Some of Our Parts

Launch of Report on the Education of Children with Disability in Victoria

You are invited to the launch of our new report – Improving Educational Outcomes for Children with Disability in Victoria.  This comprehensive report includes 36 wide-ranging recommendations for the Victorian Government.

Date: Friday 29 June 2018
Time: 12pm – 1pm
Venue: Colin Biggers and Paisley, Level 23, 181 William Street, Melbourne

In recent years, there have been regular reports of discrimination, exclusion and inadequate support for children with disability around the country. Although Victoria has initiated a wide-ranging inclusive education framework, significant concerns remain over whether vulnerable children are receiving the education they deserve. To address these concerns, the Castan Centre – together with the Monash Faculty of Arts – has conducted a wide-ranging review of the Victorian education system and produced this final report.

At this free public event, the report’s three principal authors will discuss the report’s key issues and share their vision for a more inclusive education system where every child has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

The report was funded with a grant from the Victorian Legal Services Board.

Disability Access

This event will be held at a fully accessible venue providing inclusive access for people with disabilities. The event will also feature Auslan interpreters. If you have any queries regarding disability access to this event, please contact Janice Hugo (janice.hugo@monash.edu or 9905 3327).

Social Media

Whether attending the event or following along online, the Twitter hashtag for this event is #CCDisability.

Aspect Capable Employment Service

Many people on the autism spectrum struggle with the transition into paid employment.

Aspect offers extensive assistance with recruitment, job seeking, interview support, mentoring and training, both for employers and employees, through our Aspect Capable team.

Aspect Capable are pleased to present their full employability skills workshop calendar for 2018. Click here to download the 2018 Workshop Calendar.

Victorian Public Sector Commission Art Competition – Prize Purse worth $5,000

Victorian Public Sector Commission (VPSC) is holding an art competition for people with disability.

The winning artwork will feature on the Victorian public sector’s first ever Disability Employment Action Plan. VPSC is developing the action plan in close consultation with government departments, agencies and offices. The plan is a collective commitment by the sector to provide flexible and sustainable employment for people of all abilities, lifting representation to 6% by 2020.

The art competition is open to Victorian residents with disability. Artworks must be designed around the theme “a fully inclusive workplace” and be less than two metres in size. Refer to the art competition terms and conditions for more detail.

There is a prize purse of $5000 to be won. This includes $2500 prize money and a $2500 licence fee for use of the artwork.

Artworks must be submitted by 5:00 pm on Friday 6 July (by post or in person) to:

Elizabeth Parkinson
Victorian Public Sector Commission
3 Treasury Place
Melbourne VIC 3002

Contact: Elizabeth Parkinson on (03) 9651 0845 or elizabeth.parkinson@vpsc.vic.gov.au *For more details and information on how to apply, see the relevant website, ‘Art for Action‘.

Everyone has ‘a moral imperative’ to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities, says UN chief

UN News, 12 June 2018

Cementing and protecting the rights of around 1.5 billion people around the world in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a “moral imperative” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday.

He was addressing a conference of signatories to the Convention at UN Headquarters in New York, describing it as one of the most widely-ratified international human rights treaties, which reaffirms that people with disabilities are entitled to the same treatment as everybody else.

“But signing and ratifying the Convention is not enough. Implementation is essential,” Mr. Guterres said. “Societies must be organized so that all people, including those with disabilities, can exercise their rights freely.”

The Secretary-General underscored that countries apply the Convention to their development policies, investments and legal systems, which is an important step “if we are to fulfil the central pledge of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: to leave no one behind.”

“We cannot afford to ignore or marginalize the contributions of 1.5 billion people,” he stated, pointing out that more had to be done for people with disabilities to fully participate in society.

People with disabilities still often face overt discrimination, stereotyping and lack of respect for their basic human rights – with women and girls disproportionately affected.

“Every minute, more than 30 women are seriously injured or disabled during childbirth,” elaborated the UN chief.

Moreover, women and girls with disabilities face multiple barriers to accessing education, health services and jobs.

“Without women’s empowerment and gender equality, millions of women will continue to suffer from double discrimination based on both their gender and their disability,” he added.

Read the full article: ‘Everyone has a moral imperative to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities, UN Chief’

Submit Your Nomination for the 2018 Vice-Chancellor’s Diversity and Inclusion Awards

On behalf of Professor Margaret Gardner, President and Vice-Chancellor, we warmly invite nominations for the 2018 Vice-Chancellor’s Diversity and Inclusion Awards.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Diversity and Inclusion Awards recognise students and staff who have made an outstanding contribution to supporting diversity and fostering inclusion at Monash. This focuses on students and staff who have gone above and beyond to further inclusion, connection and belonging for people from disadvantaged and marginalised groups.

