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Past News & Events
Media Releases
Media Release: Productivity Commission ignores women with disabilities again 11/08/11 (PDF, 228KB) | Word, 421KB
Media Release: Women with disabilities fall through the cracks 28/07/11 (PDF, 367KB) | Word, 127KB
Media Release: Women with disabilities more vulnerable to violence 11/10/10 (PDF)
The WDVchannel: Women with Disabilities Victoria now on YouTube
We are very excited that we can now share videos with our members and the community, through this portal, and also being able to further awareness of the issues affecting women with disabilities with a broader, national and worldwide audience.
Our first uploaded video, ‘Staying healthy, staying safe: issues for women with disabilities’ (10:02 mins), takes a look at our key priority area of ‘Health’. Women with Disabilities Victoria member and advocate, Jane Hauser, interviews Executive Director, Keran Howe, about some of the issues affecting women with disabilities when it comes to accessing health promotion and health services.
Women with Disabilities Victoria now on Facebook!
Women with Disabilities Victoria is now on Facebook! Look us up and “like” our page to get connected to our top news, upcoming events, polls, photos and more. We hope to see you on there!
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor, The Age
Saturday 29th January 2011
Few of us would not have experienced humiliation, shame and powerlessness
at some stage in our lives. For some people this occurs with a
terrible regularity along with physical and sexual abuse. The effects of
such abuse on a person's self esteem, and mental and physical health are
extreme. For many people with disabilities there is no escape from the
abuse of power over them by partners, family and paid carers even when
violence is reported to police. These findings of a report to the public
advocate released confirm research by Women with Disabilities Victoria that whilst women with disabilities are far more likely to experience violence than other women we are far less likely to receive support
services when we seek them. Women with Disabilities Victoria welcomes the
response of the Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge for a
reference to the Law Reform Committee to undertake an inquiry into
how people with a disability can get better access to justice and improve
their interactions with the justice system. It is time that the government
acted to address this appalling and unjust state of affairs.
Keran Howe
Executive Director
Wendy Brooks and Tricia Malowney
Co-chairs
Women with Disabilities Victoria
Damning report on abuse
Nick McKenzie, The Age, 28/01/11
THE investigation and prevention of the alleged rape and abuse of disabled or mentally ill Victorians in state-run and private care is woefully inadequate, according to Victoria's Public Advocate.
Click here to read the full article
'Claiming Our Future' - History of WDV launched at Government House
On November 22nd over 100 people attended a reception at Government House where Mrs Jan de Kretser, wife of the Victorian Governor, launched our history, Women with Disabilities Victoria’s, Claiming our Future. There is a PDF version of the book available on this page or If you would like a hard copy please contact Sarah on 9664 9317 or at sarah.boyd@wdv.org.au.
The new Victorian Government
A Message from the Executive Director, Keran Howe
In the lead up to the state election on November 27th, Women with Disabilities Victoria advocated strongly to all major parties for the recognition of women with disabilities who experience violence and better health responses for women with disabilities. This advocacy included a letter to Ted Baillieu then leader of the opposition seeking clarification of the Liberal response to Women with Disabilities Victoria’s election statement. The election statement can be accessed on this page. Following the outcome of the election, Women with Disabilities Victoria will seek a meeting with the new Ministers responsible to highlight the Women with Disabilities Victoria agenda in the interests of women with disabilities around Victoria.
Women with Disabilities Victoria Walk Against Violence
Members and friends of Women with Disabilities Victoria joined together on Thursday November 25 for White Ribbon Day Activities. We met at AAMI Stadium and heard Mary Crooks (Executive Director, Victoria Women’s Trust) speak about the systemic nature of violence against women in our culture. We had a visible presence as an organisation as we waved hand flags which read “Respect” and “Women with Disabilities Victoria.” We then set off for the Walk Against Violence which culminated at Federation Square where the Not 1 More event was beginning. At Fed Square we met many friends from the community and the community sector, and attracted interest in membership of Women with Disabilities Victoria!
