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 Chapter 5
Information, Support and Advocacy
Services
General
Disability
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Government services
Women's Information and Referral Service [WIRS]
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Service Provider
WIRS is a confidential telephone contact point for women seeking current, accurate information about organisations and services for women in NSW. This service is provided by the LawAccess in conjunction with the Office for Women, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Website www.women.nsw.gov.au
Telephone 1800 817 227
TTY 1800 673 304
Telephone 131 450 Translator and Interpreters Service
National Childcare Accreditation Council Inc [NCAC]
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Organisation
NCAC provide information on quality child care across Australia - for family day care, outside school hour’s care and long day care centres. The website includes a search facility to locate accredited services in your area. They provide a list of helpful questions to ask of the care centre.
Website www.ncac.gov.au
Telephone 02 8260 1900 or 1300 136 554 [outside Sydney]
Telephone 131 450 Translating Service
Telephone 131 677 National Relay Service
Email qualitycare@ncac.gov.au
Address Level 3, 418a Elizabeth Street Surry Hills NSW 2010
Child Care Access Hotline
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Service Provider
A federal government service with current information for parents on childcare services in your area, types of care, government help with the cost of care, and how to choose a quality service. Open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday.
Telephone 1800 670 305
TTY 1800 639 327
Translator Information Service also available.
NSW Ombudsman
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Service Provider
If you think you have been unfairly treated by a NSW government agency or employee, or by certain non-government service providers or their employee you can complain to the NSW Ombudsman e.g. community service providers on matters about child and family services, disability support, home and community care, refuges and other services. The website provides detailed information on complaint procedures. Interpreter service can be arranged as required.
Website www.ombo.nsw.gov.au
Telephone 02 9286 1000
Telephone 1800 451 524 Toll free
TTY 02 9264 8050
Email nswombo@ombo.nsw.gov.au
Address Office within HSBC Building, Level 24, 580 George Street Sydney NSW 2000
Centrelink
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Service Provider
This government resource centre provides a range of information, services, programs, payments and assistance to women having a baby, who are parents/ guardians, and who have an illness/disability. Check online or visit your local Centrelink Office for more details. They provide information in a range of languages and have specialist officers for indigenous Australians and for people with disability.
Website www.centrelink.gov.au
Telephone 131 021 Appts and Hours
Telephone 131 202 Multilingual Calls
TTY 133 677
Telephone 136 150 Family Assistance Office
Telephone 132 717 Disability, Sickness and Carers
Medicare
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Service Provider
Medicare provides Australians with access to free or low cost medical, optometric and hospital care. It's important to register your new baby with Medicare and the Medicare Family Safety Net. Forms are available online and at Medicare Offices.
Website www.medicareaustralia.gov.au
Telephone 13 20 11
Address At your nearest Medicare Office or GPO Box 9822 in your Capital City
Family Assistance Office [FAO]
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Service Provider
Families can receive a range of support from the Australian Government through the FAO to help with the cost of raising children. You may be eligible for the following: maternity payment, maternity immunisation allowance, family tax benefits, and/or child care benefit. Some families may be eligible for large family supplements, multiple birth allowance, or double orphan pension.
Website www.familyassist.gov.au
Telephone 13 61 50 or TTY 1800 810 586
Telephone 13 12 02 [information in other Languages]
Address FAO at Medicare, Centrelink or Tax Office Shopfronts [200 across NSW]
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Multicultural services
Thai Welfare Association
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Organisation
Services include assistance with the settlement of Thai migrants to NSW/Australia, practical information, referral service and welfare-related support. They have 3 community workers - at city, Cabramatta, and Rockdale.
Website www.thaiwelfare.org
Telephone 02 9264 3166
Email twa@thaiwelfare.org
Address Suite 204, Level 2, 78 Liverpool St Sydney, NSW 2000
Mission of Hope
Area Covered: Lakemba and surrounding suburbs
Resource Type: Organisation, HIV/AIDS
Services include parenting classes and a forum with a range of practical topics. There is an emphasis on single parenting. Family Planning Health Education (to be developed) entails researching contraception, role of family, and importance of women in society. The results will assist in developing pamphlets for Sydney health services. Positive Muslims Australia - a HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention Campaign for the Muslim community - provides support services and health advice for Muslims living with AIDS.
