Engage Aotearoa

Category Archives: Families/whanau

It’s not OK Campaign Turns Focus to Protecting Children

August 21, 2012 9:52 am ⋅

New Resources from It’s not OK campaign focus on protecting children

A new series of posters, postcards and stickers focus on the role we all have to play in protecting children in our families and communities.

Research shows that violence in the home affects children whether they see it, hear it or just know about it.

Child abuse is most often linked to partner abuse.  In 2010 70% of child abuse cases attended by Police were family violence related and half involved children being present.

All Black Liam Messam, Sports Broadcaster Jenny May Coffin and Comedian Ben Hurley feature on the new resources.

The new resources can be ordered from 1 August by any person or organisation from the It’s not OK website at http://www.areyouok.org.nz/.

Also, don’t forget to keep in touch with what’s happening around the country at www.facebook.com/ItsNotOK 

 

Posted in: Community Participation, Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Men, Parents and Parenting, Social Change, Women, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , , , ,

Ministry of Justice Proposes Cutting Disability Law Services

July 7, 2012 1:49 am ⋅

Help Save Disability Law

The Ministry of Justice is proposing to withdraw funding for direct specialist legal services for the disability community from June 2013.

This will mean that there will no longer be a community law centre specialising in the complex legal needs of disabled people.  There will be no Auckland Disability Law.

Auckland Disability Law is calling for the Ministry of Justice to rethink this proposal.

At Engage Aotearoa, we think there should be specialist disability law services available to disabled people throughout New Zealand, including Auckland Disability Law. We frequently refer people to this service.

Your Help is Needed!

Key Things You Can Do:

Sign the Open Letter to Judith Collins, the Minister of Justice as an individual or on behalf of your organisation (attached (right click the link to save the document) and available on Auckland Disability Law’s Facebook page or by email from info@adl.org.nz).  Email to sign the letter and send your organisation’s logo.

Come to the “Save Disability Law” Community Hui

Send a message to the government that we are serious about saving disability law through the continued funding of Auckland Disability Law and extending specialist legal services nationally for disabled people.

  • When:  Monday 30th July 2012, 1pm till 3pm
  • Where:   Western Springs Garden Community Hall, 956 Great North Road
  • Invited speakers: Mojo Mathers, Sue Bradford, Clive Lansink

Other Things That You Can Do to Help

Write your own letter to Justice Minister Judith Collins

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/judith-collins

Write to the newspapers, or put out your own press release

Contact Auckland Disability Law for further information

Follow Auckland Disability Law on Facebook

Search and click the ‘like’ button on the Auckland Disability Law Facebook page

Further Information

If you require any further information or you are able to help the campaign in any way, please contact, Auckland Disability Law:

Nicola Owen, Development Manager, Auckland Disability Law

Posted in: Accessibility / Transport, Addiction/Substance Abuse, Community Participation, Disability Issues, Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, News, Parents and Parenting, People with Disabilities, Service-User Movement, Social Change, Support ⋅ Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

New Bullying and Anger Management Info from Skylight

June 29, 2012 1:33 am ⋅

Topic cards for BULLYING and ANGER MANAGEMENT have just been added to our GETTING STRONGER support game, in response to many community requests for such tools.

This very successful support game, developed by Skylight in New Zealand, (a not for profit grief and trauma support organisation) has been hugely successful in encouraging 8-14 year olds to open up and talk with a trusted adult (such as a family worker, social worker, counsellor, teacher, community nurse etc) about sensitive life topics they are dealing with, including:

  • Bullying – being the bully or being bullied
  • Managing anger
  • Bereavement
  • Disaster Recovery
  • Living with Domestic violence
  • Living with Mental illness in the family
  • Living with Serious illness or injury in the family
  • Living with Addiction in the family

The game is available here http://www.skylight.org.nz/Shop/The+Getting+Stronger+Game

Other bullying support tools are available here http://www.skylight.org.nz/Shop/Bullying

Other anger management support tools are available here http://www.skylight.org.nz/Shop/About+Feelings/Anger%20and%20Hard%20to%20Handle%20Behaviour

 

Posted in: Families/Whanau, Online Resources, Parents and Parenting, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

Research on Psychosis Seeks Family-Member Participants

June 21, 2012 7:51 am ⋅

WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE OF PSYCHOSIS/SCHIZOPHRENIA?

