FYI: The Children’s Commission Experts Advisory Group on Children’s Poverty has released their terms of reference for their search for proposed solutions to child poverty in New Zealand.
Transition Times from NZCOSS – Tracking Government Changes to Social Service Sector
TRANSITION TIMES
Tracking changes to the NZ Government’s funding and administration of social services in our communities.
NZCOSS have decided to send out a reasonably regular one page update on funding and legislation changes for the social services sector.
This mainly focuses on the Government in Wellington and NZCOSS’s decision to ensure that any change to the delivery of services will deliver the best results for the community they serve.
There are many changes coming, and this sector must be ready to step up to the challenge.
NZCOSS hope by sending this update out when they can, that everyone will be up to date with what is happening.
PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS TO YOUR NETWORKS
Date: 11.5.2012 : General Picture.
We know that at the moment, everyone is nervous and unsure what is happening with massive change to the funding of community groups and to the Tangata Whenua, Community and Voluntary Sector as a whole. We are all being asked to review what we do, and what value that gives to our communities. The Government in Wellington will decide who and what it spends its money on, as Government has a perfect right to do. But where do we all stand in light of new ways of doing things, and how do we all look, when the spotlight of capability and relevance is turned on to us?
The non-profit sector is moving into a different era. NZCOSS has decided to regularly circulate this non-judgemental memo called ‘Transition Times’ to update you and your members with what the current government is indicating are the kinds of services and priorities are important for them, and with how they are deciding what and who to fund. We will bring up any issues that we think will end up affecting our members and our member’s members.
Remember that even though much of this change is generated by the Government in Wellington, it ends up affecting everyone in other cities and regional areas of New Zealand too. We hope to hear things quickly in Wellington and by this means to share what we can with you as quickly as we can.
We will attempt to ensure that anything we tell you will be absolutely accurate. We are also unable at times to share information we know with you. But rest assured as soon as we are able, we will pass what we can onto you all.
There have been very clear messages both from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of finance Bill English, and also a lot of clarity from Minister Paul Bennett. The issues and plans of this government have never been hidden from us. Add to that the ongoing financial stresses on a global scale and everything this country spends is coming under review. From now on, duplication of services and/or inability to provide results, will not be acceptable and in many cases, funding will be removed. This means we all need to look around our communities and decide if our organisation is still relevant. We need to consider if there are several services or organisations that provide similar work,. We need to consider if joining up our back room services is something that will work for us, and we also need to consider where we can access funding other than from government.
There is no doubt however that government wants to move out of provision of services and for the community sector to step into that gap. For this to work we need to be smarter, more professional and well-governed, with adequate checks and balances to ensure our services are beyond reproach.
The next version of Transition Times will have information on Funding issues and the Charities Commission
Ros Rice, Executive Officer, New Zealand Council of Social Services
https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Zealand-Council-of-Social-Services/148340588547487
www.nzcoss.org.nz email: nzcoss@nzcoss.org.nz
Work: 04 4723364 Mobile: 021 178 4333 Fax: 04 4723964 PO Box 24236 Manners Street Wellington
“A Collective Voice Supporting Local Communities”
Home Insulation Programmes
There are currently two Home Insulation programmes on offer to help ensure people are living in healthy homes:
Snug homes:
This completely FREE initiative is open to those who own their home or are privately renting (sorry no Housing NZ homes), and have a Community services card. The application form is quick and easy and is downloadable off their website. You can also call them and they will send you an application with a self addressed envelope.
http://www.ecoinsulation.co.nz/energywise/snug-homes
Retrofit your home programme:
Auckland Council provides a loan scheme for home owners, where you are able to borrow up to $5000 to insulate and heat your home, which is paid back through your rates over 9 years.
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/en/buildingpropertyconsents/retrofit/pages/home.aspx
Submit Your News & Events to The Engage Blog
If you have an event or news item that is relevant to mental-health recovery then please let the Engage Aotearoa team know.
Your event or news item will get posted on The Engage Mental-Health News and Events Blog where it can be easily found by people searching the internet. Your notice will then be sent out to the email database in a daily update where it can begin it’s journey out amongst another set of networks.
What kind of News and Events should you send? The Engage Mental-Health News and Events Blog publishes…
- Professional development opportunities for people working in and around mental health, including cultural, disability and AOD environments.
- Personal development opportunities for people with mental-health problems, including LGBT, AOD, disability and other issues that can impact upon mental-health
- Learning and support opportunities for people experiencing difficulties and their friends, family/whanau
- Legislation and political news that effects people with mental-health problems and those working with them, such as research findings and changes to benefit schemes, policies and procedure.
- Community participation opportunities of any kind that are not focused on mental health but that would nonetheless be likely to benefit mental health.
- Consultation opportunities such as surveys and community meetings that would allow people with mental-health problems and their families a way of being heard by policy makers and service-providers.
- And much more…
There are varied paths towards improved wellbeing and working better with people who experience mental-health problems. The Engage Mental-Health News and Events Blog tries to bring these diverse approaches and strategies together in one location where they can be easily found by those who need them.
How to Submit your News and Event Items
- Send an email to admin@engagenz.co.nz with a title, event blurb/announcement content and contact details for the public. Include a website if you have one, phone number and email address in your contact details.
