Productivity at war with compassion

Productivity is define as the state or quality of being productive and in terms of the Australian Economy that translate in to the ability to work.  This creates a number of social and economic issues as we struggle with things like access for all Australians, social inclusion, unemployment and underemployment. While it is great to see the Australian Liberal Government focus on the economy,  economic stability and job creation it needs  to make sure it doesn’t drop the ball on its social obligation to maintain human dignity and human  rights.

We have already seen the UN Commission of equal human rights question the Federal Governments priority to ensure an equitable future for all Australian.  However since being elected Tony Abott has made is feelings towards those who life circumstance  has not be fair.  The Gina Rinharts of this great economy of ours would have you believe anyone can rise up above the soco-economic environment in which they find themselves and create a multi-million dollar empire ‘if they weren’t afraid of hard work.

Now I do not dispute that Gina Rinhart is one of the most hard working people in Australia any one that manages an empire as large as hers works in creditably hard and long hours what I have difficulty in swallowing is a belief that everyone on welfare is lazy and Australians can is 2013 walk in to any job they chose. The fact that Gina Rinhart is a the top of the business world should mean as a woman she has first hand faced so type of discrimination.

If not she only needs to talk to our current Prime Minister to experience the inner workings of a man’s mind and how women are devalued it the corporate world. Even having experienced discrimination as a woman, Gina Rinhart is still speaking from a position of privilege, she wasn’t born into a working class.  She was raise in a position of privilege which gives her access to privileges’ such private education, tertiary education and I am sure there are making things about the business world she learnt by observing her father.

Social conditioning and the effect it can have on individuals is too often dismissed but the Tony Abbrot’s and the Gina Rinhart’s of this society.  Despite what I think we’d all like to believe, not everyone can become a millionaire. If you believe that try telling that to a parent with a child with Down Syndrome who wants to access any Grammar School in Australia for her 5 year old daughter.

Or a young 17 year-old girl with cerebral palsy who has to not only achieve the academic results to gain entry into university, but prove she can physical cope with the strains of academic life while living away from home.  Oh yeah add into the mix the she’s the first generation of a working class family to gain a tertiary education.

The trouble is when we’re making statements about changes government policies is the general were making board and sweeping statements about a minority group and while that statement may be true for the ‘norm’ of the population, very few people might belong to that norm, especially when we’re talking about very small minority groups, like refugees.

The liberal government has stragtically played into the hands of the general population fears of terriots and feelings of righteousness and false gaining advantage with its turning back the boats policies.  If I had witiness the murder of my entire family and fled across the border in fear for my own life,  I can assure you I didn’t wait for me passport and visa to arrive in the mail.      

Any broad sweep ting statement about an soci-economic group will feed into things like misconceptions people have about that percentage of the population whether or not the government is basing its statements on statistical data or not.  Such as the statement claimed to be made by the Prime Minister in the Australian today, one in twenty working aged people in Australia receive a welfare payment.  The wording of the articles who have you believe these productive people are receiving entitlements when other taxpayers their age have to work.

The author as does the Prime Minister assumes the majority of this particular population ‘doesn’t want to work’ and productivity or the ability to be productive means you are employable.   I am by nature a very productive person and high achiever, but what boss is going to employ someone with uncontrollable seizures that will need to off even other week.  I can’t guardutee all my seizures will occur on my days off even if I only working 20 hours a week.

That my friends is the trouble when we make statements about norms even when support by statistics.  This government either governs with a social agenda or stimulates economic growth. I think the government is pretty clear when it make statements like the NDIS being ‘a cause’ rather than addressing a human rights issue (A ‘cause’ they gave bipartisan support to while in opposition – because it was the decent thing for a country like Australia to do!”) it’s very clear how it views their  social responsibilities .

Reform solely based on productivity and economic stability or growth puts at risk many socially disadvantage Australians, who despite hard work and remaining productive, through life hard knocks rather than poor choices need a helping hand.  Unfortunately it looking like the federal government has little room in its budget for heart and compassion even when basic human rights are at risk.