HELP NEEDED FOR PAID RESEARCH

Research into Psychosis / Schizophrenia

Family members and caregivers of people who are treated for psychosis or schizophrenia are sought to participate in a friendly research discussion about these conditions – if you live with or have a friend or family member of someone who has psychosis or schizophrenia you may be just the kind of person the researchers would like to talk with.

All enquiries to: Jonathan Dodd Research Director    jonathan.dodd@ipsos.com ph 021 538 634    09 538 0509

Posted in: Community Participation, Families/Whanau, Research ⋅ Tagged: ,

Transition Times 3: Changes to Benefit Structure

June 15, 2012 5:07 am ⋅

For your information from New Zealand Council of Social Services.

‘Transition Times’ #3 forwarded on behalf of Ros Rice, CEO, NZCOSS

Please note you can access NZCOSS Facebook where Ros posts information and commentary almost daily. https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Zealand-Council-of-Social-Services/148340588547487. There is also a link on the front page of the website.

TRANSITION TIMES

Tracking changes to the NZ Government’s funding and administration of social services in our communities.

(NZCOSS is not offering opinion or critique on the information that we are providing in this mailout.)

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS TO ALL YOUR MEMBERS

Date: 07.6.2012

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE GOVERNMENT’S PLANNED WELFARE REFORMS

FIVE MAIN AREAS OF CHANGE

  • Changes in structure of benefits
  • Introduction of a fiscal liability-based ‘Investment Approach’
  • A ‘Youth Package’ – for 16-17 year old youth and 16 -18 year old teen parents on benefit
  • Changes affecting parents and sole parents on benefit
  • Changes affecting people with long-term illness or disability

CHANGES TO BENEFIT STRUCTURE

Three new main benefits:

  • Jobseeker Support – replaces current UB, SB (those who are temporarily unable to work due to illness will have a temporary work-test waiver) and DPB for those with youngest child aged 14+ years
  • Sole Parent Support – replaces DPB-Sole Parent for those with youngest child under 14
  • Supported Living Payment – replaces IB and DPB-Caring for Sick and Infirm

Also: Youth Payment & Young Parent Payment (see Youth Package)

THE “INVESTMENT APPROACH”

  • Significant change to method of measuring performance and accountability for Work and Income’s activities
  • Annual (or biannual) actuarial assessment of long-term future liability of current (and future?) beneficiary population (ie, sum of all future benefit costs for current beneficiary population. Current estimate: approximately $45b).
  • A primary expectation on MSD/Work and Income will be to reduce the long-term fiscal liability number.
  • Amount of assistance provided to a person to be guided by the estimated liability they represent (and therefore the reduction in the long-term fiscal liability estimate if they leave benefit)
  • A new Board to oversee this – reports direct to Ministers of Social Development and Finance
  • In future, MSD funding may include performance rewards/penalties according to performance against change in LTFL estimate.

THE YOUTH PACKAGE

  • Applies (broadly) to 16-17 yr old youth and 16-18 yr old parents (single or couples) not supported by family or parents (ie mainly those previously eligible for the Independent Youth Benefit or Emergency Maintenance Allowance ). Commences in July 2012.
  • Intensive ‘wrap-around’ assistance – main focus being to achieve NCEA Level 2, also parenting and budgeting courses and other obligations (and incentives)
  • Heavy emphasis on money management – rent and bills paid directly, remainder on payment card for groceries, up to $50 cash as ‘In-hand Allowance
  • Services will be provided by contracted providers (private, NGO or Iwi)
  • Sanctions: based on recommendation of contracted providers: up to 100% (youth), 50% (young parents)

