General Purpose Standing Committee No. 2. INQUIRY INTO THE PROGRAM OF APPLIANCES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE (PADP) Chaired by Ms Robyn Parker MLC, Legislative Council’s General Purpose Standing Committee No 2.

This committee is currently reviewing PADP services provsion and the program across NSW. If you would like to more infomation about this review or read the transcripts of witnesses before the committe go to;

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/3BFE042E0A26020CCA25747400833EDC.

There has also been significant press coverage of the hearings.

The IDEA Center is situated within the University at Buffalo.

The centre describes itself as dedicated to improving the design of environments and products by making them more usable, safer and appealing to people with a wide range of abilities throughout their life spans. IDEA provides resources and technical expertise in architecture, product design, facilities management and the social and behavioral science.

IDEA operates an excellent website at http://www.ap.buffalo.edu/idea/Home/index.asp

Structure of the guidelines

LANDCOM has released guidelines for developers and biulders. The publication is "universal housing design guidelines". The principles of universal housing have been separated into two categories: the Key Design Features that are critical to build in up front, during the house design stage, and other design features that are basic good practice. The guidelines focus on the Key Design Features – the minimum structural and spatial requirements that cannot be changed later without major expense.

The other ‘good practice extras’ are features that will make a home more flexible and practical to live in, but that can reasonably be fitted or modified later, without major expense.

They have been included on a CD-ROM, also downloadable from www.landcom.com.au/theguidelines

Victorian Universal Housing Alliance.

The Victorian Universal Housing Alliance was launched on 29 July 2008. The Alliance was established to advocate for State regulation to increase Victoria’s stock of universal housing – housing which is designed to be used by all people to the greatest extent possible.

The Alliance is auspiced by VCOSS, the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), Council on the Ageing (COTA), the Chronic Illness Alliance and the Housing Resource and Support. http://www.vcoss.org.au/what-we-do/housing/vuha.htm

At the launch a discussion paper “Universal Housing, Universal Benefits”, was released. This paper outlines how the Victorian Government could save over $70 million in such costs each year if it were to implement universal housing regulation.This paper is avaliable online free of charge from VCOSS web site.

Project Aim

Between now and 2013, the Commission, the EU Member States and the private sector will together invest more than €1 billion in research and innovation for ageing well, including €600 million from the new Joint Research Programme and €400 million from the EU's seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.

The main aims are to generate significant cost-savings in health and social care and create a strong industrial hub for ICT and ageing in Europe and make a better quality of life for elderly people (through e.g. smart home technologies for controlling heating, lighting, and even food stocks remotely, electronic alarm systems or tele-health facilities).

More information can be found at http://www.aal-europe.eu/ or http://ec.europa.eu/einclusion

UNESCO operates a site that publishes free training courses and the promotion of Open License training material. The site has a broad range of community development tools as well as some information on building environmentally sustainable housing. The site can be found at http://opentraining.unesco-ci.org/cgi-bin/page.cgi?g=;d=1

The site describes it self as follows. 

The objective behind this platform is to empower trainers or/and trainees with free resources, offer them a structured collaborative space to share their training but also to promote and value the “open” training materials, which are freely and openly accessible for trainers and self-learners to use and re-use for non commercial purposes such as teaching, learning and research.

The Communication and Information Sector of UNESCO has been developing this open training platform available on line, to build capacities of :

• local people
• specialized communities (Trainers, educators, decision makers & policy makers, entrepreneurs, farmers, scientists, media people, librarians, archivists & information specialists, cultural actors, health specialists, environment specialists, development & social worker or civil servants)

through ICT-enhanced training.

It offers a central access point to non-formal education resources and training which may be relevant to them according to their needs, knowledge, language and culture, with special emphasis on developing countries’ people. This is at the service of end users (through community centers, IT kiosks, equipped libraries, etc.) but also helps trainers in their guiding and facilitating role to make people, including women and young, adapted to actively participate in knowledge societies and economies where their future stands in their ability to be active opportunity seekers.

