National Disability Services (NDS) is interested to meet with disability service providers to learn of their experiences working with Aboriginal communities as part of the NDS Aboriginal Resources and Pathways Project.  

The project will identify and promote effective ways for disability services to attract and provide services for Aboriginal people with a disability, their families and carers. The project focuses on Sydney Metro, Illawarra, Shoalhaven and the Far South Coast of NSW, which are the Eora, Tharawal and Yuin Aboriginal Nations. 

Local networks of disability services and Aboriginal communities will be established to support disability services connect with Aboriginal people with a disability and their families and carers. Their experiences will inform the development of online resources to assist all services connect with Aboriginal communities.

Source: NDS NSW Aboriginal Resources and Pathways Project

The Melbourne Mobility Centre is dedicated to improving access for everyone in the heart of Melbourne. It loans equipment and has services for people with disabilities, older persons, and those with temporary disabilities.

The centre is located on the first floor of the Federation Square Car Park (ground level adjacent to the ArtPlay playground).

Services include:

Accessible Arts is one of six charities short-listed for best communications program at this year’s Australian Charity Awards. An innovative partnership between Accessible Arts and the Sydney Film Festival resulted in the hugely successful introduction of an Accessible Cinema strand at the festival in 2007.

It is this initiative that has caught the attention of Givewell, the organisation presenting the awards, and has won Accessible Arts a place in an exciting new publication called ‘The Good Giving Guide’. The final results of the charity awards will be announced at the end of April.

Source: Accessible Arts - Accessible Arts

In 2006-07 WWDA undertook a project to enhance the orgnisations capacity to undertake systemic advocacy work.

The Project aimed to develop systems to recruit women with disabilities for systemic advocacy work; develop tools to support them in their representative/advocacy roles; and, develop systems to maintain capacity building mechanisms for WWDAs representative work.

This is the report of the Project, which was funded by the Australian Government under the Womens Leadership & Development Programme, Office for Women, Department of Family, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs.

Source: WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES AUSTRALIA (WWDA) - Advancement through Advocacy for Women With Disabilities- Project Report 2007

Peanut allergy is a very common and even potentially fatal food allergies. It is an immune system response to the peanut protein, causing the release of histamine chemicals. Recent studies show that over the last five to ten years there has been an increase in peanut allergies, mainly in children.

No definite answers are readily available, but one theory is that children are exposed to peanuts too early. Another well based reason is that our immune systems are not as functional as before, seeing that we live in a much cleaner environment and we aren’t exposed to as bacteria (which can help make your immune system more tough).

Peanut allergy symptoms have various effects on the body. These include hives, itchy red skin, congested runny nose, pain in stomach, nausea, swelling of airways, and shock (blood pressure drops). In serious cases, there will be large blockage of airways, resulting in possible death. Some allergies have been known to be outgrown, but this rarely happens with peanuts. No matter how minor an allergic reaction, you always want to be on the lookout, larger and more serious reactions are quite possible.

The only thing that can be done is prevention. Avoid use of peanut based substances and products. This means no peanut butter, roasted peanuts, salted peanuts, peanuts in candy, or any other peanut based product.

With people who known they may have severe allergic reactions, they should always carry a self-injectable form of adrenaline that could become their lifeline during an allergic attack. Like with all allergic reactions, they must be carefully dealt with care and be foreseen in the future.

Source: Peanut Information and Uses

This register provides details of some individuals and organisations who can prepare information in a range of formats that are accessible to people with disabilities. The names and contact details for providers are listed by state/territory under the categories below.

Audio Cassette: This format is useful for people who have difficulty with printed material because they are blind or vision impaired, have reduced manual dexterity or have an intellectual disability and/or low literacy skills.

Large Print: This format is useful for people with a vision impairment and can also help people with an intellectual disability.

Braille: Braille is a system of raised dots that can be read by touch by people who are blind or vision impaired. It provides users with ease of reference and allows them to read and retain information. Some providers listed in the register also prepare material such as graphs, charts and diagrams in tactile formats which are raised line diagrams. Further information on who can provide tactile formats is included with the providers' details.

Easy English: This format consists of information that is summarised and expressed in short sentences that each convey a single idea or concept. Ideas and information are expressed without jargon and in clear terms. Most providers in this category can also include illustrations.

Illustrations: Pictorial material can help people understand and remember the written word. It includes pictographs, picture stories, and photo stories.