In 2018, there is a total of $15,000 to be awarded (allocations will be determined by the Selection Committee). These awards recognise programs and initiatives that support the ethos of the Focus Monash Strategic Plan 2015 – 2020.

Nominations close Friday 29 June

Nominations should focus on one or more of the following areas:

• Education – Developing teaching practice, curricula and programs that foster inclusion for a diverse range of students
• Environment – Building and supporting inclusion and diversity at Monash, and positively influencing the learning and/or working environment
• Community – Engaging with the wider community to encourage participation by disadvantaged and marginalised groups

Visit the website for more information and instructions on the nomination process. You can also read about the 2017 award winners here.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Diversity and Inclusion Awards take place during Diversity and Inclusion Week (August 27 – 31). More details will follow, but for now please save these dates in your calendar.

PACE Mentoring – Information Webinar on Mentoring Program for Students with Disability

Why I won’t “try on” disability to build empathy in the design process

By Amelia Abreu {excerpt}

“..Perhaps the most popular method of invoking empathy for accessibility issues is simulation, meaning to “try on” different constraints of disabled folks. This is practiced often in groups — working groups, or professional workshops.

One common activity is to submerging one’s hands in icewater to simulate motor impairment. A local bureaucrat I know told me that he’d organized a group outing for his team in borrowed wheelchairs, where the otherwise able-bodied crew wheeled around the downtown area, with the intention of becoming more aware of ramps, curb cuts and accessibility infrastructure.

Previously, I’d thought these exercises were a good way to get people engaged. But the longer I do this work, the more reluctant I am to do things like these. They feel short-sighted and showy, and don’t engage the real people who navigate the world with differing abilities.

There’s a term you hear in hip hop: stuntin’. These activities seem like stunts, that allow us to feel like we’ve broadened our perspective, making a big deal about it, and then go back to business as usual…”

To read the full article, click here.

University students with autism and psycho-social conditions will be supported on their journey to employment through a Western Australian Neuro-diversity Hub

The hub, set to be established in Perth by Curtin University and DXC Technology, will promote employment opportunities for students with autism, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

The project will be led by Curtin-based Autism Academy for Software Quality Assurance (AASQA) and the Curtin Research Autism Group (CARG), in partnership with DXC Technology.

ASSQA Founder and Director of the School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at Curtin, Professor Tele Tan says the Neurodiversity Hub will help foster neuro-diverse workplaces.

“Under this partnership, we will work together to help students gain important work experience and internships with DXC Technology and its partners with the ultimate aim of building a pipeline of young talent for neuro-diverse friendly employers,” Professor Tan says.

To read the full Article, click here.

Applications for GradAccess 2019 are now open!

GradAccess gives graduates with disability the opportunity to gain an ongoing graduate role in one of eleven Australian Government agencies through a single centralised recruitment process.

Wherever you work in the Australian Public Service, you will find opportunities to undertake a wide range of exciting and engaging work to make your contribution to Australian society. As one of Australia’s largest employers, we offer:

• Diverse, flexible and inclusive workplaces
• Varied work across a range of fields, with learning opportunities and networking available for career development
• Supportive working conditions, with attractive remuneration and employer super contributions
• An opportunity to apply your professional expertise and progress your career while contributing to the Australian community

GradAccess is a safe and supported entry point to a fulfilling career in the Australian Public Service. The GradAccess team will offer you friendly and professional support throughout the entire process.

Click here to apply online now!

If you have any questions or want to chat about the GradAccess recruitment process, please feel free to contact our team at GradAccess@apsc.gov.au or via the GradAccess phone line on 02 6202 3966.

Kind regards,

GradAccess recruitment team

Australian Public Service Commission

P: 02 6202 3966 l E: GradAccess@APSC.gov.au

Why WISE?

WISE is an Australian not-for-profit employment services provider with offices in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

WISE provides employment services under the Australian Government’s Disability Employment Services (DES) and jobactive programs and their services are free to eligible job seekers and employers.

If you are looking for employment, WISE may be able to assist. WISE will get to know you and your situation, and tailor their free employment services to your individual training, health and living needs.

WISE can help you acquire the skills, education and confidence to get and keep meaningful work.

Contact WISE

Main Office:

552 Victoria Street

North Melbourne, VIC 3051