Blind Citizens Australia is concerned by today's announcement by Vision Australia that due to a 17 percent reduction in revenue, the organization has had to reduce its number of staff in its sites across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
David Blyth, President of Blind Citizens Australia today said "I'm not surprised to hear the news. The primary concern of Blind Citizens Australia is that people who are blind or vision impaired, continue to receive specialist services provided by agencies such as Vision Australia".
Today's announcement indicating that Vision Australia is the latest Australian organization to be affected by the global economic downturn, has many of us at Blind Citizens Australia concerned about the delivery of services resulting from the job losses across all Vision Australia's 23 sites.
"We are reassured to hear that Vision Australia is committed to maintaining their current level of services to people who are blind or vision impaired" said Mr. Blyth.
Blind Citizens Australia, as the nation's peak consumer organization of people who are blind or vision impaired, is appreciative of the factors which have led to Vision Australia's decision to re-organize its service delivery model. The priority, now, is to ensure that specialist support and services meet the needs of people who are blind or vision impaired.
Blind Citizens Australia sees today's announcement from Vision Australia as a commitment to ongoing improvement and provision of quality and accessible services that meet the needs of Australians who are blind or vision impaired.
Media contact: Robyn McKenzie, Executive Officer 0417 549 535
Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) wholeheartedly applauds today’s announcement from Minister for Health and Aging, Justine Elliot.
Minister Elliot has announced that twelve independent cinemas will begin providing captioning and audio description for their patrons who are hearing and vision impaired.
Minister Elliot stated that the government will provide funding for the twelve independent cinemas to provide these services on a permanent basis.
Before today's announcement none of the 485 cinemas operating almost 2000 screens around Australia offered audio description for people who are blind or vision impaired.
Audio described cinema uses headsets to give important visual information to movie-goers who are blind or vision impaired.
Robyn McKenzie, BCA's Executive Officer, said in response to the Ministers announcement "I'm thrilled by Minister Elliot's announcement. For the first time ever, Australians who are blind or vision impaired will be able to participate in one of our nation's foremost entertainment and cultural activities".
Blind Citizens Australia is the peak consumer organization for Australians who are blind or vision impaired, and as such, is always greatly appreciative of any advancement that provides greater access to community participation for Australia's 400,000 citizens who are blind or vision impaired.
Whilst all members of Australia's blindness community will welcome today's announcement from Minister Elliot, there are many in the community who believe more action needs to be taken in order to attain the levels of equality of access that are required by Australia's anti-discrimination laws.
"As significant as today's announcement is, it's unfortunate that the majority of Australia's blind or vision impaired will still be left in the dark when it comes to being able to independently enjoy going to the movies with family and friends", said Ms. McKenzie.
It is expected that within the next week, several individuals will lodge discrimination complaints with the Australian Human Rights Commission against Australia's major cinema chains who currently operate 12 cinemas that offer captioning for patrons who are deaf or hearing impaired, but no audio description for patrons who are blind or vision impaired.
Media contact: Wayne Hawkins, National Policy Officer 0437 355 985
Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) today congratulated the Australian DeafBlind Council on the election of their new President, Leah Hobson, and vowed to continue its own work to better serve Australians who are deafblind.
The Australian Deafblind Council (ADBC) is a government funded body established in 1993 to help promote the needs of people who are deafblind, and is comprised of people who are deafblind, their families and professionals working in the field. The election of Ms Hobson sees the first new President in four years.
"On behalf of the Board and staff of BCA, I'd like to congratulate Leah and to offer her and the Executive Committee our ongoing support", said David Blyth, BCA President. "It's important that groups which help people with disabilities speak up about their lives and their needs are able to be strong together. People who are deafblind have particularly specialized needs because what works for a person who is blind or vision impaired might not work for someone who doesn't have full hearing. For instance, a person who is blind or vision impaired can use audio description to watch a movie. A person who is deafblind might need a specially trained Auslan interpreter to describe what is happening on the screen and what is being said."
