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Update: Disability Reference Group

The Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission’s new Disability Reference Group had its inaugural meeting for 2008 during April.

This group will continue the invaluable work carried out by the first Disability Reference Group, which was convened by the Commission in 2005 to inform its work with Victoria’s disability community.

In convening the new Disability Reference Group, the Commission aimed to gain broader representation from Victoria’s diverse community.

Consisting of 16 members from disability and advocacy groups, the Disability Reference Group’s role is to:

• Assist the Commission to identify priority systemic discrimination issues and human rights priorities confronting people with a disability
• Provide advice and assistance to the Commission on the development of policies and procedures to ensure effective and appropriate service delivery to people with disabilities
• Provide expert guidance to the Commission on the implementation of the United Nations International Disability Rights Convention

The Disability Reference Group as a key consultative forum for the Commission and a pro-active agent for change for Victoria’s disability community.

The group met for the first time to learn more about the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission and discuss the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006).

Commission CEO Helen Szoke introduced the work of the Commission and the range of projects underway. Helen made particular reference to the review of the Equal Opportunity Act and invited members to contribute to the EO Options paper.

Community Relations Manager George Bisas talked about the work of the Community Relations area and the role of Education and Complaints Officers as the first point of contact for the most people. Group members were keen to find out who their regional contacts were, and get local advocacy happening.

Investigation and Conciliation Manager Chris Thwaites explained how the complaints function works in the Commission. DRG members were eager to learn about this process and how the Commission and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) interact.

Group member and highly regarded disability advocate Frank Hall-Bentick also gave an exciting presentation on his work on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Convention and its Optional Protocol (a complaint mechanism for individuals and organisations) was adopted on 13 December 2006 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

On April 3, Tunisia became the twentieth country ratify the Convention. This ratification triggers the “coming into force” of the Convention one month later on May 3, 2008.

The Commission looks forward to continued work with this group.