SEASONS GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES TO ALL OF OUR MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS. 

                 WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL IN THE NEW YEAR

MACKAY (QLD) OLDER WOMEN'S GROUP    WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS  

Get on board:

Get on board with our International Women's Day event at NSW Parliament House in Sydney with our Patron Prof Gillian Triggs, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission Tuesday 8th March 2016.
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Get on Board: Join in our 'Letter to my younger self' project, letters are coming in from all over Australia, include yours.For more information contact us: ownaust@gmail.com. 

"It is wise to be kind to people on the way up, because you may meet them again on your way down."

"To stay young, eat well, sleep well, exercise well, and lie about your age."

 

What a Grandmother in India Can Do with Solar Will Surprise You

Emergency Risk Management Plans 2015-16 for Residential and Flexible Care providers

Dear Residential and Flexible Care provider,

As the high risk season for major Australian weather events and bushfires approaches it is vital that all aged care services are well prepared and able to respond to a range of emergency events.

Maintaining quality care under these circumstances requires effective emergency risk management planning by providers and support from all levels of government.

It is important that you are well prepared for any events which may impact your service in the future. A list of considerations is attached to assist you in your preparations.

 Emergency Risk Management Plans 2015–16 (Providers of Residential and Flexible Care) (128 KB)

Aged Care Access, Quality and Compliance

Department of Health

​The Older Women's Network Australia  is part of our national conversation that says women's refuges save lives.  We need ​OWN Australia  to help share this message with its networks during this important week for everyone campaigning to eliminate men's violence against women. Timing is critical. We are asking you to share this email with your supporters today. We want our petition (bit.ly/fund_womens_refuges) to reach as many Australians as possible today and tomorrow so that the need to fund women's refuges now trends during the special Q&A on Domestic Violence on Wednesday 25 November, 9.30pm. Your support in sharing the social media suggestions below with your supporters would be greatly appreciated. Helen L’Orange AM for the Women’s Electoral Lobby, Violence Against Women Action Group Facebook or LinkedIn:  Ask your members to sign the petition today.  bit.ly/fund_womens_refuges Q and A* specific Tweet: Women’s refuges save lives. Sign the petition for long term funding bit.ly/fund_womens_refuges @QandA @FergusonNews #QandA #endVAW Tweet: Women’s refuges save lives. Sign the petition for long term #womensrefuges fundingbit.ly/fund_womens_refuges Tweet:  @TurnbullMalcolm & Premiers: Women’s refuges save lives! Agree to long term #womensrefuges funding now bit.ly/fund_womens_refuges

JOIN US FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE SYDNEY

A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN WITH OUR PATRON PROF.GILLIAN TRIGGS, President Australian Human Rights Commission; and many others.

TUESDAY 8TH MARCH 2016

Website

OWN Australia is still experiencing internet problems, We will update with our latest news asap.

Changes to social leave from 17 September 2015

Due to recent changes to aged care legislation, from 17 September 2015 pre-entry leave will no longer be deducted from the social leave that residents may take from their service. Residents are entitled to take up to 52 overnight absences from residential aged care per financial year. Providers are reminded that residents can still have up to 7 days of pre-entry leave prior to entering residential aged care. Providers will still need to record periods of pre-entry leave on the entry form for residents to ensure there is certainty on date of entry to care and so that DHS can properly advise residents of the date from which a basic daily fee may be applied. Care recipients can be charged a basic daily fee during the pre-entry leave period. Residential care subsidy and supplements are not payable during pre-entry leave and care recipients cannot be charged accommodation payments or means tested fees for the pre-entry leave period. More information about the changes to the Social Services Legislation Amendment (No. 2) Act 2015 is available at the Comlaw website at www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2015A00128
 

Update on the National Aged Care Quality Indicators Programme

Work on quality indicators for home care has commenced and consultations with providers and consumers are now underway. A pilot of an initial set of indicators, including consumer experience and quality of life measures will take place next year. For residential aged care, the pilot of three initial quality indicators concluded on 4 September 2015. Work has also progressed on consumer experience and quality of life measures for aged care and it is expected that some tools will be ‘road tested’ later this year with a small group of providers, prior to national piloting in 2016.

