NCOSS and the Australian Human Rights Commission today co-hosted a workshop on human rights and the community sector. There is a common misconception that only those that know about law can talk about human rights. This workshop recognised the important role of the community sector in supporting and advocating for people’s human rights.

The outcome of the workshop was to assist the community sector in writing submissions to the National Human Rights Consultation.

More info:

website: www.humanrightsconsultation.gov.au

The Hon Paul Lynch, Minister for Ageing and Disability Services visited the NSW Aged Care Alliance meeting held at NCOSS on 16 April 2009. Accompanied by his adviser Tim O’Halloran, the Minister discussed a range of topics of mutual interest ranging from COAG negotiations, to accessible transport and escalating utilities costs for pensioners, grandparenting, older carers of people with disability as well as Seniors week and International Day of Older People.

Ms Sigrid Patterson, Director of the NSW Office for Ageing also met with the NSW Aged Care Alliance in April. Ms Patterson engaged with members around outcomes of the Towards 2030 Report, consultation processes, leadership roles and the Alliance connections with the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ageing.

The Report of the NSW Oral Health Alliance was launched today at NSW Parliament House.

Prepared on behalf of the NSW Oral Health Alliance, the data presented throughout the Report points to a public dental system under stress - just under half of those people who had attended a public dental service in the last ten years received emergency treatment; one in four survey respondents indicated they had been on NSW public dental waiting lists for longer than two years, with three in five currently waiting longer than six months; while over 70 per cent of survey respondents felt their oral health had deteriorated during the time they had been on a public dental waiting list.

Based on survey responses from 750 respondents, the Report points to three significant barriers to maintaining adequate oral health for low income and disadvantaged groups in the community: waiting times, cost and difficulty accessing dental services. Speakers included:

• The Hon. John Della Bosca MLC, Minister for Health
• Jillian Skinner MP, Shadow Minister for Health
• Lee Rhiannon, Greens MLC
• Richard Torbay, Independant member for Northern Tablelands, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
• Dr Tony Burges, President ADA NSW,
• Alison Peters, NCOSS Director, and
• James, who spoke about his experiences with NSW’s dental system.

The report is available for download from the NCOSS website - click here .

NCOSS is looking for feedback about the potential effects of a rise in taxi fares. We are particularly interested in the effects on low-income people, young people, people with disabilities and rural people. Any feedback about the wheelchair accessible taxi fares is also important.

EDIT: Please note this enquiry is now finished. We'll publish more info on this issue as it becomes available.

The All Japan Federation of National Health Insurance Organizations, Kokuho Chuoukai, were visiting Australia to learn more about Australia’s social security and support systems for people with a disability. Japan has a universal social service system based on a national health insurance scheme which provides long term care and support for those who need it. The delegation was made up of representatives from the National Health Organisations who administer the system. With an ageing population and increasing demand in Japan the delegation were keen to understand the differences between our respective systems and what the advantages and disadvantages were.

NCOSS and PWD (People with Disability Asutralia) were pleased to be able to talk to the delegation about the Australian situation and to learn more about the Japanese system.

(The photo shows the delegation, NCOSS Director Alison Peters, and Sue Barnes and Dean Price from PWD in the NCOSS courtyard.)

On Wednesday 15 October NCOSS officially launched our 2009-10 Pre-Budget Submission – "Towards Triple A Rated Community Services".

Each year NCOSS engages in a substantial effort of research, consultation and development to put together the NCOSS Pre Budget Submission (PBS).

The PBS is a collaborative exercise that reflects the priorities of the sector in meeting the real needs of the most disadvantaged people and communities in NSW. It is resource that the sector can, and should, use to lobby for programs and initiatives that will make a difference and lead to a more socially just and fair society.

The launch was made by NCOSS Director Alison Peters before a gathering of community sector workers as part of Anti-Poverty Week proceedings.

(This article originally published in NCOSS News October 2008)

by Kristie Brown
NCOSS believes that PADP is a fundamental part of the NSW Government’s responsibility to support and promote the engagement of people with disability in all aspects of society. The PADP program provides equipment, aids and appliances to people with a life-long or long-term disability in order to support them to live independently in the community. When meeting its objectives, PADP can be considered an essential foundational element upon which the Government’s commitment to people with disability can be based.

On 2 October, NCOSS met with the Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, The Hon. Paul Lynch, MP. Issues discussed during the meeting included:

• the COAG proposal to split HACC; and
• the 2009-2010 NCOSS Pre-Budget Submission "Towards Triple A Rated Community Services", including the need for growth in HACC, the Seniors Card for Aboriginal people over 45, continued devolution of large institutions, growth in Supported Accommodation, Individualised packages for people with disability, parity for Post School Options and investment to implement "Towards 2030".

NCOSS also met with the Minister for Juvenile Justice, Minister for Youth and Minister for Volunteering The Hon. Graham West, MP. Issued discussed included:

• the Bail Act and the number of young people in detention;
• the number of Indigenous young people in contact with the Juvenile Justice System; and
• difficulties in gaining and retaining volunteers especially young people.

On 1 October, NCOSS met with the Minister for Community Services, The Hon. Linda Burney, MP and her advisors.

Issues discussed at the meeting included:

• The Community Services Grants Program;
• preschool funding and the Commonwealth Government’s early childhood initiatives; and
• the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services.

NCOSS also met with the Minister for Planning and Minister for Redfern Waterloo, the Hon. Kristina Keneally MP.

Issues discussed included:

• Approaches to urban renewal involving both government-owned and other sites, and;
• Planning issues to do with affordable housing.

(This article originally published in NCOSS News July 2008)

by Warren Gardiner
While it is good to see heightened concern about housing affordability on the part of both the media and the new Federal Government, there is a continuing need to be vigilant about analysis and policy advocacy by vested interests that suggests remedial action that would be ill-directed and counter-productive.