1. National Disability Research Partnership – Expression of Interest

Opportunity for a person with disability and expertise in advocacy to join the National Disability Research Partnership (NDRP) Working Party.

The role of the new working party members is to help the National Disability Research Partnership build a disability-inclusive research program and deliver on its intended outcomes. Responsibilities will include attending monthly meetings of the NDRP working party and some out of session meetings, engaging with stakeholders and contributing to writing and reviewing documents produced for the NDRP activities.

2. VMIAC Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) Expression of Interest

The Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council is looking for a consumer to join their Lived Experience Advisory Group.

The Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) was established to ensure that consumer, family and carers are partners in public mental health policy development, service design and delivery.

The overall purpose of the Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) is to:

• Ensure lived experience perspectives are incorporated into the operations of the Mental Health Branch.
• Provide subject matter expertise to the Department on current and emerging issues
• Advise on current and emerging policy and practice, based on members’ expertise.
• Provide oversight of engagement activities, such as targeted advisory groups (TAGs)

The LEAG has been meeting since April 2019 and currently meets monthly.

3. Three new project roles at Blind Citizens Australia

Blind Citizens Australia have three new roles available within the projects team: Projects Officer – BCA Initiatives, Project Officer – Life Ready Project, and a Project Support Internship.

Applications close on the 31st July 2020.

Any questions can be directed to Sally Aurisch – General Manager – Projects and Engagement on 1800 033 660 or sally.aurisch@bca.org.au

4. WWDA are hiring a Senior Project Officer

Women With Disabilities Australia has received a NDIA ILC grant to build the capacity of women and girls with disabilities across Australia.

Applications close 20th July 2020.

5. Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand is hiring co-design facilitator who will work in collaboration with WIRE.

Good Shepherd are looking for someone with experience, knowledge, passion and capability in the space of addressing intersectional disadvantage with a particular focus on improved financial capability as a force for personal empowerment.

The successful candidate will deploy their skills and experience in collaboration, co-design and facilitation to surface evidence-based design principles to inform the development of financial capability programs that best support the needs of Refugee, Immigrant and Asylum-Seeker women, Indigenous women and women with a disability.

The role will work closely with consultants and advocates with lived experience of disability the Financial Capability Program Manager, program partners and governance group.

Applications close 17th July 2020.

The ‘Spotlight on Invisible Women’ project is aimed at engaging with  women in this age group to identify your needs and improve the provision of information. We would like to hear what life is like for you.

A survey has been designed to capture the unique barriers experienced by older women with disability in rural, regional and metro areas across Victoria.

Results of the survey and community consultations will be captured in a report designed to influence and inform national and specialist organisations (e.g. disability-specific organisations) and the Victorian government. The final project report will provide feedback and recommendations on the findings of the surveys.

In the recent WDV Member Survey, you told us you wanted more Member events and we have listened! Please join us for the first in a series of free online sessions for the WDV community.

The first event (with special guests!) will focus on how women with disabilities can engage with life online and how to build an online community.

Join us Thursday July 30 from 4:30pm - 6pm.

There are only 30 places so register now.

Once you register on EventBrite, you will recieve a Zoom link.

We have just released two new guides for workers about responding to violence against women with disabilities in the COVID-19 context. These resources were designed for members of the disability workforce, who are looking for advice or guidance on working with women who may be experiencing violence. These resources also contain a list of referral services for women with disabilities.

We have adapted one of our most popular information resources specifically tailored to women who identify as vision impaired, blind, or deaf/blind about violence prevention and response, “Our Right to Safety and Respect. A video resource and video guide, developed by, and for, women with disabilities about violence, abuse, safety and respect”.

The resources include:

• Braille hardcopy and an electronic Braille Ready File (BRF) of the video resource guide available in both Grade 1 and Grade 2.
• Audio Described DVD format and electronic file of the video resource.
• Audible (MP3) file of the video guide.

If you would like a hardcopy of these resources please contact carly.myers@wdv.org.au

The purpose of these resources are for women who identify as vision impaired, blind, deaf/blind having equal access to resources on how to keep themselves safe and free from violence. Providing this resource in Audio Description, Braille and Audible (MP3) formats will empower these women to speak up and seek support when leaving a violent situation. These resources were developed by women who identify as, vision impaired, blind, or deaf/blind.

This project was supported by the Victorian Women's Trust

These resources are an extension of the Safeguards project, which was supported by the Victorian Government.

If you are using these resources can you please take a moment to fill out this evaluation form.

The University of Melbourne Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health has released a position statement outlining recommendations around planning for people with disability in areas with high rates of COVID-19.

The Empowered Lives campaign has released a statement on supporting Victorians with disability during COVID-19 restrictions.

This statement was sent to the Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers, Luke Donnellan, and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on behalf of Empowered Lives by Victorian Council of Social Service CEO Emma King.

The Disability Royal Commission is investigating ways to prevent violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation against people with disability. If you need information in your own language about making a submission, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. Ask to be connected to 07 3734 1900. 

Here are some methods by which you can share your story.