The Federation Academy was launched last week in Queenstown by the Deputy Director General Disability, Adri Isbister. Owned and operated by the NZ Federation of Disability Information Centres, the Academy gives people working in organisations providing information and support to disabled persons the opportunity to upskill and gain micro-credentials. It also provides a good grounding for those wanting to work in the sector. Courses are run on the iQualify platform and are very flexible, enabling students to fit in study and work without feeling under pressure. The main Academy Course is Building Inclusive Communities. With Modules including Policy and Legislation, Supported Decision Making, Community Connections, Collaboration, Disability Responsivness and Cultural Responsiveness, the Course provides essential knowledge to help us all build inclusive communities. Fees are very reasonable to enable not-for-profit organisations to access this high quality training within their budget. The next intake will start on 1st July 2021. Further information can be found on the Academy website at http://www.theacademy.nz/
