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Disability in New Zealand

News and Publications


Disability Services Newsletter

Issue 19 - February 2007
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In this issue:
First national Maori consumer-driven health and disability provider
Ngāti Kāpo o Aotearoa Inc

Ahakoa kaore matou i te kite kei te kite
(We may be blind but we have vision)

Hūtia te rito o te Harakeke.
Kei hea te komako e ko?
Whakataerangitia,
Rere ki uta,
Rere ki tae,
Kī mai ki ahau he aha te mea nui o te ao?
Māku e ki atu,
He tangata, tangata, he tangata!

E hangai ana te whakatauki nei ki te whānau o Ngāti Kāpo o Aotearoa Inc?
Kati ka tika!

He rōpu whānui tenei i timata mai i ngā tau rua tekau ma rima kua pahure. Ko te ropu nei he Māori, he kāpo ara ano he hiahia no ratou ki te hui tahi hei rōpu tautoko tētahi ki tētahi. Koia te kakano tutahi.

Mai ra ano ko nga kaupapa matua o Ngāti Kāpo he tautoko, he whakapakari i te hunga kāpo me a rātou whānau i roto i te ngākanui me te whānaungatanga.
Mai i tera kakano i raupeka atu te rōpu nei ki ngā tōpito katoa o Aotearoa ara kua tipu hei whakaminenga neke atu i te rima rau tangata te rahi.

Ngāti Kāpo o Aotearoa Inc. is a consumer driven national Māori health and disability service provider that offers high quality kaupapa Māori based disability support services to disabled Māori and their whānau throughout Aotearoa (New Zealand).
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Paramount to the achievements of the society has been the strong belief, commitment and support of Ngāti Kāpo members, staff and supporters to the vision and principles laid down in 1981 of “Mana Kāpo” (blind Maori dignity) - through peer support and advocacy founded upon the principles of whānaungatanga and tikanga Māori.

Ngāti Kāpo o Aotearoa Inc. services include:
  • Peer Support;
  • Policy Advice;
  • Advocacy;
  • Public Awareness;
  • Training;
  • Workforce Development;
  • Health and disability information coordination and dissemination.

Ngāti Kāpo o Aotearoa Inc. sincerely acknowledges the support provided by the Māori Health Directorate, Ministry of Health and other agencies whom have assisted in the development of the society. Through this assistance Ngāti Kāpo is able to raise awareness about the expectations of kāpo Māori and their whānau as well as develop and implement initiatives that will improve the health and wellbeing of kāpo Māori and their whānau in Aotearoa.

Tae timu tae pari, taihoa e haere. Hei whakakapinga kōrero ka whai whakaro ki a rotou te tini mano i hāpai i tenei rōpu ki te eke ki ngā taumata mahi e ekengia i enei rā. Ko koutou i hora i te marino kia pai ai enei e haere ake nei no reira kaore he mutunga mihi. Ahakoa ngā piki ngā heke kua tū piripono a Ngāti kāpo ki tona whakapae a kua tuturu ki te tino rangatiratanga o ia tangata me tona i whakatau ai, 'Ahakoa kaore matou i te kite, kei te kite.

For more information about Ngāti Kāpo o Aotearoa Inc. and the services the society offers contact: The National Administrator, Ph. 0800 770 990, email georgie.d@xtra.co.nz, or look on our website www.kapomaori.com
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Geraldine’s update
The New Year has got off to a busy start with work being done on implementing price increases for our home based support service providers and planning for the 2007 consumer forum/hui programme. A number of projects are also getting underway around home based support and residential services.

Our 0800 phone and fax numbers are now live and the feedback we have had on the re-vamped website has been positive. Easier access to information about DSD and the services we fund is one of our key priorities.

A draft Evidence-based Guideline for Autism Spectrum Disorder was released for consultation last December with submissions closing on 16 March. This is an exciting project that will benefit health, disability and education professionals as well as people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families and whanau. An impact analysis study is about to get underway and if you would like to take part in this then see article on page three of this newsletter for details.

