The National Transport Commission (NTC) has released proposed revised Assessing Fitness to Drive guidelines as part of the current review of the medical standards. Deaf Australia (together with Deaf Victoria) has been instrumental in the drafting of the revised guidelines and encourages all members of the Deaf community to read and provide feedback to the Commission.

The review of the Assessing Fitness to Drive guidelines has taken into account:

• advances in medical knowledge & practice
• changes to the driving environment and policies
• stakeholder feedback on the operation of the standards, including any problems faced by medical professionals currently doing the testing
• findings from relevant recent inquiries
• any other new issues affecting the medical standards

The changes were developed after the NTC released a draft consultation paper in October 2014 and received valuable input from medical practitioners, consumer health organisations, government transport departments, driver licensing authorities, unions, operators and transport industry associations.
The NTC is seeking feedback from key stakeholders including the medical community, industry groups and associations, transport operators and their employees, driver licensing authorities, transport departments, unions, regulators and coroners. Additionally, all submissions are welcome from any interested party.
The NTC will consider these submissions when drafting final recommendations and providing them to the Transport and Infrastructure Council at the May 2016 meeting.
The Papers can be found at the following link (scroll to bottom of page for Consultation Report, draft AFTD guidelines, and Submission Template):
http://www.ntc.gov.au/current-projects/reviewing-assessing-fitness-to-drive/ 
Submissions will be accepted from now until Friday 8 January 2016 (COB).

The Hon. Susan Ryan, AO, Age and Disability Discrimination Commissioner, on behalf of the Australian Human Rights Commission, is conducting a National Inquiry into employment discrimination against older Australians and Australians with disability.

The Inquiry will examine the barriers to employment for people with disability and older people.
The Commission is proud to have this information now available in Auslan with subtitles to ensure deaf people have access to this information.
The video explains how you can make a submission and be a part of our public consultations. Watch the Auslan video to see how.
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/disability-rights/projects/willing-work-national-inquiry-employment-discrimination-against

From 1 July 2016, eligible people in Victoria will start entering the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) carefully managed and well supported way.

NDIS is expected to be operating state-wide by July 2019, ultimately providing support to about 105,000 people with disability.

Areas that will transition to the NDIS:

July 2016 – June 2017

• North East Melbourne – 1 July 2016
• Central Highland – 1 January 2017
• Loddon – 1 May 2017

July 2017 – June 2018

• Inner Gippsland – 1 October 2017
• Ovens Murray – 1 October 2017
• Western District – 1 October 2017
• Inner East Melbourne – 1 November 2017
• Outer East Melbourne – 1 November 2017
• Hume Moreland – 1 March 2018
• Bayside Peninsula – 1 April 2018

July 2018 – June 2019

• South Melbourne – 1 September 2018
• Brim bank Melton – 1 October 2018
• Western Melbourne – 1 October 2018
• Goulburn – 1 January 2019
• Mallee – 1 January 2019
• Outer Gippsland – 1 January 2019

The specific details on when and how people will be able to access NDIS will be made in available in coming months.
People currently receiving support through Victorian Government will move into NDIS at different time depending on where they live and the type of support they receive during the transition.
It is expected to take up to 12 months for eligible people with disability to enter the NDIS once roll out starts in an area.
A short video about the rollout (for Victoria) is available at https://goo.gl/5UYyPU.
Deaf Australia encourages deaf community (including parents of deaf children) to share experiences of accessing the NDIS with Deaf Australia. It is important that we monitor ongoing development of the scheme and share direct experiences of deaf and hard of hearing people and its family, carers and supporters.
Please email (or send video) your experience at [email protected].