Website www.missionofhope.org.au
Telephone 1300 787 257
Email info@missionofhope.org.au
Address Muslim Business Centre 1A/153 Haldon St, Lakemba, NSW 2195
Multicultural Health Communication Service
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Service Provider, Information
The MHCS are specialists in improving health communication across a range of languages and cultures. They answer enquiries on multilingual information and where to obtain existing materials, and they have a library available to health staff. They also have numerous articles, fact sheets on topics like pregnancy and parenting are available in a range of languages on the website to download for free e.g. Good ways to settle babies under six months: a parent's guide. Can search online for resources by topic or by language.
Website www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au
Telephone 02 9816 0347
Email mhcs@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Address PO Box 58 Gladesville, NSW 2001
Health Translations Directory
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Website
A directory of resources available in 59 languages. The search is listed in English and then you choose which language you want - some assistance may be needed if unfamiliar with English. The resources are listed by topic and language, with an extensive list on pregnancy, parenting, sexual and women's health. The directory links to online multicultural health resources from government departments, peak health bodies, hospitals, community health centres, and welfare agencies.
Website http://www.healthtranslations.vic.gov.au
Email healthtranslations@dhs.vic.gov.au
Address 12/589 Collins St, Melbourne Victoria 3000
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Legal support
Australian Law Online
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Website
Online access to legal information. It includes a section on Parenting and Guardianship - which provides helpful information on adoption, births, parentage and DNA testing, and parenting.
Website www.law.gov.au See “Family and Relationships”
You’re Body, Your Baby – Women's Legal Rights from Conception to Birth by T. Libesman and V. Sripathy [1996]
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Book
This book provides accurate and comprehensive information regarding consequences, risks, choices, support, rights and responsibilities across a range of reproductive health issues. It is published by Redfern Legal Centre Publishing, Sydney. Available at various online book stores or libraries in NSW.
Website www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/library/ Waverly Library
Available at Redfern Legal Centre Publishing – contact
Email Andrew_Dalton@fcl.fl.asn.au
Women's Legal Resources Centre
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Service Provider
They provide free legal advice and referrals to all women in NSW - on all issues including family law, child protection and domestic violence. Outreach services are conducted at 5 locations across Western Sydney and Wyong.
Website www.womenslegalnsw.asn.au
Telephone 02 9749 5533 Sydney Advice Line
Telephone 1800 801 501 Rural NSW Line
TTY 1800 674 333
Telephone 131 450 Interpreter Service
Telephone 1800 639 784 Indigenous
Women’s Legal Contact Line
Email Womens_NSW@clc.net.au
Parents with Disability and the NSW Children's Court – Prevalence and Outcomes Study – D. McConnell, G. Llewellyn and L. Ferronato [2000]
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Book
The study confirms parents with disabilities are significantly over represented and discriminated against in care proceedings. Disability per se was found to be a poor indicator of parental capacity yet international studies show high rate of removal of children. This 105 page report is available online [see below].
Available at State Library of NSW (Q362.82/12)
Telephone 02 9273 1414
Address Macquarie Street, Sydney, 2000
Also available online at
Website www.healthystart.net.au/pdf/McConnellLlewe.pdf
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Websites
Child and Youth Health
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Website, Information
A South Australian-based organisation. The website is easy to read with more than 300 articles about child health and parenting. Categories include Family and Relationships, Growth and Development, Emotion and Behaviour, Healthy Lifestyle, Immunisations, Illness and Health Issues, Safety and First Aid, and Disabilities.
