Joy, David, Bernadette and Annemieke outlined their experiences for us yesterday and clearly articulated the different perspectives and concerns about Pathways that different groups have.

Hon. Ruth Dyson, Minister of Disability Issues
The Minister spoke yesterday about the Government’s policies and current focuses in the vocational services sector.  She mentioned transition to school and building capacity in the sector, offering some details about projects that are being undertaken by various organisations and supported by the Quality Fund.  She assured us once again that providers will still receive the same amount of funding if and when changes are made to accessing the Disability Allowance - it will just come from a different source.  It is highly unlikely that the DPEP Act will be repealed this year.

Colin McLennan, Rehabilim Trust
Colin’s address about how he established the Yakkum Rehabilitation Centre in Indonesia was both inspirational and humbling.  He witnessed the plight of young people with disabilities in Indonesia and instead of saying "That’s terrible, somebody should do something about that," he did something himself.  With very little fuss or fanfare he quietly and efficiently raised support and funding in New Zealand to set up a centre in Java to help educate and rehabilitate children and young people who would otherwise receive no help or assistance.  The Centre has a school and also teaches trade and life skills.  The young people do work for themselves, including building artificial limbs and many of the Centre staff have disabilities themselves.  The Centre receives no government funding and relies largely on foreign aid to stay afloat.  If anyone is interested in making a donation you can contact the Rehabilim Trust - contact details in the foyer.

Des, Kataraina and Tyrone, Gracelands Group of Services
Gracelands has developed a partnership with Whakamarama Marae near Te Awamutu to run a marae-based service.  The partnership was initiated by a letter sent to 11 local marae by Gracelands regarding the service, and Whakamarama was the only positive response although they initially rejected the concept as well. Gracelands staff then went to a meeting at the marae and over a period of months worked through how the partnership could run to the satisfaction of both parties.  It  is now a legal partnership and a programme called ‘Manaaki Wairua’ is based at the marae, and participants learn skills such as weaving and bone carving. 

Mark Mau-Thompson, Te Aratu Training Centre
Te Aratu was once a traditional sheltered workshop for people who have experienced mental illness, but moved away from this to better cater for the needs of the clients.  They train towards employment and independence and are a registered PTE offering Level 1—3 unit standards towards specific qualifications.  Learning is self-paced and most people move through the programme in 2 1/2 years. All staff are qualified to teach and paid well.  Mark outlined the process they went through to become a trainer, which involved finding a partner to assist and ‘umbrella’ them in the initial stages.

If you are not a VASS member but are  interested in attending the upcoming Trustee Training Seminars that VASS is running around the country in November, please leave your name and contact details with Robyn at the Registration Desk and we will send you a registration form.  VASS members will be sent one automatically.

If you want to share taxis to the airport at the close of the conference please feel free to use the Message Board outside the Renouf Foyer to make arrangements.

Robyn would like everyone to know that the cellphone that blasted out the William Tell Overture during the Minister’s speech yesterday was not hers.  It was Barney’s.  And as she couldn’t figure out how to turn it off she did a Bomb Squad imitation and disposed of it.  Barney reports that her phone has a few dents in it but it still works.

A Big Thank You to the following people…. Linda, Tom, Robyn, Jan, Suzanne & Barney the Conference Committee.
	As Convenor Suzanne often has to exert considerable pressure in order to get the Conference Committee to do anything.
Chrissy and Des, our VASS Kaumatua & kuia.
	The amazing Robyn, administrator  extraordinarire. Thanks also to Debbie, holding the fort at Gracelands, for all her work prior to the Conference

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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