disAbility Update
Issue 64 Winter 2015
About disAbility Update
disAbility Update is published quarterly by the Disability Services Commission.
Neither the Commission nor the State of Western Australia shall be responsible for the reliability,
usefulness or the accuracy of the content of this publication. Neither the Commission nor the
State shall be liable, in negligence or howsoever, for any loss, damage or liability incurred by
anyone relying on the content. The Commission may review, edit or exclude any submitted
material which is sought to be included as content. No content can be reproduced without the
prior written permission of the Commission.
Contributions and feedback from agencies are welcome.
Contact:
The Editor
disAbility Update
Disability Services Commission
PO Box 441
West Perth WA 6872
Phone: 9426 9311
TTY: 9426 9315
ISSN (print): 1442-343X
Email: communications@dsc.wa.gov.au
Website: www.disability.wa.gov.au
Chair’s column
There’s a good reason for optimism about the future of disability services in Western Australia,
following the successful expansion of the State Government’s second WA NDIS My Way trial
into the Cockburn-Kwinana area on 1 July.
Through the WA NDIS My Way trial, the Commission is taking its success with the My Way
approach to the next level.
The trial is now well-established in the Lower South West, having commenced in July 2014.
People with disability, their families and carers, are now reaping the benefits of the WA NDIS
My Way approach.
In the trial areas, eligibility criteria for supports and services has been expanded which means
that more people, including those with psychosocial disability, can take part.
In my dual roles – as the parent of a young woman with disability and Disability Services
Commission Chair – I have developed an intimate knowledge of the system that provides
supports and services for West Australians with disability. Over 25 years I have seen and
experienced many much-needed changes. I’m proud to say that today, disability services
provided in WA are among the best in the world – and they’re getting even better.
My family and I live in Donnybrook in the Lower South West, so we have been able to take part
in the WA NDIS My Way trial and experience the benefits of this fantastic model.
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The essence of WA NDIS My Way is that people have the opportunity to define their personal
goals and then create a plan with a NDIS My Way Coordinator to access the right resources to
support them.
Planning focuses on the person’s natural networks, community supports and local connections.
Plans are designed to suit the individual and may change over time. I’ve seen how this new
approach has changed lives for the better, including my daughter’s.
I encourage people in the Cockburn-Kwinana area to check their eligibility for WA NDIS My Way
– some wonderful benefits await. Find out more at www.disability.wa.gov.au or phone 1800 996
214.
Bruce Langoulant
Chairperson
Disability Services Commission
Cockburn-Kwinana joins WA NDIS My Way Trial
The WA NDIS My Way trial was extended to include the Cockburn-Kwinana area on 1 July.
More than 200 people attended the launch including people with disability, their families and
carers, disability and mental health service providers, Members of Parliament and sector
representatives. Attendees took the opportunity to network and voice their hopes for the trial.
About 2,700 people in the Cockburn-Kwinana area are expected to benefit from the WA NDIS
My Way trial, which is implemented by the Disability Services Commission on behalf of the
State Government.
Disability Services Minister Helen Morton said she was pleased WA NDIS My Way had
expanded into the Perth metropolitan area after a year of successfully running in regional
Western Australia.
“Based on the great outcomes being achieved in the Lower South West, we know that people
joining the trial in the Cockburn-Kwinana area will benefit greatly from the WA NDIS My Way
planning process,” the Minister said.
Planning balances a busy lifestyle
If you would like to have a coffee and catch up with Casuarina woman Ellen Buswell, 23, you’ll
need to book in advance because she’s one busy lady.
Ms Buswell and her mother, Pauline, told the audience at the launch of WA NDIS My Way in the
Cockburn-Kwinana area how planning with her My Way Coordinator is supporting her to reach
her goals.
Her goals include creating stronger community links, developing work skills and socialising with
peers.
As part of her plan, Ms Buswell has a support worker who takes her to the Cockburn Youth
Centre where she participates in music and drama classes, takes part in a supported work
placement program, enjoys sports and participates in various community events.
“But her favourite activity is going to the E-Shed Markets disco on a Friday night to dance with
her friends,” Mrs Buswell said.
Study to support Men’s Shed mentors
Mentors will support young people with intellectual disability to improve their social and
vocational prospects in a study to be funded by the Disability Services Commission’s first
$40,000 Dr Louisa Alessandri Research Grant.
