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About NZDSN

Welcome to
The New Zealand Disability
Support Network

Welcome to
The New Zealand Disability
Support Network

Latest News

Events
Regions
Membership
Contact
What is the New Zealand Disability Support Network?

The New Zealand Disability Support Network (NZDSN) is an incorporated society of members, represented by a Board of Governance.

NZDSN was formed in 2010 and is a network of not-for-profit organisations and some for-profit NGOs that provide support services to disabled people, mainly through contracts with government.

NZDSN takes a pan-disability perspective on the sector.

NZDSN is governed by a Board elected from the wider membership, and is serviced by a full-time Chief Executive and a small, mainly part-time support team.

NZDSN builds its work around six core documents:

  1. The Treaty of Waitangi
  2. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
  3. The Enabling Good Lives Principles
  4. The Disability Action Plan 2014-2016
  5. New Zealand Disability Strategy
  6. The ASENZ Supported Employment Principles
Values

NZDSN believes that the human rights of disabled people must be promoted and protected and that when injustices occur that we have an absolute responsibility as individuals and as disability service proviers to intervene and ensure people are safe.

NZDSN believes that all people should have the ability to realise their potential in the society where they live and have equal chances for success in life.

NZDSN believes in the value of diversity of people in society and that diversity must be respected and actively nurtured in disability services.

NZDSN believes that strong constructive relationships are the foundation of our work. We are committed to the development and maintenance of collaborative solution-focused relationships with our members; government and the other community agencies. In all our dealings with others we will be transparent, accountable and conduct ourselves with integrity.

Membership

Members can participate in the forums/meetings of the special-interest networks or through general meetings of all members.

Full membership is available to not-for-profit and for-profit organisations that provide support services to people with disabilities through contracts with government.

Events

For a full list of up coming events, including support and consultancy training please see the Our Events section of the website.

Meet our Team

We are a friendly approachable team, happy to answer any questions.

Garth Bennie

Chief Executive of the NZDSN

Phone: 04 473 4678
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Garth joined NZDSN in January 2015 and since then has led NZDSN into a new era of closer ties with Government and across providers. Garth has a wealth of experience in and around the disability sector with 15 years at the Ministry of Education as a District Manager for Special Education.

His career began at IHC in both vocational and residential settings where he trained as a social worker and since then he has held a variety of roles coordinating, managing, researching and developing disability services and policy. He gained his PhD on disability studies particularly focussing on supported employment.

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Get In Touch

Get In Touch