From: On Behalf Of Emma Bennison emma.bennison@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, May 3, 2018 5:44 PM
Subject: Exciting news for BCA
Dear Blind Citizens Australia members and colleagues. Please see below a media
release containing some exciting news about new funding which will enable BCA
to further our work in NSW, the ACT and South Australia. If you live outside of
these states, be assured we will be working to secure similar funding for other
states as it becomes available. Thanks. Emma
Media Release
A More Inclusive Australia on the Horizon for People Who are Blind or
Vision-Impaired
The Australian Government has committed $56 million in grant funding to help
make Australia more inclusive for people with disability. Blind Citizens
Australia (BCA) has been announced as a successful provider for projects in New
South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and South Australia commencing in the
2018/2019 financial year.
The projects will provide people with disability, their families and carers
access to up-to-date and relevant information, and links to services and
supports in the community. This includes the National Disability Insurance
Scheme (NDIS) and community and government services.
The Australian Government received a total of 609 applications for the three
Information, Linkages and Capacity Building Jurisdictional Based Grant
allocations in NSW, ACT & SA. 17 organisations were awarded funding in New
South Wales, 55 in the Australian Capital Territory and 32 in South Australia.
With the funding, Blind Citizens Australia will empower people who are blind or
vision impaired in the NSW, ACT and SA regions to reach their potential through
a range of capacity building activities. These will include a program of
teleconferences, mentoring, face-to-face capacity-building opportunities via
forums and camps, and assistance with individual advocacy issues.
The projects will be piloted over a 12-month period, with an anticipated
engagement reach of at least 800 people who are blind or vision impaired in
each region.
“Blindness is an information disability. BCA will ensure people who are blind
or vision impaired have access to timely and accurate information about how to
advocate for accessible services, strategies for independent living,
blindness-specific information and more. BCA is also committed to developing
the capacity of people who are blind or vision impaired in these three regions
to ensure they are empowered to achieve their potential and to support and
mentor others in their local communities to do so,” says Emma Bennison, CEO of
Blind Citizens Australia.
“We are also hopeful that this project will attract future funding for
additional delivery across the rest of Australia to enable us to increase
self-advocacy skills, strengthen peer networks, enhance employment and
educational pathways and improve self-confidence for the 453,000 people who are
blind or vision impaired throughout Australia.”
BCA was awarded the Australian Human Rights Commission award for Community
Organisation of the Year in 2017 due to its successful advocacy work on behalf
of people who are blind or vision impaired. BCA is the only disability led
organisation within Australia that represents the blind and vision impaired
community with 85% of the management, board, volunteers and staff having direct
experience of vision loss.
For more information please contact:
Kathie Kelly
Fundraising and Social Media Consultant
Blind Citizens Australia
Phone: 0439 724 304
Email: kathie.kelly@xxxxxxxxxx
Emma Bennison
Chief Executive Officer
Blind Citizens Australia
Mobile: 0410553383
Toll free:1800 033 660
Web: www.bca.org.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlindCitizensAustralia
Twitter: @au_BCA
ABN: 90 006 985 226
BCA acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and
their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to
them and their cultures, and to elders both past and present.
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Sent from Erika's iPhone
Sent from Erika's iPhone