Annie McDonald’s contribution to people with disabilities in Victoria
We at Women with Disabilities Victoria were saddened to hear of the death of disability activist, Annie McDonald, suddenly at the age of 49. We acknowledge the great contribution that Annie made on behalf of people with disabilities in Victoria. Annie lived a full and creative life after winning a Supreme court action that allowed her to be released from St Nicholas hospital in 1979. Her fight represents the fight of all people with disability to be able to participate fully in life and to be able to live with dignity and respect.
Read the tribute to Annie McDonald in The Age ‘Annie has gone but her legacy and fighting spirit live on’ (Jo Chandler, 30/10/10)
Welcome to New WDV Board Directors
Women with Disabilities Victoria recently held its Annual General Meeting for 2010 on the November 22nd. We would like to thanks all those who attended and shared in celebrating the organisations achievements over the past 12 months.
We also wish to thank and acknowledge our Board of Directors for their ongoing service and contributions – and enthusiastically welcome our four new Directors: Kumari Middleton, Fiona Sanders, Daniela Fallanca and Paua Hobley. We look forward to your involvement into the future.
Annual General Meeting
22nd November 2010, Level 8 / 255 Bourke St Melbourne
Women with Disabilities Victoria invites you to their Annual General Meeting for 2010.
If you would like to attend, or for further information, please contact Sarah on 9664 9317 or by email at sarah.boyd@wdv.org.au.
Please RSVP by Monday 15th of November.
Election Statement
A Message from the Executive Director, Keran Howe
In the lead up to the state election on November 27, Women with Disabilities Victoria has developed an election statement to distribute to all major political parties. The election statement can be accessed on our website at www.wdv.org.au or if you would like hard copies to distribute please contact Sarah Boyd at wdv@wdv.org.au.
Women with Disabilities Victoria for the Walk Against Family Violence 2010
Thursday 25th November 2010
Did you know 1 in 3 women will experience violence throughout their life?
Each year, as part of the White Ribbon campaign, there is a walk to raise awareness of family violence. Last year the walk had over 250 participants. This year is looking like it will be even bigger. Father Bob Maguire and the Melbourne Storm will be there. This event is being organised by many agencies working in the area of preventing and eliminating family violence. Women with Disabilities Victoria will be joining the walk. We invite all members and friends to join us. We want to have a large presence as we show our support to end violence against women and children.
Details:
We will meet at 10am (the walk begins at 10:30)
Outside AAMI Park, Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne
Melways Reference: 2G D9 (near a superstop)
Then walk along the Yarra path to Federation Square.
At Federation Square we will join the Not-1-More White Ribbon event.
Wear a white ribbon.
Register for the walk at: walkagainstfamilyviolence@gmail.com
I Vote for Choice
Women with Disabilities Victoria, together with a number of Victorian women’s health services, has developed an innovative way of supporting pro-choice Members of Parliament (MPs). The I Vote For Choice website allows users to send a message of support or disappointment to their local MPs, depending on how they voted on abortion law reform in 2008.
The I Vote For Choice website also features information about abortion in Victoria, community attitudes, and links to information about service providers.
This important initiative is one way we can let our pro-choice MPs know that they have our support.
We encourage you to sign up for updates, go to the ‘take action’ page to send an email to your local MP, and also share the site with your networks. You can also become a fan of the site on Facebook – another great way to spread the word to friends and family.
It’s your opportunity to let your MPs know that you value the right to choose and support MPs that support choice!”
Call to Action!
During Anti-Poverty Week and in the lead up to the State Elections, Women with Disabilities Victoria is urging all Victorians to write to their local Member of Parliament to take action on the key issues of affecting women with disabilities.
More than 20 percent of Victorian women are living with a disability. That is one in five women. It is time to remove the barriers in our community that lead to the discrimination and social exclusion of women with disabilities.
It has been demonstrated extensively that people with disabilities experience significant discrimination in relation to employment, housing, education, transport and income.
