On 27 July I attended a meeting called by a group of disability support service providers who were concerned about the current situation in the sector.  It was attended mostly by providers of residential care and supported independent living, some of whom also provide vocational services, as well as disability advocacy groups and the Service and Food Workers Union.

Each group has its own issues but the concerns we all had in common were: 

•   Workforce issues - training, staff retention, wage rates 
•   Funding issues 
•   The lack of funding support for the Disability Strategy 
•   National inconsistencies in service provision and funding

It was agreed that the primary concern was the fact that some disability support services funded by the Ministry of Health are at crisis point, which was an issue raised at our June VASS meeting.  Many have not had funding increases for some years and it has got to the point that some are considering reducing staff numbers or ceasing to offer some services altogether.

The Service and Food Workers Union has been involved in negotiating collective contracts for various providers and advocating on getting wage rates for Disability Support workers raised.  They have been informed by MoH that Disability Support services funding is in deficit and seem to realise that there is little providers, as employers, can do about offering better wage rates for staff in the current situation and that the Ministry is ultimately accountable.  The union is holding a series of meetings around the country about this.  They also mentioned that they are aware that there is an issue about providing adequate wage rates in relation to the implementation of ‘Pathways to Inclusion’.  I will forward the dates of these meetings as soon as I have them, and the Executive would be very interested to hear from anyone who attends.
 
The meeting agreed that some serious action was needed.   As a first step we have requested a meeting with the Minister of Disability Issues, Hon. Ruth Dyson, which representatives from the meeting (including VASS) will attend.  We have also agreed:

•   That we need to meet with other Ministers, e.g. Steve Maharey, Annette King, Michael Cullen
•   To keep each other informed
•   To identify exactly how far our individual organisations are prepared to go in taking action on this issue (e.g. would people consider refusing to sign contracts?) before any decisions about a media or lobbying campaign are agreed to.
•   To meet again

Police Vetting Procedure Changes
In the past it has been possible to obtain police checks through VASS when you are recruiting staff.  The Police have changed the way this is done and would prefer individual organisations to register with them as approved organisations for vetting purposes, rather than going through a national body.  If you want to continue to obtain police checks then you will have to ask to become an approved organisation.  This is a very simple procedure:

•   Write a letter, on your organisation letterhead, asking to become an approved organisation and stating what services your organisation provides and that you work with a vulnerable client group, e.g. people with an intellectual disability.
•   Attach a brochure, or similar official material, that outlines what your organisation does.
•   Address the letter to:
  Police Vetting Centre
  Office of the Commissioner
  PO Box 3017
  Wellington.

If you want more information about this service you can contact the Vetting Centre by phone on 04 474 9499 or on the internet at www.police.govt.nz

A big vote of thanks must go to Rick Brown of Disability Training Services, and his staff, who have co-ordinated the Police Vetting for VASS in the past. 

Workforce Training and Development Fund
As was announced at our June Meeting, VASS has been given a contract from MSD to administer a fund for workforce training and development.  The VASS Executive met in Wellington recently to discuss the establishment of the fund.  We are now in the process of developing application criteria, finding an office in Wellington and employing an Office Administrator.  We will keep you informed of details as they are put in place.

The fund will enable staff from organisations contracted to provide MSD vocational services to apply for financial support to undertake training.  At this stage you might like to start thinking about your staff’s professional development for next year and consider the various courses available through polytechs, universities and other registered training providers.  It is likely that applications will be called for by November.

Meeting Dates for 2005
The Executive has earmarked the following dates and venues for our meetings next year:
  16 – 17 March, Wellington
  15 – 16 June, Nelson
  12 – 14 October, Auckland

If anyone can foresee any major clashes with other events please let us know asap.  The dates will be confirmed once venues, etc, have been booked.

NZ on Air/TVNZ Symposium
On 23 July I attended a symposium run by NZ on Air and TVNZ to discuss programming for the disability sector.  The focus of the meeting was the ‘Inside Out’ programme that screens on TV One.  It was attended by disability groups and representatives from the television industry. 

Philip Patston (a well-known comedian and actor, who also has a disability) gave the keynote address and made some interesting points:

•   The media is interested in the 3Ts: triumph, tragedy and trauma
•   Disability is invisible to the mainstream media and the language surrounding it is all negative, e.g. wheelchair bound.  Otherwise well-educated people still use terms like ‘retard’, ‘psycho’ and ‘handicap’ and they can still be heard on TV.
•   There are few disabled people in the mainstream media.  This would not be acceptable for other groups, such as women, Maori, etc.
•   The current situation for disabled people amounts to sanctioned discrimination.

