The Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Scottish Human Rights Commission have today launched a short animated film to raise awareness of the UN Disability Convention in Scotland.
The film has British Sign Language and captioning. It was illustrated by Ko Lik Films and produced by Glasgow Media Access Centre.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUwHIbQFszU
The exact same convention has been ratified in New Zealand so the exact same rights apply here.
PLEASE FIND AS FOLLOWS TWO MESSAGES FROM ROS RICE, CEO, NZCOSS regarding Transition Times newsletter #2 and update from Minister Bennett on green paper for vulnerable children submissions.
1. Kia ora Everyone,
Here in Transition times #2 we get a little more into the nitty gritty. You may have heard of Better Public Services. Here we try to explain what they are, and who is responsible for implementing them.
Also an update on the legislation currently before Government to change the Crown Entity – The Charites Commission to enable it to become part of the structure of the Department of Internal Affairs.
TRANSITION TIMES
Tracking changes to the NZ Government’s funding and administration of social services in our communities.
(NZCOSS is not offering opinion or critique on the information that we are providing in this mailout.)
PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS TO ALL YOUR MEMBERS
Date: 21.5.2012
BETTER PUBLIC SERVICES, WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
CharitiHow the Public Service could deliver better results and improved services for New Zealanders.
As part of the focus on results, the Government has set ten key priority results. Leadership roles for these
results areas have been assigned to five Chief Executives who are working with Ministers and contributing agencies to drive the delivery of results and give account for cross-agency performance.
Reducing long-term welfare dependency Supporting vulnerable children
Boosting skills and employment Reducing crime
Improving interaction with government
“Welfare reform is also a major priority for Government over coming years, and we’ll be introducing legislation to Parliament shortly to enact some of our welfare changes.” John Key 27.01.2012
CHARITIES COMMISSION UPDATE: CROWN ENTITIES REFORM BILL: Charities Commission Section
The Bill disestablishes the Charities Commission and re-assigns functions and duties under the Charities Act 2005 to a new Board (which will be composed of three persons appointed by the Minister and which will be responsible for deciding matters involving the registration or de-registration of charitable entities) and the Chief Executive of the Department of Internal Affairs (who will be responsible for functions formerly performed by the Charities Commission other than deciding whether an entity should be registered or deregistered).
The Board and Chief Executive are given powers (carried over from Section 10(2) of the Charities Act 2005) to perform certain functions in relation to a charity regardless of whether the charity is registered as a charitable entity. The Charities Act 2005 is also amended to provide that its purpose corresponds to:
the promotion of public trust and confidence in the charitable sector;
the encouragement and promotion of the effective use of charitable resources; the recognition of the role of the Chief Executive of the Department of Internal Affairs.
This bill is before the house 22 May 2012 for its second reading; however, we hear there is a real possibility that the House may go into urgency and try to have the 2nd reading, the debate and the 3rd reading at the one House sitting.
Ros Rice, Executive Officer NZCOSS
The ten public service results set for the next three to five years
(specific and measurable targets will be agreed in the next few months):
Reducing long-term welfare dependency
1. Reduce the number of people who have been on a working age benefit for more than 12 months.
(Lead Minister: Paula Bennett and Lead CE: Ministry of Social Development Chief Executive Brendan Boyle)
Supporting vulnerable children
2. Increase participation in early childhood education.
3. Increase infant immunisation rates and reduce the incidence of rheumatic fever.
4. Reduce the number of serious assaults on children.
(Lead Minister: Tony Ryall and Lead CE: Ministry of Social Development Chief Executive Brendan Boyle)
Boosting skills and employment
5. Increase the proportion of 18 year olds with NCEA Level 2 or equivalent qualification.
(Lead Minister: Hekia Parata and Lead CE: Ministry of Education Chief Executive Lesley Longstone)
6. Increase the proportion of 25-34 year olds with advanced trade qualifications, diplomas and degrees.
(Lead Minister: Steven Joyce and Lead CE: Ministry of Education Chief Executive Lesley Longstone)
Reducing crime
7. Reduce the rates of total crime, violent crime and youth crime.
8. Reduce reoffending.
(Lead Minister: Judith Collins and Lead CE: Ministry of Justice Chief Executive Andrew Bridgeman)
Improving interaction with government
9. New Zealand businesses have a one-stop online shop for all government advice and support they need to run and grow their business.