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Disability service provider Therapy Focus and Curtin University were awarded the grant by
Disability Services Minister Helen Morton, who said their proposal was a standout in a field of
high quality applicants.
“Therapy Focus and Curtin University have come up with an innovative research project that is
expected to deliver real benefits to young people with intellectual disability,” the Minister said.
“Their project will connect members of the WA Men’s Sheds Association with young people with
intellectual disability. The men will mentor the young people to increase their work readiness.”
Therapy Focus spokesperson Ruth Lee said that as people with intellectual disability
transitioned from youth to adulthood they often experienced multiple disadvantages in
participating in social, work and education activities.
“International research shows that formal mentors can have important influences on young
people during this transition. Within a community context, Men’s Sheds are ideally situated to
support youth with intellectual disability,” Ms Lee said.
“This is because the mentors, who are often retirees, have the time and life experience to
support mentees. In addition, the sheds offer a multitude of activities that can assist the young
people to develop both vocational and life skills.”
Dr Alessandri (1963-1997) was a renowned child health researcher in WA and had personal
experience of disability.
Housing project builds independence
Busselton men Trevor Byles and Paul Plowman will move into their own house early next year
as the result of an initiative between the Disability Services Commission, the Department of
Housing and Access Housing.
Five dwellings – two built by Access Housing and three by the Department of Housing – will
provide flexible housing options for people with disability in the WA NDIS My Way Lower South
West trial site.
Mr Byles and Mr Plowman are currently living in group accommodation supported by disability
service provider Activ.
When they move into their new house, they will have the opportunity to live independently, learn
and develop other life skills and still remain connected to their families and networks.
Both men said they were very excited about living independently and having their own space.
Changing Places transforming WA communities
People who need space and assistance to manage their personal ablutions will soon have
much better access to appropriate facilities when away from home. The State Government has
committed $2 million to establish a network of Changing Places across Western Australia over
the next two years.
Approximately 120,000 people in WA have significant disability and many currently face unsafe
situations by having to use a standard accessible toilet when away from home.
More than a standard accessible toilet, every Changing Place will provide a clean and private
facility that includes an adult-size change table, a hoist to aid the lifting of a person and enough
room for two people to assist.
Security of the facilities will be managed by provision of a multi-facility access key that will only
be available to authorised people.
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Where possible, all new Changing Places will have 24-hour access, however some will have the
same opening hours as the building they are located in. Users will not be charged to enter the
premises and use the Changing Place.
Preferred locations for Changing Places will be identified by people with disability. The Disability
Services Commission is partnering with National Disability Services to gather input from people
with disability, their carers and disability service providers and with the WA Local Government
Association to distribute funding.
The WA Government is the first in Australia to commit to creating and funding a network of
Changing Places.
disAbility Update editions go digital
This is the final issue of the disAbility Update magazine in its current format.
Future editions will be in an electronic newsletter format. News relevant to the disability sector
will be published in the Disability Services Commission’s Sector e-Bulletin.
The newsletters will be emailed to readers who have requested to receive the disAbility Update
and Sector e-Bulletin electronically.
They will also be available on the Commission’s website www.disability.wa.gov.au in printable
Word and PDF versions.
Please email your newsletter choice to communications@dsc.wa.gov.au .
Collaboration leads to smooth transition
A strong collaborative process over 18 months has supported around 50 people to complete the
transition of their accommodation service to a non-government provider.
The Disability Services Commission started a process in January 2014 to transition about 60
per cent of its accommodation service to the non-government sector.
This process is in line with the Government of Western Australia’s Delivering Community
Services in Partnership Policy and the principles of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The transition aims to offer people with disability who live in Commission accommodation more
choice and control over the supports and services they receive.
By July this year, around 170 people in five groups had begun the process of planning for their
choice of future service provider.
Wayne Johnson’s sons Leigh, 43, and Glenn, 40, underwent the transition process and chose
Nulsen as their service provider.
The two men both have fragile X syndrome and live in different houses near their parents in
Perth’s northern suburbs.
Mr Johnson said the transition process was well-managed and ran smoothly.
“When the project first started, like lots of families we had lots of misgivings and doubt in our
minds, especially since the boys had formed good relationships with the Commission staff who
looked after them,” he said.
Mr Johnson said Commission’s Transition Team, which has included Neil Paynter, Luke Doyle
and Sue Cannell, was extremely helpful, caring and professional.
“(They) took a great deal of trouble to put us at ease. Neil even took us around to explore group
homes held by other service providers before we made our decision on the service provider –
the service was first class,” he said.