BCA has already begun to work on issues related to deafblindness, said Robyn McKenzie, BCA's Executive Officer. "Last year we ran a forum in Victoria for people who are deafblind to discuss the issues which affect them. The summary of results shows some stark problems: a lack of funding for specialist interpreter services, appropriate housing options and real difficulty obtaining technology which can be vital to communicating with the outside world. BCA is keen to continue work on these issues during 2009 and into the future."
Media Contact: Robyn McKenzie, Executive Officer 0417 549 535
Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) today called for a meeting between parents, consumer groups, service providers and the Victorian government to discuss the impending closure of Vision Australia's school age education services amid concerns that it would reduce opportunity and choice for children and their families.
Vision Australia's recent announcement of the impending closure of their specialist school for children who are blind or vision impaired and the transfer of their visiting teacher program to the Department of Education has raised strong concerns among many within the blind community, including members of BCA, which is the peak national consumer body for people who are blind or vision impaired. Consumers, particularly adults who have been through both the mainstream and specialist schooling systems as children, are keen to ensure that children who are blind or vision impaired are able to access the widest range of choice when it comes to educational options.
Their concern is echoed by Blind Citizens Australia's President, David Blyth. "We would have preferred to have seen a thorough review of children's education services before this decision was made", he said. "Since we're past that point we are now calling for a full and frank discussion of what is planned for future delivery of specialist education services for children who are blind or vision impaired in Victoria."
Blind Citizens Australia will continue to call for evidence based policy making on this matter through discussions with Vision Australia as the major service provider and the Victorian government as the major funding body associated with specialised service delivery for children with disabilities.
"The Australian government recently ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability specifically protecting the right to an education which includes specialist Braille and orientation and mobility training as well as peer support and mentoring", said Mr Blyth. "We want to make sure that children who are blind or vision impaired have access to those things not just in theory or on paper, but in a well resourced environment which meets all their needs. At the moment there isn't even a consistent qualification for teachers working with students who are blind or vision impaired. We'd like to see evidence that a special school education is less effective than a mainstream one if this sort of action is to go ahead."
Media contact: Leah Hobson, National Policy Officer 0430 210 980
Today's announcement of a one-off payment of $1400 for single pensioners and $2100 for married couples receiving a pension was welcomed by Blind Citizens Australia, the peak national representative body of, and for, people who are blind or vision impaired.
"This is a fantastic move not just for the Australian economy, but for people with disabilities like blindness who struggle to meet costs" said Robyn McKenzie, Executive Officer of Blind Citizens Australia. "Many of these people not only fight to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads, they also have extra costs associated with their disability. For someone with no vision just buying a mobile phone which has the capacity to read out what appears on the screen can cost upward of $800. That's a lot on a pension alone."
Social disadvantages are a fact of life for many people who are blind or vision impaired. A recent study by Vision Australia found that 63% of working age people who are blind or vision impaired are either unemployed or underemployed. Of those who have work, only 10.5% earn more than $1,000 a week.
While the bonus is a welcome reprieve, Ms. McKenzie said that Blind Citizens Australia was hoping to see some positive longer term outcomes from the government's Pension Review and the establishment of the National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy. "We believe that the government is taking the right steps towards reducing disadvantage for people who are blind or vision impaired, but there's still a long way to go."
Media contact: Leah Hobson, National Policy Officer 0430 210 980
Read the 2008 Pension Bonus – Frequently Asked Questions
On Sunday 12th October a group of thirteen people from across the Newcastle/Hunter region came together for the first time. In many ways they were all very different: different ages, occupations and lives. But they all had two things in common - their sight loss, and their desire to make their local area a better place for people who are blind or vision impaired to live.
"We're really keen to see things change in the area" says Lauren Henley, the newly elected President of the Newcastle/Hunter branch of Blind Citizens Australia. "Even just raising awareness among the general public about the needs of our community is really important. So often people just don't know what they need to do or say."