(Lead Minister: Steven Joyce and Lead CE: Ministry of Economic Development Chief Executive David Smol until the formation of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment)
10. New Zealanders can complete their transactions with the Government easily in a digital environment.
(Lead Minister: Amy Adams and Lead CE: Department of Internal Affairs Acting Chief Executive Peter Mersi until new Chief Executive Colin McDonald commences his role on 16 April 2012)
Please note:Public Service Results, taken directly from National Party website and dates maybe different.
2. Subject: Green paper submissions
Dear all,
I have been given permission by Minister Bennett, to give you the reason that she is unable to release the Green Paper submissions publically. Rather than try to paraphrase her, I have directly copied her words.
“Unfortunately we are unable to release submissions as we do not have express permission and as you can imagine some people have put very personal and private information in them. It is really important to me that I treat people’s submissions with the respect they deserve and with more than 9000 I don’t have the resources to contact everyone to get their permission or to make a judgement on what can and can’t be released.”
With thanks to the Minister. I appreciate her contacting me to clarify this, and I am glad to forward her response to you.
Best regards
Ros Rice, Executive Officer, New ZealandCouncil of Social Services
Te Kaunihera Ratonga Tauwhiro O Aotearoa
“A Collective Voice Supporting Local Communities”
De-Escalation and Restraint Training for Clinicians Literature Review: http://www.tepou.co.nz/library/tepou/de-escalation-and-restraint-training-for-clinicians
Talking Therapies: Where to Next? http://www.tepou.co.nz/library/tepou/talking-therapies-where-to-next
The YouthworX E-Newsletter comes out every month and is always full of extensive, targetted information for youth, their families and the people who work with them.
Engage Aotearoa on-shares as much information as possible, but to make sure you get everything youth-related, you should sign up for the YouthworX E-Newsletter.
Email Lisa Noonan to put yourself in the loop: lisa@youthworx.org.nz
SPARX Self-Help Computer Programme
SPARX is a self-help computer programme for young people with symptoms of depression. The programme has been funded by the Ministry of Health and developed by a University of Auckland team which specialises in treating adolescent depression. Check out the award winning game here http://www.sparx.org.nz/
Children’s Visual Communications Dictionary
This is a wonderful tri-lingual picture dictionary. This is one of the first dictionaries that represent the three official languages of Aotearoa. The organisation behind this dictionary is Voice Thru Your Hands. Their vision is that every child, whether they are deaf, have a hearing impairment, or are non-verbal, are given the chance to have a voice.
The Dictionary is available here http://www.voicethruyourhands.org.nz/information/visual-communication-resources-i-11.html
Is Resilience Still a Useful Concept with Working with Children and Young People
Youth workers, health practitioners and others working in the youth sector will be interested in a paper just published by the Child Family Community Australia (CFCA) information exchange on the topic of resilience and its meanings when applied to young people. To read the article, visit this link http://arataiohi.fuzion.co.nz/sites/arataiohi.fuzion.co.nz/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=2255&qid=149875
A recent report on the suicide prevention action plan, developments in youth forensic services, and working together to keep children safe are all topics covered in the latest update from the Health and Disability NGO Email Update.
All updates are available http://www.ngo.health.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexcm/ngo-news-updates?Open&m_id=2.1.
