This and previous study outcomes suggest that asking an at-risk population about suicidal ideation is not associated with subsequent increases in suicidal ideation…
2012 Budget Press release from Community Voices
| Does Budget 2012 deliver?
Thursday, 24 May 2012, 4:51 pm |
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
24 May 2012
Does Budget 2012 deliver?
ComVoices members, a network of community and voluntary sector organisations, were hoping to see a much greater emphasis on policies that focused on closing the gap between the wealthiest in New Zealand and the numerous families living in poverty right now.
The Government had signaled a willingness to address some ofNew Zealand’s toughest social issues with the 2012 Budget. Making sure that our young people have the skills to succeed, addressingNew Zealand’s shameful imprisonment rates and taking steps to improve fundamental services such as early childhood and primary teaching all illustrate this.
However, overall a zero budget fails to recognise the impact that inequality is having on our communities right now and the long term drag inequality creates in our sector. Dave Henderson, Coordinator for the Association of Non-Governmental Organisations of Aotearoa (ANGOA), said communities needed support to address the marginalisation of low income New Zealanders.
“This budget, combined with the welfare reforms, puts the squeeze on our most vulnerable members of society. To really get results we must tackle the critical issue of inequality, including the horrific impact of child poverty.
Ric Odom, Chair of ComVoices, says that the Government’s focus on a few distinct results was a strong start in refocusing the whole system towards delivering more for New Zealanders. However, to be successful would require a much greater focus on involving community organisations in the delivery of those results.
“The Government’s ‘results’ focus should be a chance to realign the whole system. Simply doing the same thing we have been doing is not going to create real change.”
“Sector organisations have long worked for this approach, but the Government’s results focus will only address our most intractable social issues if the public service truly involves communities and all those that serve in the action plan development and implementation.”
Vanisa Dhiru, Chief Executive of Volunteering New Zealand, said that to achieve the results the Government wants will require a truly collaborative effort between public organisations and communities.
“Targets and action plans will not be effective if they are developed by government agencies behind closed doors with the same people asking the same questions and giving each other the same answers.”
“The public services must be open to grassroots innovation, learning and collaborative opportunities within the community. Doing that will make successful results that much more certain,” Ms Dhiru said.
The Community and Voluntary Sector contributes more than 4.9 per cent of GDP (including volunteer hours), similar to the contribution of the construction industry. Volunteer labour in 2010 was estimated to be 270 million hours, which translates into $3.5 billion. Volunteering is not restricted to the Community Sector. A lot of core central and local government work is also actively supported by volunteers, for example: the Coastguard, Police, Prisons, and Search and Rescue. The Sector is a significant contributor to the social and economic health ofNew Zealand.
ENDS
Caring Counts Report on Aged Care Workforce in NZ
NEON (National Equal Opportunities Network) Special Feature
Caring Counts: Report of the Inquiry into the Aged Care Workforce
Click the links below to view individual sections from Caring Counts
Part 1
– Foreword
– Recommendations
– Timetable for implementation
Part 2
– Why this Inquiry?
– About the Human Rights Commission
– Terms of Reference
– How we conducted the Inquiry
– Terminology
– Issues looked at in the Inquiry
Part 3
– Respect and value
– Workforce supply, recruitment and retention
– Conditions of work
– Wages and pay parity
– Carers – community and residential facilities
– The gendered nature of caring
– Pay issues
– Financial modelling
– Transparency and consistency
– Transferring resources
– Pay issues for registered nurses and other workers
– Conclusion
– Staff to resident ratios
– Training and qualifications
– Changing service models and developing skill sets
– Minimum training levels for support workers
– Qualifications and rewards
– Value of training
– Career path
– Challenges
– Qualifications, training and the regulated workforce
– Conclusion
– Managerial competence
– Men as carers
– Migrant workforce
– Migrant workers in the aged care sector
– Overseas trained nurses
– English language requirements for registration
– Work visas – the union view
– Work visas – the employers view
– Cultural and language differences
– Conclusion
– Regulatory frameworks
– Regulation of the workforce
– Regulation of services
– Integration and coordination of services
– Conclusion
Part 4
– Diary of a carer
– Maori in aged care
– Impact of Christchurch earthquake
Part 5
– Financial modelling
– Human rights framework
– Literature review
Like Minds Website Evaluation
This survey is for all users of the Like Minds website and will be compared to previous survey results to evaluate how effective the site is and what needs to be updated.
Please take a moment to fill it out.
Update on the Living Wage Campaign
LIVING WAGE AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND LAUNCHED IN AUCKLAND
On Wednesday 23 May an exciting new movement of community, faith-based groups and unions united around a common goal to address poverty and inequality in New Zealand was launched.
Around 200 people attended the launch of Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand in St Stephen’s church hall in Jervois Road, Ponsonby, Auckland. The event was a positive and affirming celebration.
A big thanks to all the community organisations, faith-based groups, unions and others who made this launch a huge success!
The launch
Our MC, Rev Mua Strickson Pua, did a wonderful job, even inviting speaker Uesefili Unasa to join him for a hiphop version of the song She Works Hard For Her Money.
Uesefili spoke of the importance of a living wage for the Pacific community. Other speakers included: Darryl Evans from Mangere Budgeting and Family Support Services, Rev Margaret Mayman from St Andrews on the Terrace, NZ Council of Trade Unions President, Helen Kelly, and Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota President Barbara Wyeth and National Secretary John Ryall.
Those speeches will be published on the new Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand website http://www.livingwagenz.org.nz/ when they are available.
The winner and runner up of the SFWU Living Wage song competition, Kane Hogan performed his song. Listen here. http://soundcloud.com/living-wage-aotearoa-nz/kane-hogan-more-for-all-need-a.
But the highlight was the official sign-on by community organisations, church groups and unions to a giant poster of the Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand statement:
“A living wage is the income necessary to provide workers and their families with the basic necessities of life. A living wage will enable workers to live in dignity and to participate as active citizens in society. We call upon the Government, employers and society as a whole, to strive for a living wage for all households as a necessary and important step in the reduction of poverty in New Zealand.”
Afterwards, community, church people and unions joined for a lunch.
Supporting organisations
The list of supporting organisations is growing daily. For a list of all organisations (to 23 May) click here. www.livingwagenz.org.nz/support.php
Follow up
On the day of the launch a website and facebook page went live. Hundreds of people have signed on to receive regular campaign updates and have volunteered to get involved and donate their skills to the on-going campaign.
Media coverage
The launch attracted huge media coverage. To view go to: www.livingwagenz.org.nz/news.php
Next steps
Wellington Meeting
Wellington groups are invited to a meeting to plan the next steps on Wednesday 4 July 1pm – 3pm, at Epworth House, behind Methodist Church, 75 Taranaki Street, Te Aro, Wellington.
For information email: lyndy.mcintyre@sfwu.org.nz
Auckland Meeting
Auckland groups are meeting to establish an Auckland coalition on Thursday 5 July, 2pm – 4pm at St Stephen’s Church Hall, 65 Jervois Road, Ponsonby.
For information email fala.haulangi@sfwu.org.nz
Advance Pasifika
March for our future. Gather at Albert Park, Auckland at 9am 16 June to march for a better future for Pacific people.
For information: 021 024 58674 or email advance.pasifika@gmail.com
Meanwhile, sign up to the Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand facebook page: www.facebook.com/LivingWageAotearoaNewZealand
Online NZ Peer Support Programme Launched
PeerZone is shared learning for wellbeing, designed and delivered by and for people with experience of mental distress. It is a series of three hour peer facilitated face-to-face sessions (learning packages) where participants engage in mutual support, deepen their understanding of their experience and develop tools for wellbeing in all the major life domains. The face-to-face groups are backed up by online resources and a chat facility.
PeerZone is aimed at working age people, particularly younger people with severe mental distress. Their vision is that by the end of this decade, everyone who uses mental health services will be offered some kind of peer led learning and support opportunity.
Mary O’Hagan and Sara McCook Weir developed PeerZone. The learning packages were developed in 2010-2011 and they were piloted in 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. In 2012 they will organise the initial orientation for facilitators, launch the website, and work to establish PeerZone in New Zealand.
