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One current campaign
An assessment item in Medicare A joint campaign of CIDs and
AADDM
What’s your aim?
Work from the goal to the options for getting there?Goal - Better health for people with
intellectual disabilitiesOptions – Lots! Most useful are ones
that will make a big contribution to the goal and appeal to the decision makers.
Medicare item
Pros Evidence it will
work In line with
developments in Medicare and internationally
A valuable signal
Cons Uncertainty of
eligible population Uncertainty of
take-up rate
Getting on the agenda
Initial lack of receptiveness in the Department.
Sought a meeting with the Minister – CID in Canberra, parent in his electorate.
Can anyone help you get a meeting?
You’ve got about half an hour!
A crisp presentation
Keep to the essential points A clear, straight forward message One or two pages – bullet points Think about your audience – Will
s/he like anecdotes or data? Etc A man focused on practical chunks of reform.
What to cover
Who you are – we represent lots of voters, we know what we’re talking about
The problem – People with intellectual disabilities are in poor health
Why its like this – Communication barriers, five minute consultations
The evidence – Research and our experience Some options for solutions What you are seeking – Something s/he can
say “Yes” to. Anything from a dialogue to specific action, eg the Medicare item
What will help win him– Cost savings etc
To put a specific proposal?
Pros Serves up a solution A concrete election
promise
A good middle ground -
Cons What if they don’t like
it? There might be an
option they like better
Use the specific as an option for action, not the only option
So what happened with Tony?
It resonated with himWe sought - an election commitmentWe gathered support including AHCRAWe got - an acknowledgment of the
problem and a commitment to look at it and other options. A valuable step forward!
After the election
We met with the Minister’s adviser – very important people
The Minister sought advice from the GPs
The RACGP emerged as a champion A joint budget proposal 2005 –
detailed rationale, specification, costing
We gathered support
Australian Association on Developmental Disability MedicineAustralian Consumers AssociationAustralian Council of Social ServiceAustralian Federation of Disability OrganisationsAustralian Medical AssociationAustralian Psychological SocietyAustralian Society of Special Care in DentistryAustralasian Society for the Study of Intellectual DisabilityDietitians Association of AustraliaDown Syndrome Australia NetworkHuman Rights and Equal Opportunity CommissionNational Council on Intellectual DisabilityNational Ethnic Disability AllianceRoyal Australian College of General PractitionersSaint Vincent de Paul Society National Council
But we didn’t quite get there
Instead, the Department to look at it closely.
Time to work with the Department There issues? Respond. Adjust the
proposal. Try to see senior people
Gather more support
Keep talking to the Minister’s office.
So, bringing it together
Who are the key decision makers – eg Minister, Director-General, Premier, How can you get to them?
Who else do you need to have on side? Eg ministerial advisers, departments.
Whose support will help? In the disability sector, outside – avoid a narrow support base.
Who might oppose you? Can you avoid this?
Opposition, minor parties?
Think “interests” and options, not just positions
EgOur position – A Medicare assessment item
Our interests: Better health care Regular health assessments
Options Nurse based assessments Salaried doctors Use of other Medicare items?
Decision maker’s interests
Eg: Better lives for people with disabilities Consistency with govt policy, political philosophy Contain costs A practical solution I can say yes to! Avoid conflict with important groups Kudos Votes What flows from their personality/background?
Ask open questions, “Why?”, “What are your thoughts?”
Ask yourself, “What will appeal to them”? “What might worry them?”
A good outcome
Best available alternative Satisfies interests, especially ours! Amongst many options Legitimacy – measured objectively
eg based on research about what works, best practice
Compliance prone commitments Builds relationships
But never sell your soul
Be true to principles of advocacy: On the side of people with disabilities Vigorous action Fidelity to people with disabilities
And so, for example, you might advocate sweeping reform while also advocating some practical initial priorities.
Build a strong coalition
Consult with your constituency, and report back
Fact sheets, discussion papers Go looking for valuable allies Email groups Letter writing campaigns Position statements Media
Is the time ripe?
Consider this when deciding what issues to concentrate on
BUT, never underestimate the power of
persistence and flexibility
Will we get there with Medicare?
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!
References
Fisher R, Kopelman E,& Schneider A (1994) Beyond Machiavelli, Tools for Coping with Conflict. Harvard University Press
Fisher R & Uri W (1982) Getting to Yes – Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In. Arrow Books, London
Ury W (1991) Getting Past No – Negotiating with Difficult People. Century Business, London