Website www.cyh.com
Better Health Channel
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Website, Information
A Victorian-based information resource with extensive pages on parenting from babies to teens. Fact sheets are available in A-Z and category format, with topics including women, children, parents and families, abortion, breastfeeding, breast issues, contraception, gynaecological issues, menstruation, menopause, pregnancy problems, reproduction, baby feeding, weaning, child development, birth defects and illnesses, immunisation, sleep problems. A medical dictionary also features on the website.
Website www.betterhealthchannel.vic.gov.au
The Bub Hub
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Website, Forum, Story
An extremely comprehensive Australian website with articles, information sheets, useful tools and links, e-newsletters, information directory, community forums, products and services, help lines, and real life stories on all aspects of raising a child, finding Drs, options of birthing, safety, natural therapies, prenatal classes, childbirth services and support organisations. There is an events calendar, which includes seminars, courses, expos and more. A five star website.
Website http://www.bubhub.com.au
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Information and referral services
IDEAS – Metro Office formerly Disability Information and Referral Centre [DIRC]
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Organisation, Information
A free service providing people, with any type of disability, with information and resources that meet their needs in their local area in NSW. An information officer will help you with your enquiry. They have a comprehensive and up-to-date database covering 38 NSW Councils including a specialist focus on the Eastern Sydney region.
Website www.ideas.org.au
Telephone 02 9657 1796 or
Telephone 133 677 [National Relay Service]
Telephone 131 450 [Interpreter Service]
Email jotter@ideas.org.au
Address Suite 208, Level 2, 35 Buckingham Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
IDEAS Inc – Regional Office
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Organisation, Information
An Australia-wide information and referral service for people with all disability types. Topics include equipment, transport, household products, and services. Formats include toll free telephone, email, website, fax, mail and TTY.
Website www.ideas.org.au
Telephone & TTY 1800 029 904
Email ideas@ideas.org.au
Address Tumut Region HACC Centre, 81 Capper St, Tumut, NSW 2720
Penrith Disabilities Resource Centre Inc
Area Covered: Penrith and surrounding areas
Resource Type: Service Provider, Information
A regional resource centre of and for people with a diverse range of disabilities living in Penrith and surrounding areas. They help with information, support, and advocacy issues.
Website www.pdrc.org.au
Telephone 02 4732 2363
TTY 02 4732 2088
Email pdrc@pdrc.org.au
Address 114 Henry St, Penrith NSW 2751
People with Disability Australia Inc [PWD]
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Organisation, Service Provide
Their services include free non-legal rights related information, advice and referral services for people with disability and their associates across NSW, short-term individual and group advocacy assistance to people with disability, a National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline, and a National Disability Complaints Resolution and Referral Service (CRRS).
Website www.pwd.org.au
Telephone 02 9370 3100 or 1800 422 015 Toll free
TTY 02 9318 2138 or 1800 422 016 Toll free
Email pwd@pwd.org.au
Address 52 Pitt Street, Redfern NSW 2016
Women With Disabilities Australia [WWDA]
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Peer Support, Organisation, Information
A national voice for the needs and rights of women with disability. They can provide support, information and resource links to women considering pregnancy and for mums with disability. A handy information and referral directory is available online.
Website www.wwda.org.au
Telephone 03 6244 8288
Email wwda@ozemail.com.au
Address PO Box 605, Rosny Park, Tasmania 7018
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Indigenous services
Awabakal Disability Service
Area Covered: Newcastle/Hunter region
Resource Type: Service Provider
They provide a range of services for indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people in the Newcastle area – Newcastle/Hunter region e.g. medical services, child care, disability services, preschool etc. The venue has wheelchair access.
Telephone 02 4969 4711
Address 64 Hannell St Wickham NSW 2303
Aboriginal Disability Network NSW
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Organisation, Peer Support
This network brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability to tell their stories, give each other support, and create a voice for change.
Website www.pwd.org.au/adnnsw
Telephone 02 9370 3100 or 1800 422 015 [Damian Griffis]
TTY 02 9318 2138 or 1800 422 015
Email adnnsw@pwd.org.au
Address PO Box 666, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012
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Multicultural services
Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association NSW
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Organisation, Information
MDAA is a state-wide service for people from non-English speaking backgrounds with a disability. It aims to promote, protect and secure the rights and interests of people from a NESB with a disability and their families.
