Disability News: Vol 1 No 7 - Monday, 15 August 2005
Enhancing post secondary education, training and employment opportunities for people with a disability RDLO & DCOs National Website http://www.adcet.edu.au/rdco/	Compiled by Timothy Hart DCO for Northern, Central and Southern Sydney

To return to the DCO Disability Newsletter Archive Page go to http://www.cdds.med.usyd.edu.au/dco/newsletter or click here

Conferences:
The Global Access Project (GAP) Inaugural International Forum ‘Sharing the Knowledge’
Presented by Macquarie Customised Accessibility Services M-CAS, September 29th & 30th, 2005
Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia,
An equity focussed Forum aimed at addressing the GAP between the needs of students and employees with disabilities and current services and technologies. The Forum will include a showcase of & workshops with new adaptive technologies, case studies from end users and interactive panel sessions. For further information or to register contact http://www.cfl.mq.edu.au/mcas/gap/ Enquiries +61 2 9850 7570

The Global Access Project (GAP) is an initiative of Macquarie University's Centre for Flexible Learning and has grown out of Macquarie Customised Accessibility Services. The aim of the GAP forum is to provide an international forum where delegates can share knowledge, experience, technologies and methods for facilitating equity of access to information and knowledge in both the Education and Industry sectors. This forum provides an ideal opportunity for delegates to both participate and learn about new developments in the accessibility area.

The GAP forum is an equity focussed forum which will address the divide between the needs of students and employees with disabilities and current services and technologies. We are fortunate to have two International speakers, Frances West from IBM USA and Dr Martin Morrey from Intrallect UK, as well as a line up of engaging and stimulating speakers from Australia. The Forum will include a showcase of new adaptive technologies, technology workshops, case studies from end users and interactive panel sessions.
International Keynote addresses from
Frances West, Director of IBM’s World Wide Accessibility Center, IBM USA
Dr Martin Morrey, Intrallect UK, (elearning systems and bespoke software)
Special Guest speakers include
Dr Sev Ozdowski, Human Rights Commissioner, Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission
John Loxton, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Macquarie University, Sydney
Suzanne Colbert, CEO, Employers Making a Difference (EMAD)
Helen Dakin, Senior Legal Offi cer, Australian Copyright Council
Mark Bagshaw, Manager IBM Australia & NZ Accessibility Centre
http://www.cfl.mq.edu.au/mcas/gap/

NSW: The Professional Development Day - Disability Discrimination Act Education Standards
The Disability Education Association of NSW (DEAN) invites you to attend the Annual General Meeting and Professional Development Day to be held on Monday 12th September at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) (Jones Street - Building 10, Level 2, Room 410).

The Professional Development Day topic will be “Disability Discrimination Act Education Standards – Protecting the Student and the Institution”. A panel of guest speakers will discuss issues raised by the recently introduced Education Standards, and participants will be given the opportunity to share their professional experience and discuss any concerns.

The Annual General Meeting will begin at 3pm immediately following the Professional Development Day in the same venue.

DATE AND VENUE: Monday, 12th September, University of Technology, Sydney
(UTS) Jones Street (Building 10, Level 2, Room 410).
For more information go to http://www.anu.edu.au/disabilities/DEAN/deanhome.htm

Education:
Nationals split on student unionism
Greg Roberts
August 12, 2005
THE Queensland Nationals are divided over compulsory student unionism, with some senior party figures arguing it should be opposed because student unions have become training centres for Labor politicians.
But Queensland Nationals senior vice-president Susie Douglas has gone further than renegade senator Barnaby Joyce and called on the Howard Government to drop its voluntary student union legislation altogether.
Senator Joyce has warned he will vote against the legislation unless regional university campuses are compensated for the loss of sporting and other services if student union membership is made voluntary.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16232800%255E12332,00.html

