blog

Minister Ryall at NZFDIC Conference

Thu, 17 May 2012 21:50:00 +1200

Minister of Health Tony Ryall announced a $144m increase in disability support funding over the next four years at our Conference in Queenstown this week. The news was warmly received by delegates who asked the Minister several questions about how the extra funding would be spent. They were assured by his responses that the priority is to enable disabled people to have more control over the way they receive services.

Minister Ryall also presented long serving Federation member Elinor Stratford with a Life Membership Award for her outstanding contribution to the health and disability sector on the West Coast and nationally. NZFDIC President Bronwen Foxx said she was thrilled the Minister was able to attend the Conference and present the Award to Elinor.

Conference 2012

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:58:00 +1300

Registrations for the NZFDIC Annual Training Conference are now open. This year our Conference is being held in beautiful Queenstown at the Rydges Hotel right on the lakefront. The theme of our Conference is "Disability Information - The Final Frontier" and we have a full line up of brilliant presenters who will not only give you great information but also some wonderful tips and tools you can take away and start using immediately.

Download the the Registration Brochure and register TODAY to ensure your place at the Disability Sector Event of the Year!

See you in Queenstown!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Qualification

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:18:00 +1300

National Certificate in Community Support Services

(Disability Information Provision) Level 4

2^nd Pilot Trainees

The Federation is pleased to announce that the second pilot of the above certificate has now been finalised between Careerforce and the Federation. Also that Te Pou has agreed a funding arrangement with the Federation for prospective trainees.

For this second pilot there will be a three month registration period and Careerforce advice that the completion time frame for this qualification is now set at sixteen (16) months and the Federation will again be running a series of Trainee Support sessions, the venues to be decided according to trainee’s geographical location.

The costs per trainee will be as follows:

The qualification fee (as set by Careerforce) is now set at $2030 per trainee

The Federation will fund $730 per trainee

Te Pou will fund $800 per trainee

This leaves a shortfall of $500 - to be met either by the trainee or their employer (who might wish to contract the trainee to refund the cost in the event of non-completion)

It is planned that all those interested will complete a Pre-assessment tool developed by the Federation before enrolling into the Community Support Services (Disability Information Provision) Level 4.

Credit can be obtained from Careerforce for those who may already hold units that are part of our qualification.

The Federation wishes to gain an indication as to numbers of potential trainees and would ask that all those interested please contact the Federation’s Training Co-ordinator before the end of February 2012

Sallyjane Cranfield – NZ Federation Training Co-ordinator

Sallyjane@nzfdic.org.nz or tel 03 4716152

Community House, 301 Moray Place, Dunedin 9016

SEASONAL MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:41:00 +1300

Christmas is creeping up on us all and I hope you will have time to reflect on a wonderful year. Thank you to our Funders, Grant Givers and Supporters who have made 2011 great. Thank you to the wonderful Member Centres who have worked so tireless this year. Thank you to all our clients, and information seekers, we hope our services have aided you this year. But mostly, may the miracle of Christmas fill your heart with warmth and love. Christmas is the time of giving and sharing.
It is the time of loving and forgiving.

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

Call for Presenters

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:01:00 +1200

The Federation is holding its Annual Training Conference in beautiful Queenstown next May. If you would like to present at our conference please download the Call for Presenters document CLICK HERE

Student Resource

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:58:00 +1200

I am a college student with a learning disability who is enrolled at

Louisiana State University. I received a grant from YP4 in 2008 to

develop a website to serve college students with disabilities in an

effort to connect and integrate them more as a virtual community with

a voice on important issues.

I would like to share the link of the We Connect Now website with you so

that you may share it with any students that you have contact with.

The website can be accessed at http://weconnectnow.wordpress.com/ The

website has been used as a resource by institutions of higher learning

and has been linked by colleges and universities and groups serving

people with disabilities in 50 states and at least 5 foreign countries.

I thank you for any and all help that you and your office may give

me in promoting this project as a service to all college students with

disabilities.

