Wednesday 13th March 

Dear Members,

Queensland Branch President Adrian Watson is embarking on a journey to meet with members over the next few days. This is a unique opportunity to share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns directly with the leader of your branch, make your voice heard and help shape the future of our community. For details on cities, dates and times please refer to the below and be a part of conversations that drive positive change.

A reminder, you can read the Member Update on BCA’s website.

What’s Coming Up at BCA?

Plan ahead using our monthly calendar – the events calendar for March is available on our website, or you can access the calendar via audio by phoning 1800 033 660 and following the prompts.

If you have any questions, or would like more information, please feel free to contact us on events@bca.org.au or call 1800 033 660.

Trivia

Saturday, 16th March at 8:00pm AEDT.

Are you interested in expanding your general knowledge in an easy going and fun atmosphere? If so, join this week’s trivia presented by Peter Rickards for an enjoyable night of team competition.

Please be aware that, to ensure the smooth operation of the game, Trivia will be limited to 25 players. To give everyone an opportunity, the Zoom waiting room will open to admit people who sign in from 7:45pm Sydney time and close at 8.00pm.

Peer Connect Groups

The Peer Connect groups meeting in the next week are listed below. You can also find out more about all our peer connect groups, including session times and other details on the BCA Website.

Guitar Group

Saturday, ​16th​ ​March​ at 2:00pm AEDT.

The guitar group offers a welcoming space for players of all levels, from beginners to advanced, to come together to share tips and techniques. This group is an open platform for guitar enthusiasts where you can find support and share resources to help you along your musical journey.

Assistive Technology Group

Monday, ​18th ​​March​ at 8:00pm AEDT.

Assistive Technology is useful and increasingly necessary in our daily lives. However, not everything is easy to navigate, and new technologies develop every day. Join Adam and others to learn more about assistive technology and how to get the best from it.

Journey to Employment Group

Tuesday, ​19th ​​March​ at 7:30pm AEDT.

In this session of a Journey to Employment Group join Garry for a discussion that unwraps the main obstacles encountered by individuals who are blind, or vision impaired on their path to employment.  This engaging group session offers an opportunity to share experiences and perspectives, and to hear from others who have encountered similar challenges along the journey.

BCA Updates

Update from the CEO

Dear members,

Last week, Virgin Airlines announced plans to allow pets (small cats and dogs) to travel in the cabin on domestic flights. The issue of whether pets should be allowed on planes or other forms of public transport is something BCA has consulted members about in the past. While BCA members hold a variety of opinions on how we approach this topic, we can all agree that concerns about the safety of dog guides around pets, and the distracting impacts pets can have on their ability to work. BCA, along with other blindness sector organisations, will be seeking to meet with representatives from Virgin to seek assurances from them that no dog guide will be disadvantaged as a result of this policy, and detail on what measures Virgin will be putting in place to ensure the safety of dog guides and the peace of mind of their handlers.

Vale Ms Angeline Chand and Senator Monthian Buntan – Helen Freris

Ms. Angeline Chand sadly passed away around 8:00pm on Saturday, 2nd March at the Oceania Private Hospital in Suva, Fiji. The late Ms. Angeline Shobna Maharaj-Chand joined the Pacific Disability Forum in April 2008 as the Program Officer responsible for Gender, Youth and DPO Development. Angeline also held other key roles in the organisation over the last 15 years and 11 months including Team Leader Programs, Gender and Human Rights Adviser, and more recently as the coordinator – Member Services Unit, the position she held until the time of her passing.

The Pacific Organisations of People with Disability Fund is a living testimony to Angeline’s service in the Pacific Disability Forum.  Prior to her involvement in the Pacific Disability Forum, Angeline was active in the World Blind Union (WBU), and some of us may remember meeting her at the 5th General Assembly of the World Blind Union in Melbourne. Angeline held senior leadership roles in the Asia-Pacific World Blind Union region and contributed to human rights advocacy for people with disabilities. We express condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.

