Disability Advocacy Service Inc.

Have your say on the NDIS Participant Service Guarantee

admin / October 24, 2019

The Australian Government is inviting people with disability, and their carers, families and supporters, to have their say on a review into National Disability Insurance Scheme processes that will cut red tape and wait times for NDIS participants.

A particular focus will be on improving processes for children and participants needing specialist disability accommodation, assistive technology, or other services requiring a quote or further approval.

The new Guarantee will be in place from 1 July 2020.

The review will consider what changes may need to be made to the NDIS legislation to support the Guarantee and set new standards into law.

It will not change the design or intent of the NDIS.

It is critical that NDIS participants are at the centre of the review and that the Government captures what matters to them most.

You can get involved by making a written submission, completing the online survey or participating in a face-to-face workshops, which will be held around Australia. In Alice Springs, the community workshop will be held Thursday 31 October, Alice Springs Convention Centre, 93 Barrett Dr, Ellery Room, 10am to 2pm.

Details about how to participate in the consultation, as well as accessible resources to help people take part, are available at www.engage.dss.gov.au

The consultation is open from 17 September until 31 October 2019.

Mental Health Week 2019

admin / September 30, 2019

Community Kids Event

Join Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (NT) and Headspace Alice Springs in the school holidays as we celebrate and promote positive mental health in Alice Springs.

Face Painting

Balloon Animals

Arts and Crafts

Music

Juggling

Wednesday 9th October 2019
11:30am – 1:00pm
Alice Plaza, next to the playground
Cost: FREE

See you all there!
For information ph: 8953 1467 or email: [email protected]

Expression of Interest – Disability Identified Position

admin / September 19, 2019

Peer Support Officer

Based in Alice Springs with some external travel to Amoonguna and Tennant Creek.
Casual or Permanent Part-Time Position for duration of contract with the possibility of extension.
Salary at SCHADS Award Level 4 to 5, based on experience.
Contact: Janet Wright, CEO – 0439 458 150 or 8953 1422
Expressions of interest accepted by email: [email protected] or drop into the DAS office in Reg Harris Lane, Mon-Fri 9:00 – 4:30.

Job description:

Identifying interested persons and coordinating the development of a small working group of people with lived experience of disability to meet monthly

Increasing awareness through community engagement about the inclusion of people with disability in Central Australia

Leading a variety of groups and assisting with coordination of monthly social events

Supporting people with lived experience of disability by raising awareness and advocating

Engaging with trainers and educators to share information on supports for people with a disability

Coordinate a casual pool of other Peer Support Officers

Required Qualifications:

Experienced in the disability sector

Basic abilities to use a computer and office equipment

Be a family member or individual with a disability

Additional Notes:

Identified position for someone with a Disability, family member or carer would be considered.

NDIS decision-making flowchart

admin / August 2, 2019

NDIS review and appeals flow chart

admin /

Dire State of Housing For Elderly Local

admin /

Jamal Ben Haddou – Centralian Advocate 2/8/2019

Appalling conditions in a public housing property have become so unbearable for an elderly Alice Springs woman that she would rather spend her day sitting out in the front yard.

Barbara Davis is a 76 year old lifelong resident of Alice Springs and has been living in her current home for 16 years.

She said the house has deteriorated overtime with wiring damaged by mice, cracks exposing the walls, mould, leakage from the ceiling and power blackouts during heavy rain.

Ms Davis, who is wheelchair bound, also suffers from kidney disease and said she is desperate to get out.

“The electricity isn’t safe. There was one time I got an electrical shock, it threw me backwards and I hit the wall behind me, “ she said.

Ms Davis receives some assistance from her partially blind grandson who carries her into the house because there is no wheelchair ramp.

“We can’t cook on the stove, it doesn’t work. But I get sandwiches after renal treatment,” she said. “I don’t like living here. I’ve wanted to leave for years.” Ms Davies said she has been waiting to be moved this year and has difficulty in making applications to the housing department on her own.

A spokesperson from the Department of Local Government, Housing and Community Development said works were carried out on the property over the last year however they have determined a full refurbishment is needed instead.

“The Department of Local Government, Housing and Community Development has determined a full refurbishment is an appropriate course of action, rather than ongoing maintenance, “ they said.

“This will require for the tenant to transfer to appropriate accommodation as it becomes available, to allow for full access to this site.”

Natasha Craigie-Braun is a relative of Ms Davies and said she broke down in tears when she saw the deteriorated house which she would instead expect to see in an impoverished remote community rather than Alice Springs.

Jeannie’s Acacia Kempeana Jam Slice

admin / August 1, 2019

In keeping with our promise to share recipes that were sent into DAS for the 2011 International Day of Persons with A Disability, please see a recipe for Acacia Kempeana Jam Slice with Outback Passionberry and Fig Jam from Jeannie Mitinkeri from Life Without Barriers. Enjoy.

