provide information about the
revised approach and will offer customised
training to service providers as they approach
their evaluation period.
For details and updates, visit www.disability.
wa.gov.au > Disability service providers >
Quality System.
Josh’s House cements reputation
Excellence in Energy
Efficiency categories.
The Solar Dwellingsdesigned and Highbury
Homes-built house in
the Perth suburb of
Hilton also incorporates
universal design.
Pictured are Solar
Dwellings Director
and Count Me In
Ambassador Griff
Morris (left), Mr Byrne
and Highbury Homes’
Jim De Baughan at the
awards.
ABC TV gardening presenter Josh Byrne’s
liveable home won three awards at the 2014
Master Builders WA Housing Excellence
Awards in February.
Mr Byrne’s home won awards in the Most
Liveable Home, Waterwise Home and
Mr Byrne’s house will
be monitored over the
next three years as part
of a Curtin University
research project through
the Cooperative Research Centres Program
for Low Carbon Living.
For more, visit www.joshshouse.com.au or
www.liveablehomes.net.au .
11
Free clinic puts best foot forward
UWA Associate Professor Burke Hugo
(left) with UWA podiatry students Caselyn
Quek and Marko Simunovic and the
Commission’s Calina Montebello at the
university’s podiatry clinic.
disability who qualified for free treatment at
previous Commission clinics in Joondalup and
Myaree.
The Commission has been gradually
transitioning its medical and specialist
services to mainstream service providers since
the late 1990s and its podiatry services closed
in November 2013.
Commission Statewide Specialist Services
Acting Regional Manager Calina Montebello
said the approach of the UWA clinic reflected
the State Government’s Count Me In
vision, which is that we all live in welcoming
communities that facilitate citizenship,
friendship, mutual support and a fair go for
everyone.
People with disability who previously received
podiatry services from the Disability Services
Commission can now access a free podiatry
service at a clinic at the University of Western
Australia, in Crawley.
The clinic, which opened in March and is
funded by the Commission for the next two
years, waives consultation fees for people with
“The clinic reflects our aspiration that
everyone, including people with disability,
can access quality and skilled services from
mainstream providers,” Ms Montebello said.
To find out if you are eligible to receive this
podiatry service, phone 6488 4522. For
details, contact 0403 331 575 or
calina.montebello@dsc.wa.gov.au .
Network marks first anniversary
A Disability Health Framework is a key project
the WA Disability Health Network, which
celebrated its first anniversary in December, is
developing this year.
The network – a partnership between WA
Health and the Disability Services Commission
– guides improvement in health experiences
and outcomes for people with disability in
Western Australia.
This year, the network’s continuing projects
include the development of the Disability
Health, Stakeholder Engagement and
Communication, and Disability Health
Capability frameworks. The network will also
12
continue to develop a disability liaison officer
pilot project.
At the December anniversary celebrations
hosted by Health Network co-leads Andrew
Heath and Fiona Payne, about 100 attendees
heard presentations on the network’s
developments and milestones.
For more information, contact the
Commission’s Principal Disability Health
Coordinator Tricia Dewar on 6104 9509 or
tricia.dewar@dsc.wa.gov.au or go to www.
healthnetworks.health.wa.gov.au > Disability >
Disability Health Network.
Family leadership shows there is a
better way to manage behaviour
Side by Side and Is
There A Better Way
facilitators Julie
Martin (front left),
Jenny Jay, Bronwyn
Pyke and Susan
Stanford, and
Joanne Nunn (rear
left), Gillian Rainer,
Taryn Harvey and
Jaquie Mills.
Families involved in the Side by Side project
and Is There A Better Way training are now
feeling more able to support a family member
with challenging behaviour.
that families and service providers now work
together more effectively.
These projects have been running for two
years to assist families to develop effective
strategies and responses to challenging
behaviour by their family member.
“This has led to challenging behaviours
diminishing and, in turn, these families are
now more confident of a better future,” Ms
Mills said.
