Sleepover update 14 May 2013
We have confirmed with MOH that the following organisations will be part of the 5th batch of Orders in Council:
Tomika Trust
Laura Fergusson Trust (Canterbury)
Brackenridge Estate Limited
Claddagh Haven Trust Board
Henderson Home Community Homes Limited
Geraldine Pathways Centre Trust
Donaldson Residential Trust
Te Whanau Tokotokorangi Trust
This is expected to go to Cabinet in June, but the exact date is not yet known. There is a possibility that some other organisations may also be ready in time for this batch too, and we will update this website once we know for sure.
Sleepover payment delays add insult to injury
04 Mar 2013
The Public Service Association is accusing the Ministry of Health of adding insult to injury for hundreds of community support workers who are still waiting for their rightful sleepover payments...
read more.
Employer attitudes towards employing disabled people
Research has been commissioned to explore New Zealand employers’ attitudes towards employing disabled people.
Employers were asked a range of questions in order to find out more about the qualities they looked for in potential employees, what they thought were the barriers to the employment of disabled people, about their attitudes towards disabled people, how they thought staff and customers perceived disabled staff and to what extent they were influenced in their employment decisions by the reactions of others. Find out more at think differently.
The Human Rights Commission presents submission on Minimum Wage (Starting Out Wage) Amendment Bill
The Human Rights Commission presented its submission on the Minimum Wage (Starting Out Wage) Amendment Bill to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee on Wednesday. The Commission stated its opposition to the Bill, arguing that it fails basic human rights tests. Read more over at the
Human Rights Commission website.
Focus now on Wellington
Auckland members of the PSA Deaf and Disability Network met on 3 December to celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities, when the United Nations asks all countries to consider ways to make the world a better place for disabled people. This year the international theme is “Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all.”
One of the action points coming from the Auckland meeting was a challenge to build our Deaf and Disabled Network membership and structure in the Wellington region with the aim of holding a connect-up national forum towards the end of 2013.
The requirement for the NZ government to report back to the United Nations on progress made on the Disability Convention by the end of 2014 provides a useful backdrop to our work as a Network for 2013.
We need a Wellington convenor and a coordination team.
If you are interested in becoming an active member of the network within the wellington region please contact
denise.eilers@psa.org.nz so that we can develop our own regional plan and link to our colleagues in Auckland. The first part of building our structure will be finding out what the top topics for members with disabilities in wellington are.
International Day of People with Disability
The PSA celebrates the International Day of People with Disability. The day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
Celebrate International Day of Disabled People with the PSA
The following information is available by NZSL here: https://www.seeflow.co.nz/jk
What: Deaf and Disabled Members’ Network
Monday
When: 3 December, 6pm to 8pm (light refreshments from 5.30pm)
Where: At the Manukau Room, in the Manukau Civic Building, 31-33 Wiri Station Road, Manukau
http://www.wises.co.nz/l/31-33+Wiri+Station+Road/
At this meeting we will be screening the DVD “Lives Worth Living” which celebrates the US Disability Civil Rights Movement. (Subtitles available).
The meeting is open to Deaf and disabled PSA members. All disabled workers and members from other unions are welcome to attend.
Agenda:
* 6:00pm: Welcome and film screening “Lives Worth Living”
* 7.20pm: Brief discussion about Network meetings for 2013
* Formal business will close at 7-40pm, room open for informal networking until 8pm.
Don’t wait, book your seat now!
Please RSVP to Michele.donovan@psa.org.nz or phone 09 3700 151 or email Disability@psa.org.nz.
Sign language interpreters have been booked for the meeting. Venue is wheelchair accessible with parking available.
New Zealand's Disability Arts Festival returns
InterACT 2012, New Zealand's Disability Arts Festival returns for its second year October 25-27 at Corban Estate Arts Centre in Henderson, Auckland with a line-up of phenomenal performances, workshops and people, all connected by the power of the arts.
Find out more at the website here: www.interacting.org.nz/festivalwebsite
Be. Accessible
Imagine a world where every person, building and community is truly accessible. That world is what Be. Accessible has set out to create.
Be. Accessible is a social change initiative and a holistic framework for accessibility with a mission to create a truly accessible country for us all. Find out more over at their website.
ImagineBetter
ImagineBetter is an independent agency promoting leadership and outcome-based quality in services for people with disabilities, the mentally unwell and older people. To find out more head on over to their website.
Plans to withdraw disability legal services discriminatory
The Public Service Association says plans to cut legal services for the disability community are discriminatory and will leave disabled New Zealanders without access to specialist legal representation. Proposals by the Ministry of Justice for the future of Community Law Centres will see funding cut to Auckland Disability Law from June next year.
Auckland Disability Law is the only Community Law Centre in New Zealand which exclusively provides direct specialist legal services to disabled people.
Listen to the story on Radio NZ's one-in-five programme.
Funding cuts story on stuff.
Read our media release here.
Download the Save Disability Law Flyer
Read the open letter to Judith Collins
Follow Auckland Disability Law on Facebook and get involved.
Helen Keller Communication Day
The Helen Keller Communication Day was observed around the world today in honour of the renowned deafblind American author, political activist and advocate for deafblind people’s rights.
Helen Keller was an inspiration in her lifetime and her words and actions continue to provide encouragement and motivation to members of the deafblind community today.
Celebrate the achievements of the deafblind community and find out more by visiting:
http://www.rnzfb.org.nz/about/member-services/deafblind-services/helen-keller-communication-day
New Zealand Sign Language week
The PSA would like to remind members about New Zealand Sign Language week.
Each May, Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand organises NZSL Week – a celebration of one of the country’s official languages, New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL).
NZSL Week helps promote the language as well as raise awareness about New Zealand’s Deaf community and the issues/challenges its members face each day. The awareness week is a chance for the Deaf Community to stand proud as Deaf and promote their language and culture.
NZSL Week is a chance for Deaf New Zealanders to ‘put their hands up’ and be ‘heard’.
To find out more visit: http://www.deaf.org.nz/nz-sign-language/sign-language-week/new-zealand-sign-language-week-2012
Inaugural meeting
The inaugural meeting of the PSA deaf and disabled members’ network was held recently in Auckland. Members at the meeting discussed a range of issues including encouraging disabled members who are delegates to apply to attend Congress, funding for community law centres and the need to get rid of minimum wage exemption .
The meeting was addressed by Green MP Mojo Mathers, who spoke about the need for direct representation of people with disabilities in parliament and other positions of power. Mojo stressed the need to move from a charity-based model of disability where disabled people have to go ‘cap in hand’ for support to a rights-based model of disability where support and access to services is a basic right.
The network has the following objectives:
1. Gathering disabled union members together and increasing our visibility within the union movement.
2. Supporting the union to develop its resources for disabled members and increasing awareness of the issues of particular interest to disabled members.
3. Involving disabled members and a disability perspective in broader campaigns and union initiatives.
All disabled PSA members are encouraged to join and actively participate in the network.