My two and a half cents worth on the NDIS

Here’s my two cents on the Reality of NDIS or Disability Care Australia.  The introduction of Disability Care Australia is about eight weeks away form introduction. Regardless of how you feel or view its introduction is about be rolled out. Both sides federal government are on agreement on the introduction of a ‘federal oversight for disability support services. 

Today’s announcement of an increase to the medicare levy has nothing to do with people with disabilities or us the NDIS campaigners, so sorry if I’m a little taken back by the small minority of taxpayers who are venting their dislike to the increase to the medicare levy.  Which for all intentionally purposes is a form of tax, which the labour government has decided will be used to fund Disability Care.

Regardless of how the government choses to balance the books of the upcoming federal government is incorrect to put it at the feet of those of us who have disabilities. We are not the cause of your medicare levy just people who by default may or may not benefit.

May I add that people with disabilities and their carers are also tax payers.  The media commentators are behaving like all people who may benefit for the introduction of Disability Care Australia are unemployable. Don’t worry commentators aren’t the only ones who are month off by misusing facts and figures.  The plenty of people with disability and family carers with mixed view on the introduction of the scheme.  A new government is once again asking us to trust them to get the funding arrangements for ‘our care’; ‘our equipment and medical needs’ and ‘our therapies needs’ right.

To our fellow taxpayers this many be about dollars and cents to you, but for those of us the live with disabilities, our families and carers, this is about who gets us out of bed and feeds us breakfast?  Disability Care is about my right to chose what time I get up in the morning and whether  I want a shower before or after work. These are choices our fellow Australians take from granted. The choice to be assisted to go to the toilet or wear a incontinent pad all day.  Let’s get the fact straight we’re not asking for a trip to sea world once a year, for some of us having the right to most basic choices is what we have campaign for.

A very small percentage of people who will be eligible for support from Disability Care Australia will have very high dependency support needs resulting in 24 hr care.  Yes these people form a portion of the recipients who are unable to work and contribute to the federal governments income.  However regardless of who we are and the hours of week we work we the consumers all pay tax its called GST.

The issues surround the introduction of Disability Care Australia are merkly and I get a lot of needs to be define answers to questions.  We are going into this new arrange based on a knowledge of what we know.  Many people reliant on support services are very sceptical and just expect more of the same with new packaging.  But what is promised to be delivered is a 21^st  century approach to the 21^st  needs and choices of people with disabilities.

The NDIS campaign has been based on the desire of people with disabilities, their families and carers to be included in every aspect of society.  For people the level of inclusion will vary will their individual compasitiy to participate. For a small group of about 6 000 young adults it is the opportunity to choice alternative accommodation to aged care facilities,  for each individual that will look different depending on a number of lifestyle choices. 

This a revolutionary system designed to be driven by the market demands of the individuals who are eligible to use it.  Services will cease to be able to dictate how and when they will meet the ‘perceived needs’ of their clients, hence many are on the back foot and defensive. If clients don’t -want to attend respite care but chose one-to-care to go off to tafe, uni or study from home, providing the individual has the $ to purchase the service must provide it or the client is free to go to the market and use the funding to access a service that allows him to buy one-to-one care.  Likewise if a client wants five days a week centre based  care to meet their high support and social interaction needs at the same time, provided they have they funding they can make that choice.

Funding will no longer be calculated on meeting needs, rather on enabling the person to achieve the goals, which will be driven be lifestyles choice. To image assistance to training and work require huge changes to my thinking. Until now if you could study or work in open employment support was not an option.  Now if some choses to work and support worker can go in at lunch to support them feed them lunch and attend to needs.

A parent  will be able to chose any school for their child.  Rather than be dependent on schools who provided the needed educational support, the government under the ndis most support the families choice as long as them meet the stated goals.  For a child with a hearing impairment that may mean an interrupter for the school day. A hearing impaired child will be able to attend a local school weather they living in Alice Springs or Port Lincoln.

