Disability in New Zealand

News and Publications

e-newsletter - Issue 29 - June 2009

In this issue:
Non-seasonal Influenza
DDG update
Non-Government Organisations
Auckland University Seminar
Board members Frozen Funds Trust
Local Area Coordination
Community Organisation Grants
IHC Community Forums
BE PREPARED

Download this newsletter in in PDF format:

• Disability Services Provider E-Newsletter: June 2009 (PDF, 806 KB)

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Non-seasonal Influenza A (H1N1)

Human cases of non-seasonal Influenza A (H1N1) ‘swine flu’ resulting from human to human transmission, initially identified in Mexico, have been confirmed in New Zealand and many other countries around the world.

Because this virus is new, people have no immunity to it so it will spread more quickly and widely than the seasonal flu. The pandemic situation could mean lots of people become sick at the same time and this could have a big impact on our day-to-day lives, and place considerable pressure on the health services.

In response the Ministry of Health, health authorities and other Government agencies have implemented the New Zealand Influenza Pandemic Action Plan, as well as following international developments and advice from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO has declared an influenza pandemic and has raised the level of alert from phase five to six. Phase six is the highest phase and means there is global spread of the virus, but it does not say anything about the severity of the disease.

So far, around the world, Influenza A (H1N1) ‘Swine Flu’ has produced mild to moderate symptoms in
most people. Signs and symptoms of the new Influenza A (H1N1) virus are similar to the symptoms of
seasonal flu and can include:

• fever
• sore throat
• body aches
• chills
• cough
• runny or stuffy nose
• headache
• fatigue

Some people also experience diarrhoea and vomiting. Also, like seasonal flu:

• the worst symptoms usually last about five days, but coughing can last up to two to three weeks
• some very young children, people with some long-term medical conditions, pregnant women, and older people, can get very sick

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DDG Update

Geraldine Woods
Deputy Director-General
Health & Disability National Services

Since we last had a newsletter, non-seasonal Influenza A (H1N1) virus has arrived in New Zealand.

The NZ Influenza Pandemic Action Plan swung into effect with everyone doing their bit to help it run smoothly. The goals of the NZ Influenza Pandemic Action Plan are to:

• minimise the impact of the disease on New Zealanders
• enable society to function as normally as possible
• minimise any economic consequences.

Despite the speed with which the situation arose, the planning of the last three years paid off, and we managed to contain the spread of the virus for a number of weeks. However with the coming of winter and increased numbers of cases in Australia, it was only a matter of time before it became more widespread in NZ. As most of you will be aware the number of cases of nonseasonal Influenza A (H1N1) have increased quite rapidly over the last couple of weeks and the Government has moved from the “contain it” phase to the “manage it” phase.

So what does this mean?

In areas where community transmission has become established, the focus will shift to providing treatment and support, as required, to symptomatic people, particularly those who are most unwell or at high risk.

Most people will be able to care for themselves at home. In areas where community transmission has not yet become established, or where communities are only slightly affected, containment measures may still be maintained.

The disability community, like the rest of NZ, need to take measures to protect yourselves from getting the virus, and if you do get it, to manage it successfully at home. For most people the virus will have mild to moderate symptoms, however there are some people with serious underlying medical conditions that may became more unwell and need hospitalisation. I would urge you to prepare yourself and your families in case
you become unwell by following the simple suggestions in the pandemic information included in this newsletter.

I hope you manage to remain healthy throughout the winter season.

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Non-Government Organisation (NGO) sector

Health and Disability NGOs include a wide range of organisations working in the health and disability sectors. Many are non-profit organisations and along with providing services to consumers they are a valuable contact with community level organisations.

In December 2001, the Government signed a Statement of Government Intentions for an improved community-government relationship.

To put the Government vision into practice, the Ministry of Health and NGOs from the health and disability sector entered into a formalised relationship. To facilitate this relationship a NGO Working Group was formed, and an NGO Desk.

NGO Working Group

The NGO Working Group is made up of 13 elected representatives from the NGO sector and two (nonvoting) Ministry of Health members. The Working Group is funded through a contract with the Ministry. Its purpose is to build a strong, respectful, innovative and proactive relationship between the Ministry and NGOs, including Maori and Pacific NGOs.

Ministry of Health NGO Desk

The NGO Desk provides the Ministry with an NGO focus, and keeps both the Ministry and the sector up-to-date with activity within the sector.

The Desk along with the Working Group facilitates the Ministry and NGOs to work together on issues facing the sector. These issues are often identified at the NGO-MoH Forums.

NGO-MoH Forums

Forums are held one to two times a year between the Ministry and the health and disability NGO sector. The forums are an opportunity to discuss key issues and to share these with the Ministry and other stakeholders. They are also the opportunity for the NGO sector to set an agenda of work for the Working Group to progress between meetings on behalf of the forum.If you would like more information about this please go to www.ngo.health.govt.nz.