Uni 'flat tax' unfair on part-timers
Samantha Maiden
August 11, 2005
UNIVERSITIES are imposing on students a "flat tax" when charging compulsory union fees that failed to take into account part-timers and external students, Education Minister Brendan Nelson said yesterday.
As students protested across the nation over the introduction of voluntary student unionism, Dr Nelson highlighted that full and part-time students pay the same union fee, irrespective of the time they spend on campus. And he rejected the views of Nationals MPs that the legislation would hit hardest on regional campuses.
However, he urged universities to embrace innovative changes to market different student union services under the banner of choice and offered the support of financial advisers to universities struggling to deal with the proposed changes.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16220863%255E12332,00.html

Nelson ready for fight over student unionism
By David Wroe
August 11, 2005
Education Minister Brendan Nelson has admitted that Nationals MPs' fears about the abolition of compulsory student unionism are "legitimate" but is staring down their threats to cross the floor.
"I've faced more difficult challenges in the past and been able to succeed at them," he said. "I think the views and concerns and reservations that are held by a range of people, while I disagree with them, are legitimate."
As students around Australia protested against the Government's voluntary student unionism legislation - in some cases resulting in violence - Dr Nelson continued his public debate with Nationals MPs.
The MPs are worried that the abolition of the compulsory student union fee will destroy regional campus services such as sports and other clubs, child care and medical services.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/nelson-ready-for-fight-over-student-unionism/2005/08/10/1123353381534.html

Student unionism divides Coalition
By David Wroe
Canberra
August 10, 2005
A range of compromises on voluntary student unionism have been put to the party room
Education Minister Brendan Nelson seems intent on pressing ahead with his ban on compulsory student union fees while placating worried Nationals MPs with a promise to monitor the effects on regional universities.
Dr Nelson met Nationals yesterday to hear their concerns that sporting clubs and services on smaller regional campuses would be destroyed under the Government's legislation, which stops universities charging a compulsory student union fee.
He is believed to have made no promises to give regional universities extra money but proposed a plan to watch closely how universities are coping with the change.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/student-unionism-divides-coalition/2005/08/09/1123353321924.html

Police hurt in protest at university
August 10, 2005 - 2:15PM
Three police officers were injured in scuffles as thousands of students protested in Sydney today over the Federal Government's proposed voluntary student unionism (VSU) legislation.
One mass gathering was told by Sydney University's vice-chancellor Gavin Brown that the introduction of VSU would change campus life forever.
Addressing about 600 students at the university today, Professor Brown said: "We have a rich set of clubs and societies in the sense of rich and diverse, but poor and impoverished if the legislation goes through."
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/police-hurt-in-protest-at-university/2005/08/10/1123353366321.html

Senior Liberal warns PM on uni fees plan
By Michelle Grattan
Political Editor, Canberra
August 9, 2005
The revolt in Coalition ranks against the proposed ban on universities charging compulsory service fees has widened, with a senior Liberal senator warning Prime Minister John Howard that the move threatens to cut services and discourage overseas students.
Senator Alan Eggleston, the Government's deputy Senate whip, suggests the ban is driven by outdated ideological student politics battles and says it is "not appropriate to contemporary circumstances on our university campuses".
"It is important not to lose sight of the fact that student 'unions' or 'guilds' are not industrial unions," Senator Eggleston wrote in a letter to Mr Howard.
Rather, they are "organisations providing services and representation for students within university forums and do in my view make an important and useful contribution to the experience of university life".
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/senior-liberal-warns-pm-on-uni-fees-plan/2005/08/08/1123353261359.html

Nats flex muscles on unis
Samantha Maiden and Steve Lewis
August 09, 2005
NATIONALS MPs will today demand extra cash for regional universities to help pay for facilities they claim will be jeopardised by the introduction of voluntary student unionism.
The issue will be the Nationals' first test of strength in the new-look Senate, which sits today for the first time, and comes in the middle of delicate discussions between the Coalition partners about the sale of Telstra.
Treasurer Peter Costello warned Nationals MPs yesterday against making "irresponsible" demands to boost a proposed $2 billion fund to improve services in the bush in exchange for a further Telstra sell-off.
Similar tensions between Liberal and Nationals MPs over the fate of the university legislation will come to the surface today when a Government-dominated Senate inquiry is expected to find that assumptions that the VSU reforms will hurt regional universities are "unfounded".
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16198610%5E12332,00.html