I hope you had a chance to enjoy some of the warmer summer weather that arrived over the last month or so and are refreshed and ready for what is sure to be another busy year.
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Impact analysis for ASD Guideline
Do you want to be involved or do you know someone that should be involved in the Impact Analysis of the draft Evidence-based Guideline for Austism Spectrum Disorder?

As you may be aware a draft Evidence-based Guideline for Autism Spectrum Disorder (draft ASD Guideline) has been developed. Once finalised, the ASD Guideline is intended to provide guidance on ASD in both children and adults in New Zealand. The draft ASD Guideline is an evidence-based summary that covers a wide range of issues relevant to people with ASD, their family/whanau, carers, health and education professionals and other related stakeholders. It seeks to provide the best evidence currently available to help with decision-making that will improve health, educational and social outcomes. The draft ASD Guideline has taken a ‘whole of life’ approach and has been developed through wide inter-sector collaboration.

Before implementing the recommendations of the ASD Guideline, the Ministries of Education and Health have engaged Health Outcomes International Pty Ltd. to undertake an impact analysis study. This impact analysis study will identify and prioritise the actions and options needed to implement the various recommendations. The study will:
  • Perform a stock take of current service provision;
  • Identify the gaps and any changes to services that would be needed;
  • Identify any legislation and policy implications;
  • Determine the likely impact on people with ASD, service provision, providers of services, workforce, funding and government;
  • Establish what initiatives are needed; and
  • Identify associated financial and resource costs.

In order to do this, the impact analysis team will be talking with a wide range of individuals and organisations who are involved with ASD focused service provision, planning, funding and utilisation. Initially a survey will be distributed, after which interviews will be held to look at the strategies and resources needed to successfully implement the draft ASD Guideline. This is part of the stocktake process, and will be a key to identifying existing gaps and any changes to supports and services that may be needed.

We want the widest possible input from all ASD related stakeholders to ensure we develop effective options for the Ministries. So, if you would like to take part in this study you can;
  • send your contact details, including name, position, department, organisation, contact phone number, email address and postal address to Rob Dempsey on rob@hoi.com.au. You will get a return email acknowledging your registration of interest and a member of the team will contact you shortly after that; and/or
  • complete the impact analysis study survey at www.hoi.co.nz/autism

Rita Brewton
Director
Health Outcomes International Pty Ltd
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Price increase for home based support services (HBSS)

The Ministry has sent contract variations out to its HBSS providers to put in place a $2/hour increase to both personal care and household management service lines. This increase will take the benchmark rates for these two services to $21.20 and $19.50 respectively.

This increase comes from targeted funding made available by Government, to help contribute to the stabilisation of the home based support sector. The Ministry expects that this funding will flow through to address support worker wages and conditions of employment, including training and as a contribution to recent changes in the minimum wage and Holidays Act provisions.

The funding will also support providers to implement a new service specification when it is developed later in 2007. A review of the specification has been started and provider representatives and service users will be invited to contribute to this work.

The primary objective of the review is to improve outcomes for service users by developing service arrangements that enable people to move towards living as others do in their homes and the community. This will be done by focusing on outcomes that are valued by service users and increasing the choices people with disabilities have over the services they receive and the way in which these services are delivered.
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Introducing new staff

Alison Hearn
Manager Planning and Development

Alison comes with a rich experience in the health and education sectors. As an ex nursing tutor, auditor of residential care facilities, and an ex provider of residential and home based support services, Alison is passionate about quality and standards of service. In 2003/04, Alison managed the Quality & Safety project at the Ministry of Health, moving on thereafter to ACC, where she was the Manager of the Monitoring Team working with providers providing services under the ACC legislation and also those under contract.

Out of work, Alison is the mother of three gorgeous boys, and an avid supporter of the Hurricanes. She has a strong passion for music and her favourite spot is walking the beach at Whangamata.
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Getting information about DSD

If you would like general information on the Disability Services Directorate or the services we fund you can
Look on-line at www.moh.govt.nz/disability
  • Email: disability@moh.govt.nz
  • Free phone message box 0800 DSD MOH (373 664) select option 1
  • Free fax 0800 000 838

If you would like to make a complaint about the Disability Services Directorate or the services we fund you can
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