- Note that event blurbs and news announcements should be written in the third person.
- Attach a jpg flyer, poster or logo file if wish an image to be included.
UNCRPD Monitoring Survey 2012
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability is a UN convention that aims to enshrine the rights of people with disabilities in law to ensure all people are afforded the human right to participate in their communities.
The New Zealand government has ratified the UN Convention and thus made a commitment to ensure legislation, policy and procedure to protect the rights of people with disabilities – including disability caused by the effects of a mental-health problem.
In 2011 a report to the UN was written by the government to summarise their progress towards this goal. A shadow report was also written by community groups in consultation with their stake-holders. There were some key differences in the perspectives of these two reports.
A monitoring survey has now been established to gather a wider perspective of how people living with disabilities in the community see things.
Follow the link below to fill out an anonymous survey and help the UN monitor what NZ needs to do better for people living with disability.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9FPMX82
Tiaho Mai Service Goes Smokefree
Counties Manukau DHB has announced that there will be entirely no smoking in the buildings and on the grounds of their acute mental-health service, Tiaho Mai from 31 May 2012
What does this mean for Consumers/Tangata Whaiora?
• Pre-planning in the event of a Tiaho Mai stay regarding your
nicotine needs
• Free nicotine patches, gum/lozenges to help with cravings
• Information and education before your stay in Tiaho Mai
• In the event of a stay in Tiaho Mai you will be asked to hand in:
- Lighters
- Matches
- Tobacco
- Herbal cigarettes
- Pipes
- Cigarette papers and filters
Any items you hand in or are removed will be safely stored until you leave Tiaho Mai
Tiaho Mai invites consumers/tangata whaiora to become involved in the planning for this change.
If you would like to discuss this further or become involved please approach your Keyworker or Community Support Worker.
THANK-YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN NOT SMOKING AT TIAHO MAI
Tree Planting Expeditions with Kaipatiki Bush Project
WHY SIT HOME AND FREEZE? – GET OUT AND PLANT TREES!
Kaipatiki Project Environment Centre warmly invites the community to come and plant native trees in Eskdale Reserve Network this winter.
Members of local churches, schools, community groups and business are welcome to join forces with local people in these family-friendly events – and there is a free barbecue for all planters.
Bring gumboots, a spade if you have one and lots of enthusiasm!
- Sat 2 June, 9.30am-12.30pm: Frances Kendall Reserve, Kaipatiki Road (near Kaipatiki bridge), Glenfield
- Sat 7 July, 9.30am-12.30pm: Domain Road, corner Domain & Glenfield Rds, Glenfield
- Sat 4 August, 9.30am-12.30pm: Eskdale Reserve (Cemetery end), Glenfield Road, Glenfield
- Sat 1 September, 9.30am-12.30pm: Eskdale Reserve (near Cemetery), Eskdale Road, Glenfield
Enquiries: ph 482 1172
email: coordinator@kaipatiki.org.nz
Website: www.kaipatiki.org.nz/volunteer
Press Release: Ethnic Media’s Contribution to Settlement in NZ
9 May 2012
Press Release: Auckland’s Ethnic Media’s Contribution to Settlement and Integration
Service providers helping migrants settle in the Auckland area are collaborating with ethnic media to look at the best ways of getting information to newcomers and their communities.
Nearly 80 representatives from various service provider organisations heard from keynote speakers from ethnic media journalists at a Regional Settlement Network meeting organised by Auckland Regional Migrant Services (ARMS).
The speakers included Lynda Chanwai-Earle, Spoken Features Producer, Asian Affairs, Radio New Zealand National; Terri Byrne, Planet FM – Station Manager; and Robert Khan, Tarana FM Manager Director.
According to Robert Khan, the point of difference between mainstream and ethnic media is the direct connections that ethnic media create with their audiences. “With Radio Tarana, we connect with our listeners, we listen to them, share their views, cover their side of the story, as opposed to mainstream, where usually the generic news angle is taken”, he says.
Lincoln Tan, NZ Herald columnist, also facilitated a discussion with panellists, representing various ethnic media. Panellists Maggie Chen, CEO, Chinese Herald; Ane Ponifasio, Managing Editor, Samoa Times & Radio Samoa; Brendon Fraser, Educator, EMINZ Media Agency; and Sang Yong Lee, Director, The Korea Town magazine, shared their views and experiences on how community integration can be assisted through delivery of multilingual information.
ARMS Chief Executive, Mary Dawson, says the last decade has seen a big rise in Auckland’s ethnic media. “They play an important role in getting information out to new migrants from over 160 ethnic backgrounds about all kinds of local matters, commercial and non-commercial,” Dr Dawson says.
“Most of us not from those linguistic backgrounds have little idea about the proliferation and scope of Auckland’s ethnic media and the meeting was extremely useful in giving us some ideas on how to get our messages across to people.”
ARMS is funded by Immigration New Zealand to provide the Regional Settlement Network meeting twice-yearly. The Network brings together organisations and government agencies to share good practice, information and trends and to encourage collaboration that assists newcomers to New Zealand, to settle more easily and quickly.
For more information Contact:
- Shoma Prasad, Communications Officer, Auckland Regional Migrant Services
- P: 09 625 3095
- E: shomap@arms-mrc.org.nz
