NAPWA

The first edition of the Care & Support Portfolio e-mail newsletter. This newsletter is sent out once every two months - subscription details are below.

Welcome to the first Care & Support Portfolio e-newsletter

This newsletter is the result of a combined effort by the NAPWA Care & Support Network with ongoing plans for bi-monthly circulation through a sign-on email list (see below for sign-on details). The Care & Support Network is facilitated by the NAPWA Care & Support Portfolio Convenor and comprises a broad mix of HIV sector workers and individuals that share an interest and commitment to HIV Care & Support issues — and do so from a variety of perspectives. The Care & Support Network has for some time now, identified a need for consistent communications and greater monitoring of Care & Support issues. It is hoped that this newsletter will address this need whilst providing current information of interest to those working in, or associated with, aspects of Care & Support for plwha within the HIV sector and affected communities. It is envisaged that the newsletter will stimulate discussion and foster feedback from a broader readership and that this will assist the Care & Support portfolio identify and respond to current Care & Support issues impacting upon people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. In an effort to ensure the Care & Support newsletter is user friendly, editions will generally comprise one or two pages only, in the form of a ‘digest’ with short introductions to relevant information, articles and updates, each providing a link to further information at associated websites. Please forward this edition to interested persons and relevant organisations that may benefit from being part of the mail-out newsletter listing. To join the Care & Support e-newsletter mailing list go to http://www.napwa.org.au/lists/

ACOSS concerned over welfare changes

A single person with a disability will be close to $100 a week worse off from July next year if they try to find part-time work or undertake study, Australia's peak welfare group says. For full script of ACOSS recent media release go to http://www.acoss.org.au

PWD e-news bulletin

For further information on welfare to work issues visit the PWD website. The Care & Support Network requests that any person or organisation that has had difficulties with Centrelink or Work Capacity Assessments prepare a case study. For examples of case studies you may wish to refer to the AFDO ‘ENABLE’ lobbying kit — see details below.

AFDO — ‘ENABLE’ Lobbying Kit

The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations has launched Campaign Enable to fight the Government’s changes to the Disability Support Pension made in the recent federal budget, and to secure a better deal for Australians with a disability. For too many years the Howard Government has talked about the need to reform the assistance available to people with disabilities but has done very little in a practical way to actually assist people with a disability to find and keep employment. The Government’s changes to the disability support pension will not assist people with disabilities get a job, but will mean they are $44 a week worse off and receive less assistance when looking for work. The media and community members will be able to follow the progress of Campaign Enable on the AFDO website.

NSW Health HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Services Needs Assessment

This project aims to determine the extent to which the needs of PLWHA have changed since the previous review reported in 2000 and on the basis of these needs make recommendations regarding the strategic framework for providing HIV care and treatment services and service models. To view the full document go to www.health.nsw.gov.au.

NAPWA HREOC submission

The HREOC inquiry is welcomed at a time when many members have stated their deep concerns about the future of welfare support services such as the Disability Support Pension. NAPWA has lodged a submission to the HREOC that describes some of the systemic barriers and disincentives to workplace participation that exist for people with HIV, and explores how some of those disincentives may be addressed. To view NAPWA’s HREOC submission go to www.napwa.org.au/?q=node/138

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NAPWA Biennial Conference

Our place , your place...in the bigger picture. Adelaide 18 — 20 November 2005 The Care & Support convenor (Rob Lake) would like to hear from anyone with ideas that would enhance Care & Support sessions at the NAPWA biennial conference in Adelaide later this year. You can contact Rob by email.