The Victorian Disability Worker Registration is now open and is the culmination of many recommendations of the 2016 Victorian Government Inquiry into disability care and standards.
The Disability Worker Registration will work in tandem with the Victorian Workers Commission to uphold standards and ensure quality of care for all Victorians with a disability.
The Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria will enforce a code of conduct for all registered disability support workers to help create trusted and safe workers for people with disabilities.
"The new registration will allow support workers to enhance and prove their professionalism." Said Paul Healy, Branch Secretary for the Health and Community Services Union of Victoria.
As a person with a disability, listening to the speakers at the launch was very comforting because I have to admit the recent high profile cases of abuse and neglect has created a significant amount of anxiety for me around disability support despite knowing I have the knowledge and ability to speak up in bad situations.
"Having the ability to tell clients that I am a registered support worker will be a point of pride." Said Megan Howard, Victorian disability support worker.
Many of Victoria's major disability support providers are encouraging all staff to be registered as soon as possible.
Personally, as some one who has had to be supported by hundreds of disability support workers in my life, I would encourage all support workers to register their support and commitment to their clients by joining the Victorian Disability Worker Registration.
Disability Defying
For me communication is a disability defying innovation.
If I didn’t have the ability to talk the inability to walk would drive me insane.
Even something as simple as my name would be forever locked in my brain.
I’m lucky, I can scream out in pain or whisper my dream.
When my wheelchair breaks down and I cannot leave the room,
Thanks to technology my voice still has the power to Zoom.
When you look at me you can see my cerebral palsy
But that doesn’t give you the right to mute or pause me.
My voice gives me the chance to say to the ignorant ones, ‘Fuck you!’
But then I can turn around to my wife and say ‘I do’.
Sometimes I wish those who are paid to lend me a helping hand, would lend me an ear instead
And actually listen to what I have to say because I am tired of being told ‘Don’t worry sweetie, it’ll be okay’.
Have you heard the saying ‘Thems fighting words’?
If only my words could block a punch;
Then I wouldn’t have to cover my fear with sounds of bravery
And disguise the weakness of my disability.
My life is good! It’s fine.
Sometimes things just go completely south;
I feel like I’m just a body on wheels with words stuck in my mouth.
Jesus gave us the magic of the word spiritually, but He gave it to me literally.
When I see my friends who cannot speak because of their disability,
My words take on the power of spoken word poetry.
So as I leave the stage to the sound of chirping morning birds and the echoes of famous last words,
Maybe you’ll understand why, for me communication is a disability defying innovation.
© Poem by Chris Van Ingen | 25 May 2021
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