Or to subscribe to regular email updates email ngo@moh.govt.nz
Youth Mental Health Package Unveiled by Prime Minster: Last week the Prime Minister unveiled a $62 million package of initiatives focusing on youth mental health. The package details how Government will improve services for young people with, or at risk of, mild to moderate mental health problems. The initiatives will be of interest to many people and organisations working in the community sector who deal with the consequences of unmet mental health needs, which can involve families, schools and communities as well as the young people themselves. The initiatives will include a focus on making primary health care more youth friendly with interim support for Youth One Stop Shops. The finer details are still in development and the Ministries are consulting with key people in the sector. The initiative also increases the number of youth workers in low decile schools.
Youth workers will be placed in schools in South Auckland, Porirua and Flaxmere that don’t already have Multi Agency Support Services in Secondary Schools. Youth workers will be employed by Child, Youth and Family preferred providers who will be required to go through a tendering and contracting process. There will be 9 new youth workers in 2012/13 and 10 more in 2013/14. Youth workers will be required to have a level 6 qualification.
Full fact sheet information is available here:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Youth_Mental_Health_project-School_Based_Initiatives.pdf
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Youth_Mental_Health_project-Health_Sector.pdf
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Youth_Mental_Health_project-Family_and_Community.pdf
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Youth_Mental_Health_project-Online_initiatives.pdf
Whanau Ora: A Strengths Based Approach to Youth Mental Health: The Minister for Whānau Ora, Tariana Turia, has welcomed the recognition that Whānau Ora is intimately linked to the drive to improve youth mental health. “Whānau Ora, at its heart, is about whānau, aiga or families coming together to support each other through building shared aspirations, and working together to achieve those aspirations,” said Mrs Turia. Read the media release http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/wh%C4%81nau-ora-strengths-based-approach-youth-mental-health
Youth Smoking Hits Record Low: ASH Smoking Survey shows a record drop in youth smoking – especially among Maori girls. The overall rate of youth smoking has dropped one-and-a-half percent to 4.1% (from 5.5% in 2010), the largest drop in almost a decade. Read the full report here: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/youth-smoking-hits-record-low
Public Sector Targets: The Government has announced a set of 10 new targets for the public sector over the next three to five years. These have implications for children, young people, and people working with them. For more information see http://beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/The_Prime_Minister%27s_results_for_New_Zealanders.pdf
Health of Maori Children and Young People with Chronic Conditions and Disabilities: The report provides an overview of secondary health service utilisation patterns for Māori children and young people with chronic conditions and disabilities. To read the report see http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/health-maori-children-and-young-people-chronic-conditions-and-disabilities
Families Commission – Teen Pregnancy – New Report: A recent report on teen pregnancy in New Zealand makes recommendations aimed at providing more support, choice and opportunity for young parents. To download and view the report go http://www.familiescommission.org.nz/research/parenting/teenage-pregnancy-and-parenting
Payment Rate Increases: From 1 April 2012 there will be a 1.77% increase to: rates and thresholds for main benefits, Student Allowances, Student Loan Living Costs and the Foster Care Allowance, rates and thresholds for some supplementary assistance, thresholds for the Community Services Card. A 2.65% increase will apply to rates of New Zealand Superannuation. Read more here http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/newsroom/media-releases/2012/payment-changes-for-april-2012.html
Child Protection: Everybody’s Business
What are your responsibilities with the new amendments to the crimes act?
SASI: South Auckland Special Interest group for Mental Health.
Guests Speakers
Karyn Healey Child Protection Coordinator
Julie Carroll, Clinical Nurse Specialist
Places are limited. Reserve your place now
Contact: Lisa Cartledge at cartlel@middlemore.co.nz, phone 0212416219
SASI also recommend the following site as a useful resource http://www.familyservices.govt.nz/directory. It is a directory of services acrossNew Zealand and can be location specific. “The Family Services Directory is a searchable online database. It lists information about family support organisations and the services/programmes they offer to supportNew Zealand families (we call the organisations in the Family Services Directory “providers”). The purpose of the Family Services Directory is to connect people with providers who can help them to cope with common issues and problems.”
