Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) is the peak organisation for women with all types of
disabilities in Australia. It is a not-for-profit organisation constituted and driven by women
with disabilities. It is the only organisation of its kind in Australia and one of only a very
small number internationally. WWDA is inclusive and does not discriminate against any disability.
WWDA is unique, in that it operates as a national disability organisation; a national women's
organisation; and a national human rights organisation (more information about WWDA can be found
at the organisation's extensive website: www.wwda.org.au). Please find below a brief Update Report on some of WWDA's
activities for the month of June 2003. If you have any questions,
or would like more information on anything in this report, please email Carolyn at: wwda@wwda.org.au
Return to the Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) Newsletters Page
1. Submission to the Federal Government's Welfare Reform Paper "Building a Simpler System
to Help Jobless Families and Individuals"
In December 2002, Senator Amanda Vanstone, Minister for Family and Community Services
and the Hon Tony Abbott MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations released
the Commonwealth Government's consultation paper, 'Building a Simpler System to Help
Jobless Families and Individuals'. The Paper is based on the McClure recommendations around a
simpler income support system that is "more responsive to individual needs, circumstances
and aspirations and that improves incentives to work" (Participation Support for a More
Equitable Society, Final Report, July 2000). The Consultation Paper sets out some basic
assumptions, objectives and design principles and asks 13 questions about the possible
design of a new income support system for people of workforce age.
WWDA has developed a response to the Government's consultation paper. The response
from WWDA addresses a number of the structural and systemic barriers which prevent
women with disabilities from enjoying full social, economic and political participation
in their communities. The submission also incorporates a number of suggestions
and responses in relation to the proposals outlined in the Consultation
Paper "Building a Simpler System to Help Jobless Families and Individuals".
The WWDA Submission is available on WWDA's website ('Submissions to Government').
Go to: www.wwda.org.au/welfare3.htm
2. Submission to Productivity Commission on the Review of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992
The Productivity Commission on the Review of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992
will examine the social impacts of the legislation on people with disabilities and on the
community as a whole. Among other things, the Commission is required to assess the costs and
benefits of the DDA and its effectiveness in achieving its objectives, which in summary are to:
- eliminate as far as possible discrimination on the grounds of disability
- ensure equality of people with disabilities before the law
- promote recognition and acceptance of the rights of people with disabilities.
An Issues Paper was released on March 6 2003. A draft report is planned for
October 2003. The Commission is required to report to the Government by 30 April 2004.
The Issues Paper is available on the Productivity Commission's website.
Go to: www.pc.gov.au/inquiry/dda/issuespaper/index.html
WWDA has developed a submission to the Productivity Commission on the Review of the Disability
Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992. A copy of WWDA's Submission is available on WWDA's website
('Submissions to Government'). Go to: www.wwda.org.au/ddasub.htm
3. WWDA Strategic Planning Forum
WWDA has received a small funding grant from the Tasmanian Government to conduct a National Strategic
Planning Forum in late September 2003. The Forum will be held in Hobart. In the coming weeks,
WWDA will be conducting a survey of its members to help inform the Strategic Planning Forum.
In particular, we will be seeking input from members on priority areas of action for WWDA over the
next few years. For example, in the past, WWDA has focused on areas such as:
- violence against women with disabilities;
- telecommunications and information technology;
- leadership;
- sterilisation and reproductive rights;
Whilst some of these areas may be ongoing, we need to find out from our members whether
there are other issues which WWDA should focus on.
4. Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
In early 2001, the then Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Jocelyn Newman
announced a new funding model for peak organisations funded through the Commonwealth
Department of Family and Community Services. The model included the establishment of an
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (the Federation). It was intended
that the Federation would replace the National Caucus of Disability Consumer
Organisations (NCDCO), whose funding will cease in 2001. The Department of Family and
Community Services (FaCS) gave the eight disability peaks it currently funds, the task
of establishing the new Australian Federation of Disability Organisations. A Working Group
(the Disability Federation Working Group) was set up in February 2001 to work toward
establishing the Federation. The Working Group consisted of representatives from the
eight-funded peak disability organisations, plus a representative from the Indigenous
Disability Network.
The Working Group has recently finalized the Constitution for the Federation. The Mission of the
Federation is to: promote the human rights of people with disability across Australia
and promote their full participation in all aspects of Australian society. The Objectives
are to:
- Actively promote the participation of people with disability in all aspects of social, economic,
political and cultural life.
- Advocate on issues of concern for people with disability in Australia.
- Seek to be the representative organisation for people with disability in Australia.
- Support the right of member organisations to maintain their independence.
- Undertake systemic advocacy.
- Provide policy advice and undertake research.
- Provide support, information and education.
The Federation is currently being registered as a Company with the Australian Securities and
Investment Commission (ASIC). A Board of Directors has been established. The initial Board will
be made up of representatives from the eight-funded peak disability organisations, plus a representative
from the Indigenous Disability Network. WWDA's representative on the Federation Board is
Samantha Jenkinson from Victoria, who is also a member of WWDA's Management Committee.
The next stage of the Federation establishment will be the appointment of a CEO.
WWDA will keep members informed of the progress of the Federation.
5. Update of WWDA Constitution
During 2001-02 WWDA undertook a review of its structure, governance and operational
management processes. One of the outcomes of this review was the updating of the
WWDA Constitution. WWDA was assisted in the task of updating the Constitution by the
Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) who organised pro-bono legal assistance
for WWDA from a legal firm in Sydney (Blake, Dawson, Waldron). The new WWDA
Constitution was ratified at WWDA's Annual General Meeting in September 2002.
A copy of the updated WWDA Constitution is available on WWDA's
website. Go to: http://www.wwda.org.au/const.htm
6. The "Going Further" Leadership Program
The Telstra Disability Services Unit recently offered WWDA
the opportunity to nominate a woman with disability to participate
in a Leadership Mentoring program to be run in Melbourne, July - December 2003.
The Program, entitled "Going Further" is a leadership program
exploring the relationship between economic, environmental
and socio/cultural issues. It will explore the ways in which
corporate, institutional and community attitudes to these
issues may need to be adjusted to develop a sustainable,
forward looking and cohesive society. Samantha Jenkinson
from Victoria was nominated as WWDA's representative to
participate in the Program.
7. WWDA Representation
WWDA has a number of members who represent the organisation
on various Committees, Working parties and so on. We are
always looking for more members who would be interested
in taking on representative opportunities. In the coming weeks,
we will be conducting a small survey of our members to canvass those
who would be interested in representative work.
8. Resignation of WWDA President
Recently, the President of WWDA, Helen Meekosha,
resigned from the position due to ill health. Helen contributed an
enormous amount to not only WWDA, but the broader disability community.
A new WWDA President will be elected at the Annual General Meeting later
in the year. In the interim, Annie Parkinson and Samantha Jenkinson are sharing
the responsibilities of WWDA President. The current members of the WWDA Management Committee are:
Annie Parkinson (NSW)
Pamela Menere (Vic rural)
Samantha Jenkinson (VIC)
Joyce Deering (NT)
Sue Salthouse (ACT)
Margie Charlesworth (SA)
Lisa Murray (NSW)
Christine Tilley (QLD)
9. New on the WWDA Website
New and existing resource materials are regularly being added to the WWDA Website. Recent additions include:
1. Women and Disability - An Issue
A collection of writings addressing a wide range of issues affecting women with disabilities,
including sexuality; health; housing, and many more. A number of poems are also
included in this book. Go to: http://www.wwda.org.au/womdis.htm
2. Submission to the Federal Government's Welfare Reform Paper "Building a
Simpler System to Help Jobless Families and Individuals".
Go to: http://www.wwda.org.au/welfare3.htm
3. Submission to Productivity Commission on the Review of the Disability Discrimination Act
(DDA) 1992.
Go to: http://www.wwda.org.au/ddasub.htm
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This site was developed by Carolyn Frohmader for Women With Disabilities
Australia.