The World Blind Union also mourns the profound loss of Senator Monthian Buntan, a pivotal figure in the global disability rights movement, who also passed away on the 2nd of March 2024, at the age of 58. Senator Monthian’s unwavering dedication to improving the lives of people who are blind or vision impaired has left an indelible mark on our community. Throughout his life, Senator Monthian championed the rights of persons with disabilities, contributing significantly to the drafting and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). His historic role as the first person with a disability from Thailand and the ASEAN region to serve as a committee member of the CRPD underscored his commitment to advocacy at the highest levels. His efforts were instrumental in harmonising Thai laws and policies with the CRPD, showcasing his tireless dedication to the cause.

Senator Monthian’s influence extended beyond policy and advocacy; his passion for music, braille, and technology illuminated his belief in the arts and innovation as gateways to literacy and quality of life for individuals who are blind or partially sighted. His leadership within the Thailand Association of the Blind and as an honorary life member of the WBU exemplified his lifelong commitment to our community.

We also express condolences to Senator Buntan’s family, friends and colleagues. Both Angeline Chand and Senator Monthian Buntan will be deeply missed within the international disability movement.

State Government Issues with V.I. Voting Machines – Duncan Meerding

Local blind community member James Newton will be speaking with ABC Radio’s Leon Compton on Friday, 15th March at 8:45am AEDT. James will be sharing his experience of inaccessibility in voting in the current Tasmanian Lower House State Election.

If you wish to have a listen it will be on ABC Radio Tasmania (both North and South). You can tune into 91.7 FM if local to Tasmania. If you’re tuning in from anywhere else, you can join ABC Northern Tasmania or ABC Hobart.

Around the Branches

Casino / Richmond Valley Branch

Seniors Music Muster

When: Wednesday, 20th March 2024

Time: 9:30am to 1:30pm AEDT

Where: Ballina RSL Club

Cost: $10 includes morning tea

RSVP to Denise Green via Phone on 0448 014 682 or email deniseg.vip@outlook.com

National Women’s Branch

Having Fun with Kids’ Workshop

Thursday, 21st March from 7:30pm to 9:00pm AEDT.

Facilitated by Annette Leishman, the workshop will focus on activities and ways to interact with kids whether they are your own or someone else’s.

As experts in our own experiences, we will come together in a safe space, to explore and share our strategies, be it from a mum, an aunt, grandmother, or another’s perspective.

Women’s Branch members of all ages are encouraged to come along and share what they know.

RSVP to nettie617@gmail.com for the Zoom log in details.

Queensland Branch

Adrian Watson, President of the Queensland Brach will be traveling across Queensland to meet with members in Cairns, Toowoomba and Brisbane.

Meet Adrain in the following cities on the following dates:

Cairns on Thursday, 14th March from 10:00am to 12:00pm at Cairns RSL.

Toowoomba on Friday, 15th March from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at McDonald’s North Toowoomba (277 Margaret Street, North Toowoomba opposite Grand Central Shopping Centre).

Brisbane on Saturday, 16th March from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at Geebung RSL.

If you have any questions, please contact Stefan via email at queensland@bca.org.au or call Stefan on 0428 960 801.

New Horizons

Cassie Hames is our guest on this week’s New Horizons. Cassie has developed the “See Me, Bus Signalling” app, which helps people who are blind or vision impaired access public transport.

Take a listen to the New Horizons podcast or find out how to tune in live.

Do you have any ideas for stories, or feedback about the show? Contact us on new.horizons@bca.org.au.

News From Outside BCA

National

Peer Mentorship Group for Youth and Young Adults – University of Sydney

Friday, 5th April from 5:30pm to 6:30pm AEDT.

Are you transitioning from high school to tertiary education or the workforce?

Would you like to meet other people and learn about their experience navigating these spaces? Save Sight Institute invites you to join our Peer Mentorship Group pilot session for youth and young adults who live with or experience the impacts of vision-related conditions and/or impairments.