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Mr Johnson said Nulsen held workshops for parents, to explain the handover process, and they
had opportunities to talk with staff at the various houses.
“When the handover occurred between the Commission and Nulsen, our service provider, it
was a very smooth process, there were no hiccups, no dramas at all.”
Nulsen Service Development Manager Jen Crabtree, who was involved in the project from the
start, said the Commission was facilitating the whole process well by giving families choice and
options.
“When these families completed the transition, they realised their family members actually have
new opportunities in their lives – they’ve got a fresh perspective on community involvement and
socialisation, they’re forging new friendships and taking a more active part in activities in their
homes,” Ms Crabtree said.
For more information contact transition@dsc.wa.gov.au or 9426 9333.
Top gun volunteer tackles Variety bash
A young man’s passion for volunteering has led him to tackle the terrain in WA’s Mid West and
Pilbara as a member of a ‘Top Gun’ team in this year’s Variety ‘Port to Port’ Bash car rally.
Peter Rossen, 20, who has an intellectual disability, and Dan Kierath, Adam Alexander and
Fiona Wood (Variety Patron and Australian of the Year) are Team 68, who will complete the
rally as the Top Gun crew in a 1963 EH Holden.
The 2015 Bash is being held 8 to 15 August, from Port Denison to Dampier, and raises funds
for the children’s charity Variety. Bash teams will camp, visit local communities, schools and
hospitals, and raise money along the way.
Mr Rossen has special links with his team mates.
“Dan Kierath is my paddle mate. He has rowed across the Pacific Ocean,” Mr Rossen said.
“Fiona Wood is Dan’s mum. She is a doctor,” he said.
“My mate Adam Alexander is an architect. He is my rowing coach and a New Zealand rower.”
He said he was excited about the trip and enjoyed volunteering and raising money for charity:
“Helping other people makes me feel good and it is fun.”
In the lead-up to the Bash, the team has been holding events to fundraise. To support Team 68
visit https://2015vwabash.everydayhero.com/au/car68 .
Mr Rossen’s history of volunteering includes work for the Red Cross, Children In Need In India
and ongoing commitments at North Cottesloe Surf Club. In 2012 he won a National Youth
Volunteer of the Year award for his work at the surf club.
He also recently completed his Duke of Edinburgh Award, where he kayaked the Blackwood
River and Walpole Inlet and also camped and fished.
An enthusiasm for sport is evident in his choice of work and recreation: he works at the Royal
Lifesaving Society, swims at West Coast Swim Club and rows a single scull at the Swan River
Rowing Club in Mount Pleasant.
Mr Rossen’s mother, Sally Rossen, said their Local Area Coordinator, Ann Cleary, had been
very adept and knowledgeable about how to tailor supports to meet his and his family’s
individual needs.
“She has been a valuable long-term support in helping Peter follow his interests and achieve in
the community,” said Mrs Rossen.
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Usher syndrome no barrier for hikers
Hiking the Bibbulmun track is a tough endeavour – even for the superbly fit – but imagine
walking the trail and then camping out at night as a hiker with hearing and vision loss.
Yet, in what is understood to be a world first, three people with Usher syndrome – a condition
that affects sight and hearing – are walking the entire 1,000km section by section.
In August 2014, the three ‘Defying Adversity’ trekkers, Greg Locock, 37, and brothers George
and Eddie Szczepanik, 54 and 50, successfully hiked from Ballingup to Donnelly River.
A few weeks later, they tried hiking from Pemberton to Northcliffe but one of the sighted guides
became ill, so the walk was abandoned.
Not to be discouraged, in April this year the trio walked from Kalamunda to Sullivan Rock, a
106km trek which took them five days.
Disability Services Minister Helen Morton and Opposition Spokesperson for Disability Services
Stephen Dawson, along with a large group of supporters, farewelled the trekkers from
Kalamunda on 30 April.
Carrying their own packs, the trekkers used hiking poles to help them navigate obstacles. They
were also accompanied by five sighted guides.
Funds raised from the event will go to the Usher Syndrome Support Group run by Senses
Australia.
Usher syndrome is a genetic disorder which results in hearing and vision loss. There is no cure
for the condition.
The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world's great long-distance walk trails, stretching from
Kalamunda to Albany.
WAAPA helps multi-instrumentalist hit all the right notes
Asperger’s syndrome may have made the early years challenging for James Maley, but music is
helping him hit all the right notes in his adult life.