The symposium looked at several issues surrounding programming, such as who should make the programmes and how, content, and ways to move forward.  It was agreed that one half-hour slot on a Sunday morning was inadequate and that the sector needs more coverage in prime time schedules.  Tony Holden, from TVNZ, was quite open to reviewing the timeslot of ‘Inside Out’.  To move into another slot would mean increased advertising content and therefore a shortened programme (from 30 minutes to 22 minutes).  There was some disagreement about whether this was desirable.  

Moving from single subject episodes to a more magazine style programme, with a front-person and a variety of topics, was also discussed.  Again there was some disagreement from disability groups as to whether this was desirable.

The TV industry representatives present were very understanding of the need to have disabled people making programmes for disabled people, and are willing to look at capacity building in the sector in order to ensure disabled people get training in the area of film-making. 

I am interested to hear your views on the issues discussed, as I think we should follow up with a letter to TVNZ clarifying our position.

•   Is it preferable to move into a more commercial timeslot or to stay in the same timeslot with a longer programme and less advertising?
•   Is a magazine-style format preferable to the current style?
•   Is there potential for a strategic alliance between vocational service providers and TVNZ in the area of capacity building and work experience?

Training
There is quite a bit of work happening in the sector around training. 

• Certificate in Employment Support:  Barney Cooper represented VASS at a recent meeting with ASENZ and Te Kaiawhina Ahumahi (the Social Services ITO) to discuss the development of a new Certificate in Employment Support.  The certificate will be between 60 and 80 credits and should be completed within one year.  Barney says that the content looks relevant and manageable for people who are already working, with a little time off for study. It is designed to be a stepping stone to the Diploma in Employment Support.  When the unit standards have been drafted they will be circulated for public comment.
• The Ministry of Health Quality and Safety Project has also identified workforce issues as a key area and is working with CSSITO to establish a National Foundation Training Programme for disability support workers.  It is hoped that the foundation programme will form the basis of a career structure for the workforce, leading to a national certificate. It will also recognise and build on existing qualifications. Providers, support workers and service users will be surveyed and a final report is due in September. 
• The Ministry of Health is working with the NASC Association, CSSITO and the Clinical Training Agency to develop two training pathways and eventually qualifications for people working in NASC organisations. It is expected that one will be an entry-level qualification and the other a postgraduate course for people already in the field.

Work to be Undertaken on Disability Policies and Funding
We are very pleased to see that the Office for Disability Issues is leading inter-agency work on the issues we have persistently raised around inconsistencies in government policy and funding for disability.  These include different definitions of disability, inconsistent eligibility criteria and funding mechanisms.

The work will:

• develop guidelines to ensure the design and delivery of support mechanisms for people with disabilities are in line with the disability strategy, and
• scope the policy work required to review and address inequities between disability-specific supports funded through ACC and those funded through other government Votes.

This work will take place over the next two years, and will involve consultation with the disability sector.  Many of you will remember Robyn Klos’ paper on Discrimination and Funding which she presented at last year’s VASS conference and which challenged the government on these same issues.

Petition Relating to Caregivers’ Wages
The Health Select Committee has called for submissions on two petitions.  The first is a petition from Lianne Dalziel and asks the House of Representatives to address concerns regarding the level of home-carer wages.  Specifically, it seeks funding to increase the base rate from $9.50 per hour to $10.50 per hour.

The second petition is from Ruth Dyson, and requests that funding be made available so that caregivers’ qualifications can be recognized in their wages. Submissions close on 3 September.

Cabinet changes
Steve Maharey has taken over the Community & Voluntary Sector portfolio following the resignation of Tariana Turia. 

Department of Labour Restructure
The Department of Labour has been restructured.  It is now divided into three new operational groups which will cover all the various activities of the Department.  They are:

• Workforce - replaces the activities of New Zealand Immigration Service (NZIS) and will have links to other government departments working on employment (the Ministry of Social Development) and skills (the Tertiary Education Commission).
• Workplace - replaces the activities of the Occupational Safety & Health Service (OSH), the Employment Relations Service (ERS), and will also focus on policy advice on issues of work-life balance and pay equity, and ACC matters.
• Work Opportunities - replaces the activities of the Community Employment Group (CEG) and will continue to work with iwi, trusts, and regional development agencies. It has been given a clearer focus on "labour market outcomes" with the aim of "ensuring sustainable employment and high-quality work opportunities for disadvantaged groups and communities".  The head of this group is Andrew Crisp, who comes to the Labour Department from the Regulatory and Tax Policy Branch of Treasury.  Charlie Moore, the former CEG General Manager, has been re-assigned to other activities in the Labour Department.

The Labour Market Policy Group has been disbanded and staff incorporated into the three new divisions.

The Social Entrepreneur Fund has been formally terminated and the funding allocated for this programme has been transferred to the Ministry of Social Development. MSD intends to use the money "to support social development initiatives in communities", and grants under the new scheme will need Ministerial approval.