Update of this information. Obtainable free of charge on request to publications@humanrights.gov.au:

• The good, the bad and the ugly (Word) or HTML version. A look at 14 examples of the most common problems and misinterpretations in applying today's Building Code of Australia (BCA) in the area of access. The good, the bad and the ugly shows in words and pictures why a thorough understanding and application of the BCA is vital to ensuring access.The good, the bad and the ugly can be used as a self learning tool or used as part of a continuing education program, for example, in a Local Government Building Section or within an architects firm.

• Guidelines on access to buildings and services (Word) or HTML version. The guidelines are aimed at businesses, service providers, Government agencies, property managers and anyone involved in the purchasing, leasing or assessment of property. The aim of the guideline is to assist in identifying possible barriers to buildings and services and direct people to resources and expertise to address those barriers.

For more information follow link to HEROC site.

TAD has now moved into new premises at Northmead and back up and running. Apart from the Custom Designed Aids Service, the Freedom Wheels Modified Bike Program is now well under way.

We wish to hold a Therapist Information Session to introduce staff to our services and premises.

We are targeting this at relatively new therapists, who are unfamiliar with how TAD operates, but anyone who wants to come along and find out a little more about us is very welcome. The format of the morning will involve a short talk about the Custom Designed Aids service, how to refer to us, examples of projects that we have undertaken including presentation of some of the frequently requested items and the process that we use in the production or modification of the aid.There will then be an introduction to the Freedom Wheels program, where bike assessment clinics are running again. The process and the modifications are now streamlined to allow more kids to access modified bikes. The process of application will be explained and bikes will be on display to illustrate the modifications available. Kids with mild weakness to significant functional disabilities can be catered for that could not otherwise have the pleasure of riding a bike.

Date: 8, 9, 10th of September (Mon, Tue, Wed)Time: 10am to 12:00 pm

Program:

• 10 am to 11pm: Presentation by therapists covering:TAD’s services in general Custom Designed Aids including frequently requested items and our scope in modifying and customising other pieces of equipment Freedom Wheels Modified Bike Program

• 11pm to 11:30pm: Guided tour of TADhouse

• 11:30pm to 12:00pm: Morning Tea.

Please RSVP as to which date you would prefer to come.

If there is more than one person from your department attending, please specify the names of each individual person.

If you could please forward it on to all the relevant people in your departments, that would be great.

Weh Yeoh Physiotherapist;

Custom Designed Aids Technical Aid to the Disabled NSW

Locked Bag 2008, Wentworthville NSW 2145 Australia

Phone 1300 663 243

Direct Phone (02) 9912 3437

Fax (02) 9890 1912

E-mail: wyeoh@tadnsw.org.au

Web site: www.tadnsw.org.au

The California Government of Ageing has added content to their website about home safety and housing information aimed at their ageing population. The home safety checklist was developed by the Community and Home Injury Prevention Project for Seniors (CHIPPS), San Francisco Department of Public Health. It was designed to help people make their homes a safer place and prevent accidental falls. There is also information available on home modifications, a guide to better living, and frequently asked questions on housing.

A link is available via our website here.

The recent spate of corporate failures and collapses highlights the need for effectiveRisk Management and governance. It is the responsibility of every Director, Board or CEO to ensure that they have a framwork in place that will help to analyse those intrinsic risks that every business encounters. Failure to do so could expose yourself to negative consequences, or even worse, lost opportunities.

This highlights how crucial Risk Management is becoming for every organisation. It should be entwined into every business decision, every negotiation, and every meeting. This process requires a clear and structured approach to work efficiently.

For an effective, yet concise framework, use Australia's leading business standard, AS/NZS 4360:2004, Risk management.the latest edition of the world's premier Eisk Management Standard provides a simple generic guide outlining a proven seven step process. It outlines a framework to help establish context, identify, analyse, evaluate and treat risk, whilst promoting ongoing communication, consultation, monitoring and review.

For more information and ordering details visit http://www.riskmanagement.com.au