The Scene is The Spastic Centre's free fortnightly e-newsletter.
It features news, events, issues, links and contacts for people living with cerebral palsy, their families and service providers.
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CP Research Information Session
The Spastic Centre encourages research into cerebral palsy in the interests of children and adults with CP and their families. This session includes how The Spastic Centre is engaging in research, findings presented at the world’s leading international CP conferences in the last 12 months (on prevention and treatment), the CP Register and future research opportunities. The session will be presented by Sarah McIntyre, Research Fellow at The Spastic Centre.
Locations: The Spastic Centre
Ryde Monday 22 May 10am to 12 noon 3a Smalls Road
Prairiewood Thursday 25 May 10am to 12noon 224-244 Restwell Road
Allambie Heights Monday 29 May 7pm to 9pm 189 Allambie Road (Head Office Boardroom).
Refreshments will be available. Childcare is available only on request – minimum 5 days notice please.
Bookings are essential. RSVP to Penny Clarke, Community Development Unit, Phone 02 9975 8227 or email pclarke@tscnsw.org.au. (Please advise Penny if you would like your name on the mailing list for future flyers).
School Leavers
Relationships and Intimacy with Stephanie Dowrick
9 May 2006
Improving and maintaining truly intimate relationships is difficult enough during times of good health and general well being. However, if you have caring responsibilities, it may be that the person you are caring for often finds it very difficult to ask to have their emotional needs met. If you need advice or would like to ask a question about your relationship with your care receiver, writer and inter-faith Minister, Stephanie Dowrick, will be the Working Carers Support Gateway’s Guest Host at its regular monthly on-line chat from 8pm to 9pm on 9 May 2006.
To find out how you can talk to Stephanie, go to www.workingcarers.org.au and click on the Chat Room button where you will find all the necessary information to log-on for the chat. If you have any queries contact Christine Casey, Co-ordinator on 02 6622 8002 or e-mail coordinator@workingcarers.org.au
Multicultural
Details about the new Welfare to Work requirements are now available in a number of community languages. The changes will be introduced from 1 July 2006 and will focus particularly on:
Parents/principal carers - People granted income support who are principal carers of a child or children generally must seek part-time work if their youngest child is aged between 6-15 years. These carers must register with an employment service provider and look for paid work of at least 15 hours per week. Job Network's new Employment Preparation service will help parents prepare for work and they will have access to other support services such as subsidised child care. Some exemptions will apply to parents with special family circumstances. People who are already on Parenting Payment will have to seek part-time work from 1 July 2007 or when their youngest child turns 7, whichever is later.
This information is in the factsheet, 'Welfare to Work: Changes to Disability Support Pension for Customers Granted Payment After 10 May 2005'. You can download the factsheet in one of 26 community languages from the Centrelinke website. View the factsheet in English.
[Source: Warringah Disability Information Service]
Australian Youth set to ‘Wise up to IT’
Australian youth are being encouraged to wise up to the dangers of the Internet in a new campaign, ‘Wise up to IT’ being launched today by NetAlert Limited as part of National Youth Week celebrations. The launch of a new DVD detailing real-life experiences comes after six months of research by NetAlert into the Internet issues affecting young people including cyberbulling, scams, cyberstalking and online grooming.
The DVD represents four case studies where young people have fallen victim to the dangers that exist on the Internet and offers advice to avoid such situations occurring to others.
Visit the Wise up to IT website.
South West Sydney Ageing And Disability Support Services – Now Online!
SWS Ageing & Disability Support Services website is a collaborative initiative which provides information to the community on a range of services that receive funding from the Australian and NSW governments. Support services receive funding under programs such as the Home and Community Care (HACC), the Disability Services Program (DSP), Community Aged Care Packages (CACPs) and National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP).
This website is for older people, people with a disability and their carers or families, those who live in Bankstown, Fairfield or Liverpool and those interested in volunteering.
It will also support workers in ageing and disability services to share information through a group email function with ability to send group emails by service type, funding type, target group, LGA and gives the opportunity to discuss current issues.
New Feature On Google Scholar
Google Scholar has just been upgraded with a feature that will help to deliver more authoritative research to its users.
To access this new feature, do a normal search on Google Scholar at http://scholar.google.com.
