New Resources: Preventing Violence against Women with Disabilities - Resources to support prevention, social services and disability workforces
Women with disabilities experience high rates of violence, gender and disability inequality and discrimination.
The Gender and Disability Workforce Development Program, funded by the Office of Women, have developed a suite of resources to assist disability, social services and violence workforces to prevent violence against women with disabilities and promote equality and empowerment opportunities.
For any questions regarding these resources or training on preventing violence please contact Bianca Evans, Manager, Workforce Development on Gender and Disability via email bianca.evans@wdv.org.au
Preventing and Responding to Violence Against Women with Disabilities: Family Violence and Disability Film Guides
We have published a set of information guides to accompany the Preventing and Responding to Violence Against Women with Disabilities: Family Violence and Disability Films. These guides are designed to accompany each of the four videos developed by WDV and the NDS. These are the Introduction to the Video Suite and Prevention, Early Intervention and Response to Violence against Women with Disabilities.
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10 actions to be a gender and disability equitable organisation
This resource contains ten actions that any organisation can take in order to become a more gender and disability equitable environment.
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Working towards a gender and disability equitable organisation guide
This workbook accompanies the 10 Actions resource and is designed to provide a starting point to help organisations identify opportunities to promote gender and disability equality.
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Infographic and Guide
This infographic resource provides an overview of the rates and nature of violence against women with disabilities, delivered in a visual format. The guide is designed to accompany the infographic and contains information on how to use this as an effective training tool around prevention and response to violence against women with disabilities. The sources for this information can be found on the WDV website.
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Action planning for disability support workers resource
This resource is designed for disability support workers, and explores the gendered drivers of violence against women with disabilities and how we can take action to prevent this violence within a disability support setting.
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Prevention of Violence Against Women: Intersectionality resource
This resource includes an overview on the concept of intersectionality as it relates to primary prevention of violence against women with disabilities, as well as the concepts of diversity, inclusion, and some of the key models within disability.
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VCOSS COVID-19 Digital Forum
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Victorian Council Of Social Service and Department of Health and Human Service are running a monthly discussion forum to guide community organisations through the COVID-19 pandemic.
This most recent forum was run on Thursday 3 September 2020, co-hosted by WDV CEO Leah Van Poppel and featuring:
- Debra Abbott (Deputy Emergency Management Commissioner)
- Nicole Brady (Public Health Commander – Strategy and Implementation, DHHS)
- Simone Corin (Acting Deputy Secretary, DHHS )
- Phil O’Meara (Executive Director – Strategy and Planning, DHHS)
- Amity Durham (Deputy Secretary – Strategy and Planning, DHHS)
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The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has made changes so you can now use NDIS funding to pay for personal protective equipment (PPE) if you receive an average of at least one hour a day of face-to-face daily living supports, and live in Victoria or New South Wales.If you need personal protective equipment (PPE) items like face masks, face shields or gloves, you can use your core supports budget in your NDIS plan to buy these items. Plan and self-managed participants can purchase PPE and claim their purchases in the usual way. Agency-managed participants must use registered providers.If you need to buy face coverings or masks to use outside the home, this is an everyday expense and you cannot use your NDIS funds to pay for them.
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation changes, the NDIA will continue to review how Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is funded and provided in areas with significant outbreaks, such as the current situation in Victoria.
For the latest information about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
visit the NDIS website.
If you are concerned about your NDIS budget and your situation has changed you should contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 so we can discuss your situation and make changes to your plan. T 1800 035 544
Email: contactcentre@ndiscommission.gov.au
If you have a question or concerns about COVID-19, contact the Disability Information Helpline on 1800 643 787. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech impairment, you can also call the National Relay Service on 133 677.
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Program for Job Seekers who have experienced family violence
WIRE’s new STEP project can support you to build confidence, skills and connections on your journey to employment and financial wellbeing. Applications are now open for the Sustainable and Transformative Employment Pathways (STEP) program, a program that supports women, gender diverse and non-binary people who have experienced family violence to find meaningful employment.