Preparation time: 30-45 minutes

Ingredients: 3 eggs separated 3/4 cup caster sugar 1/2 cup plain flour 1/2 cup cornflour 2 teaspoons baking powder 300ml thickened cream 2 more teaspoons caster sugar 2 drops vanilla essence 1/2 bottle Passionberry and Fig jam

Method: Beat egg whites until peaks form. Gradually add 3/4 cup caster sugar and continue until sugar is dissolved. Beat in egg yolks until combined. Sift flour, cornflour and baking powder together twice. Gently fold sifted ingredients into beaten egg mixture until no flour pockets remain. Mixture should be light and fluffy, do not overmix. Place half the mixture on greased oven slice tray. Bake at 170 degrees C for 15-20 minutes until golden. Cool completely

With other half of mixture: Place heaped teaspoons of mixture about 5cm apart on a greased tray (makes 16 discs). Bake at 170 degrees C for about 10 minutes or until golden. Cool completely.

To make layered slice: Spread base with Passionberry and Fig jam. Whip cream together with two teaspoons of caster sugar and a drop of vanilla essence. Crumble 16 discs and sprinkle over cream. Drizzle passion pulp over top for a finishing touch

Homelessness Week 2019

admin / July 31, 2019

In the Northern Territory, 13 717 people are experiencing homelessness right now. This is 12 times the national average.
We all need a safe, secure and affordable place to sleep each night. Without one, it’s harder for sick people to get better (and they’re more likely to get sick!), families are more likely to break-down, and children are less likely to get the education they deserve
Across the Northern Territory 2505 women were turned away from services in 2017-18 alone. Many of these women are experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence and urgently need a safe place.
Approximately forty-seven percent of all people seeking homelessness services reported family and domestic violence as a reason for seeking assistance. Yet in the NT, almost half of the people seeking help are unable to be assisted.
16.5% of all Territorians under the age of 18 are experiencing homelessness.
81% of people defined as homeless in the NT live in severely crowded dwellings.It could be your neighbour
Despite the highest rates of homelessness in the country, the NT receives the least amount of funding support from the federal government.
The NT receives just $19 million in funding from the Federal Government – eight times less than the $157 million in funding WA receives despite having a smaller homeless population of about 9000. #howsthatfair
Housing Ends Homelessness: We need homes that people can afford and an adequately funded service sector. Getting stuck on a housing waitlist for 6 years is unacceptable (average wait times across the territory range from 4 – 8 years)
Homelessness results in significant social and economic costs not just to individuals and their families, but also to communities and the nation as a whole. The annual cost to the community of rough sleeping has been estimated as exceeding $25 000 per person

Homelessness Week ’19 Film Screening

admin / July 26, 2019

‘Life After The Oasis’

Friday August 9 – 6pm for 6:30pm

Flynn Church Lawns, Todd Mall

Mixed Abili ‘T’ Bake Off

admin / July 25, 2019

While cleaning up the DAS office, a folder was found with recipes for 2011’s International Day of Person’s With A Disability – Mixed Abili ‘T’ Bake Off. Nominations were called for recipes from people with a disability or from a disability organisation, NGO or business.

Rather than wait until Tuesday 3 December for this year’s IDPWD (please take note) to post these awesome recipes, we thought ‘Why not share the yumminess now’. Every attempt will be made to credit each recipe with its Bake Off applicant, however some author’s have been separated from their recipes since 2011. If you recognise a recipe as belonging to a particular person, please contact DAS so we can attribute properly.

First recipe is from Daniel Benson (Life Without Barriers)

Danny’s Delicious Lemon Meringue Slice

Preparation time: 60-90 minutes Cooking time: 40 minutes + 3 hrs chilling time

Ingredients: Base 1 1/2 cups plain flour 2 tbs icing sugar 125g butter, chilled and chopped 2 1/2 tbs iced water

Method: Sift flour and sugar into a bowl. Rub in the butter with your fingertips until it looks like breadcrumbs. Add water and using a round-bladed knife, stir until a dough forms. Turn the dough onto baking paper and roll out to a thickness of about 5mm. Line a dish with the pastry. Blind bake at 180 degrees C for 15 minutes. Remove the paper and bake for another 15-20 minutes. Cool completely.

Filling: 1/3 cup cornflour 1/2 cup water 60g butter 1 cup lemon juice 1 1/2 cup caster sugar 4 eggs separated (keep whites for meringue)

Method: Combine cornflour, water, lemon juice and sugar. Whisk over medium heat until it boils and thickens. Cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter and the egg yolk. Cover with gladwrap and cool completely for 3 hours in the fridge

Meringue: With electric beaters beat egg whites in a very clean, dry bowl until peaks form. Gradually add sugar 1 tbs at a time until thick and glossy and the sugar has fully dissolved.

To finish: Spread filling over base. Spoon meringue and spread to the edge. Create peaks with the back of a spoon. Bake for 5 minutes until the peaks are lightly golden.

COOL COMPLETELY