Mr Maley, 21, has developed his love of music over his lifetime and now plays a vast array of
instruments, including the cello, bass, piano and ukulele.
Last year he graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) with
a Bachelor of Music (majoring in Performance).
He now plays with the Fremantle Symphony Orchestra and an original five-piece jazz group
called the Newhouse Collective, teaches cello and works at a Joondalup restaurant.
Disability Services Commission Local Area Coordinator Gail Dodd, who works with Mr Maley,
said his achievements are a wonderful example for parents who are experiencing challenges
with supporting their children.
“This is a story of dedication from parents and a young man fulfilling his goals and passions,”
Ms Dodd said.
Mr Maley said he had difficulties when he was young.
“My nerves were short and I would snap out at people and I’ve had to just fix all that,” he said.
“When I was in primary school I found it difficult to cope, I had a lot of issues back then. My
parents tried a lot of things to help me, but ultimately it was the changes that I had to make for
myself that were most beneficial.”
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Mr Maley started playing the cello at the age of nine: “The cello seemed to be a good fit, and I’m
still playing it to this day,” he said.
After high school he pursued his passion for music and began a Bachelor of Music at WAAPA,
majoring in Composition before switching to Performance.
“I knew I was good at music, it was the one thing I could foresee,” he said.
WAAPA turned out to be the perfect environment for him – he was surrounded by other
musicians, who had a genuine respect for music.
“I’ve had the opportunity to meet wonderful musicians who have revolutionised the way I think
about different aspects of music, right down to the molecular level, and helped me to mature as
a cellist,” he said.
“I know that no matter how sagacious I become, I will remain forever a humble student.”
Ms Dodd said the plan she and Mr Maley had developed for the coming year included his goal
to increase his networks for performing and to do what he loves.
“James performed at the City of Stirling Disability Awareness Week Employer Breakfast in
December 2014 to promote and showcase the abilities of people with disability. His
performance was very well received – hopefully this will open up other opportunities,” she said.
4WD chair creates one happy camper
Matt Rogers had just finished his final TAFE exam when he had a motorcycle accident that
changed his life.
On the morning of Friday, September 21, 1990, he had completed his last written assessment
to become an aircraft engineer.
By that afternoon he was fighting for his life – and soon after he learned he would never walk
again.
Through the challenges over the last 25 years he’s dreamt of rekindling one of his favourite
pastimes – camping in the Australian bush, unaided.
Now, with assistance from the Dreamfit Foundation (now part of the Ability Centre), Mr Rogers
has the chance to realise this dream.
Dreamfit, grants funding, sponsorship and volunteer Chris McDonnell have combined to provide
Mr Rogers with a custom-designed wheelchair that will allow him to hunt, fish, camp and
accompany his wife Kym on walks along the beach and through the bush.
The four-wheel drive chair, complete with a reclining seat, fishing rod and rifle holders, and a
small trailer, big enough for a large esky, means Mr Rogers will finally be able to return to the
activities he adores.
“I love fishing, I love going out hunting… our family has a farm in Augusta but, in the past, I’ve
been stuck on the concrete,” Mr Rogers said.
“This will free me up to do what I want. It will open up so many opportunities for me.”
Mr Rogers’ wife kite surfs and the four-wheel drive chair means the couple will be able to spend
time together on the beach.
“In the past, I would have to wait in the car,” he said.
Mr Rogers took an old motorised wheelchair to Dreamfit together with a wish list of extras.
“It was a dream of mine to do this myself but I did not have the finances or the tools,” he said.
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Dreamfit Chief Engineer Darren Lomman said Mr McDonnell spent at least 500 hours on
remodelling the wheelchair.
Mr Lomman is a Count Me In Ambassador who promotes messages of inclusion and access for
people with disability into key areas including work and leisure.
Mr Rogers said he was very thankful for the support received from all parties.
Consultancy team offers sector quality training
The Disability Services Commission has established a team of allied health professionals that
will deliver training and support to disability sector organisations and the wider community.
The Metropolitan Consultancy Team’s overall focus will be to further strengthen Western
Australia’s already very capable disability services sector with a focus on a healthy, safe and
better future for people with disability.
Team Leader Calina Montebello said this would be achieved by delivering targeted, specialised,
high-quality training and support to disability sector professionals and practitioners.