PARENTS AND SOLE PARENTS ON BENEFIT

  • Part-time work test (15 hours) when youngest is 5 yrs; work preparation expectations when youngest is 3 yrs;
  • When youngest reaches 14, sole parents move from SPP to JSS with 30 hour work test and (presumably) JSS abatement regime

‘Subsequent child’ policy: if woman has child when on benefit:

  • Child’s age is disregarded for work-test obligation once s/he reaches 12 months old
  • Applies to couples on benefit as well as sole parents.
  • Applies at W&I discretion on ‘underlying principles’ of the policy, and can include wider circumstances if W&I believes a woman is seeking to get around the intention of the policy

Medical costs paid for contraceptive advice and for long-acting contraception for mothers on benefit and for their teenage daughters

DISABILITY AND LONG TERM ILLNESS

  • Full details are yet to be announced.
  • Work capacity assessment procedures to be introduced
  • Presumably to apply to all applicants for the new Supported Living Payment and to all those currently on IB (and possibly some SBs)

Ros Rice, Executive Officer NZCOSS

(With thanks to Michael Fletcher; Senior Lecturer, Institute of Public Policy, AUT University.)

Posted in: Addiction/Substance Abuse, Asian Communities, Employment / Work, Families/Whanau, Grants & Funding, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Maori Communities, News, Older People and Aging, Online Resources, Parents and Parenting, Pasifika Communities, People with Disabilities, Refugees / Migrants, Social Change, Women, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

Have Your Say on the Gambling Harm Reduction Amendment Bill

June 15, 2012 4:57 am ⋅

A new gambling bill is currently before Parliament. The Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill is a private member’s bill in the name of Te Ururoa Flavell.

Have your say in creating better gambling laws by making a written submission or make an online submission here – www.haveyoursayonpokies.co.nz/ to the Select Committee. This can be as short or as long as you like. You can submit for or against parts of the bill or the entire bill. If you make a written submission, you can also make an oral presentation. You can be as creative as you like. This is your chance to tell your story about the impact of gambling on you, your family and your community and to tell politicians about the changes that you want to see.

p.s. Some info, current editorial from the Herald

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10812126

Current facts on gambling

www.pgfnz.org.nz/Fact-Sheets-/0,2731,13132,00.html

Is gambling a concern in NZ?

http://choicenotchance.org.nz/gambling-in-nz/is-gambling-really-a-problem-new-zealand

5 year distribution of Pokie funds under the current system in Auckland– see PDF attached (as requested by some local organisations)

Posted in: Addiction/Substance Abuse, Asian Communities, Community Participation, Families/Whanau, Maori Communities, News, Older People and Aging, Parents and Parenting, Pasifika Communities, People with Disabilities, Politics and Policy, Refugees / Migrants, Social Change, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

Caring Counts Report on Aged Care Workforce in NZ

June 1, 2012 11:20 pm ⋅

NEON (National Equal Opportunities Network) Special Feature

Caring Counts: Report of the Inquiry into the Aged Care Workforce      

Click the links below to view individual sections from Caring Counts

Part 1
–  Foreword
–  Recommendations

–  Timetable for implementation

Part 2
–  Why this Inquiry?

–  About the Human Rights Commission
–  Terms of Reference
–  How we conducted the Inquiry
–  Terminology
–  Issues looked at in the Inquiry

Part 3
–  Respect and value
–  Workforce supply, recruitment and retention
–  Conditions of work
–  Wages and pay parity
– Carers – community and residential facilities
– The gendered nature of caring
– Pay issues
– Financial modelling
– Transparency and consistency
– Transferring resources
– Pay issues for registered nurses and other workers
– Conclusion
–  Staff to resident ratios
–  Training and qualifications
–  Changing service models and developing skill sets
–  Minimum training levels for support workers
–  Qualifications and rewards
–  Value of training
–  Career path
–  Challenges
–  Qualifications, training and the regulated workforce
–  Conclusion
– Managerial competence
–  Men as carers
–  Migrant workforce
–  Migrant workers in the aged care sector
   –  Overseas trained nurses
–  English language requirements for registration
–  Work visas – the union view

