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Member Update

Wednesday 24th April

Dear Members,

Today is International Guide Dog Day, a time to rejoice in the incredible teamwork between us and our loyal dog guide. These exceptional animals offer more than just direction; they grant independence, boost confidence, and offer companionship to countless individuals around the world. Let’s take a moment today to celebrate our furry companions, who demonstrate unwavering loyalty and endless affection. Today, let’s appreciate the special connection we have with our faithful friend, reminding us that often the most profound guidance in life comes without uttering a single word.

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 April 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, ​27th April at​​​ 8:00pm AEST.

Are you interested in expanding your general knowledge in an easy going and fun atmosphere? If so, join this week’s trivia presented by Neale Huth 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.

BCA Conversation – Consultation on Inclusive Higher Education

Thursday, 2nd May from 7:30pm to 8:30pm AEST.

You are invited to engage with us in a consultation focused on Higher Education to explore the implications of the Disability Royal Commission’s perceptions for the educational landscape nationwide. We will also discuss the recent Australian Universities Accord. Your perspectives are invaluable to us at BCA, and we extend an invitation to participate in this pivotal discussion.

This consultative session seeks to delve into your experiences and insights regarding higher education, while also exploring strategies to foster greater inclusivity in higher educational settings. Your contributions will play a vital role in shaping a more inclusive future for higher education for people who are blind or vision impaired. We eagerly await your participation to collectively shape a brighter educational horizon.

To register please visit the Humanitix website

If you require any assistance with registering for this event, please contact us at events@bca.org.au or call 1800 033 660.

BCA Inform – Employment

Tuesday, 7th May from 7:30pm to 9:00pm AEST.

Engaging in discussions about employment is paramount for individuals who are blind or vision impaired as it fosters awareness, empowers advocacy, and cultivates opportunities for inclusive practices in the workforce.

An Eye to the Future warmly invites you to join a special edition of BCA Inform in May. We will explore the crucial topic of employment, reflecting on the journey and achievements of An Eye to the Future throughout the years. Additionally, esteemed guest speakers from diverse backgrounds will participate in a panel discussion. This event offers ample opportunities for you to pose questions and contribute your valuable insights. We look forward to your presence!

To register for the event please visit the Humanitix website.

If you have any questions, or if you require assistance registering, please feel free to contact us at events@bca.org.au or call 1800 033 660.

BCA National Volunteers Week Celebration

Thursday, 23rd May 2024 from 4:30pm to 5:30pm AEST.

National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering and will be celebrated from 20-26 May 2024. The theme for National Volunteer Week 2024 is ‘Something for Everyone’. recognising the vital support that the millions of volunteers in Australia provide to their communities.

In acknowledgment of our dedicated volunteers, Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) will host an exclusive online event during National Volunteer Week on Thursday, 23rd May 2024 from 4:30pm to 5:30pm AEST.

We extend a warm invitation to all BCA members, staff, and board members to join us. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to highlight the remarkable accomplishments of BCA’s volunteers.

To register for the event please visit the Humantix website.

If you require any assistance with registering for this event, please contact us at events@bca.org.au or call 1800 033 660.

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.

Book Club

Wednesday, ​1st​ ​May​ at 7:00pm AEST.

In this meeting, the group will discuss “Finding a Way” by Graeme Innes and “Left Neglected” by Lisa Genova. This group is open to all readers, whether you’ve just embarked on your reading journey or have been immersed in books for many years you are welcome to come along. You will have the chance to discuss books, exchange ideas, and broaden your horizons through the magic of storytelling.

BCA Updates

Update from the CEO

Dear members,

I recently had the pleasure of attending the Barry Jones Vision Oration, an annual address established by Vision 2020 Australia that aims to raise awareness on critical issues related to eye health and vision care.

This year’s presenter was Jess Gallagher, Summer and Winter Paralympic Medallist. When Jess was diagnosed at 17 with cone dystrophy, a rare eye disease, her sporting dreams as a netballer were crushed. But she continued to pursue her sporting ambitions, becoming the first Australian athlete to medal at a Summer and Winter Games, representing Australia in four sports: alpine skiing, athletics, track cycling and rowing.

In 2023, RMIT University awarded Jess an Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences, and she has been a past Board Director and advocate for Vision 2020 Australia. It was wonderful to hear about Jess’s story of resilience and reinvention, and I thank Vision 2020 Australia and The Fred Hollows Foundation for organising the event.

Last month, Jackson Reynolds-Ryan, BCA’s Policy and Advocacy Manager, attended Disability Services Consulting’s (DSC) annual two-day NDIS Conference. The hybrid conference took place in Sydney, though many attendees logged in online – including BCA staff – from all over Australia.

The final report of the 10-year independent review of the NDIS was the common thread throughout the conference – to the extent that the planned address by the NDIS Minister Bill Shorten was replaced by a live cross to Parliament to watch his speech tabling the first tranche of NDIS Legislation.

A highlight for many at the conference was the conversation between Natalie Wade and former Australian of the Year, Grace Tame, on the power of lived experience. Other big sessions at this conference included discussions about whether and/or how the plan for foundational supports as a new support category can work, best practices for applying supported decision-making principles, the role of NDIS ‘navigators’, and views on the proposed requirement for mandatory provider and worker registration under the NDIS.

It was also encouraging to see that feedback provided to DSC by people who are blind or vision impaired after last year’s conference was taken on board, with this year’s event focusing far more on the importance of ensuring any slide presentations were read out and descriptions of images provided, with far less attention to giving visual descriptions of each speaker or presenter as they came on stage.

Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems Update – Jackson Reynolds-Ryan

We’re excited to share that pedestrians who are blind or vision impaired will soon be safer around quiet cars, trucks and buses travelling at low speeds as the government is introducing a new design rule to make electric vehicles safer.

Acoustic vehicle alerting systems (AVAS) are sound generators used in electric vehicles (EVs) to alert pedestrians, cyclists, children, and other road users that a car is present. BCA has long advocated for the use of AVAS on EVs to ensure the safety of pedestrians who are blind or vision impaired. Read our response to the consultation impact analysis for improving pedestrian safety.

The new Australian Design Rule (ADR) will require new electric, hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell cars, trucks and buses to be fitted with an AVAS from November 2025. AVAS will make these vehicles easier to hear by emitting a sound when the vehicle is travelling at low speeds.

This is a huge win for the safety of pedestrians, and we welcome the decision made by the government to mandate AVAS on electric vehicles.

Read more about the decision via a government media release.

President’s Update

A reminder that Helen Freris, currently serving as the Acting President of BCA, will be attending a conference in Darwin during the week starting from Monday, 29th April. While in the Northern Territory, Helen aims to utilise her time by engaging with BCA members or service providers pertinent to the organisation’s activities.

If you wish to connect with Helen, she will be available for meetings on Friday, 3rd May, during her stay in Darwin. Please reach out to bca@bca.org.au if you’d like to schedule a meeting with Helen and specify your availability for that day.

Survey seeking suggestions for Celebrating BCA’s 50th anniversary in 2025 closes soon!

We still want your suggestions! Since mid-March BCA’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations Committee has been collecting suggestions and ideas from members about how best to celebrate our rich 50 years at the local, state, or national level in the lead-up to a convention in June 2025 when BCA turns 50.

If you have any ideas on how we can acknowledge our anniversary, you still have time. The survey will close on Wednesday, 1st May, so the committee can consider the many ideas members have submitted and start some planning!

Complete the simple 4 question survey.

If you have any questions or require assistance to complete the survey, please contact bca@bca.org.au or call 1800 033 660.

Around the Branches

Queensland Branch

You are invited to join the Queensland General Branch Meeting in person or via Zoom on Saturday, 4th May from 12:00pm to 2:00pm AEST.

The Queensland Branch of BCA is to hold a General Meeting of the Branch at the MacDonalds, in Margaret Street North Toowoomba, opposite the Grand Central shopping centre, on Saturday 4th May from 12:00pm to 2:00pm.

Branch President Adrian Watson will be there, in person, to chair the meeting. A feature of the meeting will be several personal accounts by locally based members on how they got involved with the local group of BCA as well as an update on Branch Committee activities and a time for general business to be raised.

Details on how to join the meeting via Zoom will be sent to all Queensland members via the state-wide email announcement list.

For more information including the recording of apologies please contact Secretary Stefan Slucki at queensland@bca.org.au

National Women’s Branch

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Education Session, Victoria

What is sexual harassment exactly? What do you do if you think you have been sexually harassed at work? How do you make a complaint?

