Introduction
Blind Citizens Australia
(BCA) was formed in June 1975. It was formed out of a growing dissatisfaction
by blind and vision impaired people with the existing national body, which was
an amalgam of state based consumer organizations; and there was a growing
desire to establish a national consumer organization based on individual
membership. BCA has grown steadily and now has over 3,000 individual members
covering every State and Territory.
BCA is the united voice of
blind and vision impaired Australians. Our mission is to achieve equity and
equality by our empowerment, by promoting positive community attitudes, and by
striving for high quality and accessible services which meet our needs. The Objects
are expressed in the Memorandum of Association as:
A.
To
encourage self-organization and self-determination by blind people throughout
Australia who, shall be united through membership of a national organization.
B.
To serve
as a national assembly for meetings, communication and interchange among blind
persons from all walks of life, towards the end of reinforcing their confidence
in themselves, in each other and in their common cause.
C.
To
provide a forum for collective self-expression and discussion by the blind
people of Australia, and to act as the authoritative voice of their joint
decisions and common objectives.
D.
To
work for the progressive improvement and modernisation throughout Australia of
public policies and practices governing the education, health, welfare,
rehabilitation, employment and recreation of blind people.
E.
To
promote or engage in any activities or programs designed to enhance the
education, health, welfare, rehabilitation, employment or recreation of blind
people of other countries, in furtherance of the organization’s Objects and of
the aims of the World Blind Union.
F.
To
represent the interests of people with a vision or print disability.
G.
To
co-operate with and support kindred organizations
H.
of people with disabilities, whilst affirming
the right of blind people to speak for themselves through their own
organizations.
I.
To
disseminate accurate information about blind people, and to promote positive
community attitudes towards them.
J.
To
solicit the support of Governments, corporations, community organizations and
blindness agencies in the implementation of the programs and policies of Blind
Citizens Australia.
K.
To
create a potent symbol, through which the blind people of Australia seek the
rights and opportunities, which are the birthright of all men and women.
L.
To
undertake or support activities, which would reduce the incidence of
preventable blindness, always having regard for the paramount rights and
dignity of blind people.
These objectives are achieved
through five key activities, which are:
1.
Individual
advocacy.
2.
Systemic
advocacy.
3.
Information
dissemination.
4.
Peer
support.
5.
Consultancy
and advice to governments, corporations and the community.
All advocacy, peer support
and information services are provided at no cost to blind or vision-impaired
people.
BCA is primarily an
organization of individuals. Its membership is made up of:
BCA
is an organization, which blind people can join by right.
BCA
is governed by a Board of Directors constituted as follows:
The
President and Elected Directors are chosen by a postal vote of full Members
each for a three-year term.
The
Board meets every month throughout the year. There are two face-to-face
meetings, which go for two days, and the other meetings are by telephone.
The
National Policy and Development Council (NPDC) is made up of the Board of
Directors plus a representative from each state and territory with more than 50
full members and one representative of Class A Organisational members. The NPDC
is responsible for guiding and development of policies. There are a number of
working groups and committees established by the NPDC working on a range of
issues such as Membership and Development, access issues, and Blind Citizens
News editorial committee. The NPDC holds two face-to-face meetings each year.
There
is a network of Branches in all states and territories except Northern
Territory. Branches provide a forum for members from state or regional areas to
come together to focus on local issues and to further the objectives of BCA at
a state or local level. There are also national and Special Interest Branches.
BCA
holds a National Convention in October every two-years. This Convention allows
Members to debate and formulate policy, discuss issues of concern to blind
people, review BCA activity and set the future direction for the organization.
Convention moves around Australia in an attempt to give equal opportunity to
blind people to attend.
BCA
holds a State Convention on the alternate years to the National Convention.
This gives Members greater opportunity to attend, debate local issues and
ensure the future direction of BCA includes the needs and concerns of all
Australians.
BCA
has a national office based in Melbourne. The only state to have a dedicated
worker is Victoria, where there is a Victorian Advocacy & Information
Officer. A part time worker has recently commenced in NSW as we work to secure
recurring funding for an Information and Advocacy service in the state.
BCA
has a broad mix of funding sources: The National Secretariat funding for a peak
consumer organization from the Department of Family and Community Services; an
Advocacy & Information Service from the Victorian Government; members'
contributions, blindness agencies; projects; charged services, community
support and other fundraising.
BCA
carries out projects and services, which are in line with key aims and
objectives.
BCA
communicates with members and the blindness field through a variety of
alternative format methods. These include:
BCA
is an active member of a number of broader organizations in Australia. BCA is
also active on many advisory committees and working parties for organizations
like Telstra, banks and Government Departments. BCA is a member of:
BCA
takes an active role internationally through the World Blind Union, with David
Blyth, the founding President of BCA, having served as President of World Blind
Union between 1992 and 1996.