Above: City of Greater Dandenong disabilities planner Chris Stewart and Dandenong resident Chris Daley at the Disability Resources Centre forum.By Sarah Schwager
DANDENONG’S new advocacy service for people with disabilities was officially launched at a forum on Monday.
The Disability Resources Centre (DRC), which has been operating in Dandenong for the past eight months, aims to be a means of support for people across Greater Dandenong and surrounding areas.
The Narre Warren forum addressed the growing need for change in the southeast, in terms of services and support for disabilities.
Equal Opportunity Commission community consultant in disability, Michael Uniacke, who launched the service, said the DRC’s new centre was more than just a means for people with disabilities in the region to be informed of their rights.
“This new advocacy centre also sends a timely message to the community at large that people with disabilities are taking steps to ensure that they can be seen as being part of the community,” Mr Uniacke said.
DRC chairperson Graham Smith said the new advocacy service would be the contact point for people with disabilities.
“People with disabilities in this area do not have access to a voice so they can express their views about changes happening in their local government, state government, and nationally,” Mr Smith said.
“We all want to be an effective part of the community but people with disabilities have different needs in order to be able to contribute.”
Mr Smith said the first phase of the Dandenong service was for DRC advocate Katrina Newman to assist individuals with problems that arise.
The forum also highlighted the need for a selfadvocacy training program, currently being developed by Dr George Taleporas, a project worker with DRC for the past six months.
“I am very passionate about advocacy and in particular local government and the potential of local government to improve the rights of people with disabilities,” he said.
Dr Taleporas, who has a PhD in psychology, said the aim of the program was to help people with disabilities develop their skills and knowledge for themselves.
Mr Smith hoped to raise the skills of the people in the area to resolve common problems through the selfadvocacy training program and community development,
“If people with disabilities work together it helps increase the knowledge and ability to tackle discrimination and ongoing needs they have,” Mr Smith said.
DRC’s selfadvocacy training program for people with disabilities will run from noon to 4pm on 17, 24 and 31 October at a venue in Dandenong.
Topics include human rights legislation, persuasive communication, running effective advocacy campaigns and negotiation skills.
For more information about the program, or to contact the Dandenong DRC, call Katrina Newman on 8792 2218.