The critical issues we believe the government should take action on immediately include addressing violence against women, promoting access to better health services and ensuring adequate and appropriate support for women with disabilities as parents.
Help Women with Disabilities Victoria achieve its vision for a world where all women are respected and can fully experience life. Take action today.
Come and celebrate our new name - Women with Disabilities Victoria!
Thursday 19th August, 3pm, Level 8 / 255 Bourke St, Melbourne
After 15 years as Victorian Women with Disabilities Network the Board and Staff of Victorian Women with Disabilities Network invite you to say farewell to the old and hello to the new.
Come and share a delicious afternoon tea with us and enjoy the unveiling of our new banner of Women with Disabilities Victoria.
Please RSVP to sarah.boyd@vwdn.org.au by Tuesday 17th August.
After 15 years of operation the members of Victorian Women with Disabilities Network have voted to change the name of the Network to Women with Disabilities Victoria. On 19th August Women with Disabilities Victoria went ‘live’ with the new name – as you can see we have changed our website, we have contacted all our members and partners and held a lovely afternoon tea to sing ‘happy birthday’ to our new entity and to celebrate our decision. We would particularly like to thank Andrew, Lucy, Michael and their team at AJF Partnership for so generously donating their creativity to our new name and logo. We hope you like it - let us know what you think.
VWDN have Moved Offices
The Victorian Women with Disabilities Network moved offices on Monday 19th April. Along with our partners Women's Health Victoria, we are now located at:
Level 8, 255 Bourke Street Melbourne
Please note that all our other contact details (postal address, telephone, fax and email) are still the same.
Congratulations Keran!
On the 4th of March, alongside 19 other inspirational women from the state, our very own VWDN Executive Officer, Keran Howe, was formally inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women 2010. Keran was recognized for her efforts and commitment to promoting the human rights of women with disabilities. We interviewed Keran about her induction for the VWDN Newsletter...
Past Events (Links & Resources)
DisabiliTEA - NDIS Morning Tea
Melbourne Museum, 2 August 2011
At 10am, on Tuesday August 2, around 90 people (and 2 dogs) came together for a morning tea at the Treetops Room at The Melbourne Museum. The event, hosted by Women with Disabilities Victoria in partnership with Women’s Health Victoria and Domestic Violence Victoria, was one of 900+ ‘Disabili-TEA’s’ being held across Australia, to raise awareness and support for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
There was a great atmosphere as attendees listened to the various organisations and politicians speak about the importance of the proposed scheme and the need to understand the particular issues faced by women with disabilities. There was also a moving performance by musician and activist Heidi Everett, including a song she wrote just for the occasion.
Photos from the day can be viewed on our Flickr photo stream
Statements and letters from politicians are available below:
Message from Hon Bill Shorten MP
Message from Hon Jenny Macklin MP
Message from Hon Keven Andrews MP
Message from Darren Chester MP
To find out more about the campaign for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (and to find out how you can show your support!) go to Every Australian Counts
Link to ‘Pass it Around’ by Hiedi Everett (includes lyrics): http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_9634658
The Every Australian Counts video played at the morning tea is available to view on You Tube: 'Enjoy Your DisabiliTea' (3:22 mins)
'Claiming Our Future' History of WDV Book Launch
Government House, 22 November 2010
On November 22nd over 100 people attended a reception at Government House where Mrs Jan de Kretser, wife of the Victorian Governor, launched our history publication, Women with Disabilities Victoria’s: Claiming our Future.
There is a PDF version of the book available on the publications page of this website or if you would like a hard copy please contact Sarah on 9664 9317 or at sarah.boyd@wdv.org.au.
Young Women's Health Forum
19 June 2010
Working with Women with Disabilities Experiencing Violence Forum
Northcote Town Hall, 21 July 2009
The joint forum on working with women with disabilities experiencing violence was a great success. 130 workers, including women with disabilities from the family violence, community health, justice and disability sectors attended.
Forum - Final Evaluation:
FV Disability Forum July 09 - Final Evaluation (Word 2.5MB, 46 pages)
Professor Gill Hague: