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Five questions to Damian Griffis: this week on IndigenousX Five questions to Damian Griffis: this week on IndigenousX
(21 days later)
Each week, a new guest hosts the @IndigenousX twitter account to discuss topics of interest as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. In partnership with IndigenousX, we're inviting its weekly host to tell us about who they are, what issues they're passionate about, and what they have in store for us during their upcoming week.Each week, a new guest hosts the @IndigenousX twitter account to discuss topics of interest as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. In partnership with IndigenousX, we're inviting its weekly host to tell us about who they are, what issues they're passionate about, and what they have in store for us during their upcoming week.
Tell us about yourself. Who are you, where are you from, what do you do?Tell us about yourself. Who are you, where are you from, what do you do?
I am a descendant of the Worimi people of the Manning Valley and have Scottish/Irish heritage. I'mf the executive officer of the First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN Australia). The FPDN seeks to be a strong voice of and for Aboriginal people with disabilities. The board of FPDN is made up entirely of Aboriginal people with disability. I have been instrumental in establishing both the FPDN and the Aboriginal Disability Network NSW. Back in 2004 and 2005 I undertook a major consultative project visiting Aboriginal communities across the state of New South Wales, discussing the unmet needs of Aboriginal people with disability directly with Aboriginal people with disability and their carers. This culminated in the report entitled "Telling It Like It Is".I am a descendant of the Worimi people of the Manning Valley and have Scottish/Irish heritage. I'mf the executive officer of the First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN Australia). The FPDN seeks to be a strong voice of and for Aboriginal people with disabilities. The board of FPDN is made up entirely of Aboriginal people with disability. I have been instrumental in establishing both the FPDN and the Aboriginal Disability Network NSW. Back in 2004 and 2005 I undertook a major consultative project visiting Aboriginal communities across the state of New South Wales, discussing the unmet needs of Aboriginal people with disability directly with Aboriginal people with disability and their carers. This culminated in the report entitled "Telling It Like It Is".
Advocating for the rights of Australia's First People with disability is my life's work and I'm proud to do it. This year marks my 21st working in the disability sector.Advocating for the rights of Australia's First People with disability is my life's work and I'm proud to do it. This year marks my 21st working in the disability sector.
What do you plan to talk about on @IndigenousX this week?What do you plan to talk about on @IndigenousX this week?
It is great to be hosting the @IndigenousX account this week as I'm one of the coordinators of a delegation heading over to the United Nations in Geneva. For the first time, Australia's human rights record in the area of disability is being reviewed under the convention on the rights of persons with disability – a very significant milestone for the disability sector. I will stand beside a number of advocates as we engage in dialogue with the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disability which will lead to them making recommendations to the Australian government.It is great to be hosting the @IndigenousX account this week as I'm one of the coordinators of a delegation heading over to the United Nations in Geneva. For the first time, Australia's human rights record in the area of disability is being reviewed under the convention on the rights of persons with disability – a very significant milestone for the disability sector. I will stand beside a number of advocates as we engage in dialogue with the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disability which will lead to them making recommendations to the Australian government.
We're also very pleased to have collaborated with award winning photographer Belinda Mason on an exhibition to be shown at the Palais des Nations in Geneva to coincide with the Human Rights Council, 24th session. The exhibition reveals the stories of 30 people with disability from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. These collaborations between photographer and participant have created powerful images of people with acquired, congenital, sensory, psychological, intellectual, visible and invisible disability.We're also very pleased to have collaborated with award winning photographer Belinda Mason on an exhibition to be shown at the Palais des Nations in Geneva to coincide with the Human Rights Council, 24th session. The exhibition reveals the stories of 30 people with disability from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. These collaborations between photographer and participant have created powerful images of people with acquired, congenital, sensory, psychological, intellectual, visible and invisible disability.
I look forward to keeping people back home updated on our work in Geneva through @IndigenousX. I'll post updates, videos and pics.I look forward to keeping people back home updated on our work in Geneva through @IndigenousX. I'll post updates, videos and pics.
