Report from the CEO and Chair

Since our first newsletter went out AFDO has been working on a number of key issues and is continuing to build on our work in others. We have also experienced some changes in the AFDO office with our inaugural CEO, Maryanne Diamond, moving on to greener pastures.

As the previous Chair of AFDO, Samantha Jenkinson has taken on the role of Acting CEO while AFDO recruits someone permanently into this position. It is expected that a new CEO will be appointed in time for the AGM, and applications are currently open for the position. If you wish to apply for the position please contact the AFDO office for the position description. Graham Douglas-Meyer is acting in the role of Chair while Samantha has stepped down from the Board.

Over the last few months AFDO has done a lot of work in our strategic objective areas, some of which include:

• Hosting a forum for people with disability on creative solutions to disability services
• Lobbying the Australian Government to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability, and taking part in HREOC workshops on ratification
• Collecting case studies on the impact of Welfare to Work.

This newsletter contains articles on these issues and many others that we have been, and are still working on.

For the AFDO office the next six months leading up to the AGM will be very busy with the following key issues taking priority:

• Recruitment of a permanent CEO for AFDO
• Access to Premises Campaign
• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability (UNCRPD)
• AFDO will be working with its members to plan and run an election forum based on the Australia Fair Campaign.
• The AFDO election forum will re-launch Campaign Enable, so keep an eye on the AFDO website for updates
• CSTDA/Commonwealth Disability Initiatives
• Transport Standards

Recently the AFDO Board met for its June meeting to finalise the business plan for the coming year. The above mentioned issues were seen as priority areas as well as continuing to strengthen the governance of our organization. A communiqué from the AFDO Board has been distributed following the meeting and can be downloaded from the link below.

Regards

Graham Douglas-Meyer, Chair AFDO Board
Samantha Jenkinson, Acting CEO