WWDA Proposal: Future Consumer Representation in Communications

“Empowering women is not just an end in itself; it is a prerequisite for reaching all of the Millennium Development Goals – our common vision to build a better world in the 21st century,” – Asha-Rose Migiro, UN Deputy Secretary-General, 12 March 2008

Women With Disabilities Australia ( WWDA) is the peak organisation for women with all types of disabilities in Australia. Run by women with disabilities, for women with disabilities, WWDA operates as a national disability organisation; a national women's organisation; and a national human rights organisation. WWDA is a voice for the needs and rights of women with disabilities.

Women with disabilities in Australia are disproportionately excluded from Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). WWDA maintains that a Digital Divide continues to operate at all levels of income to deprive women with disabilities from taking full advantage of the developments in ICT. In order to address this inequity, WWDA has been involved in systemic ICT advocacy for a number of years and has undertaken research in the area of communications since 1999. Its activities in communications are guided by a dedicated 7-8 member Telecommunications Group. The importance of involving women with disabilities in initiatives to improve access to ICT in Australia is ongoing.

WWDA currently has a systemic advocate representative on each of the Telstra Disability Forum, the TEDICORE Project Advisory Body and the Communications Alliance Disability Council (Deputy Chair).

1. Improving Consumer Representation:

The proposals outlined below are aimed at the development of a consumer representation model in communications that would:

• increase the consumer representative base,
• improve the reach of information dissemination into the community;
• improve feedback mechanisms for government;
• reduce government costs for administration of an improved and more comprehensive consumer representation program
• reduce non-government organisations’ (NGOs’) administration and reporting obligations, and
• improve the effectiveness of representation.

2. Components:

a. Advisory Body Representation

A new Consumer Advisory Body (CAB) would be set up for each of: Government (DBCDE), regulator (ACMA), industry (CommsAlliance) and ombudsman (TIO), hereafter referred to in this submission as “host organisations”.

Each CAB to comprise of 9-12 members. Twenty per cent of positions on each CAB (with a minimum of two positions) to be corralled for disability representation. In addition, a “Disability & Community Liaison Officer” position to be funded. This Officer is to have a permanent position on each CAB, with the role of coordinating input, liaising between CABs on disability issues and thereby enhancing consistency of information shared between the host organisations and consumer organisations.

Gender equity in the make-up of each CAB also to be maintained.

Uniform Sitting Fees for each CAB to be set at approx. $900 - $1000 per day, with this to be full payment for incidental work done by representatives between meetings. When a representative is unable to participate at a particular meeting, his/her position will not be filled by a locum from that representative’s nominating consumer organisation. The representative will still undertake any work prior to and arising from that meeting.

Each host organisation to be responsible for payment and administration of sitting fees for the representatives on its CAB, as well as associated travel and accommodation costs for meetings. CAB meetings to be held on a quarterly basis.

To increase the diversity of representation, individual consumer representatives may not simultaneously serve on two or more CABs. However, individuals may also have a place on the consumer advisory body of a telecommunications organisation (such as Telstra Disability Forum or Optus Consumer Liaison Forum).

Tenure on each CAB to be for three year terms, with a maximum of two consecutive terms.

Casual vacancies on these advisory bodies to be filled from a representatives' register (see below). Therefore the replacement person may not necessarily be from the consumer organisations which the departing person represented. The balance of representatives with disabilities would need to be maintained when the host organisations choose replacements.

Appointment of representatives be timed so that a staggered turn-over of representatives could be achieved.

Only individuals who have undertaken Telecommunications Representation Training (see below) are eligible to be on the representatives’ register. Individual names would be on the register with the relevant nominating parent NGO also shown.

In cases where a nominated representative has been unable to fulfill their duties satisfactorily, the nominating organisation would have the prerogative to withdraw its endorsement of the nominee for a second term.

The consequence of this reorganisation of CABs would be that consumer organisations currently receiving consumer representation grants of $20,000 or less, would be able to direct their energies to ensuring that a number of their members get Telecommunications Representation Training, and that all their eligible members be nominated on a central Register of Representatives. The DBCDE would benefit by elimination of administrative costs of smaller grants.