On the 'Results' page, you'll see a link to Recent Articles. Click on that link to re-rank your results.
The re-ranking is not just a plain sort-by-date, but rather Google tries to rank recent papers the way researchers do, by looking at the prominence of the author's and journal's previous papers, how many citations it already has, and so on.
Access
Opening up Events to Everyone
A new guide for event organisers promises to bring down the barriers to participation for people with a disability. Accessible Events – a Guide for Organisers, developed by Meeting Events Australia (MEA) and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, helps organisers to make their events more accessible to the millions of Australians with a disability.
“Events such as conferences, festivals, awards ceremonies, fundraisers and seminars are important parts of all of our lives,” said Human Rights Commissioner and acting Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes. “Yet many organisers are cutting out a large chunk of their potential market by failing to ensure access for people with a disability.”
View the media release
View the guide.
Employment
New Apprenticeships Job Pathways Website
A new website has been launched to help people needing New Apprenticeships job and training information. From staff in New Apprenticeships Centres to employers, job candidates, students, parents and careers advisors in schools, all are able to quickly find potential New Apprenticeships job outcomes that include a sample of the training that could apply to the occupation.
The New Apprenticeships Job Pathways website is a Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) funded resource that has been developed from the popular New Apprenticeships Training Information Service website. Feedback from a variety of Vocational and Technical Education stakeholders has been part of this development. Specific disability related initiatives are also available on the site.
[Source: Disability Education and Employment News: No. 6, Vol 2]
Workplace Modifications Scheme (WMS)
There have been some recent and important changes to the Workplace Modifications Scheme (WMS) resulting from the Australian Governments Welfare to Work policy and consultations with industry and disability groups.
These changes are described in an article 'Changes to the Workplace Modifications Scheme' on the Australian government's Job Able website.
Also available is the latest version of the Workplace Modifications Scheme (WMS) Guidelines.
[Source: Disability Education and Employment News: No. 6, Vol 2]
Conferences .. Workshops .. Forums (For All)
Healthy Ageing Talks
17 May, 22 June, 17 August 2006
Over the next few months, The Council on the Ageing (NSW) is conducting a number of workshops on Healthy Ageing.
Hormones: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!
On 17 May 2006 at 2pm Dr Rod Baber, Clinical Associate Professor, Director of the Menopause Clinic, RNS Hospital will speak about ‘Hormones: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!’. Rod Baber is Clinical Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Sydney and Head of the Menopause Clinic and Research Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital. He has published widely and lectured on various aspects of the menopause both locally and overseas and has been involved in the development of guidelines for the use of hormone therapy in postmenopausal women in Australia. He will speak on those guidelines and also review the risks and benefits of hormone therapy.
Loss and Grief – Why Just Cope When You Can Manage It Well!
On 22 June 2006 at 10am Nadine Veitch, Facilitator and Counsellor will be talking about ‘Loss and Grief’.
Loss is a normal part of life and so is the grief that follows. No matter the loss, a favourite toy as a child, a job, a pet, or the loss of a loved one, the various reactions, combine to form our grief. Why do some of us cope well while others get ‘stuck’ in a seemingly endless cycle of sadness leading to more devastating scenarios? Come along to discover ways that can clear the blocks to your good journey of grief.
The Best Is Yet To Be! – Ageing and Intimacy
On 17 August 2006 at 10am Dr Rosie King, Sexual Health Physician and relationship counsellor, will be talking about ‘Ageing and Intimacy’. Dr Rosie shares her wisdom with warmth, humour and insight. This talk is a must for those who want to make the most of life regardless of age.
The Healthy Ageing Talks are held at Level 1, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney. Morning or afternoon tea will be provided. Attendance is free for COTA (NSW) members. The cost for non-members is $5 per talk. Bookings essential, call 02 9286 3860.
For more information call COTA (NSW) on 02 9286 3860 or send an email to Suzanne Williams at pep@cotansw.com.au or visit the COTA website.
Free Spectronics Workshops in Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle, Dubbo and Bathurst
29, 30 May, 2, 5, 7 June 2006
James Rowe, Speech Pathologist and International Account Manager from DynaVox Technologies in the UK, and Jane Farrall, Speech Pathologist and AAC and Literacy Consultant from Spectronics, will be visiting NSW in late May and early June conduct a series of workshops that may be of interest to service providers, teachers and families of children using the products.