You can contact the NGO Working Group through
Muno Richards
Email: secretariat@ngo.health.govt.nz
Phone: 021 2631389

You can contact the Ministry of Health NGO Desk through
Caroline Speight
Email: ngo@moh.govt.nz
Phone: 04 496 2062

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University of Auckland Seminar

Evidence-Based Practices for Promoting Independence and Enjoyment Among People with Severe Intellectual Disabilities
Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 August 2009 at The University of Auckland Tamaki Campus.

The third annual seminar series on evidence-based practices to assist people with intellectual and developmental disorders will be held in August.

This year’s presenters are Drs Dennis H. Reid and Carolyn W. Green. They are well-known researchers and service providers for people with intellectual disabilities based in North Carolina, USA. Their presentations will appeal to all those who care for and about people with severe intellectual disabilities (and individuals with similar levels of disability).

They have to restrict audience numbers to 100 this year, so please register early. Registrations close on Friday, 17 July 2009. To register go to www.psych.auckland.ac.nz.

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Frozen Funds Charitable Trust

Application for new Board members
Frozen Funds Charitable Trust is inviting applications for three positions on it’s seven member Board. The Frozen Funds Charitable Trust was set up to fund projects directed by and for people who are current or former users of mental health or intellectual disability services.

The role of the Board is to call for grant applications, determine selection processes and make funding decisions. The Public Trust provides the administrative services and is responsible for investment of funds in consultation with the Board.

The Board meets in Wellington for one day, three to four times a year. Board members do not receive a fee but are paid travel and accommodation costs, as well as the expenses of a support person for a Board member, if needed.

Anyone may apply but we are seeking people who are familiar with the mental health or intellectual disability sectors.

We are particularly interested in applications from people who are:

• Current or former users of mental health services
• Maori
• Living north of the Bombay Hills
• Experienced in philantropy

For more information on the Frozen Funds Charitable Trust visit www.frozenfunds.co.nz.

Applications close on 24 July 2009

Please post your application to:
Cheryl Mennie
Public Trust Special Business
PO Box 5067
Wellington
Ph: 0800 371 471
cheryl.mennie@publictrust.co.nz

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Local Area Coordination

Representatives from the Disability Support Services Group and Population Health Disability Policy Group visited Western Australia and Queensland as part of the Ministry's investigation of Local Area Co-ordination-type processes.

The Government's direction to officials to carry out this investigation is contained in the Government's Response to the Report of the Social Services Select Committee on its "Inquiry into the Quality of Care and Services Provision for Disabled People". This can be found at http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Presented/Papers/3/1/d/49DBHOH_PAP17698_1-Government-Response-to-Report-of-the-Social-Services.htm.

Both Western Australia and Queensland offer Local Area Coordination services that are based on underlying principles that were originally developed in Western Australia. In each case, Local Area Coordination involved working with individuals, families and communities to make a practical difference to disabled people's everyday lives. It is based on developing ongoing and in-depth relationships with disabled people (and their families) with a view to them identifying what represents a good life for them, and working with family and community resources to make that happen. Further information on Local Area Coordination in Western Australia and Queensland can be found at http://www.disability.wa.gov.au/forindividuals/disabilityservices/lac.html and http://www.disability.qld.gov.au/supportservices/dsq/lac.html.

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Community Organisation Grants Scheme Applications

open 1 June and close on 31 July
The Community Organisation Gra nts Scheme (COGS) is a community-driven governmentfunded scheme providing essential support to non-profit, voluntary and community organisations.

Applications open on 1 June and close on the last Friday of July.

Every year, over $14 million of COGS funding is distributed to more than 3000 community groups. Most grants are for $3000 or less, and contribute to ongoing running costs (such as rent, travel, volunteer and administration expenses), to hosting hui, fono or community workshops, or toward project development costs.

Local Distribution Committees (LDCs) consider and make decisions on grant applications from groups within their local communities. Each LDC sets local priorities.

http://www.dia.govt.nz/Pubforms.nsf/URL/COGS_Priorities_2008-09.pdf/$file/COGS_Priorities_2008-09.pdf

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IHC Community forums

June-September North and South Islands

Last year IHC reviewed its governance structure. This resulted in Branch Committees beingreplaced with local Associations.

It also resulted in a series of local forums that give IHC members, families living with intellectual disability and other interested members of the community the opportunity to get together and find out more about IHC.
This is your opportunity to:

• discuss issues about intellectual disability at a local level
• meet members of the IHC Board
• hear the Board report on business activities and how IHC is run
• network with families and other interested people
• keep up with current issues

Community Forum dates 2009

13 June - Palmerston North
18 July - Timaru
29 August - Hamilton
26 September - Dunedin

Numbers are limited so register your interest - http://www.ihc.org.nz/Default.aspx?tabid=1676

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Be prepared

So you don’t need to make trips out in public while you
are sick, have at least a week's supply of:
- alcohol-based hand rubs
- paracetamol
- tissues
- food
- medical supplies.
Make sure you have contact details for friends/family/neighbours easily
available so that you can call them if you need help.

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The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ministry of Health. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this newsletter, the Ministry of Health is not responsible for any ommissions, inaccuracies or changes that may have taken place after publication.