Feedback sought on Home Care Discussion Paper – Reminder

In the 2015-16 Budget, the Australian Government announced significant changes to improve the way home care services are delivered to older people, building on the current consumer directed care approach. From February 2017, funding for a home care package will follow the consumer, allowing eligible consumers to choose their approved provider, as well as more flexibility to change their provider if they wish. Once the changes come into effect, providers will not have to apply for new home care places through the Aged Care Approvals Round, significantly reducing red tape.

A discussion paper on the proposed changes is now available on the Department’s consultation webpage at engage.dss.gov.au. The aged care sector and other interested parties are invited to provide feedback on the discussion paper, with written submissions due by 5:00pm on Tuesday 27 October 2015. Interested parties are also invited to join an upcoming live webinar on Monday 19 October 2015. The webinar will outline the proposed arrangements and provide an opportunity to ask questions about the changes. Details of the webinar are available on the Department’s website at www.dss.gov.au/2015webinars

Victorian Government to support creation of safe access zones for abortion clinics

News

1 September 2015

The Human Rights Law Centre welcomes the news that the Victorian Government will back the creation of safe access zones to ensure women can safely and privately access health services without being harassed or intimidated.

The HRLC’s Director of Advocacy and Research, Emily Howie, said safe access zones are about respecting the privacy and dignity of women accessing terminations.

“This is a very positive development. For too long women have been subjected to abuse and intimidation when exercising their right to access legal health services,” said Ms Howie.

The announcement follows last week’s failed attempt in the Supreme Court to compel the City of Melbourne to take adequate steps to ensure women could safely access a fertility clinic in East Melbourne.

Ms Howie said safe access zones are a sensible and practical solution that can strike a healthy balance between the right to freedom of expression and the rights privacy, security and healthcare.

“No one is suggesting that people should be prevented from expressing their opinions, we’re just asking that they do so in a way that respects women’s rights to privacy, security and access to healthcare,” said Ms Howie.

In 2013 Tasmania introduced access zones around clinics in which terminations are conducted. Similar zones also exist in the United States and Canada. The ACT government has also released an exposure draft of a bill to create patient privacy zones that support women’s rights to access health services privately and free from intimidating conduct. 

In August 2015, Victorian Sex Party MP Fiona Patten introduced a bill to amend the Public Health and Wellbeing Act and create safe access zones in Victoria. The bill received considerable support from the Victorian Greens, Trades Hall, the Australian Medical Association, Women’s Health Victoria and many other groups. The government now proposes to introduce a bill in similar form, albeit with some amendments.

“This is a great example of MPs from various political persuasions working together to find sensible and practical ways to stand up for women’s rights. Well done to all involved,” said Ms Howie.

The Human Rights Law Centre will continue to provide assistance regarding the details of the proposed bill.

Have your say about Lifelong economic wellbeing for women in Australia From 29th September until mid November, eS4W is encouraging all women to have their say about their lifelong economic wellbeing. eS4W is seeking women’s views on their economic empowerment; their ability to cope with changing conditions in the economy; their participation in paid work and their income in later life into retirement. Economic empowerment eS4W is exploring the capacity of women in Australia to participate in, contribute to and benefit from growth processes in ways that recognise the value of their contributions, respect their dignity and make it possible to negotiate a fairer distribution of the benefits of growth. Economic empowerment increases women’s access to economic resources and opportunities including jobs, financial services, property and other productive assets, skills development and market information. Please participate and promote the online survey eS4W is inviting all women in Australia, young and not so young, to the online survey. Please promote it in your newsletters; at your meetings; on your website, facebook and Twitter. Click the button below for the online survey.