Consumer organisations wanting to undertake specific additional activities could do so under the Research Grants program, or in a co-operative arrangement with a larger consumer organisation.

b. Registration of Representatives

The DBCDE to maintain a central registration data base of potential communications consumer representatives. The registration process to be concise, requiring a short biography, individual’s contact details and contact details of the nominating consumer organisation. Individuals may nominate themselves with the endorsement of a referee so long as they can substantiate a claim to being able to represent a significant number of consumers. Telecommunications Companies may not be a nominating organisation. Before being accepted on the central register, individuals must have completed Telecommunications Representation Training.

This arrangement would mean that the DBCDE would have oversight of both training and registration of representatives. The other host organisations would then need to use this central register to source representatives for their own CABs.

Alternatively, each host organisation could administer its own registration data base. This would mean that individuals and consumer organisations would have to register with each host organisation. The onus would be on individuals to disclose that they are already on a host organisation’s CAB, if approached to join another.

c. Telecommunications Representation Training

The DBCDE to conduct a 1-day training program on an annual basis for consumer representatives. In their applications to participate, potential consumer representatives must have a demonstrated ability to act as information conduits between the host organisation (e.g. TIO) and their respective groups of constituents. The training is a pre-requisite for serving on any host organisation’s CAB. Interested consumer organisations will be encouraged to have multiple members undertake training, although space may be limited to one member trained per year. Ideally, representatives should already have some systemic advocacy skills and experience. The training is to include an overview of current telecommunications legislation, and of the Trade Practices Act.

From time to time, training courses to be conducted in rural/regional centres. Ideally courses would be conducted on a rotational basis in all states/territories of Australia. Candidates for out-of-capital-city courses are to be predominantly drawn from nearby areas.

d. Scholarships Program

In addition the DBCDE is to pro-actively support the employment of people with disabilities in communications, by sponsoring a training scholarship each year for a person with disability to undertake training in some technical aspect of communications, e.g. audio engineering. It will thus be supporting 3-4 trainees per year, depending on the length of courses undertaken. Course may be at diploma or undergraduate level.

e. Consumer Communications Forum

The host organisations to convene a Consumer Communications Forum on an annual basis. The forum to have a dedicated segment in which communications issues, technological advances, and research affecting the people in the disability sector are discussed. Representatives from the peak disability organisations; all CAB members; representatives from all host organisations and other communications consumer organisations to be participants.

f. Research

The Research Grants component of the Consumer Representation Grants scheme must be increased so that it is able to support NGOs to conduct rigorous research into both technological and sociological aspects of communications. A mixture of short-term (12-month) and long-term grants (3+ years) to be available.

g. Maintaining Existing Telecommunications NGOs

Large communications organisations, such as ATUG and CTN, will need increased Operational Funding. Funding should be on a 3-year cycle, with administrative savings for both DBCDE and the consumer organisations made through streamlining of reporting requirements. Further savings can be realised through a rationalisation of key performance indicators. In addition the arrangement outlined above for the formation of CABs will mean that fewer organisations will apply for the limited pool of operational funding, so that more viable funding levels for the remaining organisations can be realised.

Similarly a 3-year funding cycle for the Disability & Community Liaison Officer should be directed through the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations.

h. Overseas Representation

The DBCDE to support the Disability & Community Liaison Officer to participate in and give a disability sector perspective on overseas communication bodies of strategic importance to development of Australian communication systems, e.g. AUSTAP.

i. Transition Arrangements

During the phase-in period, existing representatives will need to remain in their current roles. They will be eligible for appointment to the news CABs without undertaking the government training (but are to be encouraged to do so).

3. Disclaimer

Telecommunications Companies are not considered in the above outline, and should be required to maintain and enhance their current consultative arrangements.

In making this submission WWDA has not included costings for the proposals, nor has it investigated any necessary changes to the enabling legislation of the host organisations cited.

Sue Salthouse
Team Leader, WWDA Telecommunications Group

21 April 2008

This document is available in large print, or taped version on request to:

WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES AUSTALIA 
WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES AUSTRALIA
PO Box 605 , Rosny Park 7018 TAS
Ph: 03 62448288
Fax: 03 62448255
ABN: 23 627 650 121
Email: wwda@wwda.org.au
Web: www.wwda.org.au

WWDA Consultant
Sue Salthouse
4 Dietrich Place , Chisholm ACT 2905
Ph: 02 6291 6842/
Fax: 02 6291 3889
Mobile: 04-111-57-164
E-mail: sudata@optusnet.com.au

• Document ID: 83339 |
• Last modified: 23 April 2008, 3:02pm