Women With Disabilities Australia:
Submission to the Public Inquiry into the
Definition of Charities and Related Organisations (December
2000)
In early 2000, the Australian Government announced a Public
Inquiry into the Definition of Charities and Related
Organisations. This is WWDA's Submission to the Inquiry. WWDA's submission argues that
the current definitions of charitable
organisations and Public Benevolent Institutions are outdated,
conservative, and do not accurately reflect the changing nature
of Australian society, or the extent and diversity of work that
these organisations are undertaking. The paper argues that
it will be important that any framework or criteria
developed for the classification of charitable and related
organisations, reflect the current social, economic and political
climate, and provide scope for the many ideas and methods which
drive modern attempts to 'relieve distress', and so on. This
would include recognition of contemporary methods such as
advocacy (systemic and individual) and political action for, and
by citizens who have social, cultural, economic, civil and
political rights. Many charitable organisations and public
benevolent institutions have always served a political purpose.
It needs to be expected and accepted that some of these
organisations will have a right and proper role as actors in the
political processes on behalf of their constituents, whose
distress is often exacerbated by these processes. Copyright WWDA 2000.
Women With Disabilities Australia:
Submission to the Senate Inquiry Sex Discrimination Amendment Bill (No.1)(2000)
A copy of WWDA's Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Government's proposed amendment to the Sex Discrimination Act. Copyright WWDA 2000.
Women With Disabilities Australia:
Submission to the Telecommunications Service Inquiry (April
2000)
The Telecommunications Service Inquiry was announced by the
Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts,
on March 19 2000. The Inquiry was established to assess the
adequacy of telecommunications services in metropolitan,
regional, rural and remote areas of Australia. This document is
WWDA's Submission to the Telecommunications Service Inquiry, and
is based largely on the findings of a National Telecommunications
Survey WWDA conducted in 1999. Copyright WWDA 2000.
Women With Disabilities Australia:
Submission to the Interim Report on Welfare Reform "Participation
for a More Equitable Society" (April 2000)
In March 2000, the Federal Government's Reference Group on
Welfare Reform released their Interim Report entitled
"Participation Support for a More Equitable Society". The Interim
Report was released following a public consultation process. WWDA
developed a response to the Interim Report. WWDA's response is
provided under the following themes: Mutual Obligation Versus
Social Justice and Rights; Costs of Participation; The Need for
An Integrated and Coordinated Approach to Welfare Reform;
Discrimination in Employment and Women With Disabilities; The
Concepts of Family & Community in Welfare Reform;
Individualised Model of Social Support; and, The Future Job
Growth in Australia. Copyright WWDA 2000.
Women With Disabilities Australia:
Submission to the Federal Government's Reference Group on Welfare
Reform (Dec 1999)
In late September 1999, Senator Jocelyn Newman (Minister for
Family and Community Services) announced that social policy would
be the next major reform priority of the Howard Government.
Senator Newman also announced that a Reference Group would guide
the development of a Discussion Paper on Welfare Reform. This
document is WWDA's first submission to the Reference Group on
Welfare Reform. It discusses: why the Welfare Reform agenda is
important for women with disabilities; the main welfare reform
issues for women with disabilities (using case studies to
highlight these issues); Welfare Reform agenda principles; and
critical outcomes for women with disabilities. Copyright WWDA 1999.
Women With Disabilities Australia:
Submission to the Review of the National Women's Non-Government
Organisations Funding Program (1999)
In February 1999, the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on
the Status of Women (Senator Jocelyn Newman) announced a Review
of the National Women's Non-Government Organisation's Funding
Program, which is administered by the Commonwealth Office of the
Status of Women. Each year under the National Women's NGO Funding
Program, a total of $500,000 is available for funding national
women's organisations. This is a copy of WWDA's submission to
Review of the National Women's Non-Government Organisation's
Funding Program. WWDA's Submission addresses a number of issues,
including: Gender and Disability; the need for clear NGO Funding
Program Objectives; Eligibility for Funding; Mechanisms Which
Could Assist Accountability of National Women's NGO's;
Understanding the Nature of Advocacy; and the Need for
Representation of Diversity. Copyright WWDA 1999.