Online survey

30 September 2015 – WHO World Report on Ageing and Health

On behalf of the Secretary General of the IFA, I am writing to inform you that the World Health Organization (WHO) has just launched the World Report on Ageing and Health.  For the first time in this 260 paged report, evidence on a global basis has been comprehensively and carefully analysed to inform a new paradigm on healthy ageing, where a person is not defined nor stereotyped by a specific level of functioning or health.

The IFA urges all stakeholders, across sectors and across disciplines, to stand behind this ground breaking report and help connect and create networks to drive innovation and change toward sustainable and purposeful outcomes for future generations.  The underlying principles of human rights, equity and non-discrimination and social cohesion between generations are the foundation stones for the future WHO Global Strategy and Action Plan on Ageing and Health.

The Older Persons Legal Service provides free legal advice and assistance for older people in a range of areas of law 1800 424 079 (toll free) www.tars.com.au

Domestic violence: Quentin Bryce, Patron, OWN Australia Inc,  to head taskforce after horror week

 The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has appointed Dame Quentin Bryce as the chair of a special government council to fast-track domestic violence reform.

 The response of authorities to the first call for help by a woman threatened with violence is “absolutely critical” Dame Quentin Bryce has said, and will be the focus of her work helping Australia end its domestic violence “emergency”.

We have offered our support and help and concerns that the taskforce ensures it also looks to violence against older women - physical, mental and financial.

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The 2015 Edna Ryan Awards will be held on

Friday 23 October, at the Trades Hall,

Sussex Street, Sydney

 NOMINATION FORM DOWNLOADABLE – see 'Nominations'

_____________________________  

Any profit from the EDNAs Awards night will fund an 

Edna Ryan Training Day for Young Women ASU Members.

For more information about the training contact lauren@asu.org.au 

_____________________________  

 Edna Ryan (1904–97) worked towards making a better world— especially for women.

She had a lifetime involvement in campaigning for equal pay.

The 2015 Edna Ryan Awards will be held on

Friday 23 October, at the Trades Hall,

Sussex Street, Sydney

 NOMINATION FORM DOWNLOADABLE – see 'Nominations'

_____________________________  

Any profit from the EDNAs Awards night will fund an 

Edna Ryan Training Day for Young Women ASU Members.

For more information about the training contact lauren@asu.org.au 

_____________________________  

 Edna Ryan (1904–97) worked towards making a better world— especially for women.

She had a lifetime involvement in campaigning for equal pay.

Deakin University Womens' Research

Deakin University Research

Are you a woman who has no children
and aged between 45 and 64 years?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

We are conducting research about life in Australian society for women with no children.

If you would like to take part, please visit the following link to complete the anonymous online questionnaire, which will take only 30 minutes of your time!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/life-in-Australian-society-for-women-aged-45-64-with-no-children

For further information, please visit

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Life-in-Australian-society-as-a-woman-with-no-children/592205344191162

or contact Beth Turnbull at b.turnbull@deakin.edu.au

The Older Women's Network Australia Incorporated supports this call...

Call for Urgent Action: End Violence Against People with Disability

AUGUST 20, 2015 / AUSTRALIAN CROSS DISABILITY ALLIANCE, MEDIA RELEASES, VIOLENCE AND ABUSE

National Conference in Perth - October 2015

The Older Women’s Network Australia
23^RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MONDAY 19^TH OCTOBER 2015
GOODEARTH HOTEL
195 Adelaide Terrace

Perth 

Contact

RSVP by 11^th September 2015 - Email jul8don@bigpond.com  

OR by POST to Mrs Julienne Thomas

Older Women’s Network WA Inc

7 Bottlebrush Drive 

    THORNLIE   WA   6108 

Human Rights and the Care of the Self

Wednesday 26 August 12:30-2:00pm
Room 148, RC Mills Building
University of Sydney

Dr Alex Lefebvre from the University of Sydney proposes that the consistent and historic function of human rights is to inspire individuals to strive towards a better way of life. He will sketch a new theory of human rights from the perspective of the care for one's own self by identifying certain techniques prescribed in human rights law and literature that aim to effect such transformations.