What issue affecting Indigenous people do you think is most pressing?What issue affecting Indigenous people do you think is most pressing?
By any measure, Aboriginal people with disabilities are amongst the most disadvantaged Australians, often facing multiple barriers to their meaningful participation within their own communities and the wider community. Furthermore many Aboriginal people with disabilities tend not to self-identify as people with disabilities. Therefore much of the language and labels within the disability sector are not used in communities. This is in fact a very positive thing in the sense that people aren't labelled, their disability tends to be talked about from an impairment based perspective, such as "my cousin has trouble getting around" or "my brother is a bit slower then everyone else", neither of these ways of describing disability are done in an offensive way – they are in fact entirely appropriate ways to describe disability in terms of what others in the community may need to look out for to support that person.By any measure, Aboriginal people with disabilities are amongst the most disadvantaged Australians, often facing multiple barriers to their meaningful participation within their own communities and the wider community. Furthermore many Aboriginal people with disabilities tend not to self-identify as people with disabilities. Therefore much of the language and labels within the disability sector are not used in communities. This is in fact a very positive thing in the sense that people aren't labelled, their disability tends to be talked about from an impairment based perspective, such as "my cousin has trouble getting around" or "my brother is a bit slower then everyone else", neither of these ways of describing disability are done in an offensive way – they are in fact entirely appropriate ways to describe disability in terms of what others in the community may need to look out for to support that person.
There are many issues affecting Aboriginal people with disability across many areas of life including, education, employment, access to health services, accessible transport, early intervention to name just a few. In many ways the social movement of Aboriginal people with disabilities is just starting out, so there is much to be done. It is critical that it be Aboriginal people with disabilities themselves lead this movement, as they know best what is like to live with a disability.There are many issues affecting Aboriginal people with disability across many areas of life including, education, employment, access to health services, accessible transport, early intervention to name just a few. In many ways the social movement of Aboriginal people with disabilities is just starting out, so there is much to be done. It is critical that it be Aboriginal people with disabilities themselves lead this movement, as they know best what is like to live with a disability.
In May this year, we launched a 10 point plan for the implementation of Disability Care (NDIS) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. That is the focus of our work at FPDN at the moment. I also recently chaired a committee that established a new target for disability under the Closing the Gap.In May this year, we launched a 10 point plan for the implementation of Disability Care (NDIS) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. That is the focus of our work at FPDN at the moment. I also recently chaired a committee that established a new target for disability under the Closing the Gap.
Who are your role models, and why?Who are your role models, and why?
Uncle Lester Bostock has been a great mentor to me over the years. As a man with physical disability and a respected elder and activist over many years, I have been very fortunate to learn from him many things. I especially admire and respect his patience, his resilience but most of all his integrity. He has been like the grandfather I never knew, and I am forever indebted to him and humbled to know him so well.Uncle Lester Bostock has been a great mentor to me over the years. As a man with physical disability and a respected elder and activist over many years, I have been very fortunate to learn from him many things. I especially admire and respect his patience, his resilience but most of all his integrity. He has been like the grandfather I never knew, and I am forever indebted to him and humbled to know him so well.
What are your hopes for the future?What are your hopes for the future?
I hope that there will be a time in the not too distant future when the human rights of all Aboriginal people with disabilities can be realised, in that they will be equal participants within their own communities and the wider Australian community. Change will take significant time in this area because it has been overlooked for so long, but there are several strong leaders who are Aboriginal people with disabilities who are powerful advocates.I hope that there will be a time in the not too distant future when the human rights of all Aboriginal people with disabilities can be realised, in that they will be equal participants within their own communities and the wider Australian community. Change will take significant time in this area because it has been overlooked for so long, but there are several strong leaders who are Aboriginal people with disabilities who are powerful advocates.
I am optimistic however given the recent major reform with the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, but the key now will be getting Aboriginal people with disabilities to understand this new system and how to use it to their advantage.I am optimistic however given the recent major reform with the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, but the key now will be getting Aboriginal people with disabilities to understand this new system and how to use it to their advantage.
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