Women With Disabilities Australia:
Response to the Domestic Violence Legislation Working Group
Discussion Paper 'A Model Domestic Violence Law for Australia'
(1998)
In 1998, Domestic Violence Legislation Working Group (Attorney
General's Department of the Commonwealth Government) released a
Discussion Paper on the development of A Model Domestic Violence
Law for Australia. This is a copy of WWDA's submission to the
Domestic Violence Legislation Working Group in response to that
Discussion Paper. WWDA's Submission covers a range of issues,
including the need for a broader definition of 'domestic
violence' so that any national legislation covers the range of
domestic situations in which women with disabilities live. Copyright WWDA 1998.
Women With Disabilities Australia:
Submission to the Consultations on the National Initiatives of
the Partnerships Against Domestic Violence Strategy
(1998)
The National Partnerships Against Domestic Violence Strategy was
launched by the Prime Minister in late 1997. The first two
national projects of the Strategy were to be a Community
Education/Awareness Strategy and the Development of National
Endorsed Competency Standards for workers with family violence.
In mid 1998, the National Partnerships Against Domestic Violence
Taskforce undertook consultations to inform the development of
these two projects. This is a copy of WWDA's submission in
response to these consultations. Copyright WWDA 1998.
Women With Disabilities Australia:
Submission to the National Supported Accommodation Assistance
Program Review (1998)
In 1998, the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family
Services announced a National Review of the Supported
Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP). This is a copy of the
submission WWDA wrote to inform the development of a Discussion
Paper for the Review. The submission highlights the fact that
women with disabilities are the group with the greatest level of
unmet need in relation to SAAP services in Australia. Copyright WWDA 1998.
Women With Disabilities Australia:
Submission on the Development of the National Strategy for Ageing
Australia (1998)
In 1998, the Minister for Family Services (Commonwealth
Government) called for submissions to inform the development of
the National Strategy for Ageing in Australia. This is a copy of
WWDA's submission to the National Strategy for Ageing in
Australia. The submission discusses, amongst other issues, the
urgent need for research into women with disabilities and
ageing. Copyright WWDA 1998.
Women With Disabilities Australia: Response
to the Model Criminal Code Committee Discussion Paper 'Sexual
Offences Against the Person' (1997)
In 1997, the Model Criminal Code Committee (Attorney General's
Department of the Commonwealth Government) released a Discussion
Paper on 'Sexual Offences Against the Person'. This is a copy of
WWDA's submission to the Model Criminal Code Committee in
response to that Discussion Paper. The Submission addresses a
range of issues, including: the very high levels of sexual
offences committed against women with disabilities and relatively
low conviction rate; and the prevalence of misinformation and
myths which surround disability and sexuality. The submission
raises concerns that these factors may create an environment in
which 'protection' are given a high priority, and impinge upon
the rights and freedoms of people with disabilities. Copyright WWDA 1997.
Women With Disabilities Australia:
Submission to the Senate Enquiry into Housing Assistance
(1997)
This is a copy of the submission Women With Disabilities
Australia submitted to the Senate Enquiry into Housing Assistance
in 1997. The submission addresses the housing poverty of
Australian women with disabilities, and provides
recommendations. Copyright WWDA 1997.
Women With Disabilities Australia:
Submission To The National Disability Advocacy Program Review
(1996)
The National Disability Advocacy Program funds 76 advocacy
organisations around Australia to assist people with
disabilities, their families and carers to participate in
community life on an equitable basis and to achieve their rights
as citizens. The National Disability Advocacy Program is
administered by the Commonwealth Department of Family and
Community Services. The Advocacy Program was reviewed in late
1996 and this is WWDA's submission to that Review. The Submission
covers a range of issues including: Disability, Public Policy and
Advocacy; Gender and Disability; The Government's Policy Agenda;
Program Effectiveness; Cost Effectiveness; Distribution of
Resources; Gaps In Services; Duplication In Services; and, Locale
of Disability Advocacy Program. Recommendations are included. Copyright WWDA 1996.
This site was developed by Carolyn Frohmader for Women With Disabilities Australia.