From 1 July 2016, eligible people in New South Wales will start entering the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The NDIS is expected to be operating state-wide by July 2018, ultimately providing support to about 140,000 people with disability.
From 1 July 2015, the NDIS stated in Nepean Blue Mountains area for children and young people under 18 years of age.
Areas to be transition to the NDIS:
From 1 July 2016 The NDIS will start in

• Central Coast
• Northern Sydney
• South Western Sydney
• Southern NSW
• Western Sydney

From 1 July 2016, the NDIS will also start for rest of

• Nepean Blue Mountains
• Hunter New England

From 1 July 2017, the NDIS will start in

• Illawarra Shoalhaven
• Mid-north Coast
• Murrumbidgee
• Northern NSW
• South Eastern Sydney
• Sydney
• Western NSW
• Far West

Specific details on when and how people will be able to access NDIS will be made in available in coming months.
People currently receiving support through NSW Government will move into NDIS at different time depending on where they live and the type of support they receive during the transition.
It is expected to take up to 12 months for eligible people with disability to enter the NDIS once roll out starts in an area.
A short video about the rollout (for NSW) is available at http://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/our-sites/nsw#tran.
Deaf Australia encourages deaf community (including parents of deaf children) to share experiences of accessing the NDIS with Deaf Australia. It is important that we monitor ongoing development of the scheme and share direct experiences of deaf and hard of hearing people and its family, carers and supporters.
Please email (or send video) your experience at [email protected].

Deaf Australia will have its Twenty-Eighth Annual General Meeting on 21 November 2015 to be held at Deaf Children Australia in Melbourne Victoria.

To vote at the Annual General Meeting or to express interest to be on the Board of Deaf Australia, you need to become member of Deaf Australia at least 35 days prior to Annual General Meeting.

Last day to join or renew your membership and be eligible to vote and nominate is 16 October 2015.

Membership fee:

• Ordinary Member* (Deaf or Hard of Hearing) – $100.00 (one-time payment)
• Associate Member (hearing) – $100.00 (every 5 years).

Becoming a member of Deaf Australia, you also become a member of state organisation if you are residing in the following states:

• New South Wales (Deaf Australia NSW);
• Queensland (Queensland Association of the Deaf);
• South Australia (Deaf Australia SA);
• Victoria (Deaf Victoria); and
• West Australia (Western Australian Association of the Deaf).

If you reside outside these states, you have an option (not required) to nominate a neighbouring state to become a member of state organisation.
Take advantage of our new initiative: The Deaf Friendly Schemse – it cost you $0.00 when you join or renew your membership with Deaf Australia.
[button url=”http://deaf-friendly.org/sign-up-now/deaf-friendly-for-individuals/” class=”button” size=”large” color=”green-2″ target=”_self” lightbox_content=”” lightbox_description=””] Click here to complete the Deaf Friendly/Membership application [/button] [button url=”http://deaf-friendly.org/sign-up-now/deaf-friendly-for-individuals/” class=”button” size=”large” color=”green-2″ target=”_self” lightbox_content=”” lightbox_description=””] Click here to complete the Deaf Australia Membership application (you don’t want to opt-in to the Deaf Friendly Scheme) [/button]

Deaf Australia Board would like to announce few important messages to our members and the deaf/ hard of hearing community.

As many of you are aware, the Department of Social Services (DSS) – A Department of Commonwealth Government – has defunded Deaf Australia in favour of supporting five cross-disability organisations.
This means that Deaf Australia’s funding will end on 30 June 2015 and will not be renewed by the Government. From 1 July 2015, Deaf Australia will be run entirely by volunteers.
Over the last 6 months, Deaf Australia has been focusing on a number of key areas to ensure the existence and sustainability of Deaf Australia. These are:

• Closure of Head Office: Deaf Australia’s head office in Brisbane has closed and resources have been relocated to Melbourne. Our new postal address can be found on the Deaf Australia website.
• The Auslan Shop: Our brand new Auslan Shop website remains open and is available for online purchases. The Auslan Shop now accepts payments through PayPal to make it easier for us to process the orders and for you to get your products faster. Some popular products can be viewed in person before buying, if required, at certain locations around Australia. Please check out auslanshop.deafaustralia.org.au for more information.
• Membership Renewal/ New Members: Current Deaf Australia memberships are now due for renewal. Please note there have been some important changes in the membership structure – joining / renewal fee is now $100.00 for deaf/hard of hearing and hearing people.
  • Deaf/ hard of hearing: $100.00 one off life-time membership
  • Hearing: $100.00 – every 5 years
  • Corporate: $250.00 every year 

For more information about Membership fees and renewals, please visit www.deafaustralia.org.au/membership.