While employment for people with disabilities remains the biggest challenge under the Disability Care Australia, its introduction and market driven client choice could mean creation of new jobs as people with disabilities seek out new opportunities and new possibilities in the way the achieve their lifestyle goals.  Teachers-aid for impaired maybe able to assist with another children in the same class parents could then chose  to pool the resources and purchase other therapies such as early intervention speech theraphy or physio stimulation.

Such a fundamental shift in the way funding is distributed means a huge shift in the way each of us thinks about the support needs.  Is there any wonder why myths, confusion and uncertainty exist. Now I get why we need 5 years, to completely dismantle systems across the states and territories and built an new system based on market place demand and supply mechanisms .  A service can offer any type of service they like, buy it will be the purchase power of the clients with there funding who shape what is viable in the area.

It no service meets their needs or they simply chose not to use a service they can directly employ their staff themselves and that has a lot of people worried.

Eligibility for the scheme is not means tested.  It is base on what is fair and reasonable. Right now much equipment, motor vechial and home modification are means tested or not offered.  If you need a wheelchair get around your house in is unreasonable to expect siblings to carry you or push you in a oversize stroller. Access to mobility aids should be dependent on exposable income or fundraising.  Parent should have to have cake stalls at school gates to buy a child a wheelchair.

 

At the risk of offend my fellow taxpayers independent mobility is a basic human right, a wheelchair is just as essential as clean drinking water.  Yes people can survive without it but they should have not.  All Australians who are eligible under Disability care should be entitle to a mobility device, a guide or assistance dog, car and house modifications regardless of their income.

I my view the NDIS or Disability Care should where possible be on an even playing field for me that’s providing a power wheelchair, some help around home and a worker to help me safely access the community while I am performing one of my many community roles.    Is not about providing care but enabling all Australians the fighting chance to reach that potential. 

Until we squash this nourish of ‘need’ or ‘charity’ in supporting people with disabilities. Until we get that this is not icing on the cake.  Until people understand the NDIS is about an equal right to choice for all Australians. People will continue to struggle to understand what the NDIS aims to achieve. I can’t give you a picture of what NDIS looks like, because for each of us it will look totally different. That’s the trouble there is nothing we can compare it too.

Well my fellow Australian’s that’s more than my two and a half cents worth. So its over to you let me know what you think.

  

   

Should my art be tolerated or celebrated!

A large part of my leadership Journey is focused on my art and encouraging people with disabilities to use their talents and passions to become more involve in the wider community. I believe in encouraging people with all disabilities to embrace their abilities what ever they maybe to begin to engage in mainstream community life.   

However as the fallout for National Cultural Policy continues I wonder what exactly I am offering to the people I will be mentoring, employing and offering services to through my ArtISability Professional Development Program. I do not want to offer ‘second best’ or tokenism approaches to artists with a disability. For far to long people with disabilities has been placed in the ‘special bracket’.

Professional Development Program for Artist with a Disabilty

That’s nice or aren’t they having fun.  It’s great they can do something they enjoy together! However far to often that’s where the appreciation of sporting achievements, artist ability, performance such as signing and acting go.  That’s not to bad for someone with a disability. Just as well no one mention that to Stevie Wonder. Stevie wonder, thank goodness is recognised first and foremost as have a uqunic vocal ability and his disability rarely rates a mention and that’s how I think it should be for all artist and sportsmen and women.  Personally I would love to see an end to the paraolympics  with social inclusion for athletics with a disability happening as one Olympics Games jointly occurring in the same sporting arenas at the same time.

The release of the National Cultural Policy  last month puts all that at risk.  The policy states that the artistic ability of artist with a disability should be ‘tolerated’.  Thrusting artists with a disability right back into the ‘that’s nice!’ with a condescending smile on able-body artist faces.  Why should my art be valued and less because I have a disability. If the same was suggested for the art of indigenous Australians there would be outrage and demonstrations. Despite the UN anti discrimination act for people with disabilities nations such as Australia continue to dish out policy than contain judgmental statements.