“We hope to support them in the continued use of contemporary practices when providing
services for people with disability,” Ms Montebello said.
The team is also available to work with organisations that support individuals and groups.
“This can be done through on-site individual consultation, workshops, presentations or phone,
email and video contact,” Ms Montebello said.
The 10-member team is part of the Commission’s State-wide Consultancy branch and has
expertise in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, family systems therapy and
psychology.
To access services or make enquiries, contact 6104 9524 or metroconsultancy@dsc.wa.gov.au
.
Albany workshop meets communication challenges
Disability support workers had the opportunity to improve their skills in understanding the needs
of people with challenging behaviours at a workshop in Albany in April.
At the More Than Talking workshop, Community Living Association, My Place and Uniting Care
West staff focused on identifying and addressing the unmet needs of a person with challenging
behaviour, rather than focusing on the behaviour itself.
They also considered how to create and maintain a supportive communication environment to
meet the ongoing communication needs of people who may sometimes engage in challenging
behaviour.
The Disability Services Commission’s Sector Service Development Branch held the three-day
workshop in response to requests as part of the Sector and Workforce Development South
West Expansion Project.
Senior Behaviour Support Consultant Debbie Lobb, who facilitated the workshop with
colleagues Craig McIver and Lisa Edenburg, said participants learned to better understand what
people were communicating when they might engage in behaviour that challenges us.
“One of the organisations said that staff who were at the training were now more willing and
better able to identify and address the unmet needs of the person they support,” Ms Lobb said.
“With changes to staff and cultural practices in that organisation, as well as regular staff
meetings and brainstorming sessions on how to support that person’s needs, the challenging
behaviour is occurring less frequently now.”
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For more about the More Than Talking workshops, contact 9301 3838 or
denise.wettermann@dsc.wa.gov.au.
Commission marks NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC Week celebrations from 6–10 July saw the Disability Services Commission focus on
this year’s theme “We All Stand on Sacred Ground” and draw staff into development of its third
Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Aboriginal cultural walks in Kings Park, a pop-up gallery of staff members’ Aboriginal art and a
filmed conversation by Aboriginal Count Me In Ambassadors Kim Collard and Narelda Jacobs
were some of the ways the Commission honoured Aboriginal culture and heritage during
NAIDOC Week this year.
Commission Director General Ron Chalmers said it was important that understanding and
respect for Aboriginal people and their culture was raised, to ensure Aboriginal staff and people
with disability received the support and services they needed.
It is expected the Commission’s 2015–2017 RAP will be finalised later this year. To see the
previous RAP, visit www.disability.wa.gov.au > About us > Corporate publications >Corporate
documents.
Disability justice centre opens
The State’s first declared place, the Bennett Brook Disability Justice Centre, has opened in
Caversham to accommodate people with an intellectual or cognitive disability or autism who
have been accused but not convicted of a crime.
Disability Services Minister Helen Morton opened the centre which has the capacity for up to 10
people and provides the Mentally Impaired Accused Review Board with the option of placing
people in a ‘declared place’, as an alternative to prison or community release.
The centre has been developed and will be managed by the Disability Services Commission,
under the Declared Places (Mentally Impaired Accused) Act 2015.
The Commission’s Executive Director Services, Jon Peach, said the opening of the centre
marked the start of a new era in support for people with disability in the justice system.
“The new disability justice centre will provide the opportunity for some of our most vulnerable
people to be supported in a safe and secure environment,” Mr Peach said.
“This will enable them to build their skills and support them to return to community life, rather
than being held in a prison environment where the supports available may be limited.”
The Commission’s Disability Justice Service also offers a prison in-reach service.
Australian Disability Enterprises work contracts hit $20 million
The value of signed work contracts between 27 State Government agencies and registered
Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) has now surpassed the $20 million.
The contracts provide supported employment opportunities to more than 2,100 people with
disability.
The milestone follows the awarding of a $1.4 million contract to Intework in May to clean the
Joondalup Police Academy.
Since 2010 government agencies have been able to engage ADEs directly, without undertaking
a tendering process, provided the service or product being offered represents value for money.
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Contracts range from ground maintenance services for the Department of Parks and Wildlife to
the testing of extinguishers for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
Award recognises social worker
A senior social worker at WA Health’s Neurosciences Unit has been awarded 2015 WA Social
Worker of the Year.
Fran McGrath received the award at the sixth annual awards held to recognise the contribution
of West Australian social workers.
Ms McGrath also won the Head, Heart and Hands Award, which recognised her lifetime
achievements as an outstanding social worker, particularly in her work with people with
Huntington’s Disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
For more visit www.wasocialworkeroftheyearawards.com.au or email
info@wasocialworkeroftheyearawards.com.au .
Classical music scores well in study
An innovative doctoral research project conducted at Curtin University has shown classical
music can help reduce stress and harmful behaviour in children with severe autism.
Clinical Psychologist Jeremy Marriott carried out research on a morning school bus run, taking
saliva samples throughout the journey to monitor stress hormones.
In a randomised controlled trial, 30 children with autism were tested on a bus simulator built at
the university, then the research moved to a real school bus trip.
Mr Marriott played a recording of the second movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 8 Op.
13 on the bus.
Video footage of the bus journey showed a lessening of harmful behaviour which resulted from
playing the music – children who had displayed harmful behaviours such as head banging,
became still, focused and relaxed.
“This research is giving us quantifiable measures to say classical music has positive biological
and behavioural effects on children with severe autism,” Mr Marriott said.
For more information, phone Susanna Wolz on 9266 9085 or email
susanna.wolz@curtin.edu.au .
Director General’s column
Spreading the word in the digital age
As you would all be aware, the pace of reform and change in our sector is absolutely
unprecedented.
Making sure we are as well-connected to the community as possible is always a challenge, but
in times like this it’s all the more important.
We’ve done a lot of thinking about how we stay in touch with West Australians with disability,
their families, friends and supporting organisations, and have decided to update the way we
keep in contact.
Over the next couple of months, the Disability Services Commission will be moving to mostly
website-based communications.
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We are revamping the Commission’s website and looking at new, more focused content for the
‘Individuals, families and carers’, ‘Disability service providers’ and ‘Business and government’
pages.
The existing ‘WA NDIS My Way’ page will, of course, remain as well.
Our goal is to make changes that will give us a more responsive way to let people know what’s
happening in the sector, in real time.
We will regularly distribute electronic newsletters that link to the Commission’s website, and
share news from key people across the Commission, including the Board Chair.
The Commission’s use of Twitter will be broadened to give followers quick updates about what’s
happening across the sector, including current events and commentary about key activities
involving the Commission.
The WA NDIS My Way sites in the Lower South West and the Cockburn–Kwinana area will
have also a dedicated Twitter account so that participants can be updated about events and
activities of specific interest to them.
This move to an electronic focus for communications means that disAbility Update will also
become a digital publication.
However, this doesn’t mean people who want a paper copy of news about our sector need to
miss out.
Printable versions in Word and PDF will be available on the Commission’s website under the
Corporate Publications page.
If you would like to receive the new disAbility Update newsletter, please let us know your details
by using one of the following methods:
•
emailing communications@dsc.wa.gov.au
•
visiting the Commission’s website
•
writing to The Editor, disAbility Update, Disability Services Commission, PO Box 441,
West Perth WA 6872.
I encourage everyone to make sure we have your up-to-date information to make sure we can
stay in touch through this exciting period.
Ron Chalmers
Director General
Disability Services Commission
Young footy players wanted
The Gosnells Junior Football Club is seeking footy players aged five to 17 years living between
the Cannington and Armadale area to join its Footy Champs program.
The program caters for children with any type of disability who have not been able to join
mainstream teams.
The program is held every Wednesday for an hour from 5pm.
For more information, phone Gosnells Hawks Registrar Natalie Denning on 0456 638 316 or
email ndennng@skymesh.com.au .
Dates for your diary
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MS Readathon – one month challenge, 1–31 August, www.msreadathon.org.au
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Brain Injury Awareness Week (Bang on a Beanie campaign), 16–23 August,
www.headwest.asn.au
Hearing Awareness Week, 23–29 August, www.hearingawarenessweek.org.au
Superhero Day supporting Muscular Dystrophy research, 1–6 September,
www.superherodaymd.com
International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day, 9 September,
www.fasday.com
Polio Awareness Month, 1–31 October, www.polioaustralia.org.au
World Cerebral Palsy Day, 1 October, http://en.worldcpday.org
World Sight Day, 8 October, www.iapb.org
Carers Week. 11–17 October, http://carersaustralia.com.au
National Week of Deaf People, 18–24 October, http://deafaustralia.org.au
Spinal Injury Awareness Week, 8–14 November, http://rebuildinglives.com.au
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