Women and Disabilities – February 2015

Feb 23, 2015

Women and Disabilities On Monday 16 February, a large group of the nation's leading disability advocates met in Melbourne to discuss the progress with implementation of the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020. The meeting was held as an adjunct to a Disability Ministers Forum. Since the disability voice has been silenced by the current government with the axing of Ramp Up on the ABC, and the disbanding of 2 national disability Advisory Bodies, this was welcome. The disability stakeholders group comprised the Chair of the Disaiblity Advisory Councils from each state and territory, a Director of the Mental Health Council of Australia, a representative from the Local Government Association, and one of the advisors involved in the design of the Strategy. Also participating were the CEOs of the 5 Peak Bodies which make up the new Australian Cross-Disability Alliance plus the CEOs of the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) and National Disability SErvices. It should be remembered that in late December 2014, the government's decision on funding of peak disability bodies was announced. The diagnostic NGOs, representing people with particular diagnoses, e.g. Deafness Forum and Blind Citizens Australia, were all notified that their funding would cease for 1 June 2015. The coordinating body AFDO was similarly notified. About 12 disability national NGOs in all have thus lost funding. At the same time the 5 Cross-Disability Peaks , forming the Australian Cross-Disability Alliance, had their funding approximately doubled. These NGOs include Women With Disabilities Australia, cater for all types of impairment, and base their work on implementation of the UN Human Rights Conventions. The total saving to government from this...

Queensland State Elections 2015

Feb 2, 2015

WAVE received:  A Response Letter from the Hon Tim Mulherin MP Deputy Leader of the Opposition A Response Letter from Penny Allman-Payne Convenor Queensland...