A .pdf copy of our bi-monthly newsletter is now available. Each issue will be uploaded to this Blog and you can simply click on it to open or save. You will find the latest issue in the side bar of links. Please feel free to forward to others who may be interested. Happy reading!
Opening Day
POSITIONS NOW FILLED - THANKS TO THE MANY APPLICANTS.
disABILITIES RESOURCE CENTRE QUEENSTOWN
is seeking people, who are passionate about providing high quality disability services, to work in a vibrant new Centre in Queenstown.
DISABILITY RESOURCE CONSULTANT
(1 Full time Position and 1 Part time Position)
The ideal applicant will:
· Have a commitment to independence of people with disabilities and working in partnership with them.
· Have excellent computer and keyboard skills, including internet research and desktop
publishing.
· Be adept at discerning needs, prioritising and providing appropriate information promptly, keeping good documented records according to the standards and requirements of DRC Queenstown.
· Be a competent presenter and confident public speaker
· Preferably be familiar with adaptive equipment and aids to daily living.
· Be a long term resident of the Queenstown area.
DRC Queenstown is an Equal Opportunities Employer and all applications will be treated as
confidential.
Applications should be submitted on the form provided in the Application Pack which is
obtainable from:
DRC Southland, 137 Spey Street, Invercargill.
Ph: 03 2145000 or 0800 100 531
Email: carol@drcsouth.co.nz
Closing date for applications:
5pm on Wednesday 7th November
DRC Southland is pleased announce that they have secured premises for the Disabilities Resource Centre Queenstown. The Centre will be situated in the Gorge Road Retail Centre and it is planned to open before Christmas. Initially, services provided will include Disability Information and Advisory services and Adaptive Equipment services. A number of other providers will also use the Centre as a base for their services to people in the Queenstown area.
General Manager, Carol Wood, says “This is an exciting time for people with disabilities, and those who support them, in the Queenstown area. The Centre will be a first stop shop for information about anything and everything to do with disability.”
Further services will run from the Centre in response to identified need. DRC Queenstown will be seeking service user input via a Consumer Advisory Group. Any disabled person in the Queenstown area who would like to apply to be a member of this Group should contact Carol Wood (03 214 5000 or 0800 100 531, or email carol@drcsouth.co.nz )
Hey everyone!
So, fed up with the lack of:
a) Reviews on the accessibility of cafes, restaurants, and public facilities around Auckland,
b) Regular news about NZ disability events, sports, arts festivals, etc.
and c) The distinct lack of any sort of online community for people with disabilities, their friends and family...
I've decided to do something about it!
I've created a blog, walkingisoverrated.com, which is a very early attempt at rectifying the aforementioned lacks. It contains reviews conducted by yours truly on accessible cafes and restaurants around Auckland (only a small number at the moment, but will be adding to it daily), comment on disability-related news and sport clippings, and so much more! It also has a Forums section, where you can start your own discussion on any disability-related issue you like!
If you're interested, I'd love nothing more than to have other people contribute to the site - whether it be a review you'd like to write, news stories you'd like to comment on - anything at all - flick me an email and we'll hook something up!
Also, if you currently run a website yourself, I'd be hugely appreciative if you'd consider putting up a link to my site - I'd be happy to reciprocate.
Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments, and enjoy the site!
Cheers,
Red Nicholson
walkingisoverrated.com
red@walkingisoverrated.com
021 779 089
I have a family of three, and am grandmother to six grandchildren.
My life experiences have been shaped by a physical disability, resulting in long relationships with hospital services.
I have worked in the area of advocacy for people with disability, teaching self-advocacy, human rights and motivation, and encouraging people to work together to make changes toward a more inclusive society.
I am an elected member of the Southland District Health Board serving on the Disability Services Advisory Committee and chair to Kaitiaki Hauora, secretary for Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) Southland, member of National Executive of DPA (NZ), chair to DPA Women’s Caucus, and DPA representative to the Workbridge Council.
I will bring to the DHB my skills, knowledge and experience from a grassroots perspective, identifying with all people but especially disabled people. I believe in supporting, encouraging and empowering all people. I believe in, and support self-advocacy and advocacy on behalf of disabled people.
I will endeavour to ensure that the Southland District Health Board provides inclusive and accessible services, and achieves best practice for all.
The issues I will focus on for the Southland DHB are:
- That Southlanders have the right to healthcare which is inclusive and accessible.
- That Southlanders have the right to know what they are entitled to, and how to access it.
- That all staff receives appropriate values based training from skilled people.
- The bridging of gaps between decision makers and the people of Southland.
The Director-General of Health Stephen McKernan is pleased to confirm Geraldine Woods as the Deputy Director-General Health and Disability National Services. There was significant interest in the position, both from within the Ministry and from the sector reflecting the general support for our renewed focus on sector success. Geraldine was the stand-out candidate and her appointment reinforces the strong performance and leadership she has shown in both the interim role and her previous roles. Geraldine has held a number of senior Government roles at Health, the NZ Employment Service, Work and Income and the Ministry of Social Development. Geraldine will be responsible for leading the Directorate and assuming responsibility for planning, funding and providing services not currently funded by District Health Boards. A significant part of the Directorate's work will be planning as well as funding and contracting. The directorate will be working with DHBs and other sector agencies to align the provision of those services with local planning and delivery.
Planning is well underway for May Day 2008 (3rd May 2008). We were bursting at the seams in 2007, so have booked the Invercargill Workingmen's Club to cater for more exhibitors. We already have 27 exhibitors registering their interest. The expo is a great opportunity for organisations big and small to promote their services, products and gain new members. Don't miss out!! Register now. Contact Diane or Shirley at DRC.
DRC Southland is offering sponsorship for one person to attend the 2nd National Consumer’s Summit in Auckland on the 26th November 2007. The successful applicant will be a Consumer from a health and disability consumer or community-based group who is actively involved in health and disability issues. It is also appropriate for consumer representatives on advisory boards and committees to apply.
This is a great opportunity to participate in an event that is aimed at giving consumers a greater voice and involvement in decision-making, policy development and monitoring of health and disability services. In return for this sponsorship, the successful applicant will be required to show how they have utilized the knowledge gained from the Summit and shared this with other local consumers. This may be a joint presentation with the DRC Consumer Advisory Group member who is also attending the Summit.
The sponsorship includes return airfares to Auckland from Invercargill. Airport to hotel transfers. Two nights accommodation and meals. We cannot offer to pay the costs for any support person to accompany the successful applicant. You must be available to fly to Auckland on the 25th November and return to Invercargill on the 27th of November.
Further information about the Summit can be accessed on the internet site:
http://www.nzgg.org.nz/index.cfm?fuseaction=specialfocus&fusesubaction=docs&documentID=336
Or contact Carol at DRC Southland on 03 2145000 or 0800 100 531.
Or click here to email Carol.
Applications should be submitted on the official form which can be obtained from DRC as above.
The closing date for applications is Friday 14th September.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Sally Duston has just been awarded a New Zealand Mountain Safety Lifetime Award. Sally has given Mountain Safety 20 years of service. Sally is also one of our wonderful volunteer DRC Hospital Courtesy van drivers.
This is the first post in our new Blog. This Blog will complement our website and will provide DRC staff with a quick and easy way to let you know about any DRC and Community news. Please feel free to leave comments on our posts - we really do want to hear from you! If you have any news you would like us to feature in this Blog then please contact Diane.
Sign by Danasoft - For Backgrounds and Layouts