A statement by Artists with A Disability

As a published author and poet the fact I have a disability could very well go unnoticed except I largely choose to write about the subject I live and breath – living with my disabilities so why should my participation in the visual artist be any different.  Why is my artwork labelled ‘special’ and not my poetic ability. I wonder if under the new national cultural policy if my poetry, like my art will just be tolerated, rather than embraced and celebrated.We maybe years away for true social inclusion in this country, but surely we can make a better attempt in writing policies for people with disabilities than the poorly written National Cultural Policy.

Below are samples of my artwork I’ll leave you decided it you wish to ‘tolerated’ or celebrate.     

   

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Terms of Engagement

Terms of Engagements

The first game of the season kick off tonight, But I already feel like I played a full season and it round one of the finals.  Everything hinges on tonight’s game, its do or die. However as I cask an eye around the locker room, I see the faces of my team mates are glum.  On some there’s a look of despair and other are clouded in a seed of doubt. As team captain it my job to lead the team on to the field tonight with the belief they can win the grand finial at the end of season.  I take a deep breath, as I begin my first team speech of the season. Welcome to the 2013 season team NDIS . . .

New Game Home

In was only late last year we head rounds of applause as Julia Gildard introduce the National Disability Insurance Scheme into Federal Federal Parliament . We experienced a touch down and our followers in a seed of red march on Parliament House itself, you be forgiven for thinking we’d won the grand final.  Members of team NDIS momentarily forgot we had only won the preseason comp. The real competition kick off was still three months away and team Federal Election is about to march on the field as a major contender in the 2013 season.

Umpire introduces new rules

Yes a date for a trail of the NDIS had be set on five major playing fields across Australia, but the new season sees  a new major partner enter the political stadium for the first time and suddenly the rules of engagement  are under a cloud. In addition to this several key players are suspected as drug treats to the respect of the game and at the eleventh hours a major teams look set to be booted out of the competition before tonight’s kick off.

Meet the players

Its there any wonder why I see a look of despair on the faces of my team mates. The tone of emotions  changed, considerable during the preseason. The celebration of our preseason victory have sowed. Doubt and sarcasm are growing strong among the team, the smelt the sniff of victory too many times before to believe a revolution can take place. 

They suspect the promises of changes to the game in 2018 will only mean minor venue changes rather than a rewriting the rules of the game as being promise by the Australian Labor Goverment.  No one is sure, including me they have another season under the current game rules left in them and the light at the end of the turn grows dim.

What the current disability sector needs is tearing down to it grassroots, a total administration restructure along with new rules of engagement to see  real improvement in the lives of people with disabilities and the families across this nation.  However the present state play seems to cast a shadow of doubt over who will even be eligible to remain part of team NDIS come mid-season. With this seed of uncertainly clouding the team’s season, I shouldn’t be surprise at the atmosphere preceding tonight’s game.

Half my team have lost sight of the revolution occurring behind the goal posts, to them its the same old game under a different competition banner.  Bitter chocolate dressed up as sugar coated candy dancing on the sidelines just out of sight of the goals posts and the media’s refusal to highlight major changes in the game that I personal blame.

The highlights on the induction of the new rules for the current seasons have not been aired on commercial TV and nor advertising of new opportunities to public debate over the proposed legislation introduction.  The ink will be dry before the genera public realises it had been invited to make submission to the newest revolution to the disability sector since its introduction in the 1970’s.

Last week marked the 20th anniversary  of the Disability Discrimination Act in Australia, however  little has changed for many young Australians with a disability whose only accommodation choice are in aged care faculties and insurance of their right of entitlements as previous players have been swept away.  For me too many current players only have their eye on the ball their playing with, not their fellow competitors the talk of an even playing field does not extend past the 2013 season. Those proceeding them and future players and even those playing in other codes of the game are given no thought.  The ideals of being part of a team on extend to the photograph placed before their eyes.

