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Sector News
Proposed Civil
Defence National Emergencies (Information Sharing) Code
The Privacy Commissioner has invited submissions on a proposed
Civil Defence National Emergencies (Information Sharing) Code. The
Privacy Act restricts the circumstances in which personal
information held by organisations may be disclosed. The objective
of the proposed code is to provide public sector agencies with
broader discretion to collect, use and disclose personal
information in the event of a major natural disaster.
Permitted disclosures under the proposed code include
disclosures to help identify individuals who have been caught up in
the emergency, to assist individuals to obtain essential services,
to co-ordinate the management of the emergency and to ensure that
people who are responsible for individuals are kept appropriately
informed.
Submissions on the proposed Code are due by 25 May 2012.
For more information, go to:
http://privacy.org.nz/proposed-civil-defence-national-emergencies-information-sharing-code-media-release/
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Disability
Employment Innovation Fund
On 7 November 2011, the Minister of Social Development and the
Ministry for Disability Issues announced the new Disability
Employment Innovation Fund. This Fund made $500,000 available for
innovative ways of getting disabled people into work or retaining
them in work. The Ministers set the expectation that the outcomes
would inform the Government's welfare reform work.
The fund was targeted to three areas:
- innovative projects from employers to retain current employees
in employment who either have an existing disability or who have
acquired a disability including chronic health condition or mental
health condition
- innovative projects from employers to get disabled people into
employment
- innovative projects from the non-government organisation (NGO)
sector or disabled people's organisations to support disabled
people into self employment.
Sixty-seven applications were received. These were assessed by a
panel comprising Work and Income, Ministry of Social Development,
Employment Disability Forum and Employers' Disability Network.
Seventeen applications were successful. For details on the
successful applications, go to:
http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/about-work-and-income/news/2012/disability-employment-innovation-fund-successful-applicants.html
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Convention Coalition
monitoring report meetings
The Convention Coalition of national disabled people's
organisations is holding meetings soon in Porirua, Wellington,
Christchurch, and Auckland, for disabled people to discuss six key
areas to be covered in a report to the New Zealand Government.
The areas to be covered are:
- social inclusion
- health
- work
- the way Disability Support Services are run
- barriers to making complaints
- lack of disability awareness.
For further information, contact Pam MacNeill at
pmacneillconsulting@gmail.com , or phone 04 528 8323, or txt 027
457 5461.
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2012
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
This year's International Day of Persons with Disabilities will
be observed on 3 December 2012. The theme will be "Removing
barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for
all".
The United Nations has invited communities to focus on aspects
of society and development, including, but not limited to, removing
barriers to education, employment, transportation, travel and
tourism or sport, across all societal groups.
For more information, go to:
http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1597
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Audio Described
performance of Jersey Boys
THE EDGE Centre for Performing Arts in Auckland will present an
Audio Described performance of Jersey Boys on 3 June 2012. This
musical is the story of how Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
became one of the greatest successes in pop music history.
Tickets must be booked by 21 May. To book, phone 09 357 3354, or
email groups@the-edge.co.nz
For more information, go to: www.the-edge.co.nz
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Inquiry into the use of
New Zealand Sign Language
The Human Rights Commission has announced that it will begin a
formal public inquiry in July 2012, into the use of New Zealand
Sign Language and how it can be strengthened.
For more information, go to:
http://www.hrc.co.nz/2012/commission-announces-formal-public-inquiry-into-new-zealand-sign-language
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Training
grants
Disability Workforce Development within TePou is now accepting
applications for open round training grants. These training grants
are for training occurring in 2012, which supports skill
development of frontline disability support staff and directly
benefits consumers.
The priority topics for training in this grant round are:
- specific disabilities and specialist support
- behaviour support
- values and ethics
- cultural responsiveness and safety.
The closing date for applications is 8 June 2012.
For details, go to:
http://www.tepou.co.nz/training/disability-grant-funding/training-grants-open-round
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New Handbook for
Bereaved Parents
BEYOND WORDS - grieving when your child has died. By
Andrew Thompson (Starship Hospital and Auckland University) and
Tricia Irving Hendry (Skylight)
This handbook, published in New Zealand, is relevant to all
bereaved parents. The book brings together the best mix of
understanding, insight and support information possible with the
comments insights, stories and letters of many bereaved parents.
These are combined with warm colours and fantastic photography.
The book offers honesty and frankness - which so many bereaved
parents say they want - while also offering encouragement, comfort,
grief management ideas, support options and hope.
Supporting bereaved parents well is also one way of supporting
other children or teens they may have, because they will be hurting
and grieving too.
Skylight is a New Zealand not for profit trust, specialising in
supporting all ages through tough life issues of change, loss,
trauma and grief - whatever the cause. The Skylight support
resources and other services support children, young people and
adults to build up their resilience and move forward. Skylight also
support the caregivers, relatives, friends, neighbours, workmates,
community groups and professionals caring for them. Please see http://www.skylight.org.nz/ for more
information about Skylight and the publication: Beyond Words -
grieving when your child has died.
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Health of Māori children and young
people with chronic conditions and disabilities
A report on the health of Māori children and young people with
chronic conditions and disabilities in New Zealand has been
released. This report was prepared for the Ministry of Health by
the New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service.
To download the report, click here. (PDF, 2.68MB)
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Healthy
Relationships
Healthy Relationships is a New Zealand programme for teens and
adults with intellectual impairments. It provides practical tools
to prevent bullying and abuse and is aimed at teachers and
parents.
Healthy Relationships is effective with a wide range of people
and adaptable for younger ages.
For more information, go to: http://www.kidpower.org.nz/index.php?PageID=21
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Inaugural New
Zealand Hearing Hero announced
The National Foundation for the Deaf (NFD) has established the
New Zealand Hearing Hero award to recognise people who have made an
outstanding contribution to the deaf and hearing impaired sector.
NFD has awarded the inaugural New Zealand Hearing Hero award to
Professor Peter Thorne CNZM, PhD.
To find out more, go to:
http://www.nfd.org.nz
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Encouraging media to embrace
uniqueness
A new project offers disabled people in Auckland an opportunity
to be involved in helping to increase media portrayal of
disability.
Diversityworks Trust's 'Unique Extras' project will work with
media and production companies to encourage them to use disabled or
Deaf people in non-featured roles in popular media including
advertisements, TV dramas and films. This project is supported by
the Ministry of Social Development's Making a Difference fund.
For more information visit:
http://www.diversityworks.org.nz/news/media-encouraged-to-embrace-uniqueness
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Audio
described performances at Fortune Theatre
Fortune Theatre in Dunedin is running audio described
performances for vision impaired patrons and their friends during
2012. On the third Sunday of each play's season, they will host an
Audio Described performance, including a pre-show touch tour and
introduction.
For details, go to:
http://www.fortunetheatre.co.nz/booking-info/access-information
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EEO Trust 2012 Work and
Life Awards
These awards showcase employers who help employees make the most
of their time and talents, leading to greater productivity and a
better bottom line.
Organisations of any size or sector can enter, whether or not
they are members of the EEO Trust. Nominations for the awards close
on 17 May 2012.
For more information, take a look at:
http://www.eeotrust.org.nz/news/index.cfm
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Disability training directory
The March 2012 edition of the disability training directory is
now available.
For details and downloads, visit:
http://www.tepou.co.nz/library/tepou/disability-sector-training-directory
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