Welcome to the December 2019 Auckland regional news page of NZDSN.

2019 felt for many of us as a big year according to some conversations I had recently with some of our members. Organisations and their staff, families and disabled persons are feeling the stretch of years of underfunding, and the rising demands on the sector. So it feels to me it’s more important than ever, that we hear from you, our NZDSN members how best we can support you and what else needs to be put in place to keep our sector sustainable.

At our recent Auckland regional networking meeting I handed out some feedback forms but not many were handed back in. So in this newsletter I encourage you once more to let me know by email or by scheduling a meeting with me in person in the new year, what would support you most in the coming year.

In this last newsletter of the year I would like to look back on what we have worked on in 2019. And I will close this writing with sharing my aspirations for the new year.

Networking meetings 2019

This year in Auckland as usual, we organised 4 NZDSN regional networking meetings. Thanks to Auckland University and through the commitment of our sponsors Jason Zhou and Missy Morton, we have been able to use rooms at the premises of the Tamaki campus and more recently the Epsom Campus. The Epsom Campus has confirmed we can use their room for the coming year as well. Which is very much appreciated!

In the past year we had presentations from Be Employed, Wilson Home TrustThe Cookie Project, Project Employ, Explore, Necta Minas NSW Trustee and Guardian, Sydney, Nicola Irvine, Positive Pathways Auckland Business Chamber of Commerce, a reflective practice around unconscious Bias, Thomas Hinz, Strengthening Families, I- lead. We very much appreciate that we always have representatives from Te Pou attending our meetings, to give an update on the latest around their grants and the Mahi Rawe project.

Please save the dates below for our planned NZDSN Auckland regional networking meetings in 2020:

18 February, 9 June, 24 September combined with the NZDSN AGM (Sudima), 26 November

Disability providers, schools and parents’ collaboration initiative.

Since we started with this initiative in 2017, we have had separate meetings with each of the 3 stakeholders’ groups in the regions: South and West/ Central Auckland and in the past year we started in the North Shore area. South Auckland has now had 2 annual meetings since we started. At the annual meeting we invite all 3 stakeholders in the room. And this year we had our first annual meeting in West Auckland. This year we let parents, schools, and providers share their dreams together on a mood board. This is to provide a relaxed space where more organic conversation could occur.

The whole purpose of all these meetings is to provide an opportunity to co- create collaboration in a conversation space, resulting in cohesiveness between schools and providers and a less fragmented experience for those within the disability community who are looking for professional support. 

Simply said, an opportunity to network between and learn about other regional providers whilst thinking about ways to improve the challenging situations that families with disabled family members are facing on a daily base.

If you want to know more about these Auckland Collaboration Initiatives, please email to mailto:admin@disabilityconnect.org.nz

Small /Boutique providers network

The ‘small’ or should we say the ‘Boutique ‘providers network has gone from strength to strength this year. The opportunity to share issues with peers who are facing the same challenging day to day practice, has resulted in quite a few significant collaboration initiatives. The network invited organisations like Employ Sure, Platform Plus, Community Connections and Explore to discuss their specific issues and establish constructive relationships with these organisations.

It’s been very exciting that the network managed to arrange 2 collective training opportunities around the Explore, BILD Positive Behaviour Support programme and the Kia Noho Rangatira Ai Tatou training both totally funded by Te Pou!! Liz Wilson from

Explore has worked very hard with the network to get the Collective BILD training on its way. And we owe her a BIG THANK YOU!

This year the group has created their own ‘Small Providers’ Facebook group where they share resources, requests around specific issues and sector news relevant for small providers!

Currently the network is preparing for a meeting with Adri Isbister Deputy Director-General Disability on the 5th of February aiming to improve communication with MOH and take this opportunity to put forward some pragmatic solutions towards some long standing issues due to current MOH policies and regulations.

For 2020 they have some exciting new peer support projects lined up!

If you are a manager of a small provider organisation and not yet part of this network, please get in touch. You will be warmly welcomed by a group of generous collaborative minds with a wealth of expertise and very pragmatic attitude in a provided safe space!

Just email Mireille Vreeburg and you will receive an invite for the next upcoming small providers meeting on the 5th of February,

Yes Disability North Shore providers network.

Also this year Yes Disability organised their informal providers network in Albany, North Shore. If you want to know more about this network please contact Rachel Peterson, Community relationship manager via email RachelP@yesdisability.org.nz

Show your support#AccessLaw2020 #AccessMattersNZ

The Access Alliance is still working hard to move forward with the Accessibility Legislation in place before the upcoming Election in 2020. So now is the time to actively engage with your local MP’s and get their confirmation that they will support and advocate for the ACCESS LAW 2020.

The Access Alliance is providing a social media toolkit that will help you to share and distribute the Access Alliance information via your social media. They also provide very clear guidelines on how to engage with your local MP’s. NZDSN has also recently sent out their guidelines to engage with your local MP’s. With Election year coming up now is the time to get in action!

Below are the Access Alliance resources.

1. The Access Matters Briefing Note - download background and key messages of the campaign

2. Making the Most of your MP visit - download tips and tricks for a successful meeting3. The #AccessLaw2020 Social Media Toolkit - download draft social media posts and

images for you to share. Download Word Document or Download   Accessible Format

We have invited Dianne Rogers to our next networking meeting to give an update on the law and explain more precisely what you and your organization can do to support the Access alliance movement.

Disability Advisory panel (DAP)

The Disability Advisory panel is currently recruiting for new roles please check out application procedure here

The goal of these consultation meetings is “To hear from the voices that are never heard”. Please keep an eye out for future opportunities to engage with the DAP from Auckland council.

You can find the minutes of all the meetings of the panel on the website from Auckland Council

Te Pou Mahi Rawe Online Platform

Finally we want to encourage you to have a look at the online Mahi Rawe platform http://www.mahirawe.com/ and register or list any positions or vacancies on your site.

NZDSN Auckland Executive Facilitator

I am now in my fifth year of working for NZDSN and the most important part of my role is to connect with our members and the wider Auckland disability community. I am here in Auckland to listen and hear what is on top for you. And I am always interested to hear where you think NZDSN can be of support. If I haven’t had a chance to connect with you in person, please feel free to call or email me to schedule a meeting. I am always happy to meet at your premises or a convenient public space in your area.

Thank you for your on-going support and collaboration this past year and I can’t wait to see what 2020 will bring us. I very much look forward to continuing working together with all of you in the New Year!

For now, I wish you a wonderful festive season, a well-deserved energising holiday break and many happy fulfilling moments for you and your dearest. For our sector I hope we can look at more positive developments that will create a good life for the people we work along-side!

Mireille Vreeburg, Auckland Executive Regional Facilitator email: mireille@nzdsn.org.nz Phone: 021 025 93 41

Events/ services in Auckland organised by other organisations in 2020

Show your Ability 24 February 2020 ASB Show Grounds

Auckland Disability Law upcoming events

Dance therapy 2019- 2020 current programme details

Te Pou website Disability Workforce page

Le VA Events

Parafed Auckland programmes

Touch Compass Productions 2020

Newsletters & resources from other organisations

Blind Foundation news and events publications

Deaf Aotearoa community news

Disability Connect E- Bulletin

Children’s Autism Newsletter

Mapura Studios news