An Effective Aid Program for Australia: Making a real difference—delivering real results

ADDC are exceptionally pleased with the recognition disability has received and will continue to work with Government, development agencies and partners  monitor the roll out of plans and outcomes.

 ADDC congratulates the Review Panel  for the consultative process undertaken to ensure multi dimensional input into the review, and  congratulates  the Australian   Government’s for its response to recommenadtions. “This is the first time that enhancing the lives of people with disabilities has been incorporated within the core development objectives of the aid portfolio.”

Please find the Hon. Kevin Rudd’s media release from the launch of the Independant Review of Aid Effectiveness:K Rudd Speech- Aid Effectiveness Report Media Release. July 6 2011

Effectiveness

The Independent Review of Aid Effectiveness reports available at the following link: http://www.aidreview.gov.au/report/index.html

Organisations are responding to the release of the much awaited  World Disability Report in different ways.

Follow this link to see how:Responses to World Report on Disability Globally

The first ever World report on disability, produced jointly by WHO and the World Bank, suggests that more than a billion people in the world today experience disability.
People with disabilities have generally poorer health, lower education achievements, fewer economic opportunities and higher rates of poverty than people without disabilities. This is largely due to the lack of services available to them and the many obstacles they face in their everyday lives.

The report provides the best available evidence about what works to overcome barriers to health care, rehabilitation, education, employment, and support services, and to create the environments which will enable people with disabilities to flourish. The report ends with a concrete set of recommended actions for governments and their partners.
This pioneering World report on disability will make a significant contribution to implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. At the intersection of public health, human rights and development, the report is set to become a “must have” resource for policy-makers, service providers, professionals, and advocates for people with disabilities and their families

Link to World Disability Report:www.who.int/disabilities/world_report

Link to ADDC Media Release:10062011- ADDC MEDIA RELEASE World Disability Report launch

Source: Bill Shorten MP

Joint Press Release

Kevin Rudd – Prime Minister, Jenny Macklin – Minister for Community Services

Kevin Rudd - PM

The Productivity Commission will investigate new approaches for funding and delivering long-term disability care and support.

Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, announced the inquiry at the National Disability Awards ceremony in Parliament House.

The inquiry forms part of the Australian Government’s ten year National Disability Strategy being developed with State and Territory Governments and the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council.

Jenny Macklin - Minister for Community Services

The Productivity Commission inquiry will examine the costs and benefits of replacing the current system of disability services with a new approach which provides long-term essential care and support for people with severe or profound disabilities however acquired.

The inquiry will examine a range of options for long-term care and support including consideration of whether a no-fault social insurance approach to disability is appropriate in Australia. It will also examine if a scheme would fit with Australia’s health, aged care, income support and injury insurance systems.

These are complex issues that require rigorous analysis, design and costing. The feasibility study will assess whether a long-tem care and support scheme would be appropriate, practical and economically responsible in the Australian context.

The Productivity Commission will consult widely and will be assisted by an associate commissioner with specialist disability expertise. An independent panel of experts will also be established to advise the Productivity Commission and Government during the Inquiry. The Australian Government will appoint the associate commissioner and the independent panel of experts shortly.

The Productivity Commission will report to Government in July 2011.

More Information>

20% of the world’s poorest have a disability

Chak from Cambodia. His story is featured in the ADDC Photographic Exhibition

ACT Senator Gary Humphries will launch the ADDC and the exhibition. Other key speakers at the launch will include The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Mr Abdus Sattar Dulal, Executive Director of a leading Bangladesh disability NGO.

ADDC Coordinator, Paul Deany states, “Persons with disabilities are among the poorest of the poor. Their numbers are increasing due to conflict, malnutrition, natural disasters, disease and, above all, poverty.

Much more needs to be done to ensure disability is integrated into development policies and programs.

The Australian Disability and Development Consortium therefore aims to bring together the disability and development sectors in our region to focus attention and resources on disability in the developing world.”

Download ADDC Launch Press Release