CBM Australia

CBM Inclusion Advisory Group (IAG) is proud to be Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade inclusion technical partner. The current phase of our Disability Inclusion Technical Assistance Partnership has been in place since 2018, through which CBM IAG, alongside our subcontracted associate Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne work with DFAT’s GEDSI Branch to support improved disability inclusion capability and practice throughout the department. This week, an independent evaluation highlighted the significant impact of our Partnership: • We’ve made significant contributions to disability-inclusive development in Australia’s international development program, enhancing awareness, capacity, policy, and practice. • IAG acts as a highly valued facilitator between people with disabilities (rights holders) and DFAT (duty bearer), strengthening the capacity of Organisations of People with Disabilities, and DFAT’s capability to engage effectively with OPDs. • The Partnership’s efforts to document good practice have contributed to understanding, awareness and practice change. We’ve shared 244 knowledge resources to the DID4all Resource Library, supporting diverse sectors and contexts. •Our joint disability inclusion support visits to DFAT Posts have improved shared understanding and commitment to disability inclusion and strengthened relationships between DFAT and in-country OPDs. •The complementary strengths of each partner have contributed significantly to progress, with IAG bringing a unique combination of value in terms of its ways of working, OPD relationships, and technical expertise. Going forward, an integrated approach to GEDSI must ensure advice addresses the specific needs and barriers experienced by people with disabilities, as well those faced by women and girls and LGBTQIA+ persons – including those barriers resulting from multiple and overlapping discrimination faced by those whose identities cut across these groups. We look forward to continuing our work with DFAT and implementing the evaluation’s recommendations to further advance disability equity and inclusion. #DisabilityInclusion #InclusiveDevelopment #Partnerships #DFAT #Equity

2.4 billion people—that’s 1 in 3 of us—rely on assistive technology (AT) for our daily lives. Yet in the Pacific, only 10% of people can access the AT they need. We spoke to people with disabilities in Papua New Guinea to understand more about the critical role AT plays in their lives and the barriers they face due to the lack of access and funding. For people like Kepsy and Vivian, the right to AT means the ability to participate in everyday life. By making strategic investments in AT, we can unlock opportunities and ensure everyone has the tools they need to participate in their daily lives. It’s time to step up our support for people with disabilities and #UnlockTheEveryday for all 🌍 bit.ly/4flKTew #AssistiveTechnology #ChampioningDisabilityEquity #IDPD2024

It's Time for Australia to Step Up on Aid and Inclusion 🌍 Australians are now uniting to call on our government to increase the aid budget to 1% of federal spending—an essential step towards supporting people with disabilities living in poverty. Raising our aid contribution could enable transformative change for people with disabilities living in poverty: • Sign-language inclusive classrooms for Deaf children. • Assistive technology that restores vision and mobility. • Disability-inclusive disaster preparedness to protect vulnerable communities in crises. The time is now for Australia to lead with compassion and build a safer, more inclusive world, for everyone. 🎥 Watch and share our video to raise awareness about the importance of this effort. Then, take action: 📧 Email your MP to urge an increase in Australia's aid budget. Together, we can drive positive change. bit.ly/4fhaoxd

Building resilient communities through inclusive mental health CBM Australia’s partnership with Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade aims to create equitable mental health and psychosocial services, empower people with psychosocial disabilities and foster resilient communities in Fiji and the Philippines. Rise and Thrive centres a rights-based model of care, and meaningful engagement of people with psychosocial disabilities to ensure their needs and priorities are reflected throughout all stages of the program design and implementation. Through our focus on inclusive mental health, our partnership with DFAT aims to drive socio-economic development and cultivate an environment that promotes wellbeing for all. Read more about our program and partnership here > bit.ly/3YxGsaB #HealthyRegion

CBM Australia and the Australian Disability and Development Consortium (ADDC) welcome Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade new Humanitarian Policy, released this week, where disability equity and rights is highlighted as a key area of focus for future humanitarian action. As the first policy of its kind for the humanitarian program since 2016, it comes at the most unstable period globally since World War II. “The new policy shows the Government is progressing Australia’s commitment to disability equity as a core focus of our international development and humanitarian programs,” said CBM Australia CEO, Jane Edge. “We welcome the clear direction to better integrate disability equity throughout the humanitarian program.” We stand ready to work with the government to shift the policy from paper into action driven by increased funding, accountability measures and resourcing of DFAT to deliver on commitments. Read our media release here. https://lnkd.in/gq-tMhXW Jane Edge

CBM Australia warmly welcomes Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade new Humanitarian Policy with a commitment to championing diversity and inclusion, highlighting disability equity and rights throughout humanitarian action. We are pleased to see this government’s commitment to disability equity as a core area of action within the broad spectrum of humanitarian policy and efforts, including efforts to reach the most marginalised groups, often those left behind. This central focus is vital with marginalised groups, including people with disabilities, at increased risk during times of disaster. They must be included and supported during and after humanitarian response.