New Patron for OWN Australia Inc

OWN Australia Inc. is honoured to advise that Emeritus Professor Gillian Triggs, President, Australian Human Right Commission, will join the Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce, AD, CVO as a Patron of the Older Womens' Network Australia Incorporated.

Professor Triggs graduated in Law from the University of Melbourne in 1968 and gained a PhD in 1982. She has combined an academic career with international commercial legal practice and worked with governments and international organizations on human rights law. She hopes to focus her Presidency on the implementation in Australian law of the human rights treaties to which Australia is a party, and to work with nations in the Asia Pacific region on practical approaches to human rights.

Professor Triggs' long-standing commitment to legal education will build upon the Commission's efforts to inform Australians, especially children, about their fundamental human rights.

She has been a consultant on International Law to Mallesons Stephen Jaques, a Board Member of the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH), the Australian representative on the Council of Jurists for the Asia Pacific Forum for National Human Rights Institutions, Chair of the Board of the Australian International Health Institute, a member of the Attorney General's International Legal Service Advisory Council and Chair of the Council of Australian Law Deans.

Emeritus Professor Gillian Triggs is the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, taking up her appointment by the Commonwealth Attorney-General in 2012. She was Dean of the Faculty of Law and Challis Professor of International Law at the University of Sydney from 2007-12 and Director of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law from 2005-7. She is a former Barrister with Seven Wentworth Chambers and a Governor of the College of Law. 

VIC and NSW Volunteer Awards open!

Posted on Jul 09, 2015 03:12 PM | Permalink

Do you know a volunteer or program worthy of an award? Photo: flickr.com/photos/directrelief/

Know a particularly amazing volunteer? Been part of an exceptional volunteer program?  Heard of a company that’s made a huge difference through its employee volunteering program?

Nominations have opened for both the 2015 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards and Victoria’s inaugural State Volunteering Awards – with applications for both sets of awards closing soon!

The NSW Awards are run by the Centre for Volunteering, and are the State’s way of recognising the incredible contribution of volunteers to the community. As put by CEO Gemma Rygate, “the 2.4 million volunteers in NSW contribute $8 billion to our economy. If volunteering was an industry, it would one of the largest in the state.”

Nominations are open for:

• Student Volunteer of the Year
• Youth Volunteer of the Year
• Adult Volunteer of the Year
• Senior Volunteer of the Year
• Volunteer Team of the Year
• Excellence in Volunteer Management
• Corporate Volunteer of the Year (individual)
• Corporate Volunteer Team of the Year

For all of the details and to make a nomination before the closing date of 24 July, head to the Centre for Volunteering website here: http://www.volunteering.com.au/about-the-awards/.

Another boost for Gender Equality

Facebook just made a subtle design change to its icons that probably won't be noticed by the vast majority of its users but that could profoundly influence perceptions of women.

The changes were made to the tiny icons that appear in the upper right-hand corner of the social networking site. For years, the company had used a "friends" icon with a man and woman, with the woman positioned behind the man. Worse yet, the generic female avatar looked like her shoulder had been lopped off.

The symbolism was glaring to Caitlin Winner, a design manager who spearheaded an effort to change the icons. And in an industry under increasing criticism for its lack of gender and racial diversity, such decisions on designs contribute to the unconscious biases that have made it so hard for women to advance.

"As a woman, educated at a women's college, it was hard not to read into the symbolism of the current icon; the woman was quite literally in the shadow of the man, she was not in a position to lean in," Winner wrote in a post on Medium.

Without much fanfare, Facebook began to roll out the changes for desktop and mobile users this week.

In the new "friends" icon, the female avatar is placed in front of the male icon .

A Fennell