Meeting Report WWDACT meeting - Future Directions 2010 - 2014 consultation

The meeting got off to a shaky start when Sue arrived late with the key. After hunting through the 4 floors of the building for the sound of voices, we eventually found Room 6 on the first floor. However, mysterious openings had occurred, the Room was already open, the guest speaker had arrived and was ready to go, along with about 14 others.

A small glitch occurred as we struggled to open the box which houses the Audio Loop, and it was a minor miracle to find that the “ON” button was an anonymous switch low down on the wall. Whew! Finding this was essential as we knew that we would need the hearing loop during the meeting. All problems were not solved as the hand held microphone only worked spasmodically and only in one half of the room. Our thanks to those needing the Audio Loop for their patience with the meeting proceedings, and the matter will be taken up with the Griffin Centre management.

However a major glitch occurred when we discovered that the keys to the room did not enable us to access the stairwell, so that two more women who had needed to use the stairs were not able to attend the meeting. Not everyone is able to use a lift. WWDACT apologises for this oversight. We then also realised that in case of fire, there would be no exit route for any of us. Naturally, we will take the matter up with the Griffin Centre management.

The consultation for the day was lead by Leanne Power (Director Policy, Planning and Business Support in Disability ACT), Bob Nield took copious notes and Julie Field, Acting Diasbility and Health Commissioner with the ACT Human Rights Commission also took notes and great interest in what we had to say. The cross-disability composition of WWDACT membership was such that the 15 women with disabilities who attended represented a wide range of disability experiences, and this enabled us to outline a good cross section of our life situations and outline aspirations for Future Directions for Disability ACT for the 2010-2014 period.

Equality of allocation of funding was a major concern. Many women with disabilities do not have high cost funding requirements, but these are continually ignored in order to meet the high support needs of smaller numbers of men. Having small injections of funding, with discretion to access that funding in a flexible way was suggested. Meaningful employment was regarded as essential and the many barriers outlined. A recurring them was the need for Disability Awareness Training, starting with the ACT Public Service, and a need for leadership from the highest levels of government to show respect, acceptance and positive attitude to all people with disabilities.

Thanks to all the WWDACT women for the thoughtful feedback for the day and we look forward to the next stage in development of Future Directions 2010 to 2014.

Photos will go up in due course.

WWDACT Reps at Homelessness Forum

Hi from WWDACT's new representative - Sue Carbone

Sue has joined the ACT Homelessness Forum for WWDACT. It's called HNet, and meets at Yarramundi Reach about every two months. This is her report for the June 11 meeting.

Just for starters:SAAP Services (Supported Accommodation Assistance Program) has changed its name to NAHA (National Affordable Housing Agreement)!

There were 3 speakers:
1. Tim Moore - Australian Catholic University
Tim introduced the "Supporting Kids Kit", with its 6 principles for supporting kids who are experiencing homelessness.
1. helping kids feel Safe and secure
2. treating kids as individuals
3. having 'family' - a sense of 'being at home' rather than 'having a house'
4. having their own environment
5. participating in all planning
6. forming partnerships
for more information: tim.moore@acu.edu.au/6209 1229/www.acu.edu.au
Also look at St Lukes Innovative Resources (Bendigo) for counselling materials.

2. Ann Ponsonbury - Office for Children, Youth & Family Support
Ann is in the Placement and Permanency Planning in Care and Protection Services section.

She outlined the 40% decline in foster placements, at same time as a 100% increase in need over a decade. The safety, welfare and well-being of child/young person is paramount over the rights of the child.

The options for permanent placement in the ACT are: Enduring parental Responsibility Orders and Conditional (Open) Adoptions.

3. Shannon Pickles - St Vincent de Paul
Shannon outlined the new housing options
1. "Place to Call Home" initiative -20 new houses by 2014, 50% for indigenous families
2. "Street to HOme" scheme - all 'rough sleepers' will have the offer of a bed by 2020.
3. "Suppport in Public Houses" scheme $1.3 million per annum for community linkages.
4. "Foyer" model housing - a Live 'n Learn model, where tenancy is conditional on staying in education, starts in 2010
5. "Housing & Support" initiative (HASI) contracted to the Richmond Fellowship, $1.4 million over 4 years, targeting Mental Health Consumers
6. Establishment of a Central Intake system (co-located with Gateway Services Belconnen ($125,000 per annum)
7. Domestic Violence Crisis Service, $100,000 one-off upgrade payment
8. Expanded "Stairway" scheme, run by Anglicare - 10 more transitional houses
9. Canberra Men's Centre, linked with the prison, for the "No Exits to Homelessness" program for men. NOTE: the same program is not yet in place for women.

ACT Health has a scheme with St V de P to support Samaritan House accommodation for single men.

A big lesson from this is that Housing services are no longer just the prerogative of Disability Housing and Community Services. More networking is now needed with ACT Health, mental health services and drug & alcohol services.