• Deaf Friendly: This program is an initiative of Deaf Australia, intended to create an inclusive society for deaf people by linking the deaf community to businesses and organisations that have deaf / hard of hearing staff or hearing staff with good Auslan skills.

If you are a member of Deaf Australia, it is FREE to register to access the Deaf Friendly scheme. To get Deaf Friendly status, please go to www.deaf-friendly.com and complete your registration (the one registration form and payment covers both Deaf Friendly AND your membership to Deaf Australia).

• World Federation of the Deaf: Todd Wright and Kyle Miers will attend the WFD Congress in Istanbul Turkey at end of July 2015. Deaf Australia will present the Deaf Friendly initiative to members of the World Federation of the Deaf and propose a new international symbol of sign language. 

• Deaf Youth Australia: Deaf Youth Australia is recognised as an ordinary member of World Federation of the Deaf Youth Sector and will be sending two youth delegates: Shirley Liu and Olwyne Ho.

• Jeenee Mobile: Deaf Australia entered into a partnership with Jeenee Mobile to offer data/text only mobile plans for deaf people. Jeenee Mobile also have other plans that may be suitable for deaf/ head of hearing people, eg, voice/data/ and text plan. Deaf Australia received donations for Jeenee Mobile for every person who signs up to a plan using the copdeword. Please quote codeword ‘DeafAu’ when applying: jeeneemobile.org.au

Advocacy activities:

Please note that from 30 June 2015, many of the advocacy activities will be limited to the capacity of a volunteer organisation. If you have any concerns or issues, you should email us at [email protected] and Deaf Australia will redirect your inquiry to the relevant organisation(s) and keep a record of your matter. We will still advocate for deaf and hard of hearing people as much as possible.
Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority (ACARA): Kyle Miers and Dr Breda Carty represented Deaf Australia at ACARA’s scoping workshop that is responsible for the development of the Auslan curriculum for primary and secondary schools. ACARA expects to complete the curriculum by December 2016.
Deaf People Serving on Juries: There are several developments in this area.

1. Court of Appeal in Queensland – Gaye Lyons has appealed against the tribunal case in Queensland on 20 May 2015. It is expected that the judges will determine the outcome within 3 months of the date. Deaf Australia attended the appeal. We will give an update when the case is decided.
2. Deaf Jurors Project – the University of New South Wales will be presenting their findings on 15 July 2015. Their preliminary findings have indicated that deaf people are capable of serving as jurors.
3. Victorian Disability Advisory Council (VDAC) – the Deaf Jury issue is on the agenda and is awaiting the outcome of the Deaf Jurors Project and Queensland Court of Appeal decision.

Disability Employment Framework: There is a current consultation in the community about the Disability Employment Framework. Deaf Australia has conducted a review on Disability Employment Services last year and will be reinforcing the issue of communication access and skilled knowledge of deafness for deaf job seekers and disability employment service providers.
Australasian Railway Association (ARA): The Australian Human Rights Commission has sought our opinion on ARA’s request for exemption of discrimination. Deaf Australia will be responding with this advice. Deaf Australia does not support the exemption.
Commercial Divers License: Deaf Australia has been approached by an organisation that wish to work alongside Deaf Australia to campaign Governments (both state and federal Governments) to remove discrimination for deaf people from acquiring (or being forced to accept restrictions on) commercial drivers licenses (truck drivers, taxi, or other paid positions). We received a favourable response from the Australian Human Rights Commission and several ministers (state organisations) who agreed with our position.
Deaf Australia would like to acknowledge Deaf Victoria’s submission (2014), which was used to strengthen our position for discrimination.
Australian Electoral Commission’s Disability Advisory Group: Deaf Australia has been involved with the Australian Electoral Commission over the years. We have agreed that communication guidelines will be developed to support delivering information to all consumers more effectively after identifying that each of the state/ territory and commonwealth agencies have different (and inconsistent) approaches to inclusive information. Deaf Australia will lead this development.
ABC News: Deaf Australia provided some comments to journalists regarding the CaptiView system and explained our belief that there is more work that needs to be done to ensure deaf patrons are happy with their cinema experience. For more about this article, please view here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-02/deaf-people-critical-of-movie-captioning-service/6512914.
Early Intervention: Deaf Australia is close to finalising the position statement: ‘Requirements on Early Intervention for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Australia’. This document is developed in collaboration with various stakeholders including: The Shepard Centre, Parents of Deaf Children, Aussie Deaf Kids, Deaf Children Australia, Royal Institute of Deaf and Blind Children, National Association of Australian Teachers of the Deaf, community members, and parents of deaf children.

Congratulations:  

• Carla Anderson (AM) (Vic) – Received the Australian Honours Award during the Queen’s Birthday for her significant contribution to the deaf-blind community through advocacy, support and service delivery roles.

• Jonathon Powyer (NSW) – Received High Achieving Referee with a Difference Award in NSW Touch Football Association Referees Awards.

Many Deaf people have felt frustrated in the past because mobile phone plans always include a charge for voice calls, which deaf people don’t need or use.

Deaf Australia and many members of the Deaf community have had to negotiate with telecommunications providers individually to get a tailored mobile plan that suits their needs. Sometimes this worked well and sometimes it didn’t, and many Deaf people ended up paying a monthly fee for voice calls that they didn’t use.
Deaf Australia is pleased to announce a partnership with not-for-profit phone and internet provider; Jeenee Mobile.
Jeenee Mobile launched a new Deaf-friendly mobile phone plan today that only includes SMS and internet data – it does not include voice calls. This saves money for Deaf people who don’t need a voice call service.
Jeenee have also launched a new system for Deaf people who need to contact the company about changes or problems with their service. Most phone companies require the Deaf person to try to speak on the phone, and won’t accept an interpreter or a friend speaking for the Deaf person. Jeenee Mobile can set up a password/pin number system so that Deaf people can identify themselves through a third party, such as an interpreter ringing on their behalf.
Both of these new initiatives have never been done in Australia before!
Jeenee Mobile is a not-for-profit disability social enterprise, using the Optus 4G network.
The plan from Jeenee Mobile offers unlimited text and MMS to any mobile phones on any carrier across Australia plus 100MB of data. There are also options to increase the monthly data limit.
“Deaf Australia congratulates Jeenee Mobile on both of these initiatives that are tailored to suit the needs of Deaf and hard of hearing people,” said Kyle Miers, Chief Executive of Deaf Australia. “This is a great win for the Deaf community and for Deaf Australia.”
The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), is also glad to see text and data only plans on the market as well as the flexible customer support arrangements being launched by Jeenee Mobile.
“In the past, consumers who are Deaf or hard of hearing have had to pay for voice inclusions in their mobile phone plans that they don’t use. Tailored plans that suit the needs of these consumers are welcome,” said ACCAN Disability Policy Advisor, Wayne Hawkins.
Jeenee Mobile’s General Manager, Jeremy Way, said: “Jeenee Mobile aims to provide a complete service that makes mobile as accessible and inclusive as possible for EVERY Australian. As a not-for-profit Telco, we pride ourselves on doing the things that the other Telco’s either can’t, don’t or won’t do. We’re pleased to be able to offer a tailored solution that suits the needs of the Deaf community. We also welcome the opportunity for Jeenee Mobile to partner with Deaf Australia.”
As part of the partnership with Jeenee Mobile, Deaf Australia will receive a donation for any connection to Jeenee Mobile when ‘DeafAus’ is quoted in the application. Subscribers also receive free set up and postage of their SIM card.
This means you can support Deaf Australia and get a great value mobile plan at the same time.
[button url=”http://www.jeenee.org.au/products/sim-packs/” class=”button” size=”jumbo” color=”green-2″ target=”_blank” lightbox_content=”” lightbox_description=””]CLICK HERE to sign up with Jeenee Mobile[/button]

Deaf Australia is saddened to learn about the passing of advocate, supporter and deaf community member Karen McQuigg.

