News.

Check here for General Information about our news and newsletters.

This page is mainly devoted to general news.

Note: Use of his material is subject to our Copyright provisions.

Please note: Up to date press releases and information bulletins from Disability Services Queensland can be found on the official DSQ web site, by following this link. The site allows you to sign up to receive news to your own email.

News.

Your Assistanc, please. QAUHD.

In January 2010, the Queensland Government launched a mandatory Sustainability Declaration at the sale of all homes, to raise Queenslanders' awareness of the benefits of sustainable housing features. It required the seller to declare the features of their home that save water and energy, and enhance access and safety.

Queensland Action for Universal Housing Design supported this initiative.

There is an urgent issue we ask you to consider. Follow these links to read more

Link to QAUHD form letter (Word).

Link to QAUHD letter to supporters (PDF).

Link to QAUHD Proposed Sustainability Declaration (PDF).

TOP

Advances in disability and human rights legislation welcomed.

Thursday, 25 June 2009. The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed two major initiatives today for human rights of people with disability and their families.

Both Houses of the Federal Parliament have passed the Disability Discrimination and Other Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2008. The Attorney-General has also announced that the Australian Human Rights Commission will be given specific responsibilities for monitoring Australia's implementation of the international Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Follow this link to the NHRC human rights bulletin (rtf).

TOP

Showcase tours for patrons with a disability. (QPAC).

Access improvements made as part of QPAC's $35 million refurbishment were test-driven recently by several groups representing patrons who use wheelchairs or require mobility assistance, who are blind, deaf or with a vision or hearing impairment and teachers and students from Special Education units. An Auslan signed tour was conducted for visitors from the Deaf community.

All appreciated the opportunity to explore QPAC's new amenities and welcomed the advancements made in accommodating their needs in order to ensure equitable access to live entertainment. (QPAC bulletin).

TOP

Transport pass delivers more options for people with a disability. (Victoria).

People who have a severe and permanent disability and can travel independently on public transport will have access to a new travel pass. Victoria.

Follow this link to the Victorian Transport bulletin (rtf).

TOP

Report allows us to go forward on building access for people with disability.

Tuesday, 16 June 2009. Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes, has welcomed the report of the House Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs inquiry into the draft Premises Standards, urging the Government to adopt the Committee's recommendations and proceed to finalise the standards as soon as possible.

Follow this link to the NHRC bulletin about the HSC recommendations(rtf).

TOP

Commission makes recommendation for an Australian Human Rights Act.

Tuesday, 16 June 2009. The Australian Human Rights Commission has lodged its submission to the National Human Rights Consultation, formalising its key recommendation that the Australian Parliament should enact a national Human Rights Act.

Follow this link to the NHRC bulletin (rtf).

TOP

Premises Standard.

The Disability Discrimination Act was passed by Parliament in 1992 with the promise of producing a radical shift in the way society included people with a disability. After 16 years of operation, the Act has produced substantial benefits for people with a disability and has contributed to attitudinal change in many areas of Australian society. However, in some areas it is clear that much more work remains to be done. Access to premises is one of those areas. Equal access to premises is crucial to justice and social inclusion for people with a disability because it has a pervasive impact on the interaction of people with a disability with the Australian community. Without access to premises, people with a disability cannot access goods, services and facilities which other Australians take for granted, in areas as simple as the ability to enjoy the cinema with their family, go to the dentist, or to visit their Member of Parliament. Without access, people with a disability face many hurdles to full participation in community life. Failure to provide access may even affect the ability of people with a disability to find work - something which contributes to dignity and self-esteem, and which represents a sad loss of human potential.

Follow this link to the document titled 'Access All Areas' (PDF).

TOP

Health, Housing and Disability Forums.

Over recent months, QDN has been part of a reference group brought together by Queensland Shelter to plan and have input into a number of state-wide forums aimed providing people with disability and/or those experiencing chronic health conditions with an opportunity to discuss and share their experiences and concerns with regard to accessing and maintaining adequate housing.

These forums will include presentations by speakers from the Federal department of Families Housing Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), The Queensland Department of Communities, and local services to provide updates on departmental changes and recent policy initiatives.

Follow this link to the Registration Forms (word).

TOP

National Human Rights Consultation - A Charter of Rights for Australia.

Have your say on whether you want a Bill of Rights for Australia. Let policy makers know about the ways in which the rights of people with disability are ignored or abused every day.

Follow this link to read the Template Human Rights Consultation Letter (word).

Follow this link to the Draft Human Rights Consultation Submission Letter (word).

TOP

Queenslanders with Disability Network Comments on Disability (Access to Premises-Buildings) Standards 2009.

Below are responses from the Queenslanders with Disability Network answering the questions raised by the House Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs in the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry into the draft Disability (Access to Premises- Buildings) Standards as detailed at the Parliament of Australia (House of Representatives) web site:

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/laca/disabilitystandards/tor.htm

Follow this link to read QDN's response.

