Scope welcomes ‘energetic and enthusiastic’ Therapy graduates
Recent university graduates eager to cut their teeth in the disability sector have enjoyed an intensive two-day workshop preparing them for their budding careers.
People with communication disabilities can more easily access services offered by the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner (VLSB+C), which is now accredited with the internationally-recognised Communication Access Symbol from disability services provider Scope.
This achievement, celebrated at an event at VLSB+C’s office in Melbourne on 19 June, means the legal regulator has demonstrated its commitment to communication access by completing a five-staged accreditation process.
This included the development of custom communication tools, staff training, successful completion of communication access audits, and commitment to ongoing maintenance of communication access standards.
Just like physical access facilitates the ability to enter a building, communication access ensures that everyone can communicate effectively with workers, no matter the context or environment.
With 1 in 7 Australians likely to experience communication access requirements at some point in their lives, this accreditation means VLSB+C staff is equipped to communicate more effectively with members of the public and the legal profession, regardless of how they communicate.
Statistics also show that people with disability experience higher rates of violence, abuse and neglect than people without disability. In addition, forty-six per cent of complaints received by the Human Rights Commission are about disability discrimination, and one in six people with disability say they have experienced discrimination in the past year.
Victorian Legal Services Board CEO and Commissioner Fiona McLeay said being accredited by Scope was a significant milestone for VLSB+C.
“This accreditation will help us continue to fulfil our commitment to provide an accessible service to all Victorians,” Ms McLeay said. “Importantly, the Scope training has provided my staff with the knowledge and skills to feel confident to communicate with people with diverse communication needs, increasing our reach and supporting more Victorians with legal information and advice. I’m thankful to our staff and Scope for their dedication along this journey.”
Scope is one of Australia’s largest not-for-profit disability service providers. It supports thousands of people with complex intellectual, physical and multiple disabilities, and has pioneered the Communication Access Symbol accreditation.
Kate MacRae, CEO of Scope, said people with communication difficulties face unique challenges, including in interactions with lawyers and other legal professionals.
“Given that an estimated 1.2 million people in Australia live with communication access requirements, we commend the VLSB+C team on their commitment to ensuring their important services are accessible to everyone in the community,” Kate said.
"For the past 13 years, we’ve worked with more than 150 businesses and services to become accredited with the Communication Access Symbol, building their skills, knowledge, and confidence to effectively communicate with people with communication access requirements. We are excited to now recognise the VLSB+C as part of this group."
Daniel Giles, a Communication Access Assessor and Trainer at Scope who worked to accredit VSLB+C and is proudly autistic, told attendees at the launch event he “took part in a number of phone and email assessments for the VLSB+C.
“Phone assessments are among my favourite type of assessments, as the phone is the least accessible form of communication for me. It’s a form of communication I use as a last resort, especially in communicating with businesses.
“When a business is accredited for communication access, I can expect that it’ll make the customer service experience accessible for all customers,” Daniel said.
About Scope
At Scope, we work together to create meaningful opportunities for people with disability to belong and thrive.
We’re one of the largest not-for-profit disability service providers in Australia, supporting thousands of people with complex intellectual, physical and multiple disabilities. We operate across Victoria and New South Wales through more than 425 service locations and support more than 5200 people.
Our great team of people includes specialists in communication access and inclusion, dedicated to working in partnership with clients, carers and families.
Along with delivering high-quality services and employment opportunities for people with a disability, Scope conducts and supports research, to deliver better outcomes for people with disability.
About VLSB+C
VLSB+C is the independent regulator of the Victorian legal profession. They license lawyers and oversee service standards and conduct. This includes handling complaints about lawyers, investigating poor lawyer conduct, and overseeing the management of trust accounts.
They are also the stewards of the Public Purpose Fund and the Fidelity Fund, and administer these to support legal regulation and access to justice in Victoria. Learn more about VLSB+C HERE.
Media enquiries
For more information, please contact Cameron Magusic at Scope at [email protected], and Anthony Loncaric at VLSB+C at [email protected].
Be alert: Phishing scam to purchase gift cards
Be alert: It has come to our attention that some people have recently received phishing emails or text messages from people claiming to be from Scope or employees of Scope asking people for personal information and requesting the purchase of gift cards.
Benalla Day and Lifestyle Options is getting an upgrade!
We are excited to announce that our Benalla site is undergoing a renovation to improve accessibility and update facilities, making our services more accessible and enjoyable for all.