VSU will cut child care: Inquiry
August 08, 2005
From: AAP
MOTHERS with young children will find it harder to get a higher education if compulsory student union fees are abolished, university childcare services say.
A Senate inquiry into the Government's bill abolishing the compulsory fees is expected to report this week as the government assumes its majority for the first time in the upper house.
The legislation has hit a snag within the coalition ranks, however, with outspoken Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce questioning the move.
Submissions to the Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee paint a bleak picture of university life without the fees to prop up campus services.
Subsidised childcare is among the student programs likely to suffer, which supporters of compulsory fees say could lead to mothers shying away from higher education.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,16187620-29277,00.html

Help promised for students with disability
By Claire Miller
August 7, 2005
The State Government will reform Victoria's troubled program for students with disabilities and impairments in the 2008 school year.
The reforms will address problems that have brought the program close to collapse through staff cuts, poor accountability, inadequate resources and training and budget-driven tightening to curb rising numbers. Whether the changes will have to fit within the existing budget remains unclear.
The changes will include a review of the eligibility criteria and disability categories, given advances in diagnosis and understanding of conditions such as autism. The review, the first since 1994, will also consider cases where children with multiple low-level disabilities fall between categories. It will measure the actual incidence of disability among students.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/help-promised-for-students-with-disability/2005/08/06/1123125945840.html

An act to kill off campus life
August 4, 2005
Universities should offer students far more than a piece of paper, writes Catharine Lumby.
ASTUDENT recently ended a discussion with me by reminding me that the University of Sydney was a business and she was its client. Sadly, it's a view a growing number of students seem to share.
Over the past few years, I've had students tell me they can't possibly fail a subject because they've "paid" for their degree. Others seem to think that attending lectures is optional - that the only thing that matters is scraping through the degree and getting a piece of paper.
At the heart of these attitudes is the view that universities are factories which pump people with skills into jobs they want. That getting an education is like stopping off at a service station - you drive in, fill up with some facts, and speed off again.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/an-act-to-kill-off-campus-life/2005/08/03/1122748696571.html

Bid to stem violence in classrooms
By Farrah Tomazin
State Political Reporter
August 4, 2005
Victorian teachers could be given new powers to physically restrain violent children as part of a State Government bid to stem the level of assaults against workers in special schools.
The Victorian WorkCover Authority has told the Education Department to tackle the problem, after finding that an average of 92 teachers a year make WorkCover claims after being assaulted or injured at special schools.
As part of the move, guidelines are expected to be developed, outlining the rules under which children can be physically restrained when they lash out violently, whether it be due to behavioural problems, mental impairment or physical disability.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/bid-to-stem-violence-in-classrooms/2005/08/03/1122748699986.html

Union to support race don
Dorothy Illing
August 03, 2005
THE National Tertiary Education Union has moved to protect the rights of controversial Macquarie University academic Andrew Fraser amid uproar over his comments about African and Asian immigration.
As debate about academic freedom reached new heights yesterday, the union stood by the law lecturer even though it admitted to being outraged by what he was saying.
While the imbroglio was likely to descend into an industrial matter over process, Macquarie University vice-chancellor Di Yerbury this week tried to turn it into a safety issue.
She told the HES the backlash against Associate Professor Fraser's comments had placed staff and students at risk.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16132878%255E12332,00.html

Uni courses soar up to $256,000
By David Rood
Higher education reporter
August 3, 2005
University degrees costing more than $100,000 have surged, with new figures showing more than 60 undergraduate fee-paying courses are likely to cross the threshold next year.
The figure, an increase on this year's 45 courses costing $100,000 or more, is revealed in the Good Universities Guide.
Half of the $100,000 degrees are being offered at Melbourne or Monash universities.
Monash's $256,000 medicine/law degree is the most expensive domestic fee-paying course listed.
The increases again contradict Prime Minister John Howard's 1999 statement that there would be no $100,000 degrees.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/uni-courses-soar-up-to-256000/2005/08/02/1122748639611.html

