REPORTING | Prioritise the health of people with disability, says Commission
The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability is calling on National Cabinet to ensure measures to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of people with disability are given “the priority they deserve” in public health planning for the upcoming winter season.Following the release of its Statement of Ongoing Concern on 17 February about the significant impact the current Omicron wave is having on people with disability, the Royal Commission is preparing an Issues Paper to identify areas of concern. These include de-prioritised access to vaccinations for people with disability and disability support workers; disruptions to disability services and essential supports; lack of protective equipment and testing tools; and staff shortages in the disability sector. The paper is set to be released this month, prior to the National Cabinet meeting to consider a report on Winter National COVID and Influenza Preparedness.
Following increased community engagement activities, the Royal Commission has reported a significant increase in submissions from migrant and refugee people with disability. According to its Fifth Progress Report, released on 8 February 2022, close to one third of the submissions received in the six months to December 2021 were from people from CALD communities.
JOINING | ECCV in Canberra as part of national network creating change
ECCV joined National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) and other key disability advocacy groups in Canberra on 18 February for a NDIS Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Strategy refresh roundtable, hosted by NDIS CEO Martin Hoffman. Participants engaged in focus groups to develop shared goals for what we want to see for people with disability from migrant and refugee backgrounds.WATCHING | Multicultural Disability Forum: Living with COVID-19
“What I found in this pandemic, especially for people with disabilities who are from diverse backgrounds, [is that] assumptions were made – we all ‘fit in one size’ and that’s not a wise approach.” —Anaab Rooble, Women with Disabilities VictoriaWhat has life been like during the pandemic for people with disability from migrant and refugee backgrounds? In December, ECCV's Statewide Disability Network held a forum featuring a panel discussion with lived experience experts and disability sector organisations to address pressing issues from the COVID-19 pandemic.
LISTENING | Victorians share stories of living well with disability
The national Speak My Language (Disability) program has released more than 70 podcasts featuring interviews in 14 languages. In December, ECCV launched the first podcasts by Victorian "Travellers," who are producing episodes in Cantonese, Mandarin, Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi, Sinhala, Spanish, Turkish and Somali.Timed to coincide with International Day of People with Disability, the event featured a panel discussion with Victorian Speak My Language participants as well as representatives from the national program. If you or your organisation have a story to tell about living well with disability, please contact Victorian Speak My Language Coordinator Osman Mohamed via email.
RAISING | Voices of people with disability in regional Victoria
Raise Our Voices, ECCV’s self-advocacy program for people with disability from migrant and refugee backgrounds, has established a new peer support group in Shepparton. Hosted by the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District, the first meeting was held in February, run by Peer Facilitator Athena Papadatos, and attended by seven participants and three support workers from NDIS provider Connect GV.The group will meet monthly and focus on topics of interest to participants, including COVID-19, communicating using FaceTime, Facebook, Messenger and Teams, writing a complaint, standing up for your rights, and NDIS packages.
Raise Our Voices peer support groups are now operating in Broadmeadows, Dandenong, Morwell and St Albans.
MAKING | Available rapid antigen tests for people with disability
The federal government has begun distributing 1.2 million rapid antigen tests to residents and workers in high-risk residential disability care settings, with five million tests to be delivered by June. Eligible NDIS participants can also now purchase rapid antigen tests (RATs) with funding from their NDIS plan. Participants may also purchase RATs for their support workers as needed to ensure they can safely receive supports, in line with AHPPC guidance.REPORTING | More than half a million people with disability now on NDIS
According to the NDIS' latest quarterly report, the Scheme is now supporting more than 500,000 people living with significant and permanent disability across Australia. The number of NDIS participants has increased by 4 per cent in the last quarter, and of these new participants, close to 10 per cent of them identify as being from a culturally and linguistically diverse background.HEARING | Your say: How have you been during the COVID-19 pandemic?
ECCV’s Statewide Disability Network wants to hear from people with disability from migrant and refugee backgrounds, their carers and families, and multicultural and ethno-specific organisations. Based on community expertise, the network was established in 2021 to address key advocacy issues and influence COVID-19 recovery.- To find out more, please contact Disability Advocacy Coordinator Nimo Hersi via email.
TRAINING | Free advocacy and storytelling
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia has teamed up with the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) to create free training activities for LGBTIQ+ people with disability. Developed by LGBTIQ+ people with disability along with a co-design group, an advisory committee and input from a recent survey, the activities aim to increase community engagement as well as improve people’s knowledge and skills in advocacy and storytelling.EXPLAINING | Social scripts for COVID-19 vaccinations
In partnership with National Disability Services, autism advocacy body Amaze has developed step-by-step social scripts outlining the COVID-19 vaccine process to help people with autism. Social scripts use images and descriptions to explain new experiences and social environments. While these scripts were developed for people with autism, anyone feeling anxious about the vaccination process can benefit from the resources.OFFERING | Help with vaccinations
Did you know that Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) are available to support people with disability to access health services? DLOs can help you book a COVID-19 vaccination, including vaccination at home if you're unable to attend a vaccination centre. They can also help organise support for a person with a severe fear of needles, regardless of whether that person has a disability.- Request DLO support via email or by filling out this form.
- Find out more
SETTING | Disability on the election agenda
As the 2022 federal election approaches, disability advocacy organisations have begun releasing their demands for the sector. Carers Australia is asking for equitable access to respite, a review of the financial support system for carers and funding of advocacy services to help carers understand their rights. The Autism Alliance is requesting the creation of a National Autism Strategy and roadmap to improving health outcomes for people with autism.HEARING | Your say: Share your story with the Commission
The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability has launched a national campaign encouraging people with disability from migrant and refugee backgrounds, as well as their carers and families, to share their stories. You can make a submission in any way you prefer (online, over the phone, email, video, song or artwork) and in any language. You can also make a submission in a private session with Commissioners.MORE:
Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria (ECCV)
Address: Suite 101, 398 Sydney Road, Coburg Vic 3058
Tel: (03) 9354 9555
Email: ndis@eccv.org.au
Website: www.eccv.org.au