Canberra - 29 May
Workshop One: Overview of Communication Devices from DynaVox (10am to 1pm)
Workshop Two: Small Talk, Gossip and Tall Stories: Using AAC Socially (2pm to 3.30pm)
These workshops are being held at Weston Primary School, Special Education Resource Unit, Hilder Street, Weston ACT. Further information.
Sydney – 30 and 31 May
Workshop One: Hands On with the Dynavox MT4 and DV4 (29 May 10am to 4pm)
Workshop Two: Overview of Communication Devices from DynaVox (30 May 9.30am to 12.30pm)
Workshop Three: Hands on with the MiniMo and MightyMo (1.30pm to 3.30pm)
These workshops are being held at Northcott Society Training Rooms, 1 Fennell Street, North Parramatta.
Further information.
Newcastle – Friday 2 June
Workshop One: Hands On with the Dynavox MT4 and DV4 (9am – 1. 30pm)
Workshop Two: Overview of Communication Devices from DynaVox (2pm to 3.30pm)
These workshops are being held at Noah's on the Beach, Cnr Shortland & Zaara Streets, Newcastle.
Further information.
Dubbo – 5 June
Workshop One: Overview of Communication Devices from DynaVox (9.30am to 12.30pm)
Workshop Two: Literacy Development Software for students with intellectual disabilities (1.30pm to 3.30pm)
These workshops are being held at Cattlemans Country Motor Inn, 8 Whylandra Street, Dubbo.
Further information.
Bathurst – 7 June
Workshop One: Overview of Communication Devices from DynaVox (9.30am to 12.30pm)
Workshop Two: Literacy Development Software for students with intellectual disabilities (1.30pm to 3.30pm)
These workshops are being held at Metro Cinemas Bathurst, 144 Piper Street, Bathurst.
Further information.
For more details contact Jane Farrall, AAC and Literacy Consultant, Spectronics, on 03 9848 4812 or email jane@spectronicsinoz.com.
Conferences .. Workshops .. Forums (Service Providersl)
Workshops in Sydney by NSW Ombudsman’s Office
4, 11, 24 May 2006
Dealing with Difficult Complainants – 4 May (9.30am to 4.30pm)
Helps service staff to practice the essential skills for dealing with difficult customer scenarios. To book, phone Sheila O'Donovan on 02 9286 1019 or email sodonovan.ombo.nsw.gov.au.
The Art of Negotiation – 11 May (9.30am to 4.30pm)
Provides a thorough grounding in negotiation skills and strategies, and participants are provided with ample opportunities to practise these. To book, phone Sheila O'Donovan on 02 9286 1019 or email sodonovan.ombo.nsw.gov.au.
Towards Best Practice in Complaints Handling and Management – 24 May
For managers of community services, staff responsible for complaint systems, and management committee members. To book, phone Betsy Coombes, Carolyn Campbell-McLean or Margaret Kaye on 9286 1000 or email mkaye@ombo.nsw.gov.au.
Learning Difficulties Coalition Seminar – Westmead Children’s Hospital
13 May 2006
Learning Difficulties and Speech Pathology - Julia Starling, speech pathologist, will outline assessment and diagnostic processes, how to recognise difficulties (especially language) in children, how to access services, and supporting language disability.
IQ and Educational Assessment - Andrew Greenfield, child and educational psychologist, will explore IQ and Educational Assessment, with insight into giftedness, learning difficulties and ADHD in children.
The workshop will be held at Lorimer Dods Theatre, The Children’s Hospital, Westmead from 1 to 4pm on 13 May 2006. The cost is $15 for members (prepaid $10) and $20 for non-members (prepaid $15).
For further information or to RSVP phone 02 9806 9960 or email info@ldc.org.au or visit the LDC website.
Social Justice in the New Millennium Conference
19-21 June 2006
This two day conference is for community service workers exploring social justice issues in the areas of disability, housing and mental health. Keynote speakers include Prof Julian Disney (Director, Social Justice Project, Faculty of Law, University of NSW), Dr Eileen Baldry (University of NSW, School of Social Work) and Mr Steven Mark (NSW Legal Services Commissioner). Media personality Ms Julie McCrossin will facilitate a hypothetical session on a social justice issue, and John Highfield, a former ABC journalist, will facilitate a panel discussion.