A new report, Mental health services in Australia 2004-05, released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that 10.8% of all encounters with general practitioners (GPs) in 2004-05 were for the management of mental health problems -equivalent to an average of one such encounter for every two Australians.

About 60% of those GP encounters were by females and almost 34% were for depression, said Jenny Hargreaves, Senior Executive in the Institutes Economics and Health Services Group.

The report describes many aspects of mental health-related services in Australia including their provision, where they were accessed, and the resources used in their delivery.

International interest is being shown in a diagnostic tool developed in South Australia which could improve the detection of autistic disorders in young children.

Autism Detection in Early Childhood (ADEC) is based on a set of 16 behavioural tasks that children should be able to complete.

In the past, autism could not be diagnosed until children were three or four years old, but it is hoped the ADEC tool will see the disorder picked up in children as young as 18 months.

Associate professor in psychology at Flinders University, Robyn Young, says the early diagnosis of autism can significantly improve a childs development.

Its critical, because to change a childs behaviour when they are five, six, seven [years old] is really very difficult, particularly when a lot of their behaviour is developed out of frustration for their inability to communicate, she said.

Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia is a voluntary and non-profit organisation consisting of people with TS, their families, health and education professionals and other interested and concerned people. The association disseminates educational materials in the fields of health care, education and welfare service, provides telephone counseling and operates support groups. We support parent advocacy and other services to help families cope with problems that may occur with TS. The association regularly publishes a newsletter and organises workshops. The Association keeps a register of doctors who are experienced in diagnosing and treating TS. We continue to work towards better treatments and improving the overall quality of life for people with TS.

Source: Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia

The Spastic Centre needs help from the community if it’s to recover from the disastrous fire which destroyed its Head Office at Allambie Heights.

‘The fire has devastated our nerve centre. It’s been a terrible blow for The Spastic Centre family’, said CEO Rob White. ‘We’re very grateful though that no one was killed or injured, and that our 35 residents living onsite are safe.’

For over 60 years The Spastic Centre has helped build futures for people with cerebral palsy (CP). It provides therapy, services, education and equipment for children and adults with CP.

‘The Spastic Centre needs help to rebuild. The community helped us build the first time. Now we urgently need the community to help us rebuild, so that we can deliver the best possible care for people with CP’, said Rob White.

Donations can be made at any branch of the Commonwealth Bank or call the Donation Hotline 1300 850 538 or donate online at The Spastic Centre Online Donation Page

Source: The Spastic Centre: Devastating fire hits The Spastic Centre

The Disability Services Commission, established in December 1993 under the Disability Services Act 1993 (WA), is the State Government agency responsible for advancing opportunities, community participation and quality of life for people with disabilities.  The Commission provides a range of direct services and support and also funds non-government agencies to provide services to people with disabilities, their families and carers.

 The Disability Services Commission has published Challenging behaviour tip sheets on:

• Positive Behaviour Support 
• Positive Behaviour Support Model
• What is a Behaviour Support Plan? 
• 'Jims' Behaviour Support Plan
• Triple A Tactics
• How to help someone cooperate 
• Gaining Cooperation 2
• Lets get engaged
• Providing Physical Assistance
• Prompting
• Routines and why they are important Routines - How to write them 
• What are Challenging Behaviours?
• Reactive strategies
• Crisis management
• Risk assessment plan
• Risk Assessment Plan sample 
• Writing a Risk Management Plan 
• Things you should never do
• Self care 1 - Taking care of yourself
• Self Care 2 - Serious Incidents
• What is Autism?
• Autism - The triad of impairments
• Epilepsy
• Epilepsy 2 - Diagnosis and treatment
• Epilepsy 3 - Are seizures dangerous? 
• Epilepsy 4 - What is a seizure? 
• Faecal incontinence 1 - Poo Problems?
• Faecal incontinence 2 - What to do
• Urinary incontinence 1 - Wee problems? 
• Urinary incontinence 2 What to do
• Mental Illness (MI)
• Intellectual Disability (ID) and MI 
• ID & MI working together
• Report writing
• Characteristics of a good report 
• Stages of report writing 
• Shift reports

Source: Challenging behaviour tip sheets  - Disability WA - The website of the Disability Services Commission

Speak Up is a child protection campaign designed to empower people to speak up for children and put a stop to child sexual abuse.

Often children do not speak up about their persecution in fear of public ridicule, rejection by their loved ones or physical retribution from their abusers. The majority of children remain silent victims.