More university degrees to pass $100,000 mark
By David Rood
August 3, 2005
There has been a surge in university degrees that cost $100,000, with new figures showing Australian universities will push through the threshold in more than 60 undergraduate fee-paying courses next year.
The figures, revealed in the 2006 Good Universities Guide, have increased from 45 courses this year, with 18 of the $100,000-plus degrees offered by the University of NSW.
At this university, an architecture/law degree will cost $121,680 and an engineering/law course will set students back $120,240.
The University of Melbourne also offers 18 $100,000 degrees, but Monash University, with its $256,000 medicine/law degree, has the most expensive domestic fee-paying course listed.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/more-university-degrees-to-pass-100000-mark/2005/08/02/1122748639186.html

Nationals put sense into VSU
Brendan O'Keefe
August 03, 2005
THE Queensland Nationals had "injected sanity" into the debate about voluntary student unionism by backing a call for a split bill, according to National Union of Students president Felix Eldridge.
The Nationals, at their weekend state conference, passed a resolution that asked the federal Government to "ensure that an [alternative] funding mechanism with comparable levels of funding to existing fees [be] provided to maintain the level of services and the provision of facilities on university campuses". It called on the Government "to introduce and enforce good governance guidelines and a clear framework for what purposes funds are able to be used for".
The Queenslanders join the Victorian and NSW Nationals in calling for a watered-down version of the legislation introduced to federal parliament in March by Education Minister Brendan Nelson.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16131952%255E12332,00.html

Welfare:
A will and a way
By Nicole Manktelow
August 13, 2005
A little boost: Judith Geppert with her height adjustable wheelchair. Photo: Jennifer Soo
A little conversation can reveal a lot, but without the aid of expensive technology, chatting with Fiona Given would be considerably difficult.
Given is a paralegal and rights advocate who has cerebral palsy (CP), a physical condition that affects movement to varying degrees and, in some cases, speech. She relies on communications devices, whether at work for the NSW Crown Solicitor's Office, or just going out for coffee. Imagine her frustration when such technology breaks down.
"Normally I would have my smaller communication device on the table, but it's getting fixed, which shows two things: that you can't just have one piece of technology, and that technology breaks down and that can really impact your lifestyle," Given says.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.smh.com.au/news/icon/a-will-and-a-way/2005/08/10/1123353368867.html

Surviving the student digs sharks
Brendan O'Keefe
August 10, 2005
UNSCRUPULOUS landlords and unbearable flatmates may be seen as necessary characters in the university rite-of-passage experience, but it ought not be that way.
Unworldly middle-class students, small-town students in the city for the first time and foreign students struggling with English are fair game for those seeking a quick buck, but a new handbook promises to make them tougher tenants.
The Share House Survival Guide, by the Redfern Legal Centre and the University of Sydney Students Representative Council was launched this week and contains legal and financial advice, links to tenants organisations and advice on how to work out (without violence) whose turn it is to do the washing up.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16204277%255E12332,00.html

After year 12, Allegra may face nursing home
By Adele Horin
August 8, 2005
Eleven years ago, Allegra Milne-Salter's uplifting story featured in the Herald. As a six-year-old with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, she had been accepted into mainstream classes at Kelso Public School, near Bathurst, as part of a new policy of inclusion.
"She needs to be in the world, and the world needs her, too," her mother Sally said at the time.
Now in year 12 at Kelso High School, Allegra is 17 and, like all "life skills" students, will finish school next month. With no alternatives, she will go into a nursing home.
"Allegra either graduates from high school to a nursing home," Ms Milne said, "or to life on a farm with two very tired parents who have not had a full night's sleep in 18 years."
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/after-year-12-allegra-may-face-nursing-home/2005/08/07/1123353212146.html

