Minutes of the Waikato and Bay of Plenty Supported Employment Group (WOBOPSEG)

Agenda Item

Comments / Recommendations

Action

Matters Arising

WBOPSEG Meeting attendees. Discussion once again around:

• What organisations are eligible to attend WBOPSEG?

Discussion around whether both ASENZ full and associate member agencies are eligible to attend. Consensus seemed to be that Associate members do have attendance rights and as such, should be invited to attend.

Decision that next meeting be an  “invitation” meeting where organisations who have not been attending but are on the ASENZ list of members be specifically invited, to gauge level of interest from eligible organisations.

• What is the focus of the WBOPSEG meetings and who ( Managers / Staff etc) should attend as a priority?

Background: WBOPSEG historically has been  a forum for ASENZ accredited Organisation Managers and any Waikato and Bay of Plenty ASENZ board representatives to share information and ideas. Has not traditionally been a formal meeting process
          
Consensus achieved that WBOPSEG “Terms of Reference” be drafted in order to clarify the above questions.

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ASENZ Conference – Have any of our regions organisations put forward proposals for Conference workshops, etc?

 Career Moves has proposed the following – Yet to have confirmation From Ian Harper

• Employment Consultants workshop
• Transition workshop
• Supported Employment and ACC workshop

Question posed:

Are members happy to return to one National ASENZ Conference as opposed to smaller regional Conferences?
Overwhelming consensus was yes; better networking and professional development opportunities at a national forum. Wellington the preferred venue due to political networking opportunities.

It was noted that if ASENZ Members do not voice their concerns, appreciation, ideas or otherwise to the Executive Officer and Board about what they want in a conference then the Executive Officer and Board will continue to provide what they see fit.

Reminder that the theme of the Conference this year is:

• If the tough get going, when the going gets tough!
             Where do they go?
                        And what do they do when they get there?”

Richard

Roy to draft to bring to meeting following invitation meeting

General Business

ASENZ board issues:

Cindy Johns, (Idea), has had to resign from the board effective immediately.

Susan MacDonald - ASENZ Consumer Representative Board member via Pou Whakaaro / Whakatane - has her funding application for travel costs to Board meetings turned down. This means that Susan is unable to attend most (if not all) ASENZ Board meetings.

Questions raised by Mairwen:
Are Consumer Representatives now token appointments to the ASENZ Board?
If so, why are there Consumer Representatives on the Board?

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Discussion around the merits or otherwise of the proposed Peak Organisation.

 Question: Does ASENZ need to be associated with a Peak organisation?

No clear mandate either way from members present.

Issues raised for discussion:

• How do current providers maintain the integrity of delivering a Supported Employment Service with ASENZ values within a wider disability structure? (Retain quality standards)
• How do current providers maintain the integrity of Transition Services as delivered under ASENZ  Supported Employment principles? (Retain quality standards)
• Has ASENZ as a governance organisation reached its potential, and if so, is it timely to become part of a Peak Body organisation?
• Will ASENZ become overshadowed as a governance organisation if it decides to opt out of being part of a Peak Organisation?
• Does ASENZ as an organisation look to reinvent itself to incorporate other client streams if it doesn’t join the Peak Association.
• Would joining be a move forward for ASENZ into the future of disability organisations?
• Would a peak Organisation provide a united / strong voice to advocate for increased funding for Supported Employment providers and better quality of life for their clients?
• Does being part of a Peak Organisation invite a loss of standing for Supported Employment as an important dimension within the disability spectrum to increase clients quality of life?

ASENZ member organisations have been sent a questionnaire by ASENZ Executive Officer Ian Harper asking  their views on the Peak Organisation concept and ASENZ’s inclusion or otherwise. No clear mandate either way has yet been provided by returned questionnaires. Until ASENZ has a viable response rate to the questionnaires there can be no movement toward a decision that can be forwarded to the Peak Body interim Board.

Next meeting on:
Wednesday the 15th of July at 1pm. Venue To Be Advised