Lauren cites the example of the Greater Union Glendale, which could upgrade its facilities to show films with audio description for minimal cost. "Having audio description available means we can hear a description of what is being seen on-screen. It's the difference between going to a movie and not ever setting foot in a cinema."
"The formation of this branch is a great step forward for BCA" said Executive Officer, Robyn McKenzie. "We believe strongly in people who are blind or vision impaired being able to advocate for themselves at a local level and that's especially important for people in rural and regional areas."
The group hopes to meet on a regular basis in the Newcastle area. For more information about Blind Citizens Australia or the Newcastle Branch, please call 1800 033 660.
Media contact: Leah Hobson, National Policy Officer 0430 210 980
On Saturday 18th October The Bell Tower in Ballarat will be hosting a conference to be opened by the town's Mayor Stephen Jones. Many things will be business as usual but others will stand out. For starters, there will be dogs in the audience. Delegates will have the choice of reading with their eyes or their hands.
The theme of the convention is 'Busting the Myths', and the goal is to empower people who are blind or vision impaired. This will begin with a keynote speaker from Council On The Ageing Victoria, who will address some of the myths around depression for people who are getting older. Retirees make up a large part of the blind and vision impaired community.
"Our conventions are a critical chance for people who are blind or vision impaired to get together and to talk through the issues which affect them" said Robyn McKenzie, Executive Officer of BCA. "This year we have a fabulous array of speakers who will be talking about everything from preparing for an emergency if you're blind to being a carer with a vision impairment, a topic which we'll be lucky enough to be discussing with Colleen Pearce who is Victoria's Public Advocate. Sessions like these are critical to ensuring that people who are blind or vision impaired are able to make informed choices and live productive, independent lives."
It is anticipated that the two day Convention will attract over sixty people who are blind or vision impaired from across Victoria. For more information about the convention, contact Blind Citizens Australia on 1800 033 660.
Media contact: Leah Hobson, National Policy Officer 0430 210 980
Blind Citizens Australia is the national peak advocacy organisation for people who are blind or vision impaired. In response to a growing need for peer support and peer advocacy among people who are blind or vision impaired living in regional New South Wales, Blind Citizens Australia will formally establish a branch in Newcastle in mid October.
On Sunday 12th October, residents from Newcastle and surrounds who are blind or vision impaired will meet to formally open the newest branch of Blind Citizens Australia (BCA). Stephen Belbin, the local man behind the effort to start the branch, is passionate about tackling the issues which confront him every day because of his blindness. "Transport is a big issue here because many people who can't see well don't drive. We need a bus system that works well for us. I'm also concerned about the number of touch screen systems coming in to places like Medicare and the banks. They're just not usable at all to someone with little or no sight."
"We're very excited to have this new branch," says David Blyth, BCA's President. "Our national office and all the other grass roots branches will be pitching in to help out the new branch as it works to improve the advocacy and peer support options for people who are blind or vision impaired in the Newcastle and Hunter area. It's a goal for Blind Citizens Australia as a whole to advocate for better resources for people in rural areas, and this is a significant step in the right direction."
The new branch will have its first meeting from 2:00pm on October 12th at the Travelodge in King Street, Newcastle. Mr Belbin, who gets his drive from the work he does with students who are blind and vision impaired in his job with the Department of Education, is keen to make future meetings inclusive. "We'll be looking to meet by teleconference and in person, hopefully in a few different locations and at times to suit families, people who work and those who don't like to go out at night."
For more information about the first meeting of the Newcastle Branch, contact Stephen Belbin on 0409 000 100.
Media contact: Leah Hobson, National Policy Officer 0430 210 980
The World Blind Union General Assembly in Geneva today announced the nominations for its 7th Presidency. As the only nominee, Australian and BCA member Maryanne Diamond quickly accepted the title, promising to do her best in the role. "I may be the second Australian President of the WBU, and the second woman President, but I certainly don't intend to do a second rate job," she said.
