NRSDC 's newest employee Skye Gannon is looking forward to making difference in the

People with disability, their carers and supporters took to the streets of Lismore on May 10 to celebrate the federal government's announcement that $1 billion will be allocated over the next four years towards the launch of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. 

Click here to see a photo gallery of the NDIS rally.

 The Lismore Shopping Square became a hub of transport information in early May when service providers from around the region showcased the many transport options available to our regional communities. As well as finding out about local bus and taxi services, people were able to try out the new wheelchair accessible transport options that have recently come into service, including wheelchair accessible taxis, Community Transport vehicles and a new wheelchair accessible bus that can accommodate six wheelchairs.

 A Resource Handbook entitled  'Developing a Common Language between Corporations and Small Community Organisations' is available for download. This great resource is designed for workers within the community sector who are interested in building mutually beneficial relationships with businesses and corporate but are unsure of where to start. Likewise, those within the corporate sector will find this resource useful as it offers a glimpse into the unique motivations and processes of organisations operating at the “grass roots” level.

The State and Regional Development Committee has recently conducted a Legislative Assembly inquiry into Inter-regional public transport and NRSDC has made a comprehensive submission.  This inquiry was established on 7 March 2012 (closing May 18) to inquire into how inter-regional public transport can better serve the needs of regional New South Wales.

 Read the latest information about Home and Community Care, including training opportunities, conferences and events, reports and interagencies in the latest edition of the NRSDC Ageing and Disability Digest.

NRSDC's transport development workers have been very busy writing submissions on transport issues of late.    If you are interested in transport for our region we believe these two submissions give a good summary of both where we are and where we'd like to be as well as a few suggestions on how we might get there.

 Seventy people from across the region attended the Northern Rivers Housing Forum in Ballina on May 9 to hear from a diverse range of speakers and participate in a range of workshops on the theme of  Effective Partnerships for Service Delivery and Action.

 If you missed the Connecting Up 2012 conference, resources are now available, including blog posts, reflections on the conference and a wrap up of resources from around the web.

 If you and/or your partner receive an income support payment at any time during the financial year in which your child turns four, your child is required to undergo a relevant health check. If the health check is not completed, part or all of your Family Tax Benefit Part A Supplement for your child will be withheld.

 The 2012 Newcastle Family Law Pathways Network Gateway Conference will take place on 7-8 June in Newcastle. The topic will be Maintaining Child Focused Responses in the Family Law System: Family Violence, Attachment Theory, Neurobiology and Childhood Trauma.

 The Bundjalung Elders Council Aboriginal Corporation is holding a reconciliation fundraising event at 5pm on May 30, 2012 at Lismore City Hall. The film "Our Generation will be screened and the cost is $5.