The Speak Up materials are free and educated people to identify the indicators of child abuse and encourages them to report their concerns.

 The statistics indicate alarming rates of child sexual abuse.

 1 in 4 girls (children) are sexually abused in Australia and 1 in 7 boys are sexually abused.

A sample of 720 adults aged over 18 interviewed in 2005 showed that:

• Child abuse is perceived as less concerning than rising cost of petrol, problems with public transport and roads
• 31% of respondents stated they would not believe children's stories about being abused (this means that most children have to tell 3 different adults before they are believed)
• 16% were unclear whether sex between an adult and a 14 year old constitutes sexual abuse
• 1 in 5 respondents lacked confidence/knowledge on what to do if they suspected child abuse

(Australian Childhood Foundation Report 2006)

Only 3% of children will ever tell of their abuse (Savi Report 2004)

A national disability internet portal is now part of the Australian Government’s website australia.gov.au. The website links to information and services on over 700 Australian Government websites as well as selected state and territory resources. australia.gov.au also searches over five million government web pages.

Source: People with Disabilities - australia.gov.au

The Australian Community Sector Survey is the only annual survey of the community services and welfare sector in Australia. If you are a non-government or not-for-profit organisation providing sevices you can complete the survey online or download the survey.

Source: A C O S S Website

Whistleblowing - a. Bringing an activity to a sharp conclusion as if by the blast of a whistle (OED) b. Raising concerns about misconduct within an organisation or within an independent structure associated with it (Nolan Committee) c. Giving information (usually to the authorities) about illegal or underhand practices (Chambers) d. Exposing to the press a malpractice or cover-up in a business or government office (US, Brewers) e. Providing a safe alternative to silence (Public Concern at Work) f. (origins) Police constable summoning public help to apprehend a criminal; signal to stop work in the industrial age; referee stopping play after a foul in football.

Source: Public Concern at Work (PCaW) - Whistleblowing: making whistleblowing work

Check out our new Beauracracy & Whistleblowing Web Links

Community Resource Unit’s Education and Development Program is one of the ways in which CRU works for change in the lives of people with disabilities and their families. CRU’s educational program is deliberately aimed at engaging with values as well as developing knowledge and skills.

As part of our ongoing commitment to change, we are planning our 2008 Education Program. To inform CRU’s planning process, we would welcome your thoughts on educational events which would be relevant to your needs, and the needs of your region. We are interested in the topics that would be relevant as well the formats that might meet your needs.

Community Resource Unit would appreciate your response. Your feedback not only assists CRU in its planning and its commitment to meeting the Disability Services Quality Standards, but also ensures that we continue to provide relevant and potent support to people across the disability sector: people with disabilities, their families and allies, community members and workers.

Source: Community Resource Unit Inc. CRU Events Calendar 2008

Safer Internet Day is an annual event organised by Insafe, the European internet safety network.

A further 1,000 carers of young people with a severe or profound disability will have access to respite support as part of a $6 million Federal Budget 2007-08 initiative.

The Minister for Community Services, Senator the Hon. Nigel Scullion,  announced the Australian Government would expand the Respite Support for Carers of Young People with a Severe and Profound Disability Program.

The expansion of this program will provide immediate and short-term respite support to a further 1,000 carers in addition to the 5,000 carers already assisted by the program each year, Senator Scullion said.

The programme assists carers of people with a disability who are aged under 30 years and carers who are experiencing significant stress in caring for a person with a disability under 65 years of age.

These carers will be able to access overnight or weekend respite care to significantly reduce the stress of the carer.

From time to time, carers need to take a break from their role and by providing respite support they are able to focus on their needs.

Todays announcement will have a positive impact on the wellbeing of families who have a younger family member with a severe or profound disability, Senator Scullion said.

Respite Support for Carers of Young People with Severe and Profound Disabilities - continuation and expansion of funding

Source: Minister for Community Services Respite support for carers

SudokuFacts.com allows you to play sudoku online for free.

Sudoku is a japanese puzzle game that demands both strategy and logic.

A sudoku consists of a 9x9 grid that contain small subgrids of 3x3 elements each.

Depending on the difficulty of the puzzle, a small or large number of cells will already contain digits.

In order to solve a sudoku, the numbers of 1 to 9 have to be inserted into every subgrid in such a manner that every row, every column and every 3x3 box accommodates only one instance of each digit