The Government has yet to decide the future of DSS following feedback from the disabled community on the Health and Disability System Review. However, the advice the sector is helping us with will follow further work with the disabled community based on the principles of Enabling Good Lives and advice developed as part of the machinery of government review of DSS and is still on track for September.

Enjoy your read, and don't forget we want to hear from you and share your stories. If you'd like to feature in here, we would love to share it. Would you please email them to disability@health.govt.nz?

Have an excellent weekend.  

Ngā mihi, 

Adri Isbister – Deputy Director-General Disability.

Rachel Daysh, Group Manager Specialist Services

Rachel Daysh will be joining the Disability Directorate as Group Manager Specialist Services on 19 July 2021. Rachel has worked at all levels of service delivery in the disability sector from entry-level through to senior management, in non-government organisations and District Health Boards. Rachel previously worked at the Ministry of Health as a Principal Advisor, Complex Support.

Since 2013 Rachel has held the position of National Manager, Forensic Intellectual Disability at Capital and Coast DHB and most recently been seconded to the Ministry as a project manager.

As Group Manager Specialist Services, Rachel will be responsible for:

• leading a range of projects that will directly relate to services for people covered by the High and Complex Framework,
• people who receive specialist behaviour support,
• people who are supported through community residential services,
• people with high and complex needs who access mainstream services, and
• young people who are supported through Oranga Tamariki and the Ministry of Health.

We look forward to welcoming Rachel into the team.

Expressions of Interest for project lead/co-lead roles: Workforce Development Collaboration Project.

We are looking for 4 project lead/co-lead roles for a series of projects that form part of a significant sector wide workforce development programme. The attached document provides information about the project and role descriptions for each of the project lead/co-leads being sought. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to the development of the disability workforce. Note that applications close on July 23rd and should be emailed to: admin@nzdsn.org.nz.

This project is a joint NZDSN, MOH and Enabling Good Lives project and includes contributions from MSD and Careerforce. The project includes 5 initiatives. These initiatives include future focused qualification pathways and leadership development to support innovation and key directions in the disability sector through Enabling Good Lives and the System Transformation work programme.

The overall aim of the project is to ensure: 

• Qualification content and delivery are consistently high quality, future focused, and is based on the Enabling Good Lives principles 
• Critical specialist roles are supported by appropriate strands in the diploma qualification that reflect evidence-based practice 
• There are pathways for disabled people, families and whanau who wish to undertake training to attain qualifications
• There is a strong change-based approach to developing leadership capability within and across providers to drive the changes needed for an EGL approach that will improve the experience that disabled people and their families and whanau have with the system

For more information about the Disability Workforce Development Collaboration Project Co Lead roles please Download the word version here, or you can Download the pdf version here.

For all enquiries contact Garth Bennie: Bennford@inspire.net.nz  Ph. 027 6763 4678

International Initiative for Disability Leadership

Dr Pauline Boyle, Project Manager System Transformation, recently presented on the role of data, evaluation and evidence at the 2021 International Initiative for Disability Leadership (IIDL) Regional Exchange. The Melbourne Disability Institute hosted the on-line meeting on 23 and 24 June 2021.      

Leaders from the Disability Directorate and other New Zealand Government and non-Government organisations are members of the IIDL network, which meets regularly to connect leaders interested in being agents for change.

One of the IIDL objectives is identifying and sharing the best in service design and delivery with an emphasis on evidence-based practices.

Pauline and leaders from the Disability Policy and Quality teams discussed how using a principles-led evaluation and monitoring approach has  resulted in an evidence base that is founded on priorities and questions identified by disabled people and whānau.

They found that while Australia and the United States have better data repositories and more resourcing to develop an evidence base and improve reporting, New Zealand is ahead on person--directed approaches based on putting our Enabling Good Lives principles into practice.

Other countries face similar challenges to New Zealand, in that they can only respond to a small percentage of disabled people who qualify through social insurance or private insurance.

Challenges we share include the struggle to get governments on board with understanding why we need to prioritise disability in the context of other major national and international issues.

The IIDL is proving a useful forum to connect leaders and share ideas on innovative and optimal practice.

Fairwell to Tapua Tonty Te Amo - Forever in our hearts

Tapua Tonty Te Amo was farewelled at Ngāti Moko Marae in the Bay of Plenty on 30 June 2021.

Tonty played a very significant role in the recent history of the Ministry and disability community’s moving to support disabled people to live good lives of their choice.

The New Model for Supporting Disabled People (commonly called the New Model) demonstrated and tested within the Bay of Plenty the then new options of Enhanced Individualised Funding and the support of Local Area Coordinators. These were forerunners of the broader Enabling Good Lives and current System Transformation mahi.

Tonty acted as kaumatua for the New Model work in the Bay of Plenty, and then with the ongoing LAC team there. For many years he supported the Ministry in a number of very significant ways. He brought his personal mana as a senior kaumatua, his knowledge and lived experience of te Ao Maori, his local knowledge and contacts, his patient and cheerful support for both individuals and the various groups and teams in their learning to act in culturally appropriate ways, as well as representing the work and Ministry in more formal ways and settings.

Tonty has been described as “a wonderful friend and gift to disabled people, the Ministry, The New Model work, and the LAC in particular”.

Haere rā e kaumatua and thank you.

Arohanui e te whanau and especially to Tonty’s partner Raewyn Winiata who will be known to many from her work in the Disability Directorate and with disability and community services.​

Attitude Awards Nominations Are Open

The Attitude Trust is searching for leaders, unsung heroes and people making a difference in Aotearoa’s disability community.