–  Work visas – the employers view
–  Cultural and language differences
–   Conclusion
–  Regulatory frameworks
–  Regulation of the workforce
–  Regulation of services
–  Integration and coordination of services
–  Conclusion

Part 4
–  Diary of a carer
–  Maori in aged care
–  Impact of Christchurch earthquake

Part 5
–  Financial modelling
–  Human rights framework
–  Literature review

–  Appendices

Posted in: Disability Issues, Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Older People and Aging ⋅ Tagged: , , ,

Update on the Living Wage Campaign

June 1, 2012 11:05 pm ⋅

LIVING WAGE AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND LAUNCHED IN AUCKLAND

On Wednesday 23 May an exciting new movement of community, faith-based groups and unions united around a common goal to address poverty and inequality in New Zealand was launched.

Around 200 people attended the launch of Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand in St Stephen’s church hall in Jervois Road, Ponsonby, Auckland. The event was a positive and affirming celebration.

A big thanks to all the community organisations, faith-based groups, unions and others who made this launch a huge success!

The launch

Our MC, Rev Mua Strickson Pua, did a wonderful job, even inviting speaker Uesefili Unasa to join him for a hiphop version of the song She Works Hard For Her Money.

Uesefili spoke of the importance of a living wage for the Pacific community. Other speakers included: Darryl Evans from Mangere Budgeting and Family Support Services, Rev Margaret Mayman from St Andrews on the Terrace, NZ Council of Trade Unions President, Helen Kelly, and Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota President Barbara Wyeth and National Secretary John Ryall.

Those speeches will be published on the new Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand website http://www.livingwagenz.org.nz/ when they are available.

The winner and runner up of the SFWU Living Wage song competition, Kane Hogan performed his song. Listen here. http://soundcloud.com/living-wage-aotearoa-nz/kane-hogan-more-for-all-need-a.

But the highlight was the official sign-on by community organisations, church groups and unions to a giant poster of the Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand statement:

“A living wage is the income necessary to provide workers and their families with the basic necessities of life. A living wage will enable workers to live in dignity and to participate as active citizens in society. We call upon the Government, employers and society as a whole, to strive for a living wage for all households as a necessary and important step in the reduction of poverty in New Zealand.”

Afterwards, community, church people and unions joined for a lunch.

Supporting organisations

The list of supporting organisations is growing daily. For a list of all organisations (to 23 May) click here. www.livingwagenz.org.nz/support.php

Follow up

On the day of the launch a website and facebook page went live. Hundreds of people have signed on to receive regular campaign updates and have volunteered to get involved and donate their skills to the on-going campaign.

Media coverage

The launch attracted huge media coverage. To view go to: www.livingwagenz.org.nz/news.php

Next steps

Wellington Meeting

Wellington groups are invited to a meeting to plan the next steps on Wednesday 4 July 1pm – 3pm, at Epworth House, behind Methodist Church, 75 Taranaki Street, Te Aro, Wellington.

For information email: lyndy.mcintyre@sfwu.org.nz

Auckland Meeting

Auckland groups are meeting to establish an Auckland coalition on Thursday 5 July, 2pm – 4pm at St Stephen’s Church Hall, 65 Jervois Road, Ponsonby.

For information email fala.haulangi@sfwu.org.nz

Advance Pasifika

March for our future. Gather at Albert Park, Auckland at 9am 16 June to march for a better future for Pacific people.

For information: 021 024 58674 or email advance.pasifika@gmail.com

Meanwhile, sign up to the Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand facebook page: www.facebook.com/LivingWageAotearoaNewZealand

 

Posted in: Addiction/Substance Abuse, Asian Communities, Community Participation, Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Maori Communities, Older People and Aging, Parents and Parenting, Pasifika Communities, People with Disabilities, Politics and Policy, Refugees / Migrants, Social Change, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: ,

Celebrities say WTF?! about suicide among LGBT youth

May 25, 2012 6:37 am ⋅

Everyone deserves to be treated with respect – More than 30 of New Zealand’s leading celebrities come together in this Rainbow Youth and Outline campaign to ask New Zealand to stand together and say WTF?! .