UN Convention Monitoring Report – Forum for People with Disabilities to Have their Say
This is our chance to give feedback on how well we are doing with the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities
Forum Invitation
A Forum for disabled Aucklanders is being held to discuss six key areas to be highlighted in a report being submitted to the New Zealand Government.
They want your input so please come along and have your say
The areas to be talked about are:
- Social inclusion
- Health
- Work
- The way disability support services are run
- Barriers to making complaints
- Lack of disability awareness.
Disabled people are invited to attend the Auckland forum:
- When: Wednesday 13 June 2012
- Where: RNZ Foundation of the Blind Recreation Centre, 4 Maunsell Road, Parnell
- Time: 10am to 3pm
Refreshments: Morning tea and lunch will be provided
RSVP: To Pam MacNeill, by either sending an
- e-mail to pmacneillconsulting@gmail.com
- or phone 528 8323 and leave a message
- or txt 0274 575461.
Places are strictly limited so we must hear from you no later than 5pm, Friday 1 June 2012.
Please let them know:
- If you have any specific dietary needs?
- If you need sign language interpreters?
- If you need large print forum material?
- If you need Braille forum material?
Background to Monitoring Process
On 30 March 2007, New Zealand signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). This was ratified on 26 September 2008.
An important part of the convention is the monitoring process. New Zealand Disabled Peoples’ Organisations have formed a steering group, called the Convention Coalition, to manage this process.
The Convention Coalition is a group of national disabled peoples’ organisations governed by disabled people (as defined in Article 33 of the UNCRPD).
The Coalition is made up of:
- Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand
- Balance New Zealand
- Deaf Aotearoa
- Disabled Persons Assembly
- Nga Hau E Wha
- Ngati Kapo O Aotearoa Inc
- People First New Zealand Inc – Nga Tangata Tuatahi [Auckland Council]
Interview with Director of Psychological Services at the Black Dog Institute
Biting back at negative thinking – Interview with BITE BACK
How does a website help young people to change their thought patterns, and find positive ways of thinking about life’s challenges? ReachOut Pro interviewed Professor Vijaya Manicavasagar, Director of Psychological Services at the Black Dog Institute, about their positive psychology website “BITE BACK”, and how it can be used as a supplement to work with young people.
About ReachOut Pro: ReachOut Pro provides information about mental health, as well as access and advice for health professionals and youth support workers on a range of online interventions, tools and resources that can be used to enhance the effectiveness of psychosocial support and mental health care provided to young people.
Website: http://www.reachoutpro.com.au/
Celebrities say WTF?! about suicide among LGBT youth
Everyone deserves to be treated with respect – More than 30 of New Zealand’s leading celebrities come together in this Rainbow Youth and Outline campaign to ask New Zealand to stand together and say WTF?! .
Watch the video and share with your friends!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2D_4JwQ2Fug
Suicide Prevention in NZ Newsletter for May 2012
The latest issue of the SPINZ Newsletter is now available in PDF or web page format. They bring you a variety of articles that will appeal to a range of people working or interested in suicide prevention, as well as an article aimed at assisting the media with its reporting of suicide.
Links in this contents list take you to the web pages:
Always something better round the corner – Kurt didn’t grow up in an idyllic family setting – he offers insight into how to turn your life around when things aren’t so rosy.
Making suicide support sites more visible – Pro-suicide websites show up more commonly than support sites for people searching the net for suicide information. A group of Wellington researchers suggests ways to turn this around.
When a colleague takes his own life... – Radio host Mike Puru talks on video about the day he lost his colleague to suicide and how he and his colleagues dealt with the fallout.
Empowering rangatahi, strengthening communities – Michael Naera listens to what communities need, and helps them build on their strengths. Find out how he and Kia Piki te Ora are doing this for communities across the Lakes District and beyond.
Preventing suicide: it begins with you – Lifeline urges people to take its ASIST first aid course in suicide prevention.
Go, Think, Stop: a quick guide for reporters – We introduce the media to a simple “traffic light” guide for reporting on suicide
Latest suicide facts released – Take a quick look at the latest official New Zealand suicide statistics.
New books & research – A selection of the latest research and books available from the Mental Health Foundation’s Resource & Information Service.
Mauri ora
Moira Clunie and Witi Ashby
Suicide Prevention Information Development Manager and Development Manager Māori
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