All Victorian female members of BCA are invited to attend an online education session run by Disability Discrimination Legal Service, DDLS and hosted by the Women’s Branch.

Date: Monday, 6th May.

Time: 7:30pm AEST.

To register please visit the Humanitix event page.

The day before the workshop a copy of the session handout and Zoom details will be sent out.

New Horizons

In this week’s episode, we revisit an episode from 2022 when we spoke with BCA’s Tasmania Branch President, Duncan Meerding. At that time, Duncan explained arrangements the Tasmanian Electoral Commission had put in place to assist Blind and Vision Impaired voters to vote at the Local Government election. In March this year, Tasmania held an election for members in its lower house of Government and in May will be holding Legislative Council elections in three electorates. Has anything changed? We bring you an opinion piece written by BCA member, David Morrell, about where things currently stand in Tasmania. We’ll be featuring more on this subject in coming episodes so if you live in Tasmania and have something to say, e-mail new.horizons@bca.org.au. If you live in other states and territories, let us have your experiences, positive and negative, about voting arrangements in your state.

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

International Guide Dog Day – Guide Dogs Australia

Today is International Guide Dog Day. This event is celebrated on the last Wednesday in April each year and marks the establishment of the International Federation of Guide Dog Associations on 26th April 1989.

This day provides a chance to honour the invaluable contributions of Guide Dogs globally. It aims to increase awareness about the vital role Guide Dog services play in empowering individuals who are blind or have low vision to lead independent lives.

As part of the day, Guide Dogs Australia has released a campaign, “Where you can go, we can go,” which aims to spread the important message of becoming an access ally and learning the law regarding access rights.

Visit the Guide Dogs website to learn more about the campaign.

Services for Older Australians – Vision Australia

Vision Australia is enhancing its services for older Australians who are blind or vision impaired, acknowledging the growing demand due to the aging population and conditions like diabetic retinopathy.

The revamped services focus on three key pillars:

  1. Know Your Vision Program Expansion: Providing guidance on maintaining independence and aging in place.
  2. Social Inclusion Programs: Building community engagement capacities.
  3. Emotional Wellbeing Support: Offering tailored services like the Check in and Chat program.

Moreover, Vision Australia emphasizes the role of technology, offering education and access to assistive devices. And in recognizing the importance of holistic support, Vision Australia involves friends and families, providing resources like a free carers guide. Additionally, they offer Home Care Packages in Victoria and New South Wales.

More information about Vision Australia’s services for older Australians is available via the Vision Australia website, or by contacting Vision Australia on 1300 84 74 66 or emailing info@visionaustralia.org. 

Seeking Advice for Design of AI Low-Vision Assistive Device

We are an Australian National University engineering team that seeks to deliver an assistive device by November this year to aid in obstacle detection and text recognition for people who are blind or vision impaired. This device will be wearable and able to function in any environment and location.

We invite you to complete a survey to best understand the most important features engineers will implement, as we are including user feedback throughout our entire project cycle.

If you would like to partake in the study, you can contact us via email projectver.anu@gmail.com

The closing date for our survey is Tuesday, 30th April.

Seeking Nominations: Chair for the National Disability Research Partnership (NDRP) Board – Department of Social Services

The Department of Social Services (DSS) is seeking nominations for the Chair of the National Disability Research Partnership (NDRP) Board.

Some of the key things the Chair will be responsible for include:

  • Ensuring the NDRP Guiding Principlesare upheld, together with the rest of the Board and the NDRP staff.
  • Working closely with the NDRP CEO to oversee the NDRP’s activities.
  • Being the public face of the NDRP to its broader stakeholders and the community.
  • Providing leadership to the Board, including making sure information is provided clearly and in a timely manner, chairing meetings, acting as a conduit for information between the board, the NDRP’s members and broader stakeholders.
  • Facilitating open and constructive communications amongst board members and encouraging their contribution to board deliberations.
  • Ensuring that the Board has enough information to understand the NDRP’s financial position, strategic performance, operations and the opportunities and challenges facing the organisation.

To find out more about this opportunity and to express interest in the NDRP Chair role, please see the Application pack and nomination form.

If you need help to submit your expression of interest, please email ADSAdvisoryCouncil@dss.gov.au. Accessible materials and adjustments are available to support people during the application process and to participate in the NDRP Board.