Watch the video and share with your friends!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2D_4JwQ2Fug

Posted in: Addiction/Substance Abuse, Asian Communities, Community Participation, Families/Whanau, Maori Communities, Older People and Aging, Parents and Parenting, Pasifika Communities, People with Disabilities, Physical Health, Rainbow / LGBTQI+ Community, Refugees / Migrants, Social Change, Suicide Prevention/Support, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , ,

Youth Mental-Health News from YouthworX

May 25, 2012 4:19 am ⋅

Youth Mental Health Package Unveiled by Prime Minster:   Last week the Prime Minister unveiled a $62 million package of initiatives focusing on youth mental health. The package details how Government will improve services for young people with, or at risk of, mild to moderate mental health problems. The initiatives will be of interest to many people and organisations working in the community sector who deal with the consequences of unmet mental health needs, which can involve families, schools and communities as well as the young people themselves.  The initiatives will include a focus on making primary health care more youth friendly with interim support for Youth One Stop Shops.  The finer details are still in development and the Ministries are consulting with key people in the sector.  The initiative also increases the number of youth workers in low decile schools.

Youth workers will be placed in schools in South Auckland, Porirua and Flaxmere that don’t already have Multi Agency Support Services in Secondary Schools. Youth workers will be employed by Child, Youth and Family preferred providers who will be required to go through a tendering and contracting process.  There will be 9 new youth workers in 2012/13 and 10 more in 2013/14.  Youth workers will be required to have a level 6 qualification.

Full fact sheet information is available here:

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Youth_Mental_Health_project-School_Based_Initiatives.pdf

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Youth_Mental_Health_project-Health_Sector.pdf

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Youth_Mental_Health_project-Family_and_Community.pdf

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Youth_Mental_Health_project-Online_initiatives.pdf

Whanau Ora: A Strengths Based Approach to Youth Mental Health:  The Minister for Whānau Ora, Tariana Turia, has welcomed the recognition that Whānau Ora is intimately linked to the drive to improve youth mental health. “Whānau Ora, at its heart, is about whānau, aiga or families coming together to support each other through building shared aspirations, and working together to achieve those aspirations,” said Mrs Turia.  Read the media release http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/wh%C4%81nau-ora-strengths-based-approach-youth-mental-health

Youth Smoking Hits Record Low:   ASH Smoking Survey shows a record drop in youth smoking – especially among Maori girls. The overall rate of youth smoking has dropped one-and-a-half percent to 4.1% (from 5.5% in 2010), the largest drop in almost a decade. Read the full report here:  http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/youth-smoking-hits-record-low

Public Sector Targets:  The Government has announced a set of 10 new targets for the public sector over the next three to five years. These have implications for children, young people, and people working with them.  For more information see http://beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/The_Prime_Minister%27s_results_for_New_Zealanders.pdf

Health of Maori Children and Young People with Chronic Conditions and Disabilities:  The report provides an overview of secondary health service utilisation patterns for Māori children and young people with chronic conditions and disabilities. To read the report see http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/health-maori-children-and-young-people-chronic-conditions-and-disabilities

Families Commission – Teen Pregnancy – New Report:  A recent report on teen pregnancy in New Zealand makes recommendations aimed at providing more support, choice and opportunity for young parents. To download and view the report go http://www.familiescommission.org.nz/research/parenting/teenage-pregnancy-and-parenting

Payment Rate Increases:  From 1 April 2012 there will be a 1.77% increase to: rates and thresholds for main benefits, Student Allowances, Student Loan Living Costs and the Foster Care Allowance, rates and thresholds for some supplementary assistance, thresholds for the Community Services Card.  A 2.65% increase will apply to rates of New Zealand Superannuation.  Read more here http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/newsroom/media-releases/2012/payment-changes-for-april-2012.html


Posted in: Cultural Considerations, Disability Issues, Families/Whanau, News, Parents and Parenting, Physical Health, Politics and Policy, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , , , , , ,