Acknowledgements
Introducing Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA)
Summary
The Vision
The Principles
The Model
The Progress
Summary of Goals and Key Objectives
Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) Strategic Plan Review - July 2007 [Word Version] [PDF Version]
The development of this Strategic Plan was assisted by the Tasmanian Government with a funding grant through the Community Support Levy. Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) gratefully acknowledges the Tasmanian Government for this support.
Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) is inclusive and does not discriminate against any disability. WWDA seeks to ensure opportunities in all walks of life for all women with disabilities. In this it aims to increase awareness of, and address issues faced by, women with disabilities in the community. WWDA seeks to ensure the advancement of education of society to the status and needs of women with disabilities in order to promote equity, reduce suffering, poverty, discrimination and exploitation of women with disabilities. WWDA is unique, in that it operates as a national disability organisation; a national women's organisation; and a national human rights organisation.
WWDA is managed by a National Management Committee, which is made up of women with disabilities and which is elected each year at the Annual General Meeting. The members of WWDA are actively involved in the decision making processes of the organisation. All programs and activities conducted by WWDA are in direct response to the identified issues and concerns of women with disabilities in Australia. WWDA is a registered charitable organisation with Public Benevolent Institution status which means that donations made to the organisation over $2 are tax deductible.
There are two classes of membership of WWDA: (a) full membership; and (b) associate membership. Full membership is open to women with a disability who are resident in Australia. Associate membership is open to individuals and organisations who are supportive of the aim and objectives of the Association.
More information about WWDA can be found at the organisation's extensive website, located at: www.wwda.org.au.
WWDA's Strategic Plan 2004-2009 will see our organisation further develop our role as the national representative organisation for women with disabilities in Australia. We will continue to develop innovative programs that are centered on the needs identified by women with disabilities. We will stimulate debate, promote research, policy and program development, and advocate for legislative change in the policy priority areas identified by our members. We will actively seek out opportunities for systemic advocacy on issues affecting women with disabilities. We will continue to develop strategic alliances and collaborative partnerships with organisations in order to achieve our objectives. We will maintain our work with mainstream organisations in ways that assist them to re-orient their services to better meet the needs of women with disabilities.
WWDA's Strategic Plan 2004-2009 will see us undertaking specific research and policy work in areas identified by our members as a priority. We are a national organisation, but we work with emerging groups of women across the globe, particularly those in developing countries. We recognise our role as a leading voice in international disability, women's and human rights debates, and we commit to increasing our capacity to better support our sisters in developing countries. We will continue to enhance and promote communication to our members and potential members, and will seek out opportunities to extend the reach of our organisation by connecting with women with disabilities at regional, rural and local levels. Importantly, we will foster opportunities for women with disabilities to become actively involved in WWDA.
WWDA will continue to contribute to Government policies affecting women with disabilities and will provide advice to Government on policy, program and service delivery issues emerging from our membership. We will advise Government on the impact of social policy initiatives and will suggest new strategies, models or changes as appropriate.
Our Strategic Plan 2004-2009 will see us further develop the infrastructure of our organisation. We will undertake capacity building initiatives needed to support the growth and changing needs of WWDA. We recognise the need to ensure the ongoing financial viability of our organisation, including the need to diversify our funding base and secure operational funding that is commensurate with our role, our work, and our achievements.
Leadership for women with disabilities focuses on women and encourages social change, promoting the role of sharing resources, information and power. WWDA ascribes to a feminist model of leadership. The difference between the traditional forms of leadership and feminist leadership is that feminist leadership works to develop 'power for' the group instead of 'power over' or 'domination' of the group. Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA) embraces this style of leadership because it is centered on the needs of women; it acknowledges and reflects the diversity of each woman's needs; it allows each woman to take control of her life with the help and respect of the other women in her group; and allows her to have her say in an environment where she knows she will be listened to. It is essential that women with disabilities are afforded the opportunity to learn leadership skills so they can represent the views of women with disabilities and also pass on those skills to other women.
Empowerment involves women with disabilities understanding their right to be citizens and being given the tools for equality and participation. It is achieved mainly by women with disabilities coming together to share their experiences, to gain strength from one another and to provide positive role models. It means breaking away from an identity of graceful passivity and finding the will and power to change one's own circumstances. This is not an easy process for women with disabilities or the wider community. However, it is an essential component in the struggle for full participation and equality of opportunity.
The Social Model of Disability understands disability as a problem created and imposed by society. It recognises that it is not the impairments of people with disabilities which cause 'the problem', but rather the way in which society fails to make allowances for differences. The Social Model takes the view that disability is the outcome of society's failure to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities. The Social Model focuses on the barriers people with disabilities face on a daily basis. It establishes that everyone is equal and demonstrates that it is society which erects barriers that prevent people with disabilities participating and restricts their opportunities. The social model empowers people with disabilities to challenge society to remove those barriers.
Our Goals and Key Objectives are summarised below. A copy of the full WWDA Strategic Plan 2004-2009 can be obtained by contacting the National WWDA Office.
Key Objectives at the international level
Key Objectives at the national level
Key Objectives at the local level
WWDA will endeavour through systemic advocacy to improve the status of women with disabilities who are identified as at particular risk; including those women who face multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination as a result of race, ethnicity, sexuality, or other status.
Key Objectives
As a national peak body receiving operational funding from the Commonwealth Government, WWDA will continue to contribute to Government policies affecting women with disabilities, carry information between the Government and the community on social policy issues, and represent constituents' views.
Key Objectives
As the national representative organisation for women with disabilities in Australia, WWDA undertakes a wide range of work which contributes to meeting its overall mission. Whilst the organisation receives operational funding from the Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS), both parties recognise the need to respect each others priorities and interests. WWDA will continue to undertake work which is centered on the needs identified by women with disabilities.
Key Objectives
WWDA will continue to develop and improve its organisation policies and procedures, and undertake capacity building initiatives to reflect the growth and changing needs of the organisation. Inherent in this, is the need for WWDA to endeavour to diversify its funding and resources.
Key Objectives
This site was developed by Carolyn Frohmader for Women With Disabilities Australia.