 

Ending isolation 

Players still being placed in institutional care and respite day care centres, adult with a disability partaking in childcare like activities are not on their game agenda.  Their agenda may be getting out of their own homes, it’s a fair and justifiable fight, but a truly national games needs to give equal playing time and resources to each member on the field not just those who have some restricted access to the community arena already.  If this is people’s vision for the NDIS, then pack you bags on leave the team players to help all members be rewarded with a medal at the end of the season.  For its only if we enter tonight’s games playing for every other team member do with have hope of a grand finial victory in 2013.

Team Ipswich

So before you follow me onto the ground tonight, I am asking for 100% commitment to each member of our team, regardless on the personal circumstances.  If you’re not prepared for the rules changes before us then as they say on your bike.

Debbie Chilton

Post Note You can help shape our game

My home

The Journey Home

I remember when I was growing, probably around the age of 12. I thought a lot about the future and what it might look like.  Some of my dreams like making a deal that my best friend and I would share a house seems so crazy now. Other dreams like buying my first car, were possible at the time, but life changes and unexpected things happen. 

My first 'home' of taste of independence was living on campus while studying for my arts degree. At this stage the car thing still hadn't happen as my focus was on getting my degree to get a job, to buy my car. Which was pretty much the story with most uni students.  Besides at the time my boyfriend had a car (for what it was worth, it soon fell apart and was off the road.)

I knew I had a disability which at times cramp my style but at 20 I was still living a life no different to my friends although the boyfriend had ditched me by this stage.  After uni I decided psychology was never going to be my thing and I begun working as a Christian Youth Worker and had my first taste of 'house sharing', still no car.

And then . . . About September the year after I graduated I got sick! At the time the doctors just thought I had a virus, little did I expect to spend the next 10 years of my life sick and develop clinical depression with my weight dropping 45 kgs and eating a chocolate bar would become a major battle.  I quit work and move back home with my parents . . . It was 'home' but not the 'home' I deamt of at 12 years of age.  I was disparately unhappy and wanted a life of my own, without my parents rules.

By then I had learned that I never would be buying my first car.  I had acquired  my third disability epilepsy and as my seizure remain uncontrollable by 25 I knew I would never be able to drive a car and many believe I would never be able to live independently.

It was during this time I became a writer and was writing for a small independent Christian publisher and would eventually publish my first to poetry  book with. And so I realized I had achieved another childhood dream which was to write a book. 

It was quiet the book I saw when I envision writing a book at 16, but it was a book and would be the first of 5 books I would publish.  I co-wrote a devotional book of poetry around the same time.

Eventually there was an opportunity to apply for a department of housing accommodation designed for people with disabilities and at 29 I was 'home'. I was renting a 1 bedroom unit from department. My dream I had a 12 to have my own place had become a reality.  

Today, 15 years later I still live independently in my own home with 22 hours a week in home support through various agencies. 

But my 'journey home', is very different to hundreds of adults with disabilities living around Australia. The truth is I encountered little resistance to build an independent life for myself. I am an exception to the rule.  Inch by inch I have fraught to kept my independence. Only now am I learning of the few choices people with disabilities and the chronically ill have in terms of accommodation. Their journey home is all to often enforced on them by others.

Current there is over 6000 young people with disabilities under the age of 50 calling nursing homes 'home'. These figures do not account for the number of people living in 'group homes' or with relatives against their wishes.

Independent Living options the Young Care is one of the few
options for young people with a disability.

The official Department of Communities policy known as Growing Strong. The rhetoric begins with Your Life, Your Choice!   For the the 100's of Queenslanders living in nurses homes, and their families, their are no alternatives for those needing 24 hr assistance.  The Young Care alternative is individual independent units for those with disabilities that still allow them to have some level of independence for the majority of the day, while having 24hrs on site assistance when it is required and I am aware that there similar accommodation arrangements available through Uniting Care and the Cerebral Palsy League.   .

