DPA's Information Exchange - 22 May 2021
In this week's Info Exchange:
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Budget 2021
We've pulled together some of the changes / initiatives that from this week's Budget that impact disabled people:
Benefits changes:
- Main benefit rates will be increased by between $32 and $55 per week by April 2022 to be in line with Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) recommendations.
- The benefits increase is in two stages: $20 a week on 1 July this year and the rest on 1 April 2022.
- Families with children will receive an extra $15 per adult per week
- No changes to the Disability Allowance, Child Disability Allowance and Temporary Additional Support have been announced.
- Training incentive allowances reinstated for disabled people: available to sole parents, disabled people and carers who are on benefits - an allowance to be used for study costs such as fees, books, transport or childcare costs of up to $114 a week from July 1 2021.
Disability Support Services:
Continued funding for transforming the disability support system
Budget 2021 provides funding to continue the existing Enabling Good Lives (EGL) pilots and to undertake the detailed design work required for a national rollout of this new approach to supporting disabled people.
The Government guaranteed funding for pilot programmes and the overarching System Transformation driving them until 30 June 2021; causing stress and anxiety for those involved, for both providers and service users.
Additional funding of $72.8 million over four years provides certainty and continuity of support for disabled people and the essential workforce in those regions. It will also enable work to continue towards a national implementation.
These pilots have operated as prototypes of an EGL approach, and lessons learned will be used to inform the design of a transformed national disability support system, providing greater choice and control for disabled people.
The funding will enable developing a national implementation plan that will set out the detailed change programme, timeline, and costs over five years.
Read more about Enabling Good Lives
Additional funding for disability support services
Budget 2021 provides $399.2 million over four years to address cost pressures for Disability Support Services.
Last year, Budget 2020 provided an additional $180 million per annum for disability support services, eliminating a $100 million funding deficit. This year’s Budget builds on that, providing more significant funding.
Health
Cochlear Implants - Increasing Availability
This initiative will see publicly funded cochlear implants will go from 86 to 166 per year.
Total: $28.32 million over four years
Social Development
Improving the Subsequent Work Capacity Medical Certificate Process for Jobseeker Support – Health Condition and Disability
The initiative provides for changes to the medical certificate process for entitlement to Jobseeker Support – Health Condition and Disability, as well as an extended deferral of the current medical certificate process to 31 January 2022. Review periods will be based on a health practitioner’s recommendation to improve discretion and the client experience.
Total: $85 million over 4 years
Growing Disability and Accessibility Leadership and Advice for Disabled People
This initiative supports Sir Robert Martin’s disability advocacy role at the United Nations and strengthens the Office for Disability Issues’ advocacy and disability advice to Government. It also enables equal access to Government information through accessible formats for disabled people and others with access needs.
Total: $5.764 million over 4 years.
Education
Intensive Support for Young Learner with wellbeing and behavioural needs
This initiative provides funding for intensive interventions to support young learners with significant wellbeing and behavioural needs that may be challenging to others, and who require support at school, at home and in the community.
Total: $17.728 m over 5 years
Learning Support – Maintaining Ministry Specialist Staff
This initiative provides departmental funding to maintain learning support services for 34,500 ākonga/learners, including services such as communication, behaviour, and early intervention services. It also includes the Incredible Years programme for children with autism and supports children with poor language skills, blind and deaf children, and others with complex health needs.
Total: $24.32m over 5 years
Justice
Access of Individuals with Disabilities to Participate as Candidates in General Elections and By-Elections
This initiative will provide funding for the Election Access Fund and funding for the Electoral Commission’s associated administration costs. The Fund is designed to make standing as a candidate in a general election or a by-election a more equitable process for individuals with disabilities.
Total: $3.31 million over 4 years.
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Transport workshops - Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Whangarei, Hamilton
As our transport workshops continue, registration is still open for our in-person workshops in Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Whangarei and Hamilton.
The workshops are part of a series of workshops that DPA, together with transport consultancy MRCagney, are holding as part of research we are conducting on behalf of Waka Kotahi, NZ Transport Agency - "Understanding the transport experiences of disabled people, determining what barriers exist for people wanting to use Total Mobility and exploring new opportunities"
Palmerston North Workshop
This in-person workshop is for disabled people from Palmerston North, with any type of impairment. It will be co-facilitated by Isabella Cawthorn, of Confluence Consulting, and Claudia Christensen from DPA.
When: 10.30am – 12.00pm, 31 May
Where: Hancock Community House,77-85 King Street, Palmerston North
Register: To take part register online for the Palmerston Transport Workshop
New Plymouth Workshop
This in-person workshop is for disabled people from New Plymouth, with any type of impairment. It will be co-facilitated by Isabella Cawthorn, of Confluence Consulting, and Prudence Walker from DPA.
When: 1.00pm – 2.30pm, 1 June
Where: CCS Disability Action,114 Vivian Street, New Plymouth
Register: To take part register online for the New Plymouth Transport Workshop
Whangārei Workshop
This in-person workshop is for disabled people from Whangārei, with any type of impairment. It will be co-facilitated by Isabella Cawthorn, of Confluence Consulting, and Paul Brown from DPA.