One of Karen’s strongest passions was captioning access. She was involved with the establishment of a cinema access working group that advocated for captioning access in cinemas throughout Australia, and also had a role in advocating regarding the controversial CaptiView technology.
Karen was one of the very few members of the Deaf Community who would write personal submissions to various government inquiries, most recently the Deregulation Bill on Captioning.
When the Government announced that Deaf Australia would be defunded under their new funding structure, Karen immediately put up her hand to help and support us to discuss and explore various ways Deaf Australia could campaign to raise funds and remain viable for the interests of deaf and hard of hearing people.
In the coming months and years, some of Deaf Australia’s campaigns will include Karen’s contribution and Deaf Australia is proud to carry her legacy in creating social justice and equity for deaf and hard of hearing people.
On behalf of Deaf Australia, the board and the deaf/ hard of hearing members, we convey our sincere condolences to Karen McQuigg’s family and friends.

Deaf Australia supports the joint statement prepared by the National Ethnics with Disability Alliance (NEDA) on the Detention of People with Disabilities.

You can read the joint statement here: http://www.neda.org.au/index.php/latest/184-joint-statement
Deaf Australia appreciates the collaboration with NEDA to ensure the statement includes the rights to effective communication to diverse language and communication supports, including sign language, in official interactions for refugees to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an equal basis as others through all forms of communication of their choice.
The joint statement calls for legislative change to end the detention of all people with disabilities and their families, following the release of the Australian Human Rights Commissioner’s National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention.
As at July 2014, there were 28 children in detention who were assessed with disabilities. These children had spent 11 months in detention on average and were aged between two and 17 years old.
One of these children is deaf. This child’s parents are also deaf and they use sign language to communicate. During the detention, it appears that sign language interpreters have not been engaged by the Australian Government to communicate with the child or the family. Deaf Australia believes this breaches a basic human right – the right to access effective communication, including the use of sign language.
Without access to effective communication support, the detention places this family and their child at increased risk and more vulnerable to the dangers posed in the detention environment.
Deaf Australia is calling for the Australian Federal Government to ensure that deaf families (including deaf children) who use sign language are given access to sign language interpreters so that they can access information and support in their own language and have the same access to facilities, services, and immigration information and processes as other detainees.
Furthermore, Deaf Australia is requesting the Australian Federal Government to move any and all deaf families and detainees to community detention while their cases are being reviewed, to ensure their safety and reduce the extra risk that being deaf in a detention centre poses to these families.

Additional notice:

From 1 July 2015, Deaf Australia will become an unfunded national peak organisation representing deaf and hard of hearing people. It is important that Deaf Australia remains in a position to actively provide specialist advice and advocacy services; otherwise the rights of deaf and hard of hearing people will remain unaddressed.

The deaf community is outraged by the actions of Northern Territory Minister for Disability Services, John Elferink, who pretended to use sign language as part of his ridicule of the Deputy Leader of the Northern Territory Opposition Gerry McCarthy during a debate yesterday.

The incident happened during an exchange when a special committee was debating changes to local government legislation. Minister Elferink mockingly used made up hand signals when Mr McCarthy asked the Minister for Local Government Bess Price to move closer to the microphone as he wears hearing aids and couldn’t hear her first comment.
“This is disgraceful and offensive. I’d expect this sort of behaviour from a group of louts at the pub, but certainly not from the Minister for Disability Services in a public arena,” said Mr Kyle Miers, Chief Executive of Deaf Australia.
“Its shocking that the Minister for Disability Services has so little respect for the deep connection that the deaf community has with their language and primary communication mode,” says Mr Miers, “and it is also very worrying that the Minister would prefer to mock a person with a hearing loss rather than ensure access for him.”
The position of Minister for Disability Services requires understanding of and empathy for people with disability, as well as their values and communities.
Despite his subsequent apology, Deaf Australia believes that Minister John Elferink has clearly shown his lack of understanding and respect for the deaf community and is asking for him to resign from this portfolio so it can be given to a Minister who is more suited to the role.
Relevant media:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-25/nt-disability-services-minister-appears-to-mock-hearing-aids/6348006