Somewhere between Nursing Homes and Young Care sits what we term 'Group Homes'.  These 'homes' are shared by a number of people with disabilities who require a high level of care. The homes are 'staffed' 24/7, with staff often making daily choices for their clients. While often the decision for a person moving into a 'group home' is made by a parent of guardian, under the current department of Communities regulations, a person can be force into a group home because funding for that individual to live independently is denied. As we saw previously with Rosy.

'Remember Rosy's fight with the department'

   The choices for young people living with a disability and those with chronic illness remain very limited. If you'd like to help build more accommodation options for these people you make a donation through  Young Care or Building Better Lives click on the links. 

Of course the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme  (NDIS) is home to go along way towards addressing the accommodation needs of young people with disability and established them in independent lives. With the Federal Election looming and the legislation  only being in draft from, these are worrying times not one those searching for accommodation options but all people with a disability and their families.   

After years of campaigning  the continuing steps towards the full introduction of the NDIS hangs on a knife edge. These reforms and the accommodation needs of people with a disabilities needs to be high on the political agenda and debated vigorously through the election campaign in order to ensure more and more people with a disability can find their way home.              

Congratulations to Kurt Fearnley

Its great to see our Every Australian Counts campaigners being recongised by all levels of governments. As we work towards the introductions and trail of the National Disability Insurance Scheme to create a fairer system for all people with disabilities, regardless of there disability and how the disability was acquired. Where you live should not determine what level of funding you receive. 

As Kurt points out in his address the current system discriminates, those who are looking employment opportunities and study at tertiary level. There is a wide spread misconception in the community the people with disabilities and the families want handouts.  The purpose NDIS is a move away from welfare, its focus is on helping people with disabilities, their carers or guardians full participate in communities.

Currently many family members of someone with a profound disability would  love to be able to work, however currently the receive little or no support to care for their love one.  For those who require 24 hour care, only 2 weeks, 24hr respite care per year is available for caregivers under 65 in Queensland.

Despite some misreporting in the media, the NDIS is not another welfare payment.  Regard than payments being made on the bases of diagnoses, funding will be goals based, so if someone has a goal to drink at the pub every day, it is not likely to provide that person with funding.  That person receiving free counselling to deal with the anxiety and depression the person has as a result of their disability.

Thanks to people like Kurt at the start of July this year 20,000 people with a disability will trail the NDIS, which is exciting, because we'll get to see what works and what doesn't, before the full scheme is implemented and changes more difficult to make.

We have learnt from decades for using broken systems to see one sizes fits all approaches don't work. Nor do systems that encourage a sense on entitlement. A goal based system encourages people to earn support and hopeful improves self esteem in the process.

If your serous about disability support reform you need to educate yourself about current policies, purposed changes and be activity involved in the decision making process. You can do this by visiting Every Australian Counts Website   

It's often the first step that counts the most!

Debbie

NDIS - The Who, The What and The How

The Federal Goverment late last year introduced the NDIS bill to Parliament and the Senate is currently taking submissions on key aspects for the introduction of the NDIS.  Below is a summary of the commission report.  You have just 9 days to have your say.

Read all you can, talk to significant others, ring your local MP and make a submission

   

Understanding the Draft Productivity Commission Report into Disability and Care and Support

The Productivity Commission has accepted that the disability system is not meeting the needs of people with a disability, their families and carers or indeed the needs of the  nation and has recommended a complete overhaul. The opening words of the draft report say it all – “the disability support system overall is inequitable, underfunded, fragmented and inefficient and gives people with a disability little choice.”

The Commission is proposing two schemes. The larger National Disability Insurance Scheme  will provide support to approx 360,000 people whose disability has a significant impact on their daily life.

A second smaller scheme -the National Injury Insurance Scheme - would provide support for people who suffer a catastrophic injury and would be based on widening and strengthening existing state-based schemes.

A person getting support from the NDIS would need to have a permanent disability and meet one of the following conditions:

• Have significant limitations in communication, mobility and self care
• Have an intellectual disability
• Have a condition for which early intervention would improve functioning
• Be a person for whom intervention would have significant benefits

The Commission also suggests that the NDIS should have an information and referral function for a much larger group of people with a disability, providing information, referrals and linkages to services and supports outside the NDIS.

