Feedback invited on Oranga Tamariki disability strategy
Fri 26 May 2023
Oranga Tamariki is inviting feedback through workshops, individual interviews or written submissions. Written submissions are due by 9 June 2023. Workshops are running now through 13 June 2023.
Feedback invited on Oranga Tamariki disability strategy
Oranga Tamariki has been working on developing a disability strategy. Oranga Tamariki is inviting feedback on the next phase of developing their disability strategy.
Written submissions are due by 9 June 2023.
Individual interviews and group workshops are running now through 13 June 2023.
Oranga Tamariki worked with disabled people, their champions, tāngata whaikaha Māori and care experienced rangatahi to develop a vision and 4 shifts that need to occur. The Vision is:
"The mana of tāngata whaikaha me o ratou toa (disabled people and their champions) is enhanced by meeting their needs, upholding their rights and supporting their hopes and dreams."
The 4 Shifts:
"How we see disability.
Systems work for people.
Disability competent and confident workforce.
Oranga Tamariki is safe and proactive."
Oranga Tamariki has prepared brief documents that give an overview of the vision, shifts and ideas they have heard to achieve the shifts. For a summary see the Oranga Tamariki Disability Vision and Strategy Executive Summary.
Oranga Tamariki has also collected research, reports and feedback from, and about, disabled communities. Oranga Tamariki is sharing this information in research summaries on 5 topics:
- System changes
- Whānau support and connection
- Understanding disability
- Quality services
- Social work practices and policies
The research summaries are available in different formats including New Zealand Sign Language video, Braille ready format, audio file, easy read and large print.
You can give feedback through individual interviews, group workshops or a written submission. Find information and sign up to participate on the Oranga Tamariki website.
For questions email disability.strategy@ot.govt.nz.
You can also sign up for regular updates from Oranga Tamariki on their work to develop a disability strategy.
Update: The Strategy has been approved by the Orangat Tamariki leadership team and Oranga Tamariki is focusing on implementation.
Related research
Te Kāhui Tika Tangata | The Human Rights Commission previously published two reports about the experiences of violence and abuse among tāngata whaikaha Māori and disabled people. The reports, Whakamanahia Te Tiriti, Whakahaumarutia te Tangata (Honour the Treaty, Protect the Person, 2021) and Whakamahia te Tūkino kore Ināianei, ā Muri Ake Nei (Acting Now for a Violence and Abuse Free Future, 2021), outline the evidence on the causes and impacts of violence including racism and colonisation, and abuse against tāngata whaikaha Māori and disabled people. The reports outline gaps in systems, knowledge and services and set out a roadmap for systemic change. Together the reports make 20 recommendations.
The Donald Beasley Institute produced the literature review, Good practice for disabled tamariki and rangatahi in care (2022) for Oranga Tamariki. Drawing on information from Aotearoa and overseas, the literature review centres Te Ao Māori, rights based, and social models of disability and responds to the Oranga Tamariki goals of improving outcomes for disabled tamariki who may require a care and protection placement.
Related news
Prudence Walker has been appointed as the new Kaihautū Tika Hauātanga Disability Rights Commissioner at Te Kāhui Tika Tangata | Human Rights Commission. Read more about Prudence's background in the media release from Te Kāhui Tika Tangata | Human Rights Commission.
The National Collaborative for Restorative Initiatives in Health has released a new national framework designed to support the health and disability sector to mitigate and respond to health care harm in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Gerard Quinn, issued a report on the Transformation of services for persons with disabilities (A/HRC/52/32) in January 2023. The report presents a "...thematic study on reimagining services in the twenty-first century to give effect to the right of persons with disabilities to live independently and be included in the community." In launching the report, the UN Special Rapporteur said:
“States and societies at large must move away from systems that were historically built to provide a material safety net and relegate persons with disabilities to the margins of society.”
Related media
Social education course teaches love, friendship, Otago Daily Times, 25.05.2023
Disabled Ministry plans for up to 2500 new carer employees, Newsroom, 22.05.2023
Government increases support to disabled people, Beehive media release, 18.05.2023
Why people with disability get caught in a poverty trap, The Spinoff, 15.05.2023
Prudence Walker unveiled as new Disability Rights Commissioner, Stuff, 12.05.2023
Enabling New Zealand Sign Language to thrive, Beehive media release, 08.05.2023
Govt seeks assurance over claims disability funding system breaks law, Newsroom, 26.04.2023
Boost to disabled voice as system gears up for transformation, Beehive media release, 12.04.2023
Image: AbsolutVision on Unsplash