Job Opportunity: Chief Executive Officer – Pacific Disability Forum (PDF)

Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) is a constituency of 73 organisations of and for persons with disabilities (OPDs) and individual members, representing diverse groups of persons with disabilities and their supporters across 22 Pacific Island countries and territories.

Our work includes evidence-based advocacy, active engagement in policy development and the implementation and monitoring of relevant global and regional disability frameworks in collaboration with our stakeholders.

Reporting to our Board and supported by a Fiji based team of around 25 staff, as Chief Execuitve Officer, you will be responsible for the leadership, management and overall operational activities of PDF. As our Chief Executive, you will be focused on supporting and advocating on behalf of our OPD constituents, you will catalyse and frame critical regional policy and mobilise resources and stakeholder efforts to meet our inclusive Pacific 2030 goals.

We are seeking expressions of interest from candidates with lived experience of disability, as well as a clear connection to and a deep appreciation of Pacific culture and community practices.

For more information, please email Jo Bell or Amy Tea at info@amytea.co.nz

To apply, please email your cover letter and CV in Microsoft Word format to apply@amytea.co.nz Please let us know if it would be helpful to provide any of our information in an alternative format for you.

Please note this is a Suva based role and PDF will assist with a work permit and costs of relocation.

Applications close Sunday, 5th May 2024.

New South Wales

Job Opportunity: Disability Policy Advisor – NSW Government

We are looking for a highly motivated person to fill the role of Disability Policy Advisor in the Office of the Hon. Kate Washington MP, NSW Minister for Disability Inclusion.

The successful candidate will require a strong interest, understanding and background in public policy and disability inclusion, and an understanding of the NSW political system.

This is a full-time ongoing role which is based at 52 Martin Place, Sydney.

To learn more about the requirements visit the NSW Government website

To apply for the role of Disability Policy Advisor, you’ll need to create an account on Work for NSW and apply online. Your application should include:

  • A resume which clearly details your relevant skills and experience (maximum 5 pages)
  • A cover letter addressing how you meet the requirements of the role (maximum 2 pages)
  • Two referees who can speak to your skills and experience.

If you require any adjustments or alternative formats to participate in the recruitment process, please contact Stacey Sete, Executive Assistant via email at jobs@washington.minister.nsw.gov.au)

Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm Monday, 29th April 2024.

For enquiries, please contact Stacey Sete, Executive Assistant, via (jobs@washington.minister.nsw.gov.au)

If you run into any technical difficulties with your online application, contact I Work for NSW Support at support@iworkfor.nsw.gov.au or call 1800 562 679.

Victoria

Try Before You Ride Southern Cross Station – Metro

Thursday, 9th May from 10:30am to 2:00pm AEST.

Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), Metro Trains, V/Line, Yarra Trams and Kinetic are committed to ensuring inclusive and accessible transport for all passengers. We understand the importance of providing a safe and comfortable journey for everyone, including those with accessibility needs.

We are excited to invite you to our Try Before You Ride Event, where you can build your confidence in using public transport.

At the event, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Practice getting on and off trains, trams, buses, and taxis safely
  • Speak with public transport staff who can assist you
  • Learn about the accessibility features available on our services
  • Join a station familiarisation tour

We encourage you to attend this event and discover how accessible public transport can be. Whether you are planning to attend major events in Melbourne or simply travel on a daily basis, we want to ensure that your journey is comfortable and enjoyable.

Register on Eventbrite for your free ticket and take the first step towards confident and independent travel on public transport.

For more information, visit the Try Before You Ride webpage.

Fashion Art Call Out – Rawcus

Sunday, 9th June to Tuesday, 11th June 2024.

Rawcus is seeking people over the age of 55, to participate in a fashion arts project alongside the Rawcus ensemble, a group of artists with and without disability. Over a series of 3 workshops led by the arts collective Fast Fashun, participants will create a fashion look from discarded fast fashion waste, and then pose for a fashion shoot with renowned photographer Pia Johnson. The resulting images will be displayed in a laneway in the heart of Footscray.

Address: 59 Francis Street, Yarraville

Places are limited, so registration is required.

Community participants receive $50 to cover the cost of food and transport.

Expression of Interests are open now and close on Friday 10th May.

For more information and to fill out an online form visit the Rawcus website or download a copy and email it to info@rawcus.org.au. If you need assistance with this application, please get in touch via email info@rawcus.org.au

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.