Once a person has been deemed eligible and their support needs assessed, they would be entitled to a package of supports and services, which would be portable across Australia  They would be able to either:

• Choose their own service providers
• Ask a disability support organisation to assemble the a package on their behalf
• Cash out parts of their funding allocation and direct the funding to services they believe best meet their needs.

The list of supports the NDIS would provide include:

• Aids, equipment, home and vehicle modifications   
• Personal care
• Community access – to support community inclusion
• Respite
• Specialist accommodation support
• Domestic assistance
• Transport assistance
• Therapies
• Guide and assistance dogs
• Case management and coordination
• Specialist employment services
• Crisis/emergency support

The Commission calculates that an additional $6.3 billion is needed to fund the new system and suggests that only the Commonweath has a sufficient taxation base to meet the cost of the scheme. The Commission therefore proposes the federal government take over funding the entire disability system. They prefer to see the funds drawn from general revenue rather than a specific tax or levy but recommended the funds not be subject to the annual budgetary process and quarantined for NDIS use only.

The Commission has suggested a pilot project in 2014 in one region in Australia. This would extend to the whole of the country the following year, beginning with all new cases of significant disability and some of the groups most disadvantaged by current arrangements such as adults living with ageing parents and young children requiring early intervention.  The scheme should be fully functional by 2018.

It's You're Life So have Your Say!

Life Without Limits!

Dreaming Big Dreams

What do Nick Vujcic,  Marlena May Katene  and Joni Erikson Tada have in common?  They are incredible gifted individuals living life to the full, embracing every opportunity that life presents. Each one has embarked on a quality of leadership the will lead us well into tomorrow.

The fact that each of these three people has a disability does not escape me, as I seek to explore, discover and develop my own leadership style, these are the people I look towards.  For any journey towards geniune leadership is not take alone, but traveled with companions of like minded people. A true leader will surround themselves with other leaders, in the field they wish to work.

Nick Vujcic
"Living life with a purpose!"

 Nick was born with "no arms and no legs." Nick grew up in South East Queensland, but now lives with his beautiful wife in the US. This young couple are now awaiting the birth of their first child.  While Tom Cruise wanted to jump on Oparh's coach, Nick was  happy to give Oparh an arm less hug today.

Nick heads up an International Ministry, traveling the world sharing his stories of being bullied, thinking life would be a whole lot better if he only had arms and legs to keep up with the other kids.  Nick now spends his time speaking to young people telling them, he was wrong and God had much bigger plans for his life.

 From the above picture you woudn't know it but Joni is a quardpeadjic and while on land needs to use a wheelchair for mobility purposes. I first heard Joni's story from my friend Jo Briggs who had become a parpegtic after a horse riding accident. Some time later a shared in my first team role I was interested in becoming a writer. Back then I wanted to write my autobiography. So while I went on to complete my studies in Behavioural Science and further trained as a Christian Youth Worker I read Joni's triliogy of autobiographies.

Joni like my friend Jo acquired a life changing disability in her late teens. Instead of being angry and bitter she used her Christian faith to triumph over adversity. Just like Nick she heads up an International Ministry where as nick inspires young people around the world and has a very strong anti-bulling message. Joni workers with her husband Ken (pictured at the back of the boat) in the disability community.   

Joni and Friends Ministries Family Camps 

In addition to he ministry, and her determination to raise money to purchase wheelchairs so people in third world countries can experience mobility and a full life, Joni is a author, singer and artist. If anyone challenges the limits of her disability and the realm of possibilities this lady does.

Print by Joni Erikenson Tada
Here work can be purchased at
Joni and Friends Store

"Were in this together"

Marlena (in the blue) is no strange to my blog.  It Marlena's and fellow 2012 Leaders for Tomorrow Graduates direct footsteps I am following in. I think in a post last week I used a throw away line, 'The sky is the limit.' Marlena corrected this on facebook today, by reminding up that mans footsteps are on the moon and 'the sky' does not limit us at all.  Marlena in her true leadership style is gather people around her as she continues to build on her leadership.  Currently, she is inviting her facebook friends to write a bucket list with her and she is drawing a circle of people around her to enable her to tick off each item if her list.

