VACANCY | Speak My Language Interviewers
ECCV is looking to hire bilingual people from CALD and Indigenous communities to interview storytellers and guest speakers for podcasts for the national Speak My Language program. Participants will ideally have lived experience of disability, strong community connections and be fluent in their spoken and written language. The program will feature CALD and Indigenous Australians sharing real stories, experiences and tips about living well with a disability in a series of podcasts, radio broadcasts and online content in more than 25 community languages. For further information, contact Victorian SML Coordinator Osman Ali Mohamed at oalimohamed@eccv.org.au.Raise Our Voices: first peer-led support group
ECCV's new Raise Our Voices - Disability Self-advocacy for CALD Communities program has set up a peer-led support group, Raise Our Voice Gippsland, through Gippsland Multicultural Services (GMS). Following community morning tea sessions held in May and June, the support group will run fortnightly every second Monday from 21 June to support people with self-advocacy, decision-making and accessing NDIS information and resources and pathway services. A disability self-advocacy workshop will be held in early July at GMS's Morwell office. This is the first peer-led support group formed under the Raise Our Voices program, which is being delivered across metropolitan Melbourne, Shepparton and Gippsland.Community Connectors
ECCV's Community Connectors project has come to an end. Community Connectors helped people from CALD and non-English speaking backgrounds to access the NDIS, providing support around understanding disability, applying for the NDIS and using NDIS plans. Our team provided assistance across a range of languages including Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Dinka, Hindi, Punjabi, Somali, Tigre, Tigrinya, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese. We thank the Community Connector team for all their hard work and contributions to the program.COVID-19 vaccination for NDIS participants
All National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants aged 16 years and over and carers aged 16 years and over of NDIS participants of any age became eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from 8 June. NDIS participants will be able to find a vaccination site using the Department of Health's eligibility checker.NDIS Proposed Personalised Budgets
The NDIS has released information papers on the proposed personalised budgets model, using information from participant’s independent assessment to help make personalised budgets. There are planned changes to how NDIS funding is calculated. If introduced, participant's personalised budgets would be divided into ‘flexible’ and ‘fixed’ to increase the flexibility with which participants could use their funding to pursue their goals. New participant journey maps explaining the proposed planning process for participants can be found on the NDIS website.2021 Federal Budget
The 2021-22 Federal Budget has included increased funding of $13.2 billion over the next four years for the NDIS, estimating that the NDIS will cost almost $32 billion in 2024-25, making it comparable to the cost of Medicare. Consultations are continuing on the proposed independent assessments in response to widespread opposition by disability advocates. The assessments proposal has been linked to the sustainability of the scheme. Minister for the NDIS, Linda Reynolds has confirmed she intends to introduce a bill to legislate the assessments in some form this year.Disability Employment Services report
A mid-term review of the Disability Employment Services (DES) has found that the program is not better at helping people with disability find paid work.Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) is calling on the government to scrap punishing mutual obligation requirements and to ensure that employment services are designed more effectively. Dr. Cassandra Goldie, ACOSS CEO, said: “We have known that employer discrimination against people with disabilities is a main reason why they are overlooked for jobs, and this is where change is needed at a broader societal level.”
What I Wish I Could Say submissions
Your Way Through at drummond street services is commissioning disabled people from marginalised cultural or ethnic communities to create something in response to the theme What I wish I could say. However I want to say it. For the pitch deadline, payment, what to pitch and more, visit the drummond street services website.LGBTIQ+ Roundtable opportunity | Applications close 9am on 21 June 2021
NEDA and LGBTIQ+ Health Australia are looking for LGBTIQ+ people from a First Nations and/or CALD background with lived experience of disability for a paid Roundtable opportunity. Participants will provide insight to support a peer support and mentoring program. For more information or to send an expression of interest, contact Marika Taylor at marika.taylor@lgbtiqhealth.org.auMultilingual Information Access (MiAccess) Translated resources & information
A purpose-built website for CALD people with disability, their carers and communities. It brings together translated information and resources about understanding disability environments and accessing the NDIS in over 30 languages. You can find resources about what the NDIS funds and provides, who is eligible, how to access it, as well as resources and information categorised by NDIS Disability Areas.WGV school holiday program open
Welcome to the Game Victoria's school holiday program is now open to expressions of interest. An initiative of Welcoming Australia, it aims to improve access to sport and recreation. The free school holiday program is designed to provide local multicultural community members with disabilities and/or additional needs a chance to experience sport in a fun, safe and supportive environment.COVID-19 vaccine resources
The Department of Health's dedicated COVID-19 vaccine webpage for disability service providers has comprehensive information and resources for people with disability. This includes a readiness toolkit with resources designed to assist disability service providers during the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.Disability Support radio in your language
SBS radio and Services Australia have put together a series of broadcasts in different languages about the Disability Support Pension. The segments promote eligibility for the Disability Support Pension, the pre-claim guide, Program of Support and how to claim. Available in Turkish, Serbian, Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Persian, Dari, Vietnamese, Assyrian and Bosnian.MORE:
Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria (ECCV)
Address: Suite 101, 398 Sydney Road, Coburg Vic 3058
Tel: 9354 9555
Email: ndis@eccv.org.au
Website: www.eccv.org.au