Annual Report 2019 Children and Young People with Disability Australia Children and Young People with Disability Australia is the national representative organisation for children and young people with disability aged 0 to 25 years. CYDA is a not for profit, community organisation that was incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee in November 2009. CYDA provides a link between the • Implementation of high impact national CYDA receives its core funding from the direct experiences of children and young advocacy campaigns to positively Department of Social Services (DSS). people with disability to the Australian influence policy, practice and attitudes In addition, CYDA has received project Government and other key stakeholders of the Australian Government, key funding from DSS for the National Redress through: stakeholders and the wider community Scheme developed following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to • Participation and representation • Delivery of strategic projects that Child Sexual Abuse. of children and young people support the Australian Government with disability to reform its policy and practice • Development and dissemination • Partnership approach with its of expert advice membership, non-government, government and other stakeholders 2 | Children and Young People with Disability Australia | 2019 Annual Report Role Vision CYDA has the mandate to advocate for children and young people with CYDA’s vision is that children and disability living in Australia and undertakes the following to achieve its purpose: young people with disability living in Australia are afforded every • Listening and responding to the voices • Informing children and young people opportunity to thrive, achieve their and experiences of children and young with disability, their families and care potential and that their rights and people with disability givers about their citizenship rights and interests as individuals, members • Advocating for children and young entitlements of a family and their community people with disability for equal • Celebrating the successes and are met. opportunities, participation and achievements of children and young inclusion in the Australian community people with disability • Educating national public policy-makers Purpose and the broader community about the experiences of children and young people with disability CYDA’s purpose is to advocate systemically at the national level for the rights and interests of all children and young people with disability living in Australia as Guiding Principles individuals, members of a family and their community. The work of CYDA is guided by the following principles: • Fundamental rights: the rights and • Having a childhood: children with • Working in partnerships: CYDA interests of children and young disability are children first and foremost works collaboratively with relevant people with disability are CYDA’s and have a right to all aspects of government, non-government, private highest priority consistent with childhood that children without disability sector agencies and the broader Australia’s obligations under the are afforded community to promote the rights United Nations Conventions on the • Participating in decision making: children and interests of children and young Rights of the Chilontd and the Rights and young people with disability have the people with disability of Persons with Disabilities right to participate, in whatever capacity, • Being accountable: CYDA operates • An inclusive approach: children in decisions that impact on their lives accountably, effectively and ethically and young people with all types • Valuing families and care givers: for the as the national peak body charged of disability, from all cultural and contributions made by families and care with the mandate of advocating for religious backgrounds, living with givers to support the rights and interests children and young people all types of families and in and all of children and young people with with disability geographic locations are supported disability by the work of CYDA Children and Young People with Disability Australia | 2019 Annual Report | 3 Chair’s Report CYDA Board CYDA continues to be a strong voice for children and young people with disability and their families, advocating on a national stage to ensure their rights are upheld, Alan Blackwood and they are free from violence and abuse. Chair (Since May 2019) VIC This year saw the departure of our in July 2019. Mary joins CYDA following CEO Stephanie Gotlib after 10 years of five years as Deputy CEO of the Victorian dedicated service to CYDA. Stephanie’s Council of Social Services and a long Alan has family experience of disability contribution has been remarkable over history of policy and advocacy for children and has also worked in the sector in this time. Leading CYDA she influenced and young people. She also has family a range of advocacy and governance national policy debates and action for experience of disability, with a son with roles with people with disability for over children and young people with disability disability. 30 years. and developed a strong body of work In the coming year the CYDA Board will Alan has served on numerous state in the form of issues papers, research, embark on a new strategic planning and national advisory bodies and has submissions and reports that are process as our 2017 – 2020 strategic plan previously worked with CYDA on NDIS authoritative and accessible. This work has comes to an end. The current strategic plan and education policy. provided a foundation for the organisation’s has served the organisation well, and now advocacy work as well as offering valuable Alan is a strong supporter of inclusive is an ideal time for the organisation to be resources for members. education and the participation developing a new strategic plan. of people with disability in their Her work on the international stage in I also want to thank organisations. contributing to the United Nations and all of the CYDA various reports and submissions to policy Board Directors and legislative reforms in Australia means for their work and the organisation is deeply rooted in a commitment to human rights based approach. progressing the Her strategic approach and deep political rights of children nous and contribution means that and young people today CYDA’s reach and influence goes with disability over the well beyond expectations for a small last year. This year also organisation. This places the organisation saw the resignation of in strong stead for the future as the historic board members Theresa Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Duncombe (former Chair) Photo of Alan to Neglect and Exploitation of Persons with and Anne Murphy, and replace man Disability commences. CYDA will continue we thank them for their to be a strong advocate for the rights of important contribution to the children and young people with disability. governance of CYDA. After an extensive executive search, our Alan Blackwood new CEO Mary Sayers was appointed by Board Chair the Board in June 2019 and commenced 4 | Children and Young People with Disability Australia | 2019 Annual Report Theresa Duncombe Bronwyn Morkham Jocelyn Neumueller Chair (Resigned May 2019) VIC SA NSW Theresa is a midwife and an advocate in An experienced individual and systemic Jocelyn is a student with lived experience the health system. Theresa has personal advocate, Dr. Bronwyn Morkham has of disability. She has currently studying Law experience of disability, with one of her two worked with state and federal governments at Flinders University while pursuing her sons having disability. in systems policy and improvement. She is sporting ambitions of achieving a podium presently working with state and federal position at the Paralympics. She has significant experience in a range of jurisdictions on the systemic and policy community organisations including Kalparin, Outside of her study, Jocelyn is involved reforms needed to implement the National Association for Children with Disability New with a number of organisations advocating Disability Insurance Scheme, particularly South Wales and My Choice Matters NSW. for and supporting young people living around the scheme’s interactions with with disability. For the past 4 years other service systems such as health and Jocelyn has been selected as the student education. representative for the South Australian Grace Mills Bronwyn has served on a number of Ministerial Advisory Committee for Children WA state and federal advisory bodies and and Students with Disability. led development of innovative and Grace is a young person with disability collaborative practice solutions in systems working with younger people with disability. who has been involved with the disability Geoffrey Warren sector in Western Australia since 2013. She VIC has experience in a range of community organisations including Youth Disability Anne Murphy (Resigned May 2019) Advocacy Network (YDAN), Diverse Geoffrey has 50 years of teaching VIC Leadership WA and VisAbility. experience which includes 35 years as a Grace is currently also involved with the principal. He has degrees and diplomas in Anne has two teenage sons. Her youngest Ministerial Advisory Council of Disability, Arts, Economics & Politics and Educational son has a disability. Anne’s professional Telethon Kids Institute Advisory Group Administration. In 2012 he was the background is in medical research and and previously was a member of the City of winner of