General Updates

GLBT Disability Support Services is proud to announce it’s official launch. Supporting people with disabilities, the aged and mental health and their supports who identify as being Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Trans-gendered, Inter-sex and Queer (GLBTIQ).

Assisting individuals in creating a more fulfilling lifestyle reconnecting them back to the GLBTIQ community.
We hope to give the GLBTIQ community with disabilities, the aged and mental health peace of mind in being who they are and allow them to make choices and decisions in their life about what activities, supports and community groups they would like to be a part of, without the feeling of isolation or segregation.

GLBT Disability Support Services will be offering weekly events and activities that you will see posted on our website.

We ask that you inform people you may assist from within your service who identify as being Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Trans-gendered, Inter-sex and Queer and give them the opportunity take part of these activities.

All groups and activities are subject to numbers.

GLBT Disability Support Services is also on Facebook, we invite you to checkout our Facebook and become a fan of our services.

Further Information:
Director of Services
Adam Sharpe

or Operations Manager
Benjamin Patterson

Phone: 0420 581 493
Email: intouch@glbtdisabilitysupportservices.com or
contact@glbtdisabiltysupporservices.com.au
Website: GLBT Disability Support Services

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission has relocated to Level 3, 204 Lygon Street, Carlton.

The move to Carlton will make better dispute resolution facilities available to all Victorians, and help the Commission meet the growing business and organisational demand for its training and information services.

Email addresses and telephone numbers for Commission staff will stay the same and their Enquiry Line remains 1300 292 153.

Further Information:
VEO & HRC Website

YDAS’s old website was hijacked by an overseas company!

Their new website address is: http://www.ydas.org.au/

Other details should be updated as follows:
Youth Disability Advocacy Service
c/- Youth Affairs Council of Victoria Inc
Level 2 180 Flinders Street
Melbourne Vic 3000
Toll free: 1300 727 176

Manager, George Taleporos
Phone: (03) 9267 3755
Email: ydasmanager@yacvic.org.au

Individual Advocate, Martin Healy
Phone: (03) 9267 3733
Email: advocate@yacvic.org.au

Bec Feldman
YDAS Project Officer
Phone: (03) 9267 3712
Email: ydasprojects@yacvic.org.au

Action for More Independence & Dignity in Accommodation (AMIDA) has a new website: http://www.amida.org.au/

For general enquiries email: amida@amida.org.au

The Age, Goya Dmytryshchak, 1 June 2011

Six-year-old Yarraville boy Oscar French was denied funding for an integration aide at his mainstream school because he knew too many big words, such as ''flexible''. But the Education Department has shown it knows the meaning of the word by reversing its decision and allocating $19,000 for an aide to help the boy, who has autism.

Further Information
Education Reversal Over Funding for Autistic Boy Full Article

We have been advised that the temporary exemption application advised last week regarding Victorian regional bus services has been withdrawn by the applicant.

For further information regarding the withdrawal of proposal please contact:

David Mason
Director Disability Rights Policy
Australian Human Rights Commission
Email: disability@humanrights.gov.au

The Review of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport has been released today by the Australian Government.

The review contains:
- The Terms of Reference
- Issues Paper
- Final Report
- Government Response

Further Information:
Review of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport

Media Release, The Hon Mary Wooldridge MP Minister for Mental Health Women’s Affairs and Community Services, 23 May 2011

The Victorian Coalition Government today released its submission in response to the Productivity Commission’s Draft Report on Disability Care and Support.

Releasing the submission, Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge together with chair of the Victorian NDIS Taskforce and former Chief Executive of Yooralla Bryan Woodford, said the government welcomed the draft report and reconfirmed the Victorian Government’s commitment to the development of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

“The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to being a driving force for the reform process and believes we can do better as a nation by delivering major reform to the disability service sector through the establishment of an NDIS.

Ms Wooldridge said Victoria was well placed to host the first stage of implementation of an NDIS and is keen to do so.

The Victorian Coalition Government’s submission to the Productivity Commission’s Draft Report on Disability Care and Support is available at:
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)