Sincerely,

Gabriela McCall Delgado

Vacancies

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:10:00 +1200

THIS POSITION HAS NOW BEEN FILLED

DISABILITY INFORMATION SERVICE CO-ORDINATOR

314 Worcester Street,

PO Box 32 074, Christchurch 8147

Phone 03 366 6189, fax 03 379 5939

Email:admin@aspirecanterbury.org.nz

Hours: 25 to 30

Aspire Canterbury Mission: To assist people with disabilities to improve their lives

¨ To provide a comprehensive, efficient and accessible information service for people with all types of disabilities, their families/whanau, students and professionals

¨ To promote the health, welfare, integration and independence of people with disabilities

¨ To provide education and support for people with disabilities and to monitor research into the contributing causes and effects of disablement.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES (in priority order):

¨ To provide an information and education service for people with disabilities, their families/whanau and others.

¨ To promote the health, welfare, integration and independence of people with disabilities

¨ To promote the use of the services, facilities and its events

Personal Attributes

¨ The ability to relate to a variety of people

¨ Commitment to the social model of disability in accordance with the NZ Disability Strategy

¨ Computer skills (Microsoft suite) to intermediate level

¨ Experience in a range of information media

¨ Research and presentation skills

¨ High level of written and oral communication skills

¨ High level of energy and initiative

¨ Demonstrated interpersonal skills to provide ethical, professional and respectful services

¨ A tertiary qualification is desirable

¨ Hold a current full New Zealand drivers licence

¨ Commitment to on going professional development

Key Responsibilities

1. To provide an information and education service for people with disabilities, their families/whanau and others, in particular to:

· Provide clients access to

a) Accurate, independent and objective information and/or advice about a specific disability or disability in general terms

b) Accurate independent objective information about disability support systems.

· Meet reporting and service delivery provisions and standards.

· Assist to maintain and populate internal and external data bases and websites.

2. To promote the health, welfare, integration and independence of people with disabilities, in particular:

· Produce and maintain the DIS Directory and DIScover newsletter.

· Plan and deliver Disability Network Sector meetings.

· Organise annual expo either solely or in conjunction with other community organisations.

· Develop co-operative and collaborative relationships with other community organisations.

· Provide advice and sales service as part of the onsite shop.

· Provide back up and support in the administering of Taxi vouchers.

3. To participate in National Disability Information Service initiatives as required.

· Attend the NZ Federation of Disability Information Centres annual training conference

· Attend the NZ Federation of Disability Information Centres Annual General Meeting.

· Attend NZ Federation of Disability Information Centres Regional meetings as appropriate.

For further information and a copy of the full job description, please contact:

Anne Keating

Manager

admin@aspirecanterbury.org.nz

Disability

Information

Service

E-Sports

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +1200

The Korea e-Sports Association for the Disabled, who are officially approved by the Korea Paralympics Committee, is preparing to host "IeSMoD" (International e-Sports Meeting of the Disabled) 2011 World Championship. The event aims to promote friendship among disabled people from all over the world with e-sports as the vehicle.

Many disabled people play e-sports for recreational or therapeutic purposes and it is expected that 300 of them from 40 different countries will participate in the first IeSMoD World Championship. The 5 day event will take place in Jeju Island from the 20th to the 25th September 2011. Besides the competition the event will also include a jazz festival and a power walking competition.

What are e-sports? Also known as role playing games, computer games or online gaming, e-sports are very popular with people of all ages and abilities. Games chosen for the Championship are: Starcraft2, Warcraft3, Counterstrike Online, FIFA Online and Cartrider. If you are a disabled player of any of these, or you know of someone who is, then you should contact Carol for information about possible funding assistance. Email me Here.

Transition Expo

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:34:00 +1200

Parent & Family Resource Centre are hosting a Transition Expo (progression from school to community life) 7 July at AMI Netball Centre 7 Allison Drive St Johns Auckland. See brochure for more information. Download here.

Christchurch Hui and Fono

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:43:00 +1300

We wish to advise that the Ministry of Health Hui and Fono to be held in Christchurch this week have now been cancelled. It is hoped to hold these later in the year.

New Website Launched

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 15:28:00 +1300

Welcome to our new look site. We would like to thank DigiCreative for developing this for us - what a great bunch of guys to work with! We will be adding content as it comes to hand so if you have any news you would like featured here please contact us.