On Tuesday 25th March, the Board of Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) approved the permanent appointment of Robyn McKenzie as Executive Officer. Ms McKenzie has been acting in the role for the past six months.
"We’re very pleased with Robyn’s work thus far," said David Blyth, BCA President. "In the past six months she has overseen a successful National Convention, worked towards our upcoming change of premises, and re-introduced New Horizons, BCA’s weekly radio program. Robyn’s appointment is a positive step towards securing a strong future for the blind community in Australia."
Ms McKenzie comes to the position of Executive Officer with fifteen years experience in service provision for people who are blind or vision impaired, specialising in the areas of education, employment and training. Her personal experience of growing up with juvenile macular degeneration has given her a particular passion for empowering young people who are blind or vision impaired to gain leadership skills. "I see that as one of my key goals in this job," explained Ms McKenzie. "It’s up there with forming good relationships with government, expanding our capacity as an organisation and meeting the advocacy needs of the steadily growing number of Australians who are blind or vision impaired."
For more information about Robyn McKenzie or Blind Citizens Australia, contact the head office on (03) 9372 6400.
Media contact: Leah Hobson, National Policy Officer, 0430 210 980.
As the Government pushes its work choices rollback through Parliament this week, it is also rolling back the capacity for people with disabilities to lodge discrimination complaints.
This is due to a decision, as part of the work choices rollback, to withdraw funding given to the Human Rights Commission by the previous Government to deal with the extra complaints it would receive when unfair dismissal laws were repealed.
"These two decisions together are quite ironic," said Robyn Mckenzie, Executive Officer of Blind Citizens Australia. "Blind people experience a rate of unemployment four to five times higher than the general community. We're already seriously disadvantaged, and now, if we're discriminated against, this government decision will weaken the capacity of the Human Rights Commission to deal with our complaint."
Discrimination complaints have increased since the repeal of unfair dismissal laws. In the 2005-06 financial year there were 560 disability discrimination complaints, with a rise to 802 complaints last year. The number of complaints is expected to be over 900 this financial year. Withdrawal of the work choices funds will mean that the usual six month turn-around for handling of complaints will blow out to 18 months or more.
"Blind Citizens Australia calls upon the Government to continue this funding - amounting to $1.8 million in a full financial year- so that the Human Rights Commission can continue its work," Ms McKenzie said.
Media contact: Leah Hobson, National Policy Officer, 0430 210 980.
Blind Citizens Australia welcomes the announcement by Hon. Gary Nairn, Special Minister of State, of a trial of electronic voting for people who are blind or vision impaired. read the media release dated 16 July 2007.
People who are blind or vision impaired are not only facing difficulties in accessing a taxi with their dog guide but also experience potential discrimination when hailing a taxi and in lodging an independent complaint, claims Blind Citizens Australia. Read more in BCA's Media Release (May 24, 2007)
Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) congratulates the Australian Government for signing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Read more in BCA's Media Release (March 30, 2007)
Return to the Blind Citizens Australia Home Page
Blind Citizens Australia
Ross House
247 - 251 Flinders Lane
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Telephone: (03) 9654 1400 or
1800 033 660
TTY: (03) 9376 9275
Facsimile: (03) 9650 3200
E-mail: bca@bca.org.au