The Disability Services Commission has been
working with Developmental Disability WA and
Youniverse to develop and deliver the Side
by Side project and Is There A Better Way
training, respectively.
Side by Side was developed to provide peer
support to people who experience challenging
behaviour in their family through their family
member’s disability.
Is There a Better Way is a family-led workshop
which uses real life situations and presenters’
experiences to explore the reasons for
challenging behaviours and to build families
and carers’ confidence and understanding
when responding to challenging behaviours.
Commission Behaviour Support Consultation
Manager Mike Cubbage said one of the
enduring outcomes of this approach had been
Is There a Better Way facilitators Jaquie Mills,
Joanne Nunn, Jenny Jay, Gillian Rainer and
Susan Stanford said that when families used
planned strategies, they found their family
member was less likely to use challenging
behaviour to express themselves, or to get
what they needed or wanted.
The Commission’s Positive Behaviour
Framework initiative funds the Side By Side
project and the Is There A Better Way training
sessions. Last year, 14 training sessions were
held around WA.
A Commission grant will support further
development of the project and training
sessions over the next two years.
For more information, contact 9301 3841 or
michael.cubbage@dsc.wa.gov.au .
13
News briefs
Tri-state strategy addresses remote dilemma
A nine-year partnership between Western
Australia, South Australia and the Northern
Territory to provide disability services to
indigenous people living in Australia’s remote
central regions continues to gather strength
under the 2013–2015 strategic plan.
The three jurisdictions have been using an
agreed framework since July 2005 to fund and
deliver disability services while acknowledging
the cultural, social, economic and family links
between people in the communities that
form the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and
Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Lands region.
The NPY Lands region is about 350,000 sq km
and spreads across the three jurisdictions. The
framework recognises that state and territory
borders should not impede people from
accessing disability services.
“The Tri-State Disability Services Group which
includes the Disability Services Commission,
oversees the framework and adopts a
Award honours
Eddie Bartnik
Former Disability Services Commission
director and Mental Health Commissioner
Eddie Bartnik has been recognised for his
contribution to an inclusive society.
Perth-based non-government
organisation Foundation for Social
Inclusion presented Mr Bartnik with its
third annual Inclusion Award in February.
The award commended Mr Bartnik’s
outstanding contribution through instilling
strong inclusive values and principles
during his tenure at both commissions,
his consultative and voluntary work,
writings, and national and international
presentations.
The award also acknowledged Mr
Bartnik’s role in innovative community
changes.
14
strategic planning approach to achieve its key
goals to coordinate disability services across
the NPY Lands,” Commission Operations
Executive Director Chris Yates said.
“The group facilitates effective relationships
with non-government service providers to
achieve better outcomes for people with
disability and their families in the Lands.”
Mr Yates said the third strategic plan has
incorporated input from the National Disability
Insurance Agency (NDIA), because the
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
will operate in the NPY Lands from 1 July
2015 as part of the South Australian NDIS trial
for children from birth to 14 years.
“Remote service provision is extremely
complex so it’s good to know that the three
states and the NDIA are working together to
address this,” he said.
Grants program
improves inclusion
Representatives from more than 20 local
government authorities (LGAs) attended a
forum in April to discuss the progress of
projects funded by the Disability Services
Commission’s Count Me In inclusion grants.
LGA chief executives and senior officers
learnt how these projects have facilitated
better inclusion and participation by people
with disability in a range of local community
settings.
The inclusion grants were awarded to 20
LGAs in July 2012 to develop initiatives in
areas such as arts and culture, sport and
recreation, and learning and development
projects. The grant period concludes on 30
June.
For more visit www.disability.wa.gov.au >
About us > Count Me In > Projects
and partnerships > Count Me In Local
Government Inclusion Grants.
Director General’s column
Reforms in progress to transform the sector
The disability sector
is on the brink of
transformational change.
Never before have we
seen so many reforms
and changes competing
for our time and
attention.
facing together.