The session will be led by Simran and Salonee Goyal, two young professionals who are passionate about ensuring that youth who live with differing abilities have access to equal opportunities as their able-sighted peers.

The meeting will be held online via Zoom. Spaces are limited.

To register contact Lorraine via email at ssi.pcc@sydney.edu.au

NDIS Insights 2023-24 – Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)

2023 was a big year for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Our new explainer NDIS Insights 2023-24 will help you understand significant developments and their impact on the scheme, as well as what we can expect in the year ahead.

In 2023, the final reports of the Disability Royal Commission and the Independent Review into the NDIS collectively made 248 recommendations for improvements to the Scheme. Decisions by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (‘AAT’) and the Federal Court gave valuable guidance on the correct application of NDIS legislation, rules and policies.

Throughout the year, a loud, persistent and largely negative media narrative and political debate surrounded the NDIS, focused on cost, integrity and sustainability.

Although the Australian Government announced some new NDIS commitments, substantial reform was limited.

We expect more significant changes in 2024. Commonwealth, state and territory governments will respond to the collective recommendations and outline if and how they will implement reforms. In addition, the AAT is expected to be replaced by the Administrative Review Tribunal (‘ART’), which will look to improve the way NDIS decisions are made and reviewed.

Access the PIAC NDIS Insights in accessible Word format

National Research Study for Young People with Disability – University of Sydney

We are looking for people to be part of our study. The study is called “Experiences of young people with disability and influences on their mental health”.

Mental health is how you think and feel about yourself, like happy or sad. We want to hear what you think about things that matter to you and how they have changed your mental health, like: people, events, and places.

We will make sure we do things that make it easy for you to be part of the study. We want to hear your stories. We will do this by having two online interviews with you. Each interview will be 60 to 90 minutes long. You will receive a gift card as token of appreciation.

To be part of this study or to request more information you can contact:

Jodie Bailie – jodie.bailie@sydney.edu.au or Phone: 0428 601 559.

Emma Cooper – emma.cooper@sydney.edu.au or Phone: 0424 916 245.

Career Opportunity – International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI)

The International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) is seeking a Secretary General reporting directly to the President.

As the Secretary General of ICEVI, you are part of an organisation with the mission of promoting access to inclusive, equitable, and quality education for children and young people with blindness, low vision, deafblindness, and multiple disability. ICEVI has a specific focus on the right to education in low-and middle-income countries.

For further details about this position, please view the Position Description on the ICEVI website

Applications close on Sunday, 31st March 2024.

If the position of the Secretary General sounds like a great fit for you, then please submit a written application in MS Word to the President of ICEVI, Dr Frances Gentle, care of the ICEVI Secretariat, Email: ceo201922@gmail.com.

Your application should include the following:

  • A letter of candidature indicating interest in and suitability for the position.
  • A detailed curriculum vitae.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Dr Frances Gentle, President, ICEVI, care of the ICEVI Secretariat, Email ceo201922@gmail.com.

Take part in a User Experience Research Study

Students from the University of Sydney currently undertaking a course in User Experience are keen to hear from people who are blind or vision impaired.

We hope to learn about the lived experience of people who are blind or vision impaired and their engagement with sport and physical activity to inform our final project/design solution. We are also looking for five individuals to conduct a 15-minute interview via Zoom.

If you would like to take part in the study or have any questions, please contact Sydney at skel0496@uni.sydney.edu.au

Tasmania

NDIS Review Town Hall Event – Department of Social Services

The Department of Social Services together with the Independent NDIS Review Panel would like to invite you to Town Hall events. The Town Hall events will feature members of the Review Panel, including Professor Bruce Bonyhady AM, Kirsten Deane and Mr Douglas Herd, with closing remarks made by the Honourable Bill Shorten MP – Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

You can register your in-person or online attendance for free via Humanitix.

The details of this Town Hall Event are as follows:

Have you got something to contribute?

If you have something you would like included in the Member Update, please send it to memberupdate@bca.org.au or call us on 1800 033 660. Items received by 12:00pm Monday be considered for publishing in the Wednesday update.