Kimberley Update
According to a recent statement by Hon. Ruth Dyson the deinstitutionalisation process at Kimberley is still on track to be completed by June 2006.  So far, 41 residents have been moved into the community. LIFE Unlimited has been contracted to provide the service co-ordination and Housing New Zealand to provide community homes. The co-ordination of services has been complex but the process is now well underway.  Most residents will move to individual community homes, but there is also likely to be two cluster housing developments, one in the Horowhenua and the other in the Manawatu district.  There have been increased delays in the time between identifying residents, a residential service provider and a house location, to when people can actually move into a home.

Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC)
Late last year, a wide range of agencies were invited to submit proposals to operate one of possibly three trials around New Zealand to improve collaboration and cooperation between agencies providing needs assessment and service coordination services.  29 proposals were received.

The three successful trials will be based in Wellington, Rotorua and Canterbury. The Wellington-based trial will be led by Capital Support, the NASC agency for the area. It will focus on the Ministry of Education’s Ongoing and Renewable Resourcing Scheme (ORRS) students with high or very high support needs who are planning to leave school in the next four years.

The Rotorua trial will be led by Support Net and will use the PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows, with Hope) planning and assessment tool. This trial aims to develop an intersectoral collaborative process that enables young people and their families/whanau to become fully involved in deciding their futures after school.

The third trial is based in Christchurch, but includes a mix of city, small towns and rural Canterbury areas. Led by Lifelinks, this trial will develop ‘a single point of contact’ needs assessment and service coordination process, to identify the needs of people up to the age of 25 and their families and whanau, across all sectors.
 
The evaluation of the trials will be conducted jointly by the Ministry of Health and the Health Research Council. 

Air New Zealand Policy Under Fire
Air New Zealand has recently made changes to passenger handling procedures. Wheelchair users who are unable to transfer to their plane seat are no longer able to travel unless they provide their own lifters at each destination, or lifters travel with them at their own cost.

CCS has lodged a class action complaint with the Human Rights Commission about the airline's new procedures on the grounds that they breach the Human Rights Act.

Ruth Dyson has also had discussions with Air New Zealand to see if a better policy around lifting can be developed that is consistent with the vision, objectives and actions of the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

Phone Relay Service
A telecommunications relay service (TRS) for deaf and hearing impaired people is now on track for a November start now that the government has negotiated an agreement with Sprint International New Zealand to supply the new service.

Users will be able to apply for a text phone before the TRS is operational so that consumers can be ready to make calls.  The TRS works with an intermediary assistant who relays and clarifies phone calls between a hearing or speech impaired person and a hearing person. The assistant speaks words to a hearing person that are typed by a hearing impaired person on a text phone. The relay assistant also turns the hearing person’s response into type back to the hearing impaired person.   Information on how to apply for text phones will be provided to the Deaf Association, Hearing Association and other disability organisations soon.

For more information visit: http://www.med.govt.nz/pbt/telecom/trs/index.html

Family Caregivers of Disabled People
Relevant government departments have been working together on a review of the issues of payment and support for family caregivers of disabled people.  The review includes clarification of government’s objectives for family care-giving and options to deal with issues raised and any changes needed.  Consultation with family caregivers, families, disabled people and disability sector organisations on possible options is planned for later in 2004.
Following feedback from the consultation, detailed costing and assessment of options will be provided in a final report to Ministers. Information about this review is on the Office for Disability Issues website at www.odi.govt.nz
Community-based support for youth on bail
A $3 million pilot programme will run over three years to provide support for young people while on bail. It will provide intensive community-based support and services, such as activity-based programmes, for young people on remand for alleged offending. It will also help families improve supervision and monitoring. It will focus on those who are at high risk of breaching their bail conditions and being remanded in custody. The pilot is part of a shift by CYF towards rehabilitation and support, rather than containment, of remanding young people, according to Ruth Dyson, Minister for Child, Youth & Family.

Local Body Elections
Both District Health Board and local government elections are looming – and now is the time to consider standing for these positions, and encouraging others. Details for DHB elections can be found on www.moh.govt.nz/dhbelections
And for local government on www.lgnz.co.nz

Project management in the voluntary sector
A research student is seeking informants for an online survey about the use of project management in the voluntary sector. If you are interested in participating the survey can be found on www.survey.unitec.ac.nz/nfp_survey .  Brian Belworthy (the researcher) can be contacted at bbelworthy@clear.net.nz

Parent 2 Parent Conference
Parent 2 Parent is celebrating its 21st year with a conference called ‘Exploring futures for young disabled people and their families’.  It is being held in Wellington on 22-24 September. Information and registration is available at www.parent2parent.org.nz

Tess Casey
Executive Officer, VASS     

Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Membership Members receive regular mailouts and newsletters covering specific issues and seeking member comment, notifying any significant Goverment policy changes. Annual Conference The 3rd Annual Conference of Workability International 12th – 15th October 2004 – Christchurch Convention Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand

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