TOP

. home about QDN. our Policies and Positions. our Priorities. our Networks. news. blog. links. membership. contact QDN. our web site. . © Queenslanders with Disability Network Inc. Updated 12 July 2010	news \| our media releases \| eBulletins \| general news \| projects and events \| newsletters \| labour day march \|
	News. Check here for General Information about our news and newsletters. This page is mainly devoted to general news. Note: Use of his material is subject to our Copyright provisions. Please note: Up to date press releases and information bulletins from Disability Services Queensland can be found on the official DSQ web site, by following this link. The site allows you to sign up to receive news to your own email. News. Your Assistanc, please. QAUHD. In January 2010, the Queensland Government launched a mandatory Sustainability Declaration at the sale of all homes, to raise Queenslanders' awareness of the benefits of sustainable housing features. It required the seller to declare the features of their home that save water and energy, and enhance access and safety. Queensland Action for Universal Housing Design supported this initiative. There is an urgent issue we ask you to consider. Follow these links to read more Link to QAUHD form letter (Word). Link to QAUHD letter to supporters (PDF). Link to QAUHD Proposed Sustainability Declaration (PDF). TOP Advances in disability and human rights legislation welcomed. Thursday, 25 June 2009. The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed two major initiatives today for human rights of people with disability and their families. Both Houses of the Federal Parliament have passed the Disability Discrimination and Other Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2008. The Attorney-General has also announced that the Australian Human Rights Commission will be given specific responsibilities for monitoring Australia's implementation of the international Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Follow this link to the NHRC human rights bulletin (rtf). TOP Showcase tours for patrons with a disability. (QPAC). Access improvements made as part of QPAC's $35 million refurbishment were test-driven recently by several groups representing patrons who use wheelchairs or require mobility assistance, who are blind, deaf or with a vision or hearing impairment and teachers and students from Special Education units. An Auslan signed tour was conducted for visitors from the Deaf community. All appreciated the opportunity to explore QPAC's new amenities and welcomed the advancements made in accommodating their needs in order to ensure equitable access to live entertainment. (QPAC bulletin). TOP Transport pass delivers more options for people with a disability. (Victoria). People who have a severe and permanent disability and can travel independently on public transport will have access to a new travel pass. Victoria. Follow this link to the Victorian Transport bulletin (rtf). TOP Report allows us to go forward on building access for people with disability. Tuesday, 16 June 2009. Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes, has welcomed the report of the House Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs inquiry into the draft Premises Standards, urging the Government to adopt the Committee's recommendations and proceed to finalise the standards as soon as possible. Follow this link to the NHRC bulletin about the HSC recommendations(rtf). TOP Commission makes recommendation for an Australian Human Rights Act. Tuesday, 16 June 2009. The Australian Human Rights Commission has lodged its submission to the National Human Rights Consultation, formalising its key recommendation that the Australian Parliament should enact a national Human Rights Act. Follow this link to the NHRC bulletin (rtf). TOP Premises Standard. The Disability Discrimination Act was passed by Parliament in 1992 with the promise of producing a radical shift in the way society included people with a disability. After 16 years of operation, the Act has produced substantial benefits for people with a disability and has contributed to attitudinal change in many areas of Australian society. However, in some areas it is clear that much more work remains to be done. Access to premises is one of those areas. Equal access to premises is crucial to justice and social inclusion for people with a disability because it has a pervasive impact on the interaction of people with a disability with the Australian community. Without access to premises, people with a disability cannot access goods, services and facilities which other Australians take for granted, in areas as simple as the ability to enjoy the cinema with their family, go to the dentist, or to visit their Member of Parliament. Without access, people with a disability face many hurdles to full participation in community life. Failure to provide access may even affect the ability of people with a disability to find work - something which contributes to dignity and self-esteem, and which represents a sad loss of human potential. Follow this link to the document titled 'Access All Areas' (PDF). TOP Health, Housing and Disability Forums. Over recent months, QDN has been part of a reference group brought together by Queensland Shelter to plan and have input into a number of state-wide forums aimed providing people with disability and/or those experiencing chronic health conditions with an opportunity to discuss and share their experiences and concerns with regard to accessing and maintaining adequate housing. These forums will include presentations by speakers from the Federal department of Families Housing Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), The Queensland Department of Communities, and local services to provide updates on departmental changes and recent policy initiatives. Follow this link to the Registration Forms (word). TOP National Human Rights Consultation - A Charter of Rights for Australia. Have your say on whether you want a Bill of Rights for Australia. Let policy makers know about the ways in which the rights of people with disability are ignored or abused every day. Follow this link to read the Template Human Rights Consultation Letter (word). Follow this link to the Draft Human Rights Consultation Submission Letter (word). TOP Queenslanders with Disability Network Comments on Disability (Access to Premises-Buildings) Standards 2009. Below are responses from the Queenslanders with Disability Network answering the questions raised by the House Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs in the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry into the draft Disability (Access to Premises- Buildings) Standards as detailed at the Parliament of Australia (House of Representatives) web site: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/laca/disabilitystandards/tor.htm Follow this link to read QDN's response. TOP