Media Room

Wednesday 4 June 2008: Attorney-General Robert McClelland and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services Bill Shorten announced that the Rudd Government has tabled in Parliament a National Interest Analysis, which proposes that Australia ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Convention recognises that people with disabilities are entitled to enjoy all human rights on an equal basis with others, Attorney-General Robert McClelland said. It also assists countries all over the world to promote awareness of those rights and take practical steps to enable people with disability to participate fully in society.

Deafness Forum of Australia congratulates EARS Australia on their prestigious award for development of a new product which acts to dramatically reduce workplace noise, and hence noise injury. EARS Australia designed and developed a revolutionary Exhaust Air Recycling System that recycles exhaust air from pneumatic tools back through the compressor instead of being discharged into the working environment.

For more information see http://www.ascc.gov.au/nr/rdonlyres/d482f71e-bb66-458f-8398-f28092c47d84/0/mr_vic_winner_swaa290408.pdf

16 April 2008: The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced that Telstra has met the requirements to allow closure of its CDMA mobile phone network from 28 April 2008. Customers who do not believe they have had their network switchover issues resolved using Telstra's hotline will still be able to contact the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy on freecall 1800 883 488.

See http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2008/026

The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing announced the kickoff today of an ear-nose-throat surgery blitz for Indigenous kids in the Northern Territory. These follow-up services were among the most urgent health needs identified through the NT Emergency Response child health checks. With more than 8500 child health checks completed, the focus of the emergency intervention is now increasingly on providing treatment for health problems identified by the checks.

See: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr08-nr-nr053.htm?OpenDocument&yr=2008&mth=4

Expressions of interest for the Australian Deaflympic Team to attend the 21st Summer Deaflympic Games in Taipei, Taiwan during September 2009, have opened.

See the attached letter for background information and also the Expression of Interest Form for the Australian Deaflympic Team to attend the 21st Summer Deaflympic Games in Taipei, Taiwan in September 2009.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Cindy Cave, National Deaf Sports Coordinator at cindy.cave@deafsports.org.au or (03) 9473 1191 (tty/voice).

Deafness Forum looks forward to a highly successful Australian Deaflympic Team in Taipei!

In September 2007 the then Minister for Communications, Senator Helen Coonan, announced a government inquiry into media access for Australians who are Deaf or have a hearing impairment, or are blind/have a vision impairment. The inqiry was put on hold during the election period.

In February 2008 Senator Natasha Stott Despoja (Democrats, SA) asked questions during Senate Estimates hearings about the status of this inquiry.

Deafness Forum will continue to seek information about this inqiury and work with Senator Stephen Conroy's office to progress the inquiry.

See responses to Senate Estimates questions here PDF

Deafness Forum has officially adopted a new position statement "Communication Access in Airports". Deafness Forum will now undertake an advocacy campaign with airport owners and operators to implement the recommendations in the position statement.

View the Airports position statement here PDF.

The Deafness Forum of Australia invites you to submit your photography work for consideration in the Deafness Forum 15^th Anniversary Photography Competition.
Winning entries will be included in the national Hearing Awareness Week campaign (Hearing Awareness Week 24-30 August 2008) and secure national recognition for their work as well as cash prizes.
This year the theme for Hearing Awareness Week is ONE IN SIX which aims to highlight the fact that one in six or over 3.55 million Australians are Deaf or hearing impaired. The Deafness Forum invites you to submit photos of individuals or groups, which highlight the range of activities of the Deaf community and people with hearing impairment, whether that is at work, school or play. We encourage the inclusion of photos that depict all ages and vocations. Images will be judged by a three person panel and winners will be announced at the 5^th National Deafness Summit in May 2008.
How to enter: Please complete the entry form, attach form and photo/s (digital format) and forward to the Deafness Forum either via email to info@deafnessforum.org.au or send the completed entry form and your photo/s on CD ROM to: Deafness Forum, 218 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon ACT 2612
Closing date: Entries close 28 March 2008.

Entry form Word