World Bank - Diversity Week 2009 Washington DC Addressing the Social Exclusion of Women With Disabilities: The Australian Experience Presented by: Margherita Coppolino Manager – Access & Inclusion, Corporate Strategy Government of Victoria (Australia) Department of Planning & Community Development

© photographs copyright to & courtesy of Women With Disabilities Australia Margherita Coppolino – Diversity Consultant ( Disability in Australia 4 million people with disabilities in Australia (20% of the population) 2.6 million people with disabilities are under 65 years of age 50.5% of people with disabilities in Australia are women 1.2 million people with disabilities sometimes / always need help or supervision with self-care, mobility or communication The projected growth from 2006 to 2010 (15-64 years) with a severe or profound limitation is 6.9 per cent or 37,500 people.

© photographs copyright to & courtesy of Women With Disabilities Australia Margherita Coppolino – Diversity Consultant ( Disability in Australia - The Policy Context New Federal Labor Government installed November 2007 Focus on and commitment to human rights National Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples Feb 2008 National Social Inclusion agenda – focusing on employment, access to services, connecting with family & community, dealing with crisis, having voice heard Development of new National Strategies & Frameworks – eg: Disability; Housing & Homelessness; Mental Health; Violence Prevention; Child Protection; Women’s Health Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) – July 2008 Development of a National Compact - an agreement between the Australian Government and the not-for-profit sector based on partnership and respect Australian Aid program’s disability-inclusive development strategy

© photographs copyright to & courtesy of Women With Disabilities Australia Margherita Coppolino – Diversity Consultant ( Key Issues for Women with Disabilities in Australia Violence & Abuse Forced Sterilisation Reproductive Rights Sexuality Motherhood & Parenting Health Issues Education, Employment & Income Support Housing & Accommodation Information Technologies Citizenship & Inclusion

© photographs copyright to & courtesy of Women With Disabilities Australia Margherita Coppolino – Diversity Consultant ( Barriers to Inclusion for women with disabilities Negative stereotypes from both a gender & disability perspective Poverty Discrimination Non-optional costs of disability Un/under employment Inequitable educational opportunities & outcomes Experience of & vulnerability to violence Inaccessible environments Issues relating to transport, child care, attendant care, insecure housing, inflexible work arrangements

© photographs copyright to & courtesy of Women With Disabilities Australia Margherita Coppolino – Diversity Consultant ( Key Strategies to promote the social inclusion of women with disabilities [1] Ratification and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) & the CRPD Optional Protocol Ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and its Optional Protocol Employment of focused, gender-specific measures to ensure girls and women with disabilities have equal access to education and training; Employment of focused, gender-specific measures to ensure that disabled women experience maximum participation in the labour market on the basis of equality;

© photographs copyright to & courtesy of Women With Disabilities Australia Margherita Coppolino – Diversity Consultant ( Key Strategies to promote the social inclusion of women with disabilities [2] Data collection - in all areas, disaggregated by gender & disability, and routinely collected, analysed and published; Research - encompassing qualitative & quantitative methodologies; inclusive of women with disabilities; and findings integrated into relevant national policy; Establishment, support & strengthening of organisations, networks and groups run and controlled by women with disabilities in the pursuit of their collective interests, as defined by them; Provision of specific information on women with disabilities in Human Rights Conventions Periodic Reports and accompanying NGO Shadow Reports; Establishment of global collectives and networks of women with disabilities – to share experiences, expertise and work collaboratively on common issues

© photographs copyright to & courtesy of Women With Disabilities Australia Margherita Coppolino – Diversity Consultant ( Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) A model of best practice Winner, National Human Rights Award 2001 Winner, National Violence Prevention Award 1999 Winner, Tasmanian Women's Safety Award 2008 Certificate of Merit, Australian Crime & Violence Prevention Awards 2008 Nominee, French Republic's Human Rights Prize 2003 Nominee, UN Millennium Peace Prize for Women 2000

© photographs copyright to & courtesy of Women With Disabilities Australia Margherita Coppolino – Diversity Consultant ( Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) Is the peak organisation for women with all types of disabilities in Australia Incorporated in 1995 Aim of WWDA is to be the national voice for the needs and rights of women with disabilities and a national force to improve the lives and life chances of women with disabilities Objectives are to: a) actively promote the participation of women with disabilities in all aspects of social, economic, political and cultural life; b) be the national representative organisation for women with disabilities in Australia by undertaking systemic advocacy, providing policy advice, undertaking research, and, providing information and education.

© photographs copyright to & courtesy of Women With Disabilities Australia Margherita Coppolino – Diversity Consultant ( Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) Is a cross-disability, feminist, human rights organisation; Managed and run by women with disabilities (men can be associates but don’t have voting rights); Women with disabilities set the priorities for the organisation; WWDA has strong input into Government policies, but its primary responsibility is to its members; Strong grass roots support and has direct membership; Works collaboratively with a wide range of organisations and sectors; Is strategic – has an extensive and fast growing network of diverse support; Has high visibility - especially in the virtual world; Has a sound understanding of the machinery of governments; Has a governance structure that works best for the organisation; Conducts projects that are considered unique and innovative

© photographs copyright to & courtesy of Women With Disabilities Australia Margherita Coppolino – Diversity Consultant ( WWDA – Supporting Women With Disabilities in Development Examples include: WWDA is an Australian Partner Organisation for the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) Program (AusAID). Currently supporting development work with the Indonesian Association of Women with Disabilities; WWDA supports emerging women’s groups in the Asia-Pacific region through WWDA’s position and role on the Global Fund for Women (GFW) International Advisory Committee; WWDA freely distributes its publications & resource materials to women’s and disability groups throughout the world; The extensive resources on WWDA’s website are free and accessible to any user; WWDA promotes reciprocal membership arrangements with women’s groups and organisations worldwide; WWDA provides practical assistance to emerging groups of women with disabilities throughout the world, eg: teaching submission writing; developing programs; sourcing funding opportunities; providing referee reports; sharing organisational development materials, etc.

© photographs copyright to & courtesy of Women With Disabilities Australia Margherita Coppolino – Diversity Consultant ( Examples of WWDA’s Global Reciprocal Memberships Swat Youth Front Malakand Region, NWFP, Pakistan Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union United Blind Person's of Fiji Centre for Sustainable Development, Kathmandu, Nepal Dutch Coalition on Disability & Development European Network on Independent Living National Anti Poverty Commission, Philippines South African National Council for the Blind European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), Hungary

© photographs copyright to & courtesy of Women With Disabilities Australia Margherita Coppolino – Diversity Consultant ( Any Questions?