Mrs Diamond has had a long and varied career within the Australian blindness community, including a strong association with BCA. She began her paid work for BCA as the Victorian Information and Advocacy Officer and progressed to the Executive Officer position. She then went on to be the inaugural CEO of the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO), before deciding to nominate for the position of World Blind Union President when her term as the First Vice President ended this year. Maryanne has also played a critical role on a number of boards and committees throughout the Australian disability and community service sector.
"On behalf of our Board, members and staff I'd like to congratulate Maryanne on her successful campaign for the World Blind Union Presidency," said Greg Madson, Acting President of Blind Citizens Australia. "We're sure Maryanne will do a fantastic job for people who are blind or vision impaired around the world, as she has already done in Australia."
It is expected that further details of Mrs Diamond's plans for the four year term will be unveiled as the General Assembly progresses.
Media contact: Leah Hobson, National Policy Officer 0430 210 980
In response to the Federal government's announcement of a subsidy for the Australian production of hybrid cars, Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) today expressed concern that pedestrians who are blind or vision impaired would be less safe on Australia's roads and footpaths with the anticipated increase to the number of silent vehicles across the country.
As the peak national representative body for people who are blind or vision impaired, BCA called for governments and manufacturers to help combat what could be a deadly silence for those relying on the sound of cars approaching to cross roads and travel independently. The move comes amid anecdotal evidence that some people who are blind or vision impaired have already had near misses with silent vehicles like hybrid cars.
"Unless we do something now to ensure these vehicles are made safe, it will only be a matter of time before someone suffers a serious injury or is killed," said Robyn McKenzie, BCA Executive Officer. "We're urging the Federal government and Toyota to set aside funding in the $35 million subsidy for hybrid car production to develop safety measures. We also encourage government departments which are purchasing hybrid cars to make sure their staff are aware of the safety issues these cars can have for pedestrians."
Other members of the blindness sector have backed the suggestions. "As an organization providing seeing eye dogs and orientation and mobility training, this trend makes us very concerned about the safety of pedestrians who are blind or vision impaired," said Vision Australia Chair Kevin Murfitt.
In the coming weeks, Blind Citizens Australia will be working with governments and blindness sector bodies across Australia to ensure that the balance between a greener Australia and the needs of people with disabilities remains fair.
Media contact: Leah Hobson, National Policy Officer 0430 210 980.
Friday 23rd May saw the launch of Blind Citizens Australia's (BCA) new head office premises at Ross House in the heart of the Melbourne CBD. There was standing room only at the launch, attended by members, staff, and supporters. The event showcased the strong sense of community among people who are blind or vision impaired, and the vital role that BCA plays in nurturing the community to promote self advocacy and self acceptance.
Proceedings began with a recording of Cheryl Pascual, BCA's Vice President, talking about her experience of losing her sight as a young mother with three children.
"I attribute coming to terms with my vision loss to BCA," said Cheryl.
After the recording David Blyth, BCA's President, spoke about the increased capacity the organisation will have to support its members with the move to a centralised, accessible location. This was a sentiment echoed by the Honourable Bill Shorten, Parliamentary Secretary for Disability and Children's Services, who talked about his goal for society to work towards overcoming the barriers to inclusion for people with impairments such as vision impairment in all areas of life, and the need for a whole-of-life approach to access. "I visit companies who have all the necessary things to make their building accessible like Braille in their lifts and on their signs, but they don't employ anyone with an impairment," he said. "It has to change."
The theme was rounded off by BCA's Executive Officer Robyn McKenzie, who outlined the many opportunities for connections and communication offered by BCA. The formal ceremony closed with a performance from Ross de Vent and Jordie Howell, a duo of young singers who are also BCA members.
Media contact: Leah Hobson, National Policy Officer 0430 210 980.
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
Level 3, 247-251 Flinders Lane
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Telephone: (03) 9654 1400 or
1800 033 660
TTY: (03) 9639 1728
Facsimile: (03) 9650 3200
E-mail: bca@bca.org.au