Media Releases

The 2012 Victorian Disability Sector Awards are currently open and Western Victorians are being encouraged to nominate a member of the community or organisations who demonstrate excellence in service and a commitment to be development of people with a disability.

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty said the awards celebrate and acknowledge those people who have a passion and vision to the advancement of people with a disability to achieve their life goads, through upholding their rights and choices in a way that promotes inclusion.

“It is important that we recognise this essential network of people and organisations who on a daily basis are supporting people with a disability and their cares.”
“These awards recognise the efforts of those individuals, teams, organisations and businesses for the significant contribution they are making to enriching the lives of people with a disability,” Mr Delahunty said.

Community Services Minister, Mary Wooldridge, said the continued efforts of disability support workers, volunteers and businesses are important in helping ensure people with a disability can achieve their goals and participate within the community.

“These awards provide a unique opportunity for this commitment and valuable community contribution to be acknowledged and honoured.”

Members of the public can make a nomination in eight different award categories including: Support Worker (Individual); Support Worker (Team); Client Services Worker; Leadership; Emerging Leader; Volunteer; Business Supporting Disability and Lifetime Achievement Award categories.

Nominations close 7 March 2012 and ward winners will be announced at the disability Sector Awards ceremony on Thursday 26 April.

For guidelines and nomination forms visit http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/disabilityawards

In a move that has been welcomed by the Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty, Victoria will soon have legislation that sets out clear expectations for organisations that engage with carers.
“The Coalition Government has honoured an election commitment with the introduction of the Carers Recognition Bill 2012 which recognises all carers, including young carers, kinship and foster cares and acknowledges the valued role of cares in Victoria,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Over 700,000 Victorians are caring for a family member or friend with a disability, mental or chronic illness or someone frail aged and carers need to be recognised for the enormous contribution they are making to the community and deserve our full support.”

“Family carers save the Australian Federal Government more than $40 billion every year and many struggle with the demands of the role.  This legislation will help carers gain better support when dealing with agencies and organisations,” Mr Delahunty said.

Community Services Minister, Mary Wooldridge said that the Bill which she outlined in Parliament will raise the status of these cares and care relationships in the community and sets out principles recognising cares for their contribution.

Ms Wooldridge said the Bill would bring Victoria into line with legislation in other states and territories and the Commonwealth.

“However, the Bill is unique in recognising care relationships.  Carers and the people they care for are in a shared arrangement and if the care relationship is strong, the carer and the person being cared for will have better lives,” Ms Wooldridge said.

“This approach to recognising the significance of care relationships has been the subject of extensive consultation.”

The legislation requires government and funded agencies to reflect the care relationship principles in the conduct of their business and report annually on the actions they have taken to comply with the principles.

The Victorian Charter “Supporting People in Care Relationships’ will be updated to reflect the new legislation and will support implementation of the Bill.

Nationals Member for Lowan, and Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation, Hugh Delahunty has encouraged local government authorities, State Sporting Associations, disability organisations and organisations currently receiving funding from the Access for All Abilities Program to apply for Building Inclusive Sports Grants.

“These grants are part of the Access for All Abilities Program which supports and encourages inclusive sport and recreation opportunities for people with a disability throughout Victoria,” Mr Delahunty said. 

“They provide a great opportunity for people with a disability to engage in sport and recreational activities.

“There has been discussion in Parliament regarding the need for increased support for people with a disability and their carers. Initiatives such as the Building Inclusive Sports Grants are a step in the right direction.”

Grants of up to $80,000 over two financial years are available for projects which target people with a disability and develop new mainstream, ongoing participation opportunities, and develop new active sport and recreation activities for people with a mental illness or an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The grants aim to develop partnerships and sustainable projects that can continue beyond the life of the funding.

Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate a co-operative partnership between different organisations and identify a community need for a project. Preference will be given to bushfire affected communities, Neighbourhood or Community Renewal areas and other areas of significant socio-economic disadvantage.

Applications close on 30 July 2010 and forms are available at www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au.