Skills based practical workshops include Photovoice as a Social Change Tool (Tony Webb); Inspire, Change, Challenge through drama (Amanda Rummery Hoy); Technology and Social Justice (Irene Ireland of TAFE and Colin Slattery of The Spastic Centre). The conference hosted by Community Services diploma students from TAFE NSW Northern Beaches College.
The conference will be held at Freshwater Campus, Northern Beaches Secondary College, Harbord Road, Harbord, 19 to 20 June 2006. The cost of the 2 days is $140 (early bird $120).
For further information contact Irene or Teuila on 02 9941 5231 or email susan.monti@tafensw.edu.au.
Behaviour Support Workshops
DADHC (Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care) Metro North is hosting a range of useful workshops for DADHC and NGO disability service staff on a range of issues relating to managing behaviour issues for people with disabilities. Topics range from reacting to difficult behaviour, building client's self esteem, dementia, using Makaton, Lifestyle and Environment Reviews, using mutual aid and groupwork to assist parents manage challenging behaviours, and anger management. Priority is given to those services operating in the new DADHC Metro North region.
The sessions will be held at either Parramatta or Penrith and most are only requesting a donation of a gold coin. View the full list of DADHC Behaviour Support Workshops.
Access For All: Disability-Inclusive Development Practice
29-30 June 2006
This two-day forum is presented by Australian International Health Institute (AIHI), The University of Melbourne
Christian Blind Mission International (CBMI) and the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID). It will be held from 29 to 30 June 2006, 9am to 4.30pm at the Lecture Theatre 1, 221 Bouverie Street, Carlton (Parkville campus of The University of Melbourne). The forum is suitable for development workers, health professionals, contractors, students and those interested in development issues.
Day 1: Seminar on Disability and International Development
Day 2: Practical Workshop on Integrating Disability into Development Programs. (Attend either or both days.)
Registration fee per person (GST inclusive), which includes lunch, morning and afternoon tea. Full fee at $180 for two days or $110 for one day. Concession for full-time students/concession cardholders at $88 for two days or $55 for one day.
For a Registration form or further information contact Joni Law, AIHI, The University of Melbourne, phone 03 8344 9123 or email jycl@unimelb.edu.au.
Positive Futures - Achieving Wellbeing for Children and Families
14-16 August 2006
The 2006 ACWA Conference features keynotes from Jaap Doek, Chairperson, United Nations Committee for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Al Aynsley-Green, England’s first Children’s Commissioner and Professor Rick Barth, leading international child welfare researcher from the USA.
The 7th International Looking After Children Conference (LAC) is incorporated within this year’s conference, providing an exciting opportunity to broaden the regular out-of home care stream. This is only the second LAC conference to be held outside the UK, providing a great opportunity for conference delegates to attend international workshops and papers. The conference is being held Sydney. For further information visit www.acwa06.com.
From Tolerance to Respect: Cultural Competence in Practice
7-8 September 2006
The Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of NSW (MDAA) and the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) are pleased to announce a two-day conference for researchers, policy makers and anyone who manages, receives or provides services in diverse communities. The focus is on practical approaches to working with people from diverse backgrounds. The conference will provide local, national and international perspectives on best practice in responding to community diversity and competing needs.
The conference will be held at Novotel Hotel, Sydney Olympic Park, Cnr Olympic Boulevard and Herb Elliott Ave Homebush Bay, Sydney from 7 to 8 September 2006.
A call for proposals for papers and workshops is now open. More details on the MDAA website or contact Theresa Clark at MDAA, email theresa.clark@mdaa.org.au or phone 02 9891 6400.
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Disclaimer
Opinions expressed in items of The Scene are the individual opinions of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of The Spastic Centre or the editors. Products and companies featured in The Scene are not necessarily endorsed by The Spastic Centre. The Scene is intended to be informative only and should not be relied on as medical or other technical advice on any matter. The Spastic Centre and editor take no responsibility for the information published in this newsletter or any person's actions in reliance on that information.
