Some of Our Parts

Department of Justice and Community Safety 2021 Disability Scholarship Program NOW OPEN

Partners In Wellbeing Program

Neami National, EACH and ACSO are proud to announce the launch of the DHHS funded Partners In Wellbeing Program from now until June 30, 2021. 

The Partners in Wellbeing program will provide specialist psychosocial and wellbeing supports across Victoria via telephone and video technology to people with experiencing poor psychosocial health and mental-ill health in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The wellbeing coaching and practical supports delivered through this program will assist people experiencing psychosocial distress and mental ill health due to the COVID-19 physical distancing and isolation measures, including those who are required to self-isolate for whatever reason.

This includes people with lived experience of mental illness, as well as those experiencing poor psychosocial health for the first time due to the impacts of COVID-19.

The initiative will also support carers in the context of their own psychosocial health and the caring role, acknowledging the negative and fatiguing impacts of COVID-19 on carers wellbeing and resilience.

The Program opening hours are Monday-Friday 9am-10pm and Saturday/Sunday 9am-5pm

Target Group

The target group for the Partners In Wellbeing program is Victorians 16 or over who are:

• experiencing increased life stressors and their usual coping strategies are not working
• noticing signs of anxiety and/or depression that have lasted more than a few weeks, such as:
  *low mood i.e. feeling down
  *feeling overwhelmed and unsafe
  *low energy
  *feelings of hopelessness
  *fear, nervousness or worrying
  *avoidance of social situations
  *thoughts of self-harm or harm to others.
• not currently receiving a Commonwealth or state funded community mental health psychosocial support service, including the disability support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Note: This is a voluntary service and diagnosis of mental illness is not an eligibility requirement. 

*Priority will be given people at high risk of relapse in their mental health condition or psychological state to prevent avoidable relapse, ED presentations and hospital admission and/or risk of self-harm or suicide.

They are now open for referrals so please get in touch via the following contact methods:

• Central Phone Number: 1300 375 330
• www.partnersinwellbeing.org.au

Campaigns and Awareness Days for Inclusion of People with Disability at Work

Campaigns and awareness days related to the inclusion of people with disability are listed below (thank you to AND for this list). 

Awareness days can help promote a culture of inclusion and demonstrate your commitment to a workplace that is accessible, safe and supports everyone to reach their full potential. 

This guide is designed to help you plan for and contribute to key global and national campaigns for inclusion of people with disability in 2021. 

• World Hearing Day
• International Women’s Day 
• World Autism Awareness Day 
• World Day for Safety and Health at Work 
• Global Accessibility Awareness Day 
• R U OK?Day 
• International Day of Sign Languages 
• International Day for Universal Access to Information 
• National Safe Work Month 
• World Sight Day 
• World Mental Health Day 
• International White Cane Day 
• International Day of People with Disability 
• Human Rights Day 

*For more information, see the full article at Australian Network on Disability.

Stepping Into Internship Program – Nominations Open for Winter 2021!

The Stepping Into Program has connected 1,508 students with disability to leading Australian employers since 2005.

87% of Stepping Into supervisors agreed that they were ‘more confident about managing or supporting a team member with disability’ after participating in the program.

Engaging with the Stepping Into program is simple. Australian Network on Disability (AND) find talented students with disability and assess their eligibility.

They’ll manage student and workplace briefings prior, as well as the evaluation and feedback process after internships are completed.

Dates for the Winter 2021 Program

• Complete the Stepping Into Participation Form with a detailed position description by 28 February 2021.
• Commence interviews in May after AND has completed screening and shortlisting.
• Run internships in July

Dial in to a free webinar for more information

Isabel Heiner, Program Manager, will discuss the Stepping Into Winter 2021 process, timeline, the support AND provides hiring managers and supervisors, and great outcomes from our last Program Evaluation.

• When: 2:00-2:30pm Tuesday 2nd February 2021
• How: Click Here to Join the Webinar (or dial in to the audio at 1800 571 212, Conference ID: 575 182 743#)

*Please advise if you have any accessibility requirements for the session. We can arrange live captioning with 72 hours notice.

Still working from home due to COVID-19?

Reach out to AND to discuss how you can still plan for a Stepping Into intern with flexibility in work arrangements.

• Contact Isabel Heiner on 03 9614 2089 or isabel.heiner@and.org.au if you have any questions.

Specialist Disability Accommodation Apartments Coming to Clayton South!

• Do you need to find a new place to live because your current home isn’t meeting your disability needs?
• Do you need a lot of disability support (more than 6 hours every day)?

Then Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) might suit you.

Here are some short videos that explain SDA.

Our SDA Housing Advice Line can answer your questions about SDA – call 1300 61 64 63.

Huntington Apartments at Jacksons Green – Clayton South

This development includes 10 SDA apartments.

The SDA apartments are High Physical Support and Fully Accessible design category, which means they are for people who use a wheelchair.

If required, the High Physical Support apartments are also able to have a ceiling hoist installed and things like doors, lights, blinds and air conditioning can be automated.

Huntington Apartments will have an onsite hub for 24/7 ‘concierge’ support. This means there is always support close by if you need it, but not in your apartment. You choose who provides your day-to-day supports.

You can read more about these SDA apartments here.

Are these apartments right for you?

• Are you over the age of 18 and eligible for the NDIS?
• Do you use a wheelchair?
• Do you want to live on your own?
• Do you want to use technology to do more things for yourself, so that you don’t need as much support?
• Can you spend time on your own in your home without support (but with access to on-call support if you need it)?
• Can you live close to your neighbours (sharing lifts, corridors and common spaces)?

If you answer ‘yes’ to the questions above, then these apartments might suit you.

But I don’t use a wheelchair!

There are other SDA properties in other locations that are for people who can walk unaided but who still need a high level of support each day.

More information

• To find out more call our SDA Housing Advice Line on 1300 61 64 63 or contact Penny Stevenson directly on 0477 714 317 (Voice or SMS) or email penny.stevenson@summerfoundation.org.au