Life-changing surgery is a human right for everyone. Australia ranks first among OECD countries for equity and healthcare outcomes according to a Commonwealth Fund report in 2021. It is a reminder that access to life-changing surgery is easy to take for granted. Unfortunately, in the world's poorest countries, their reality is vastly different to what we have in Australia. Step-by-step, we can help change that reality. Today, on Miracles Day, I kindly ask my network to support CBM Australia in helping change people's lives forever. Did you know with just $33 you can change someone’s life forever? It’s true! Your $33 donation on Miracles Day will help CBM Australia restore someone’s sight for life. There are still people living needlessly blind who are desperately waiting for cataract surgery. If you can give up six cups of takeaway coffee, you can save someone’s sight, changing their life forever. Donate at www.cbm.org.au/miracles. #MiraclesDay

✨CBM Australia Inclusion Advisory Group is proud to provide technical support to the Australian Government's Hanoi Post, promoting disability inclusion policy and practice. This September, our Senior Advisor, Courtney Innes, visited Vietnam to provide a deep dive delivery of this support. This trip included an afternoon tea with Andrew Goledzinowski, the Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, and people with disabilities, where discussions covered improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities. We explored the willingness of employers to give people with disabilities a chance, and how people with disabilities and their local organisations could support with practical solutions. #DisabilityInclusion #InclusionMatters #CBMAustralia #EmploymentEquity #BreakBarriers #Vietnam #InclusionAdvisory

🔍 Addressing Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Girls with Disabilities 🔍 At CBM Australia, our Inclusion Advisory Group leverages the expertise of our technical advisors, our deep connections with the disability movement, as well as CBM Australia’s extensive programming experience to drive meaningful change. Recently, CBM Australia conducted an important enquiry into the experiences of women and girls with disabilities in relation to gender-based violence (GBV). The findings highlight critical issues faced by this marginalised group: •Increased and unique risks: Women and girls with disabilities face a higher and unique risks of various forms of abuse, including physical, sexual, forced medical treatment, psychological, digital, and financial. •Barriers to Reporting: Factors such as a lack of understanding of GBV, fear of further trauma, financial constraints, and lack of support prevent many from reporting abuse. •Systemic Challenges: The enquiry also reveals issues such as stigma and discrimination around disability, limited access to resources, and inadequate support systems that contribute to the marginalisation of women and girls with disabilities, compounding their risk of violence as well as the barriers in reporting and accessing assistance. These findings underscore the need for tailored support and intervention strategies for women and girls with disabilities in both prevention and response to violence. Read our report here https://lnkd.in/g6-YgA8s 👈 And to learn more about CBM Australia Inclusion Advisory Group’s services, visit our website https://lnkd.in/g9dMnShe

🌍 Empowering a new wave of Pacific leaders! 🌍 The Pacific Bridge CRPD-SDGs Program kicked off this week (12th-18th September) in Fiji, bringing together leaders from 13 countries across the Pacific. Led by the Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) with support from International Disability Alliance (IDA) and CBM Australia's Pacific Impact team and drawing from experiences of the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC), this unique training initiative is designed by and for the disability community. The BRIDGE CRPD-SDG initiative equips leaders from Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and disability advocates with the tools to promote inclusive development and the realisation of all human rights for all persons with disabilities. Through capacity development participants deepen their understanding of the CRPD, SDGs and Agenda 2030, to reinforce their advocacy efforts for equity and rights across policy and programming agendas. We’re especially excited to support emerging leaders from marginalised groups and newly formed OPDs across the region! 🌐 #CRPD #SDG #Agenda2030 #Equity #DisabilityInclusion #HumanRights #Leadership #Inclusion Empowering for Equity 💪 CBM Global Disability Inclusion Pacific Disability Forum International Disability Alliance International Disability and Development Consortium