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| Australian Human Rights Commission 2010/11 Annual Report |
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| The Australian Human Rights Commission Annual Report was tabled in Federal Parliament 1 November 2011. Read more |
| Disability Council Priorities |
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Council’s current priority issues are:
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Chair's Introduction by Cain Beckett |
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Welcom e to the November edition of i-Contact for the NSW Disability Council.
This month six of our current Council members come to the end of their four year appointments. Whilst it may be that some of the Council members rejoin us in 2012 for a further term, on behalf of the Council I would like to thank:
- Denise Beckwith;
- James Condren;
- Laurice Grovenor;
- Sylvana Mahmic;
- Tish Peiris; and
- Sally Robinson
for the significant contribution that they have made to the disability policy debate, representing the views of people with disability, their families, and carers during their term as Council members. | |
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Historic decision delivers pay rise for social and community workers |
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Prime Minister Julia Gillard recently announced the Government was prepared to provide over $2 billion to deliver an historic pay rise to 150,000 of Australia’s lowest paid workers in the social and community services sector - the vast majority of them women.
This is an important step on the road to closing the long-standing pay gap between men and women and delivering fairness to the workplace. | |
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2011 National Disability Awards recognise outstanding achievements |
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Nine outstanding individuals and organisations were honoured for their work to improve the lives of people with disability at the annual National Disability Awards on 22nd November, 2011.
Speaking at a special gala dinner in Canberra, the Prime Minister said the awards recognised outstanding Australians who have made a real difference to the lives of people with disabilities.
The calibre of both the finalists and winners highlights just how hard Australians are working to raise awareness and support for people with disability. | |
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Don't DIS my ABILITY campaign news |
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More than 100 suburban and regional events will be held across NSW as part of the NSW Government’s Don’t DIS my ABILITY campaign to celebrate the diversity and achievements of people with a disability.
NSW Minister for Disability Services Andrew Constance said the theme for this year’s campaign was technology and independence.
“Social networking is increasingly helping people with a disability to connect and overcome isolation and be independent,” Mr Constance said.
“It is also enabling them to access the right services to meet their specific needs, remain informed and have a say in the way disability services are delivered.”
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Disability Council Member's Corner |
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A rural  perspective, By Lauri Grovenor
Lauri, a Counsellor, is an active and dedicated advocate for people who are blind or vision impaired in rural and regional areas living in Southern NSW. She is a Guide Dog user and the founder of the Rural Disability Network, a rural advisor for the Women with Disability Australia Network, Board Director for Blind Citizens Australia and has been a Disability Council NSW member since 2007.
40 years ago, when I lost my useful sight, I became forcefully aware of what it is to have a disability in a rural area. | |
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Don't DIS my ABILITY ambassadors announced |
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 NSW Minister for Disability Services Andrew Constance has announced that the achievements and experiences of 15 ambassadors will help drive the State Government's Don't DIS My ABILITY campaign.
“The campaign has been designed to celebrate the diversity and achievements of people with a disability and will culminate in the United Nation's International Day of People with a Disability in December,” Mr Constance said.
“The ambassadors, who come from a range of backgrounds including the arts, business, sport, volunteering and teaching, will be sharing their stories to help generate awareness about people living with a disability and what is possible.” | |
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Wheelchair tennis tournament coming to Sydney CBD |
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 Elite tennis players from around Australia will descend on the brand new Prince Alfred Park courts in Surry Hills next month for the inaugural Metropolitan Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament.
The International Tennis Federation-sanctioned tournament is the first of its kind to be held in the Sydney CBD and comes after the five international standard outdoor tennis courts were recently upgraded to include wheelchair accessibility.
The Wheelchair Sports NSW Metropolitan Open will be held from December 2 to 4 and will coincide with International Day of People with a Disability on December 3.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City’s $9 million Prince Alfred Park facelift included international grade tennis and recreation facilities designed to be accessible to all Sydneysiders.
“What better way to celebrate these new facilities, which are not only wheelchair accessible but also feature the same plexi-cushion surface used in Melbourne Park, the home of the Australian Open,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Making our facilities accessible and inclusive to everyone in the community has really driven our work in Prince Alfred Park, so I’m thrilled to see Wheelchair Sports NSW open up the courts for a cast of elite and grassroots players.”
Wheelchair Sports NSW CEO Jim O’Brien said they were excited to be conducting the first Metropolitan Open at the Prince Alfred Park Tennis Centre.
“We believe there is a real need to showcase the best of disability sport and what better way to do it than at this state-of-the-art tennis centre in the centre of Sydney,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Wheelchair Sports NSW is very grateful for the wonderful support and encouragement from the City of Sydney to highlight the ability of our tennis players particularly during International Day of People with a Disability”.
“This tournament will be a great chance for Wheelchair Sports NSW members as well as interstate and possibly overseas players to gain a competitive edge coming into a Paralympics year."
“A public showcase of wheelchair tennis will send a strong message to the public of Sydney about the worth and value of a disability sporting event such as this."
“By raising awareness of disability sport in such friendly and accessible surrounds is a credit to the City”.
The Metropolitan Open is one of three ITF Futures Tournaments being held in NSW in the lead up to the Sydney International Wheelchair Tennis Open at Sydney Olympic Park in January next year.
The Metropolitan Open will include singles and doubles tournaments for men, women juniors, reserve grade and C-grade players, with a total prize pool of $2500.
Mick Connell, who runs a popular ‘Wheelies’ Wheelchair Tennis program, said the tournament would be great for players ahead of the 2012 London Summer Paralympics in August and September next year.
“This tournament is really important for Paralympics hopefuls because it will give them a chance to gain valuable points and push their ranking up so they can be selected for the games in London,” Connell said.
“For me personally, this tournament is great because I love playing at the courts in Surry Hills.”
“The atmosphere at Prince Alfred Park is really lively and there are always people walking by with their dogs or on bikes, who stop and have a look at our games.”
“I even had someone who was going past, stop and tell me that I was an inspiration.”
Wheelchair tennis is one of the more demanding and difficult wheelchair sports and follows the same rules as able bodied tennis with no modifications to court size or racquet. The only exception is that players are allowed two bounces of the ball.
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Upcoming Events |
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Premier's Gala concerts 6 and 7 December 2011 | |
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Inclusive technologies & learning disability 7 - 9 December 2011
in education & employment conference
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About the Disability Council NSW |
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The Disability Council of NSW is the official advisory body to the State Government on disability matters. We also provide advice to the Commonwealth on the effect of national policy at a State level. | |
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Your privacy |
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Our privacy policy | | |
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