When: 1.00pm – 2.30pm, 8 June
Where: Whangarei RSA, 16 Hannah Street, Whangārei
Register: To take part register online for the Whangārei Transport Workshop
Hamilton Workshop
This in-person workshop is for disabled people from Hamilton, with any type of impairment. It will be co-facilitated by Isabella Cawthorn, of Confluence Consulting, and Joy Ho from DPA.
When: 1.00pm – 2.30pm, 10 June
Where: Speights Ale House, 30 Liverpool Street, Hamilton
Register: To take part register online for the Hamilton Transport Workshop
All workshop participants will be offered a $20 koha for participating, in the form of vouchers. If you require financial assistance with transport costs to attend any of these workshop, please get in touch - paul.brown@dpa.org.nz.
If you have any questions about any of these workshops, please contact DPA Policy Advisor Paul Brown - paul.brown@dpa.org.nz
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Employment Essentials - free legal education session
This session is a great way to learn about your rights in job interviews and while working!
The Employment Essentials session covers pre-employment and employment rights, including disclosing disability and reasonable accommodations.
It is an introductory programme designed for disabled people and supporters on disability and legal rights, part of Auckland Disability Law's (ADL) 2021 Unpacking Disability Law programme.
Employment Essentials: Pre-employment and Employment Rights
When: 10am - 1pm, 2 June 2021
Where: Nathan Homestead, 70 Hill Road, Manurewa, Auckland
Registration: By email to info@adl.org.nz, or text 027 457 5140 or ring 09 257 5140. Please give your name, email address, contact phone number, postal address and the session name (Employment Essentials).
Access Needs
- The venue is wheelchair accessible.
- If you require an NZSL interpreter, please advise ADL two weeks in advance of your session.
- Please let ADL know if you require written resources ahead of time for your screen reader, technology or to prepare for the session.
- You are welcome to bring a support person, family member or agency with you.
- Please let ADL know if you have any other access needs.
The session is free. Light refreshments will be provided.
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Tell your school discrimination story - IHC legal action
IHC want to hear the stories of the discrimination that disabled children experience at school to support their legal action against the Government. (After a 13-year court battle, IHC’s legal claim is finally heading to court)
They are holding a series of meetings where you can talk to the Director of Human Rights Proceedings Michael Timmins.
You can read more about the legal action and the meetings on the IHC website.
There are three meetings coming up:
Whangarei
When: 11.30am – 2pm, Tuesday 25 May
Where: IDEA Services Training Room, 151 Bank Street, Whangarei
Auckland
Meeting for whānau
When: 10.30am – 12pm, Friday 28 May
Where: CCS Disability Action Auckland, 14 Erson Avenue, Royal Oak, or online
Registration: To register email advocacy@ihc.org.nz, letting them know what meeting you would like to attend and how
Meeting for education professionals
When: 12.30am – 1.30pm, Friday 28 May
Where: CCS Disability Action Auckland, 14 Erson Avenue, Royal Oak, or online
Registration: To register email advocacy@ihc.org.nz, letting them know what meeting you would like to attend and how
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Auckland Rideshare survey
A small group of disabled people based in Auckland are looking to start their own Rideshare service specifically for disabled people.
Before they do, they want to know the experiences of other disabled people and how they could improve their plans before they go to launch, so they are asking people in Auckland to take their survey
Take the Rideshare survey
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Footpath parking campaign - share your photos
Parking on the footpath is illegal in New Zealand - however it is commonplace to find vehicles parked on the path.
Living Streets Aotearoa have started a campaign to change attitudes, behaviours and laws concerning parking on the footpath so that "it becomes a very rare thing indeed".
You are invited to take part: if you find your way blocked or partially blocked by a vehicle parked across a footpath, please take a photo, including the registration plate if possible, and send it to Living Streets Aotearoa at parking@livingstreets.org.nz stating the location, time and date.
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New Easy Read info - When Will People Get Their Covid-19 vaccine? and Health and Disability Reform
People First have two new Easy Read translations available:
When will people get their COVID-19 vaccine?
This is a translation of the vaccine roll out plan.
Easy Read - When will people get their COVID-19 vaccine? (PDF)
Easy Read - When will people get their COVID-19 vaccine? (Word)
Health and Disability Reform: Making a stronger health and disability system for all.
This reform update was announced by the Minister of Health Hon Andrew Little at the end of last month.
Easy Read - Health and Disability Reform (PDF)
Easy Read - Health and Disability Reform (Word)
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Policy Advisor opportunities - work on future health system design
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is currently advertising for Policy professionals (Advisors, Senior Advisors and Principal Advisors) to work on the design of our future health system, and the transition to a system which provides better, more consistent, more equitable care for New Zealanders.
Following the announcement of health reforms, there is a significant ongoing policy programme to provide Ministers with advice in areas such as funding, commissioning, models of care, workforce, data and digital health, governance and service planning, alongside a major legislative programme to prepare for our future health system.
The Transition Unit and the Ministry of Health will be jointly delivering this policy and legislative programme over the coming year. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet need policy professionals to act as part of a virtual policy group leading this work in partnership.
For more information visit the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website
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