Website www.mdaa.org.au
Telephone 02 9891 6400 or
TTY 02 9687 6325
Email mdaa@mdaa.org.au
Address 40 Albion Street, Harris Park NSW 2150
NSW Multicultural Health Services and Programs
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Service Provider
NSW Health funds/provides a range of multicultural programs across the state that are helpful to parents with a disability of NESB, including healthcare interpreter services, health workers, health promotion officers, bilingual counsellors and educators, and ethnic obstetric liaison officers. There is support for you whatever your needs - mental health issues, refugee health, if you have HIV/AIDS, and/or support around issues like female mutilation and family planning.
Telephone Contact your local hospital and/or community health centre
(check the front section of your local telephone directory).
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Peer support networks
Disabled Adoptive Parents [DAP]
Area Covered: Global
Resource Type: Peer Support
An online support group at Yahoo Groups with approx 200 members. Their webpage introduction says: "This group seeks to gather and disseminate valuable information to disabled individuals who are looking to adopt or who have adopted, both domestically and internationally. This group is intended to educate, enlighten and inspire anyone who is thinking about adoption."
Website groups.yahoo.com/group/disabledadoptiveparents
Email disabledadoptiveparents-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com
Parents with Disabilities Online
Area Covered: Global
Resource Type: Website, Peer Support, Equipment, Story
This is a great online resource for parents [to be] with disability. It includes Parent Empowerment Network, a supportive online community. It has a section on personal stories. It also includes ideas for adaptive parenting equipment/ aids.
Website www.disabledparents.net
Personal Experiences of Health and Illness
Area Covered: Global
Resource Type: Peer Support, Forum, Website
This is a UK-based online resource that holds records of people's experiences of health and illnesses. You can watch, listen, or read their interviews. Experiences covered include cancers, mental health, epilepsy, and chronic illnesses like arthritis. Interviews are tabled under pregnancy, breastfeeding, parenting and impact on family. Included is an online forum where you can ask questions of someone like yourself. More interviews are being recorded and added all the time.
Website www.dipex.org
Email info@dipex.org
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Personal stories and relevant readings
I Always Wanted To Be A Tap Dancer - A. Lawrence (Ed) [1989]
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Book Audio, Video, Story
An anthology of Australian women with disability stories. It includes experiences of mothers with disability. Format - sound recording (1990). Published by NSW Women's Advisory Council. ISBN 0 7305 6398 7
Available at the State Library of NSW, Kings Cross Library [KXL] and the Jessie Street Women's National Library [JSWNL] in Ultimo. A sound recording available at Glebe Library, KXL and JSNWL. A video is available at NSW Network of Women with Disability office in Harris Park. All of these locations are accessible.
Personal Stories of Being a Parent with a Disability
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Story, DVD, Video
No Limits is a program produced by community television in Melbourne. Two episodes - no's 18 and 62 - of No Limits, include interviews with Ashley, Samantha and Claire who discuss their experiences as mums. DVD's are $22 (AU) for individuals. Episodes can include open captions on request.
Website www.nolimits.org.au
Email sales@nolimits.org.au
Encounters With Strangers: Feminism and Disability by Jenny Morris (Ed) [1996]
Area Covered: Global
Resource Type: Book
The book focuses on women with disability and feminist theory. Published by The Women's Press, London. ISBN 0704344009 Available at both State Library of NSW and at Customs House (Sydney City Library).
Telephone 02 9273 1414 [State Library NSW]
Address Macquarie Street, Sydney 2000
Literature on Parenting with Disability
Area Covered: Global
Resource Type: Website, Information
This site offers a range of publications useful for parents with a disability. Included are publications topics like Adoption, Deaf Parents, and Parents with Physical/Intellectual Disability/Vision Impairment, Family and Disability, Culture, Pregnancy and Birth.
Website www.lookingglass.org/publications
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