Participants in the STEP program will:
- Attend weekly group workshops which provide you with the tools you need to search for employment, prepare to enter and navigate a new workplace, and to plan how you will achieve your financial goals
- Attend monthly one-on-one sessions with a job coach, who will provide you with individualised advice and strategies towards finding work that meets your personal interests and needs
- Be paired with a mentor that meets your personal priorities and mentoring needs
- Share your journey with a cohort of other victim-survivors, troubleshooting challenges and sharing learnings together.
The STEP project will run from October 2020 – June 2021. Each week will include a 3-hour online engagement for group workshops or individualised coaching, and you will be encouraged and supported to look and apply for work along the way.
The STEP project does not include:
- Technical or job-specific training but can support you to find and access these opportunities
- Connect you directly with employers or job opportunities, but will work with you to help you find these opportunities and connections
The STEP project is open to all women, gender diverse and non-binary people who:
- Have experienced family violence
- Are actively seeking employment
- Live in Victoria
- Are over 18 years of age
- Have the ability to participate in the STEP program for 3 hours a week from October 2020 – June 2021; and,
- have the ability to actively seek and start employment during this time.
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Victorian Government announces urgent law reform after #LetUsSpeak campaign
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In attempting to amend another problem with the law, a series of changes were passed by the Victorian Government. Unfortunately these changes have created unintended consequences for a number of sexual assault survivors who wish to be able to self-identify in media.
With the help of The Victorian #LetUsSpeak/ #LetHerSpeak campaign, the government will consult and urgently seek to change the laws
The Victorian #LetUsSpeak/ #LetHerSpeak campaign is a collaboration between End Rape On Campus Australia, Marque Lawyers and Rape & Sexual Assault Research & Advocacy initiative.
If you are a victim-survivor of sexual abuse who has questions about the legal issues around telling your story or being identified publicly, please contact our free legal advice and referral service.
This service is staffed by female lawyers, who specialise in legal issues arising from violence against women. Our lawyers can advise individual women on how the current law might affect them.
This new service operates from Mondays to Fridays between 9am and 5pm.
Please call
Metro Melbourne tel (03) 8622 0600
Regional callers tel 1800 133 302
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Contribute to the next National Disability Strategy
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The National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 will end this year, and the Department of Social Services is now holding the second stage of consultations on the new Strategy. You can read the National Disability Strategy position paper which is available in Easy Read, Auslan, and a number of other languages. You can fill in the online guided questionnaire to have your say on what should be included in the new Strategy. The online guided questionnaire is also available in Easy Read.
You can provide a written submission to the Department of Social Services instead of completing the online guided questionnaire. More information on how to make a submission is available on the Department of Social Services website. The closing date for submissions is 30th September 2020.
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Apply for a grant with Australian Disability and Indigenous Peoples’ Education Fund
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The Australian Disability and Indigenous Peoples’ Education Fund is about helping indigenous and non-indigenous people with disability to undertake, and participate in, formal and informal education programs. For many people with disabilities from both indigenous and non-indigenous backgrounds, education can go a long way to developing skills, self-esteem and pride in their families, friends and community. To this end, small six monthly grants of up to $2,500 are available to assist people with disabilities to continue learning. The closing date for submissions is 30th September 2020.
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Submissions for the Stella Young Award close Monday
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Arts Access Victoria cherishes the memory of our collaborator Stella Young and honours her by awarding a young Australian disabled artist each year with $3,000.
This is a great opportunity for young disabled artists aged between 16 and 30 years old to be recognised for their impact on disability activism and culture through their artistic practice (in comedy, performing arts or screen culture).
Applicants must:
- identify as a Deaf and/or Disabled person;
- have created work (paid or voluntary) in either comedy, performing arts or screen culture;
- be between the ages of 16 and 30;
- be a permanent resident of Australia; and
- have made a powerful impact through their practice.
The closing date for submissions is 14th September 2020 5pm
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