In this edition, we are
providing an update
on the progress we are
making on some of the
major challenges we are
High on this list is the National Disability
Insurance Scheme (NDIS) My Way trials,
a new approach in disability justice, the
transfer of some of the Disability Services
Commission’s accommodation services to
alternative service providers, reforms to the
quality system, disability health projects and a
raft of Count Me In initiatives.
Each of these reforms is challenging in its own
right; collectively they constitute a very large
mountain to climb.
Fortunately, there is strong interest and
enthusiasm across the disability sector and
the wider community to progress these
reforms and to come out the other side with
a bigger, better and more sustainable support
system for West Australians with disability.
There is a genuine preparedness to get
involved in shaping the system we will need
for the future.
In my role as Director General, I have been
particularly pleased with the willingness of
our partner disability sector organisations to
embrace the potential in these reforms and to
get involved in shaping the future.
this State will continue to grow and develop to
suit our local context.
I am pleased and enthusiastic about
the opportunity to demonstrate the
appropriateness of the WA NDIS My Way
model for the WA community.
This model will deliver all the benefits of the
national scheme by building upon the positive
features of the existing disability services
system in WA.
Like never before, we will seek to capitalise
on the strength of the partnership between
the Commission and disability sector
organisations to shape and develop the
service system during the NDIS trial period
and beyond.
I am also proud of the work being done by the
staff and management of the Commission to
support the reform program.
All parts of the Commission are involved,
in one way or another, in the changes that
are taking place across the sector. The
achievements of our staff are especially
significant given the structural changes that
are taking place within the organisation.
Major changes have been made to the
functions and structure of the Commission to
ensure that we have the capacity to administer
disability services into the future.
These are daunting but very exciting times.
Dr Ron Chalmers
Director General
Disability Services Commission
The recent signing of agreements by the Prime
Minister and the WA Premier for a unique trial
of the NDIS in Western Australia should instil
confidence that the disability service system in
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All aboard for this year’s
ASID conference
The Australasian Society for Intellectual
Disability (ASID) will hold its 2014 conference
at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle, from 5–7
November.
International, interstate and local presenters
and associated social events and activities will
comprise the conference.
Schedule set for network
meetings
Dates for the Disability Services
Commission’s Reference Network
Meetings have been set for 2014.
In Perth, meetings will be held
from 10am to 1pm at held at the
Commission’s West Perth office, on 3
July and 30 October.
Country meetings are scheduled to be
held 16–17 June (Kimberley), 20 August
(Goldfields/Esperance) and 12–13
December (Lower South West).
These meetings give people with
disability, their families, carers and
service providers the opportunity to raise
issues directly with Commission board
members.
For more information, contact Denise
Berry on 9426 9263, country callers
1800 998 214, TTY 9426 9321 or email
denise.berry@dsc.wa.gov.au .
The conference theme All Aboard reflects
ASID’S vision for an inclusive society.
Participants will be able to share ideas, present
research findings and learn about sector
innovations.
Participants will also be able to ensure the
voices of people with intellectual disability are
heard as part of the discussions about the
National Disability Insurance Scheme.
For more, visit www.asid.asn.au or contact
Regional President Chris Yates on 9426 9200.
Dates for your diary
• Macular Degeneration Awareness Week, 2531 May – visit www.mdfoundation.com.au .
• World MS Day Street Appeal, 28 May – visit
www.mswa.org.au > Fundraising and Events.
• Sector and across-government forum on
Positive Behaviour Framework, 29 May –
Contact Behaviour Support Consultation
Manager Mike Cubbage 9301 3841 or
michael.cubbage@dsc.wa.gov.au .
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Awareness Month,
1–30 June – visit www.stopcmv.org .
• 9th National Deafblind Conference “Access
to my World”, 6–8 June – visit www.nds.org.
au > Events.
• Motor Neurone Disease Global Day, 21 June
– visit www.mndaust.asn.au > Get involved >
Global Day.
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