Advisory Group to Work with New Zealand Government on Disability Strategy

The appointment of a reference group to the New Zealand Disability Strategy will ensure  people with disabilities and other stakeholders are actively involved in developing the strategy, Minister for Disability Issues Ruth Dyson said on May 24.

Ms Dyson is delighted with the high level of interest in the strategy, which will be a blueprint for future disability policy and services.

"About 138 nominations came in for the reference group. The calibre of the applicants was very high, and choosing the group hasn't been easy.  However, we have tried to ensure a good balance of backgrounds, skills and experience."

The 14 members of the reference group are: Robyn Hunt, Wellington; Jan Scown, Hamilton; Jennifer Brain, Auckland; Paul Gibson, Wellington; Les Gilsenan, Wanganui;  Mike Gourley, Wellington; Mark Lau Young, Wellington; Judith Lunny, Auckland; Dr Nigel Millar, Christchurch; Missy Morton, Christchurch; Mary O'Hagan, Auckland; Graham Stairmand, Christchurch; Lorna Sullivan, Tauranga;  Patrick Thompson, Auckland;  Maaka Tibble, Auckland.

The group will be co-chaired by Robyn Hunt and Jan Scown.

The New Zealand Disability Strategy is a top priority for the Government and the reference group will play an important role working alongside the project team, Ms Dyson says.  It will provide advice on the consultation process, comment on draft proposals and feed information and sector views to the project team.

"The group will be seeking the help of people with disabilities and the wider disability community to ensure all issues are on the table. I hope the people who missed out on selection will continue to contribute through this process."

The reference group held its first meeting in Wellington on May 23.  A draft strategy is expected to be released for public comment in late August. A final strategy should be completed by the end of the year and implementation will begin in the new year.

Contact Pip Desmond, press secretary, phone (04) 471 9258, (025) 575 894

Following information: members of the group;  NZ Disability Strategy terms of reference

REFERENCE GROUP, NZ DISABILITY STRATEGY

Robyn  Hunt, Wellington (co-chair): Robyn is the chair of  Workbridge board of management and was a disability consultant to the Royal  Commission on Social Policy.  She has been actively involved with Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) since it began, including terms as regional president and on the national executive.

Jan Scown, Hamilton (co-chair): Jan is chief executive of Community Living Trust, established by the Waikato Area Health Board to manage the repatriation of people with an intellectual  disability  from Tokanui Hospital.  Jan helped establish and was until 1999 a managing director of Access Ability, a not-for-profit company providing needs assessment/service co-ordination services in Taranaki and Wanganui.

Jennifer  Brain, Auckland: Jennifer is chief  executive  officer  of  the  Deaf Association of NZ. She has  been involved in leadership training with the Deaf Association. Jennifer is a member of the Disability Chief Executive Officers Group and the DPA Auckland Region executive committee.

Paul Gibson, Wellington: Paul is president of the Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) and chair of the executive committee. He has facilitated various policy working groups, nationwide  discussions and production of  the 'Our  Vision'  document.  Paul is the founder, executive member and past secretary of ACHIEVE (National Post Secondary Education Disability Network).

Les  Gilsenan, Wanganui: Les is a  founder and now manager of Whanganui Disability Resources Centre. He is also founder and trustee of Advocacy Network Services Trust. Les has extensive experience in the health and disability area.

Mike  Gourley, Wellington: Mike is producer and presenter of National Radio's 'Future Indicative' programme.  He has over 20 years experience in developing, implementing and evaluating policy and practice in relation to disability issues.

Mark  Lau  Young, Wellington: Mark  is chief executive of the Hosanna World Outreach Centre.  He has  worked  for  several  government agencies as a policy analyst including the Ministry  of  Pacific  Island Affairs and Ministry of Health (DSS section). Mark has  been  involved  in  the  formulation of social policy advice in relation to Pacific  peoples  and  disability  support  services,  and managing and chairing interdepartmental working groups.

Judith  Lunny, Auckland: Judith  is co-ordinator  and  facilitator  for  the  Auckland Disability Providers  Network. She also established and developed the Disability Information North  Shore.  Judith has extensive knowledge and networks within the  disability sector.

Dr Nigel Millar, Christchurch: Nigel is clinical director, Older Persons Health, Healthlink South and specialist  geriatrician,  Canterbury  Health.   He has been involved in Elder Care Canterbury since its inception.  Elder Care Canterbury is an innovative programme involving collaboration with the community and many agencies.

Missy Morton, Christchurch: Missy has been a  lecturer and  tutor at the Education Department of Canterbury  University  since 1994 and is a doctoral candidate at the University of  Syracuse.  Missy's dissertation is in the field of access to the justice system for those with severe communication impairment.

Mary O'Hagan, Auckland: Mary is a self-employed  consultant.  Mary set up and developed the Aotearoa  Network  of Psychiatric Survivors (ANOPS) and is now manager.  She  is the  founding  chair  of  the International Psychiatric Survivor Network and has worked on the anti-discrimination team, Mental Health Commission.

Graham  Stairmand, Christchurch: Graham has been health spokesperson for Christchurch Grey Power since 1993.  He has an extensive knowledge of the health and disability sector and has worked to encourage greater integration of services for older people.

Lorna  Sullivan, Tauranga: Lorna has 20 years professional experience in the disability sector. She has  a  sound  knowledge  of  the  disability  sector  and the social and political  issues associated with disability.  Lorna has played a major role in the sector in the  development of new service initiatives such as Te Whanau Kotahi and Access Ability.

Patrick  Thompson, Auckland (Ngati Paoa/Whanaunga Ngati Turi): Patrick is the Mäori Deaf Development Manager for the Deaf Association of  New  Zealand national office. He has been part of a number of government and sector working groups advising on the bicultural perspective and needs of Mäori Deaf. This has included positions on the DPA Mäori Group, New Zealand Sign Language and Te Reo Mäori Strategy, Mäori Policy Advisor Group for Mäori Deaf, Deaf Mental Health Committee, and Mäori representative for the board of trustees for Kelston Deaf Education Centre.

Maaka Tibble, Auckland (Ngati Porou/Whanau Apanui): Maaka is a disabilities consultant.  He has held various positions with the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind including national development manager and manager, Mäori Services.
 
 

GOALS OF THE NZ DISABILITY STRATEGY

The preliminary goals of the strategy are to:

• ensure the rights of people with disability are acknowledged  and represented
• promote partnership with Mäori
• promote partnership with Pacific people
• promote habilitation and rehabilitation
• empower people with disabilities and their family/whanau
• ensure policy, funding and services are cohesive  and  integrated across services
• promote certainty and consistency of service  provision within available funding

ROLE OF THE REFERENCE GROUP

The role of the reference group will be to:

• ensure that people with disabilities are acknowledged as the primary stakeholders in the strategy
• provide strategic advice to the project team on content and consultation
• comment on draft material written by the project team
• use their own networks to informally contribute to the advice
• present the views of the wider disability sector to the project
• participate in public consultations in order to develop an understanding of  the sector's viewpoints to feed into development of the strategy
• provide comment on other related government strategies as necessary
• provide comment directly to the Minister for Disability Issues if necessary