On top of her bucket list is . . . a trip to the edge a space, some how though I can't help feeling she will find away to top even that achievement.

To the edge of space and beyond

These are not only leaders in chosen flied but provide witness in my personal quest to challenge and bust the myths that surrounds those of us living with the obstacles of our disabilities. At present Marlena is in a battle to prove herself as a intellectual woman who knows her own mind.  She is the last person who would except tokenism or allow herself to be patronized   Sadly many people refuse to accept that CP is not an intellectual disability. Centuries of carrying this misconception are proving difficult to erode  As Marlena U-tube journalism videos go viral, this wide spread misconception continues to be exposed .

Leadership Dreams

In December I was fortunate enough to join the Leaders for Tomorrow Program. The program is funding by the federal government. In my understanding it is a prequel to the NDIS. The program is about support people with a disability to embark in leadership roles in sport, arts, culture, employment and government to name a few of the options. 

I  am really excited as I started my leadership dreamings and exploring some goals I like to take a stab at in 2013 and beyond.

Leadership Retreat December 2012

My Leadership Dreams

My leadership dreams center around full social inclusion for people with a disability in the Ipswich region. In my travels I meet many people with a disability who I think could help shape Ipswich into a great city for people to live, work and play, however aren’t given the opportunity to do so. During 2013 I want to gain skills to enable me to encourage other people with disabilities to be more active in our community, workplace and decision making processes.

Not side by side, where people with disabilities have an opportunity to shape their futures, rather where people with disabilities work with others in the community to influence the future directions of this great city.

Big dream huh? That’s just what they are dreams rather than goals. However, while my local community is my target, eventually there’ll be 200 leaders with a disability across Australia working towards similar goals. 

My goals span over a 10 year period, so you’ll be happy to know, I’m not planning to achieve this in 2013! Currently I have 4 goals I wanting to work towards.  Some goals will be completed by 2014 but most won’t.

  

My Leadership Goals

I am hoping my passion for the ‘arts’ will take center stage in 2013, as I work towards achieving my goals! Including working towards my own art exhibition in 2014!

2.   An art retreat to train artists with a disability in the West Morten Area in their area of arts interest.

3.   Working towards Disability Awareness in Ipswich city.

4.   Training and mentoring people with a disability who seek to engage in leadership positions which  will enable them to help shape the future of this region.

While my goals centew around working with people with disabilities in 2013, my dream is this will launch then into main stream community involvements through their own individual interests, whether the be sporting, leisure, the arts, leadership in the workplace, education, advocacy roles, community roles or political.

Of course a large part of my dream is dependent on the introduction of the NDIS.  So as part of my new role is  assisting with Disability Awareness in the Blair.

Looking forward to sharing my leadership journey through out the year.

Queensland a state where not everyone counts!

From where I sit in my wheelchair and as a public advocate, it seems that Mr Neuman is making more cuts to the human service than anywhere else.  He seems to focus on potential revenue raising such as hosting sporting events and naturally support business, rather than continuing to pay for the human services that state governments have always meet.  Open your eyes and see Queensland is still a growing economy (may not that of the past). If the state invested in its greatest asset - people than more participation in the economy would occur. Those with positive approach and good well being are going to contribute more over time than one off sporting and corporate evens.  If we can afford to host APEC why can't we afford hospital care, NADIS, advocacy funding for tenant, mental health services, transport, maintenance to Queensland public buildings. e.g schools, hospitals & relate health care including buildings that house health services like breast cancer clinics,  , libraries; public transport; education and emergency services! I hope Campell doesn't have a heart attack and at a time the ambulance service is stretching at the seems and fails to respond in time.  All I can say my prorites for cutting debt would differ and continuing down this road he made be a one term Premier.