Australia NZ Disability News

Seniors and Disability Health News from Australia and New Zealand

The Australian government provides a range of services and programs for people who are ill, injured or have a disability. Centrelink services also assist individuals looking for work and planning for their future.

There is a need for continued commitment at all levels of Government for the pursuit of full participation and equality for people with disabilities. Significant progress is being made to improve the quality of life and equity of access for Australian people with disabilities and Australia’s developments may serve as a model to other countries in the sub-region. Over the decade of Disabled Persons, in partnership with organizations of people with disabilities and other concerned agencies, the Australian governments at all levels (Federal, State and Local) have been involved in the development of policy, legislation and service provision.

Australian Disability Support Pension - This is a payment for people whose physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment prevents them from working, or for people who are permanently blind.

Your illness, injury or disability must also attract an impairment rating of at least 20 points on the impairment tables. These impairment tables, contained in the Social Security Law, rate a person's impairment according to the severity of medical conditions and how they affect their ability to work.

You may receive a Disability Support Pension if you have an illness, injury or disability and you are:

* Aged 16 or over and under Age Pension age or Permanently blind.

* Assessed as not being able to work or be retrained for work of at least 15 hours per week within two years because of your illness, injury or disability.

* Participating in the Supported Wage System (SWS).

In most cases you must have lived in Australia for a total of 10 years as an Australian resident, or your disability occurred while you were an Australian resident. Disability Support Pension may be paid outside Australia for a certain period (in some cases indefinitely). A medical examination may be needed to confirm how long people may be paid. Disability support pensioners thinking about travelling outside Australia must contact Centrelink before leaving the country.

Further Information Regarding Australia NZ Disability News

Australia's First All Abilities Playground
John and Justine Perkins, a young couple from St Marks Parish in Drummoyne, have turned their personal tragedy into a triumph for Australian children of all abilities. Following the loss of their 8 month-old baby daughter Olivia to a rare illness called Lymphangioma, the couple founded the Touched by Olivia Foundation to bring health and happiness to children and families.

Euthanasia and People with Disabilities
Alison Davis, National Co-Ordinator of the UK disability advocacy group No Less Human, arrives in New Zealand next week to speak at several public meetings around the country about the dangers of legalized euthanasia.

Australian Hospital Infections Cost $1 billion in Lost Bed Days
Infections caught in hospital are costing the Australian healthcare system more than 850,000 lost bed days, according to a new study by Queensland University of Technology.

World-first May Revolutionise Child Sponsorship
A New Zealand innovation has created a unique approach to sponsoring underprivileged children in developing countries. This world-first may revolutionise child sponsorship programmes globally by maximising direct support to recipients and radically minimising administration costs.

Australian Disability Report Strengthens Argument for Long Term Care Scheme
AMA calls for a national long-term care scheme for people with disabilities have been strengthened with the release of a report by the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council. Shut out: The Experience of People with Disabilities and their Families in Australia highlights the plight Australians with disabilities and their carers who are too often shut out of community life.

Building the Disability Workforce
Tasmania is leading national efforts to address workforce issues in the disability services sector as part of the new National Disability Agreement. The Minister for Human Services, Lin Thorp, today opened a National Conference on “Building Workforce Capacity: Satisfaction, Safety and Skills” in Hobart.

National's Disability Policy One Big Empty Space
"I am appalled at the resounding silence and lack of action from the National Government to the disability sector," says Lynne Pillay, Labour Spokesperson on Disability Issues.

St Mary's House of Welcome - Fitzroy Victoria
Premier John Brumby today unveiled the new-look St Mary's House of Welcome Day Centre following its $4.6 million refurbishment. Mr Brumby said St Mary's House of Welcome was an important place for many people in the Fitzroy community to access support services as they re-establish themselves.

Australia Improving Lives of Landmine Survivors
Australia will provide $2.4 million for prosthetics and the rehabilitation of Iraqi landmine survivors and other victims of conflict. Australia will also donate 10 Australian-made landmine detectors to the United Nations in Nepal to help clear 45 minefields across the country and reduce the risk of death and disability.

Workplace Disability Management Programme a First
Otago Polytechnic is about to become the first New Zealand-based institution to offer a specialised training and professional certification programme in workplace disability management, designed to plan for better management of valuable "people resources."

Australian Community Site for Parents Raising Kids with Autism Spectrum
1 in 160 Australian children have an autism spectrum disorder. The parents raising those children often report a lack of online information specific to the Australian local experience. Intended to assist and support Australian families and professionals by providing quality assured parenting information and resources, and improving connections between families, professionals, and services, a web site will deliver Australian specific information that parents can access, as their information needs require.