Condemned it may be, but institutional care is vital for the disabled
Judy Lumby
August 06, 2005
LISA got the call at work. Police were outside her home, where her son was "holed up" after making yet another racket that disturbed the neighbours.
They were about to break down the front door when she arrived. Lisa is the only person Peter listens to, even though he often assaults her.
Peter has Asperger's syndrome. He's now an adult and Lisa is his sole carer. It wasn't quite as bad when he was at school, but the day came when he refused to get in the bus. Lisa couldn't physically force him to do anything. Peter's father abandoned the family long ago. Lisa's daughter moved out too, because Peter was violent towards her.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16162365%255E23289,00.html

Aussie family reveals gene secrets
August 2, 2005 - 6:40PM
An Australian family has played a key role in the breakthrough discovery of a gene associated with intellectual disability, that may also have implications for people with severe epilepsy and autism.
Studies of the Boltwood family, of Bella Vista, in Sydney's north west, were crucial in the identification of a gene, known as CDKL5, which researchers believe will provide important new insights into how the brain works.
Noel and Leita Boltwood have four children - a healthy son and daughter in their twenties and 21-year-old identical twin girls, who have different disabilities.
They also had a profoundly intellectually disabled son, Glyn, who suffered daily seizures most of his life and died when he was 15.
Genetic tests of the siblings have found twins Asha and Bree have defects in the CDKL5 gene, which scientists believe acts as a master switch in healthy people, turning off other genes.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Aussie-family-reveals-gene-secrets/2005/08/02/1122748631599.html

Costello's welfare-to-work figures contradicted
By Misha Schubert
Political correspondent
Canberra
August 3, 2005
Treasurer Peter Costello's claim that the Government's $3.6 billion welfare overhaul would push 190,000 people from welfare to work has been contradicted by the public servants implementing the policy.
Explaining the centrepiece of his 10th budget to journalists on May 10, Mr Costello made an ambitious estimate about the impact of the welfare measures.
"By 2008-09 we estimated that about 190,000 people will have moved from welfare into work," he said.
But now the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has contradicted him - suggesting that less than two-thirds of that number will be propelled into jobs.
In its answer to a question on notice from Labor senator Penny Wong, obtained by The Age, the department predicted only 109,000 people would find work as a result of the package.
For the rest of the article go to
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/costellos-welfaretowork-figures-contradicted/2005/08/02/1122748637090.html

Media Releases:
Democrats support National Day of Action on VSU
Senator Natasha Stott Despoja
Democrats Senator for South Australia
Australian Democrats spokesperson for Higher Education
Despite token attempts by the National Party and some MPs to alleviate the impact of so-called Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU), students will be worse off under the legislation, according to the Australian Democrats.
"The Democrats support the rallies, and other events, taking place around Australia today, to highlight how much students have to lose from the abolition of universal student union fees," Democrats' Higher Education Spokesperson Senator Natasha Stott Despoja said.
For the rest of the Media Releases go to
http://www.democrats.org.au/news/index.htm?press_id=4741&display=1

VSU Senate Committee report confirms Government arrogance
The long awaited release of the Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee report into the Provisions of the Higher Education Support Amendment (Abolition of Compulsory Up-front Union Fees) Bill 2005, confirms the sector belief that the Government is not interested in reasonable discussion of the legislation.
“Government members of this Committee have put ideology not only before reasoned argument, but also before the interests of students, their families, the higher education sector and the Australian economy,” said CAPA President Stephen Horton.
“It seems impossible that a Committee that has received nearly 200 submissions opposing the legislation, with only the Australian Liberal Students Federation, the Victorian Liberal Students Association, the Liberal-dominated University of New England Students Association and Minister Nelson’s own Department supporting the Government’s position, could release a report that is so contrary to the evidence before it. Yet the Committee has done precisely that,” continued Mr Horton.
“Ignoring the myriad examples of student disadvantage that will ensue from this irresponsible legislation, the authors of the majority report have chosen to claim that the evidence is not persuasive. No reasonable person having considered the evidence could arrive at this conclusion. We must assume that the Committee, in anticipation of the diminished future role of Senate committees, has dispensed with its evaluating responsibility and has determined to endorse Government legislation regardless of logic.”
“The dissenting reports of the ALP and Democrat members of the Committee, however, are to be applauded for their insight. CAPA urges all members of the House and Senate to read these dissenting reports prior to further consideration of the proposed legislation.”
For further media enquiries please contact
CAPA President Stephen Horton on 0425 823 144
CAPA is the national peak body representing Australia's 257,000 postgraduate students.

