Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Government Funding for Disability Conferences

Monday, April 13th, 2015

Organisations that support Australians with disability will benefit from a $250,000 Abbott Government investment into disability-related conferences. Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Mitch Fifield, said 25 groups were receiving Government support to maximise the participation of people with disability at conferences this financial year.

“This funding has been provided to support conference organisers to increase participation of people with disability at disability-related conferences.”
“The funding will help to facilitate the open discussion of important issues facing people with disability and the organisations that support them, particularly as we transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme,” Minister Fifield said.

Minister Fifield said the funding will assist organisations with the expenses such as the costs of conference fees, accommodation and travel for people with disability, and the provision of Auslan interpreters.

“Support for these national conferences demonstrates the Government’s commitment to backing organisations that are working to improve the lives of people with disability,” Minster Fifield said. “It’s important that people with disability and disability support organisations have the opportunity to come together to learn, to impart knowledge and skills, and to chart the way forward for their organisations.”

Minister Fifield said the funding for disability conferences builds on the Government’s commitment to supporting vital social services in communities across Australia through the DSS grant process.

“The funding is being delivered under the Department of Social Services New Way of Working for Grants, which has seen 18 grant programmes consolidated into seven, and substantial funding committed across these programmes for new and existing services,” Minister Fifield said.

Further information on the new way of working for grants is available at www.dss.gov.au/grants

DS Friday Link Round Up!

Friday, April 10th, 2015

Happy Friday (again!) – these long weekends and short weeks can stay! Here are some links to take you through:

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Education System Failing Students with Autism

Thursday, April 9th, 2015

Monash Alumni and CEO (Chief Enabling officer of I CAN Network, an organisation empowering young Australians with autism with an “I CAN” attitude, has written an article on the way in which the education system  could better support students with autism by turning their attention to individual strengths.

“I have met kids on the spectrum across 140 schools. I have seen some great practice and some terrible practice. I have found that the strengths of students with autism include our intense focus, memory retention, attention to detail and, for some, visual/linguistic perception. Often, these strengths are specialised around certain subjects. When I was nine, I had no care for my brother’s interest in AFL, but I could tell you everything about Europe’s royal families”

Read more at the Sydney Morning Herald.

The Sydney Opera House lit blue on April 2, 2015, the United Nations' World Autism Awareness Day. Photo: Christopher Pearce

The Sydney Opera House lit blue on April 2, 2015, the United Nations' World Autism Awareness Day. Photo: Christopher Pearce

Disability Services Friday Link Round Up

Thursday, April 2nd, 2015

It’s been a really busy couple of weeks, but here are some disability related link to take you through the long weekend.

HAPPY LONG WEEKEND!

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Disability Services – Friday Link Round Up!

Friday, March 20th, 2015
Each Friday we bring you a link pack of disability related articles, events and resources from around the world! So kick back, relax and check out our link round up for this week.

I’ll let Iggy take it from here…

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People With Disabilities, On Screen And Sans Clichés

Monday, March 16th, 2015

ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival is the largest festival in the country dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. Co-founder, Isaac Zablocki talks to NPR about disability, media representation and cliches.

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Sensory friendly movies are back!

Thursday, February 5th, 2015

Starting with “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” this coming weekend, we are delighted to report that Village Cinemas are continuing to provide sensory-friendly sessions for individuals with ASD and others who have sensory sensitivities.

Sessions will be showing at 11am this Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February at Village Cinemas:

  • Airport West
  • Fountain Gate
  • Geelong
  • Karingal
  • Knox
  • Southland
  • Werribee

Book online here!

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Conversational English Programs at Monash

Friday, January 16th, 2015

Conversational English Programs are beginning next month, with a range of different kinds of classes available.

These classes are a set of extra-curricular language activities aimed at developing the global competences of domestic and international students and enhancing the student experience through cross cultural communication and making new friends!

Classes for 2015 include:

Let’s Chat MUISS!

  • Groups of 30 students + 3 student facilitators
  • Structured but flexible, fun classes addressing conversation starters and other themes identified by Monash students
  • Last session in collaboration with Monash Sport includes games and a BBQ lunch
  • Clayton campus only
  • One 1h session once per week, Week 3 to Week 11, Semesters 1 and 2 – Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4pm-5pm or 5pm-6pm
  • Open to all Monash students
  • Registration open from February 16 to March 6

Let’s Chat BusEco!

  • Free conversational English sessions to improve communication skills
  • Groups of 30 students + 3 facilitators
  • Structured but flexible, fun classes addressing conversation starters and other themes identified by Monash students
  • Last session in collaboration with Monash Sport includes games and a BBQ lunch
  • Caulfield campus
  • Open to Monash Business School (Faculty of Business and Economics) students only
  • One 1hr session once per week, Week 3 to Week 11, Semesters 1 and 2
  • Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4pm-5pm or 5pm-6pm
  • Registration open from February 16 to March 6 with a new intake of registrations during Survival Week (Week 4)

Peer Support

  • Help with written or spoken academic work
  • Free, one to one, ‘drop in’ 20 min sessions – no bookings necessary
  • John Medley Library, Campus Centre, Level 1, 21 Chancellor’s Walk, Clayton
  • All students welcome
  • Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 11am-2pm, Week 3 – Week 12, Semesters 1 and 2

Aussie Connect

  • Social interactions with local community in collaboration with Monash City Council
  • Once per month social group gathering
  • On Clayton campus and various council’s venues
  • Semester 2 only

There will also be a range of workshops and seminars across the semester looking at topics of cross cultural communication and international education. Watch this space for more information in early February!

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Memorial for Stella Young

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

If you missed Stella Young’s memorial, you can now watch it here with no geoblocking. The writer, broadcaster and comedienne did much to help Australians understand disability issues.

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Happy Holidays!

Friday, December 19th, 2014

From the staff at Monash Disability Services, have a very happy, safe and peaceful holidays and a wonderful new year.

See you in 2015! And in the spirit of the holidays, here is one last heartwarming video for the year.

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