reichstein

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Project: Feasibility and Design Study for a Safety Net Model for Aids and Equipment Provision

Organisation: Aids and Equipment Action Alliance

Amount sought: $70,000

This project proposal outlines the development of a Safety Net Model around the purchase of aids and equipment for people with a disability, who currently endure an enormous financial struggle to purchase specialist equipment they require in order to live their lives independently.

Due to disability and or illness, one in 10 Australians rely on aids and equipment for their personal care, social interaction, work, recreation, education and to care for their families. Currently private expenditure by individuals, either via direct purchasing or the need to contribute a co-payment for funded schemes such as the Victorian Aids and Equipment Program (VAEP), is creating financial burden.

The AEAA propose to deliver a discussion paper and policy paper outlining Safety Net options following research on national and international safety net models and through collaboration and interviews with all known stakeholder groups.

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From Teflon to Velcro: Creating Accessible Workplaces for People with a Mental Illness

Organisation: Social Firms Australia
People with a mental illness continue to be significantly under represented in employment statistics. The purpose of this project (TTV) is to increase the number of durable employment opportunities in mainstream workplaces for this population. This will be achieved by promoting the successful strategies implemented in the social firms SoFA has helped to establish; converting ‘non-stick’ ‘Teflon’ workplaces to ones with a range of ‘hooks’ and supports that facilitate engagement and ongoing employment (Velcro)

SoFA will develop partnerships between social firms and businesses operating in similar industries. This ‘twinning’ system aims to increase the employment opportunities for people with a mental illness by supporting local employers to be more responsive to this group. SoFA will provide training, coordination of a staff ‘buddy’ system to promote the social firm’s effective work practices and will identify suitable positions in the business and appropriate adjustments for people with a mental illness.

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A Home of My Own: Sharing Stories & Possibilities

Organisation: Belonging Matters (Formerly Personalised Lifestyle Assistance)

Amount sought: $41,000

This project aims to produce a quality DVD to capture four inspiring stories of people with complex needs living in their own home with a range of supports (rather than in congregate care or with their parents). It will also capture each person working, volunteering, pursuing their interests in the community and building relationships with non- disabled citizens.

The DVD will be used to raise awareness of creative accommodation alternatives for people with a disability by inspiring, educating and developing the capacity of people with a disability, families and the sector. It will be used at training events, meetings/consultations with individuals, families, professionals and bureaucrats and via order to enable access to those in rural and remote areas.

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Increasing Safety & Gender Sensitivity for women consumers in mental health services

Organisation: Victorian Women and Mental Health Network

Amount sought: $40,000 plus ongoing

The Gender Sensitivity and Safety project for women consumers of mental health service will ensure that women consumers who access mental health services will be offered a safe and secure environment in which to heal.

This will be achieved through advocating for policy change to ensure that mental health services offer physical spaces which are safe and supportive of women and that the organizational culture of mental health services is attuned to the provision of gender sensitive care for women.

The focus of the project is to ensure that the voice of the woman consumer is heard by politicians, bureaucrats, health professionals and the general public.

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Getting the word out: Women with Disabilities Victoria’s Communication Strategy

Organisation: Women with Disabilities Victoria

Amount sought: $52,304

Women with Disabilities Victoria is a state-wide not for profit organisation. Our work involves empowering women with disabilities; providing community education and professional training; researching the issues facing women with disabilities; disseminating information; and systemic advocacy.

Our priorities address violence against women with disabilities and promote access to health service for women with disabilities.

The proposed project will build our capacity to be effective via a 3 year Communication Strategy. We will disseminate our message to members, community services, academia, the community, trusts and government.

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Making rights a reality for sexual assault victims with a cognitive impairment

Organisation: Federation of Community Legal Centres (Victoria) Inc

Amount sought: $65,000

The project will establish a two year pilot advocacy support service for sexual assault victims with a cognitive impairment in Melbourne’s South East region. South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault, Springvale Monash Legal Service and disability agencies will provide victims with:

• advocacy and support during dealings with police and prosecutors including 24 hour crisis support;
• ongoing advocacy and support to help victims to monitor, understand and participate in the investigation and prosecution;
• advice on criminal justice processes and the options and services available;
• support to access crimes compensation and other compensation options; and
• a skilled communication support service and other disability support services where required.

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Turn it up!

Organisation: Community Radio Federation (3CR)

Amount sought: $63,997

The Turn it up! project will train five people with disabilities in radio. The training will cover radio skills from interviewing to editing and will be tailored to the participants’ needs.

The radio features will give voice to people in the disability community to discuss issues of interest and concern to them, as well as educate and raise awareness in the broader public. The Turn it up! project aims to give voice to up to 100 members of the disability community.

The radio features will be broadcast on 3CR 855AM, 3CR Digital, streamed live and podcast each week via www.3cr.org.au making them available and accessible to the widest possible audience.

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Inclusive Education Project

Organisation: Australian Federation of Disability Organisations

Amount sought: $95,250

The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) is a peak representative body of and for people with disability.

A key area of work for AFDO is to promote the inclusive education of students with disabilities. At present, students with disability have lower rates of school attendance, satisfaction and school completion than their peers.

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Documentary Training Series: A Voice for Disability

Organisation: Grit Media (Disability Media Inc.)

Amount sought: $20,000-$50,000

This is a television media training program for people with disabilities with a four episode documentary series outcome to be aired on Community Television.

The series will feature content promoting the rights of people with disabilities. Participants will also be given the opportunity to produce positive, empowering content, fighting the negative stereotypes of victimhood and charity cases so often perpetuated by commercial media.

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