Campaigns:
GetUp is running a campaign against Volunteer Student Unionism (VSU)
In the next two weeks the Howard Government wants to pass a law that will drastically cut services and jobs on university campuses around the country. These services, like childcare, sporting facilities and health services, are used by the whole community.
We need to act now to block this radical bill before it becomes law:
http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/PutCommunitiesFirst
This bill even prevents universities from collecting an amenities fee to keep these basic community services operating.
Liberal Party ideology is being put before common sense and the interests of communities.
That's why some Howard Government members are mounting a last minute effort to block this radical bill. These members need to know that they have wide community support.
There's still a chance to stop this bill. We need to send these members a letter of support asking them to stick to their convictions and vote against the bill.

Jobs:
Equity Research Centre - Project Field Officer
Project Field Officer
Time Fraction: .6 plus
Salary range: $50,000-$55,000 (pro rata)
The Equity Research Centre is a not-for-profit organisation and advisory body to the Victorian Government. We work to promote equity and diversity in post-compulsory education and training and employment.
The Offender Education and Training in ACE Project was established to address offender education, training and employment needs through contracting ACE Organisations and to test models to provide innovative education and training programs for offenders.
We are seeking a Project Field Officer to support the successful achievement of the strategic objectives, guidelines and standards of this project including provision of advice on project implementation, support for participating ACE organisations and development of community learning partnerships.
The role requires excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to work effectively in a small team and a commitment to social justice.
Qualifications: Tertiary qualifications in education, management and/or community development
Time Fraction: .6 with probability of extra session work up to one day per week
Length of contract: 12 months
For further information and a position description phone 03-9417-5355 or email admin@equityresearch.org.au
Applications close on Wednesday 7 September 2005.

New Resources:
‘Do Yourself a Favour – Employ Someone with a Disability!
This guide for employers is MDAA’s latest publication, funded by Parramatta City Council and supported by the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce, and provides information and ideas about the benefits for businesses that diversify their employee and customer base. It dispels the misconceptions about employing someone with disability; and explains how employers can get help to recruit, train and support employees. To read or download a copy, see the 5th publication on www.mdaa.org.au/publications/index.html.

Note that all ABS research publications are now available free from the ABS website is http://www.abs.gov.au/.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) was given additional funding in the last Budget to allow free access to electronic versions of ABS publications on the ABS web site. This improves the availability of official statistics to all Australians but is of particular use for program designers and social researchers.
You can now access an expanded range of free publications on the ABS web site, including:
* electronic publications (PDF and HTML based content); and
* electronic tables in spreadsheet or data cube format which contain publication tables.
The ABS is also considering adding further free on the web content from 1 January 2006. Pending a final decision, this may include most, if not all, remaining standard priced products such as:
* time series spreadsheets; and
* other spreadsheets and data cubes.
The ABS website in the process of being redeveloped. In the past data was sometimes difficult to find and the content categories were not obvious to the casual user. The improvements include an enhanced search function, clearer categories and descriptions, and an easier to use entry page. The improvements make using the site a far more time-efficient.
Check it out, it could be useful for your programs.

Vol 1 No 7
Compiled by Timothy Hart DCO for Northern, Central and Southern Sydney thart@med.usyd.edu.au

To return to the DCO Disability Newsletter Archive Page go to http://www.cdds.med.usyd.edu.au/dco/newsletter or click here