The Attitude Awards are a televised gala event, celebrating the achievements of New Zealanders living with disabilities. This years’ ceremony will be held on Wednesday December 1.

Nominations for the 2021 Attitude Awards are open until Sunday 25 July.

You can put forward someone who you believe deserves recognition. The Awards are an opportunity to share stories and highlight disability issues.

The categories are:

• Attitude ACC Employer Award
• Attitude Community Champion Award
• Attitude Creative Award
• Attitude Enterprise Award
• Attitude Impact Award
• Attitude Sporting Endeavour Award
• Attitude Youth Award
• Attitude Youth Scholar Award
• Spirit of Attitude Award

You can find more information and the nomination forms at Attitude Awards

Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care - Nelson hui

Our thanks to Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) for this information.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care is holding two hui in Nelson, on 22 July and 18 August 2021.

Nelson Hui 1 - Whānau, Provider, Community hui

Hui for people who are part of or connected to the learning disability, neurodiverse and cognitive impairment community.

Easy Read invite Community Hui Nelson July 22 (Word Doc)
Easy Read invite Community Hui Nelson July 22 (PDF)
Invite whānau provider community Hui Nelson 22 July  (Word Doc)
Invite whānau provider community Hui Nelson 22 July (PDF)

When: Tuesday 22 July

Time: 10am - 12pm.

Where: Greenmeadow Centre, 491 Main Road, Stoke, Nelson

This hui will discuss:

• why the Inquiry was set up
• what the Inquiry does
• how people can share their story with the Inquiry.

Nelson Hui 2 - Community Hui

Hui for people who identify as part of the learning disability, neurodiverse and cognitive impairment community and their supporters.

Easy Read invite whānau provider community Hui Nelson 18 August (Word Doc)
Easy Read whānau provider community Hui Nelson 18 August (PDF)

When: Wednesday 18 August

Time: 10am - 3pm.

Where: Greenmeadow Centre, 491 Main Road, Stoke, Nelson

This hui will discuss:

• what abuse and neglect means
• who to tell if it has happened to you
• what you think helps people feel safe to speak up.

You can find the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care website is here: Royal Commission of Inquiry

COVID-19 update

We will have a specific vaccine newsletter out within a couple of weeks; keep an eye out for it. In the meantime, here is a quick update.

NZ Covid Tracer App has turned one. The go-live and rollout of the NZ Covid Tracer app was an extraordinary achievement – it’s also an important reminder for us all to keep up with scanning the QR Codes!

The Ministry of Health has confirmed a sufficient supply of the Pfizer vaccine for District Health Boards to deliver more than half a million Covid-19 vaccinations as planned over the next five weeks. 

People with disabilities are in the group that is eligible for vaccines now.

“As announced on Tuesday, Pfizer has confirmed we will receive 1 million doses of the vaccine in July,” Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says.

“We also continue to receive weekly vaccine supplies through June as well.”

Though stocks will be tight for the next five weeks and need to be carefully managed, current bookings will not be affected. The assurance of future supply will aid planning, as will the approval of the Pfizer vaccine to be stored at 2-8 degrees for up to 31 days.

The Ministry has reminded DHBs to issue invitations to vaccinate people in group three (those over the age of 65, people with disabilities, pregnant people and specific health conditions) by the end of July.

Have a look here for the media release and here for more information about the vaccine rollout.

COVID-19 Vaccination Information, Accessibility and Alternative Formats

Information about COVID-19 vaccines is constantly changing. To make sure you're up to date with the latest information, visit the Ministry of Health website: 

You can find out about who can get vaccines, the types of vaccines available, safety and approval, about the rollout plan and more on our website or signup to the COVID-19: Vaccine updates for the health Sector newsletter here.

We will also publish information about the vaccine rollout in alternate formats for the disability and deaf communities, including in New Zealand Sign Language, Easy Read, Braille and in large print and audio formats.

There is information translated in accessible and alternate formats about:

• COVID-19 Vaccines
• COVID-19 Vaccine simplified guide
• Making sure New Zealand's COVID-19 Vaccines are safe
• COVID-19 Vaccination programme
• Impact of the Vaccine on our boards
• Before getting the COVID-19 Vaccine
• Getting your COVID-19 Vaccine

You can read and see more information about COVID-19 in accessible formats here: 

We encourage you to support people who don't have internet access to print off the appropriate formats or help share public information with them.

If you need content in braille, please contact Blind Citizens NZ via admin@abcnz.org.nz, phone: 04 389 0033 or freephone: 0800 222 694.

There is other important health information specifically for disabled people, family and whānau on our website.

For queries about disability support services, contact your local NASC, or email us Disability@health.govt.nz.

Useful resources: 

• Online "Find out when you can get a vaccine" tool
• General information and resources (For example, FAQs, safety and side-effects, rollout sequence etc.). 
• Summaries of the vaccine rollout plan
• General overview page on the Unite Against COVID-19 site
• Protecting Aotearoa – summary of the rollout plan and how it will work. Helpful summary and critical messages.

To stay up-to-date:

Sign up for the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Vaccine Newsletter here: COVID-19: Vaccine updates for the health sector | Ministry of Health NZ

or the Unite Against COVID-19 Newsletter here: Social media and newsletters | Unite against COVID-19

In the meantime, you can find more information about vaccines and the rollout of the vaccination programme here: COVID-19 vaccine information sheets | Unite against COVID-19

Contact Disability Services

Email: disability@health.govt.nz

Call: 0800 DSD MOH (0800 373 664)

Web: www.health.govt.nz/disability

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