Dogtober 2021 Newsletter
Rockhampton River Festival The Future of Jobs 1
Newsletter Editor’s Notes Carnival of Flowers
A huge thank you to all the volunteers to assisted with the BBQ held at the Queens Park Market, in alphabetical order: Ann, Cathy, Courtney, Craig, Hannah, Jess, Maree, Monique, Peter, Phil, Steve, Tash, Trinity & Wayne. After expenses, we raised $869.00. Day Service Makeover Wow, what a surprise for everyone who visited the Toowoomba Day Service after a weekend work-athon by Billy, Jess and family, Jane and family and Leanne. Picture on page 10 doesn’t do the vibrant colours and patterns justice. Well done guys and thank you for all your artistic efforts. Highfields Lions
In This Issue 2 Editor Notes 3 The Future of Jobs Toowoomba
We received a signed jersey from the Highfields Lions under 8’s and under 10’s and can be seen on page 8. This is a wonderful action by the club to have the young people sign the jersey and it is treasured.
4 Fraud in the NDIS
Demise of the Australian Disability Enterprise
8 Staff Training Updates
5 Service Improvement Plan 6 Community 7 Community Partnerships
The Employment outcomes for NDIS participants summary report has been released and show some very sad statistics in ADE status by quarter.
9 NGO Training Infographic
Age
12 Participant Documentation`
Q2 2018 Q2 2021 Reduction of
10 Toowoomba Community 11 Rockhampton Community
15-24
7.0%
0.5%
- 6.5%
13 Staff Updates
25 over
22.0%
0.9%
- 21.1%
14 What’s happening in October
I say “Shame, Shame, Shame NDIS.” BigDog Newsletter Privacy Notice: Please note that as a subscriber to our BigDog Newsletter which supplies news and events relevant to this organisation, your email address or any other personal information collected will only be used for the purpose for which you gave it to us and will not be disclosed to any other person, body or agency except where you have provided your consent or it is required or authorised by law. 2
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The Future of Jobs
Toowoomba
The Future of Jobs – Toowoomba Forum included a morning of presentations from Major Project representatives about predictions for the makeup of the workforce that will be needed, for Toowoomba in the future. It covered the skills required, and the likely timeframes for these skills. Then after lunch we workshopped how the presentations will influence changes to current training and education approach for Toowoomba. The aims of the forum were to share project plans and identify the skills needed and plan to prepare the Toowoomba workforce for the foreseeable future. We identified the work that needs to be done at the education and training level, to ensure there are a pool of qualified/skilled applicants to choose from when the time comes for employers to recruit over the next decade.
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Updates Fraud in the NDIS Media release from the Minister 22 September 2021 The Government’s strong commitment to protecting Australians living with a disability has been underlined, with the arrest of man for allegedly defrauding the NDIS of more than $120,000. The Australian Federal Police executed a search warrant at a western Sydney property on Tuesday in relation to an investigation by the NDIS Fraud Taskforce. A 29-year-old-male was later arrested and charged with obtaining a financial advantage by deception. Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said the arrest served as a warning to anyone considering ripping off vulnerable Australians or defrauding the taxpayer. “All Australians suffer when public money is defrauded. That’s why this Government is serious about taking strong action to protect against fraud,” Minister Andrews said. “The hardworking men and women of the AFP, and their partners in the NDIS Fraud taskforce, should be proud of the work they are doing to protect people with a disability and safeguard the integrity of taxpayer funds.” “This alleged criminal activity is precisely why the Federal Government recently extended the NDIS Fraud Taskforce on an indefinite basis,” Minister Reynolds said. “This is another warning to anyone out there considering ripping off funding intended for 4
NDIS participants. The message is clear: you will be caught and you will then face the consequences of your actions through the legal system.
“Every NDIS provider and worker must meet the requirements of the NDIS Code of Conduct, which not only relates to the quality and safety of supports and the rights of people with disability, but also acting with integrity, honesty and transparency. “The Taskforce is just one of the measures the NDIA uses to detect and identify fraudulent activity, and works in conjunction with the NDIS regulator, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and other bodies, to ensure the plan funding of NDIS participants remains protected.” The NDIS Fraud Taskforce is a multi-agency partnership between the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Services Australia. Anyone with concerns that fraud is being committed against the NDIS should contact the NDIS fraud hotline on 1800 650 717.
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NDIS Service
Improvement Plan
The NDIA Participant Service Charter sets out what participants can expect from the NDIA and Partners in the Community (PiTC) organisations. It provides overall principles for interactions with participants, and clear service standards and timeframes. These are included in the proposed Participant Service Guarantee and the Participant Service Improvement Plan. Completed • More support for using your plan, for finding both disability services and mainstream supports • Clearer about support coordination services, and what you should expect
supports and funding • Able to manage your plan more easily, using a new NDIS mobile app
• Able to use online forms and services where you want to June 2022 • New systems to make sure providers are paid promptly and accurately, so your support is not interrupted • We will improve our direct support for you if you have complex needs and require critical supports, or are otherwise potentially vulnerable
December 2021
• Fund early intervention supports for children more flexibly
• Clearer on what reasonable and necessary supports means, with case studies and examples.
• Build goals in your plan that are clearly designed, realistic and attainable
• Clearer guidelines and procedures so there is consistency in how we make decisions; and we will make more of these public. • Clearer guidelines and procedures so there is consistency in how we make decisions; and we will make more of these public • Plan summary statements and draft plans before your plan is approved so you can check your information is right and there are no surprises • A face-to-face meeting with the person who makes a decision about your plan
• More do-it-yourself online plan tools • Documents will use consistent terms and definitions with less jargon • Improve the way we provide you support for independent decision-making • We will encourage Individualised Living Options as an alternative to traditional group homes • We will make sure you are connected to other mainstream and community supports and services as well, even if you don’t gain access to the NDIS 5
Our Community
Capras Awards Night—Rockhampton Simone, Steven and Ann
Business Disability Awards Night—Toowoomba Sharon Boyce and MC for the night, Karni Liddell
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Community
Partnerships
Daryl Nicholson Toowoomba 4350TV
Sep/Oct Magazine WhatsUp in Disability Stories in this issue include: • Alyce Nelligan • NDIS Narional Workforce Plan • Independent Assessments • Where to from here conference To obtain a copy of WhatsUp in Disability magazine or to be a sponsor, please contact WhatsUp via:
• Business Disability Awards
Office
11-15 Alexander Street, Toowoomba
• Zero Tolerance
admin@whatsupindisability.org
Online
www.whatsupindisability.org
• NDIS in brief
Steven Paull President 7
Sponsorship
Training NGO Training Modules All employees on Probation will now need to complete the following modules to progress from Probation to Level 1 employment. •
Communications
•
Duty of Care
•
Effective Progress Notes
•
Intro to Disability Support 1
•
Intro to Disability Support 2
•
Keeping Safe at Work
•
NDIS Quality Framework
•
Person-Centred Support
•
Teamwork
New BigDog Sponsored Certificates A new round of Certificate III and IV signups will be available in November and if everyone could please let Steph know that they wish to undertake any formal training. There is a Queensland Government contribution of $4,160.00 and a BigDog contribution of $968.00 for the student fee. Which is calculated at $1.60 for 605 hours of the traineeship. Any casual employee signing up to do the Certificate III or IV will be transferred from casual to part-time and once they complete the training and receive their certificate they immediately go from level 1 to level 2 pay, an increase of $6.50 per hour. Certainly worth the investment of your time to complete the Cert.
Trainee Placements A new group of Aurora Trainees will be starting at the Toowoomba Day Service on Thursday 14th October for a 10 week placement of 120 hours. We welcome them and hope that they will transition from training to employment 8
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Infographics
Training
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Toowoomba Community Centre
Billy & Jess
Lots of things, lots of fun! Time flies when you’re having fun and boy did September come and go quickly! This month with fresh eyes and fresh paint the Toowoomba Community Centre looks forward to taking to the skies (metaphorically) and travelling to both Japan and Mexico as part of our food explorers program aiming to handmake traditional foods to these countries and enjoy cultural experiences. We’re chilled to the bone with preparations for Halloween and anticipation for our paw-fect Dogtober Morning Tea grows steadily. With movie days, music therapy and many other October activities on the horizon we look forward to another month flying by.
BigDog Day Service Toowoomba Paul Myatt Community Centre 11-15 Alexander Street North Toowoomba 4350 Coordinators Billy Mills and Jess Wright Phone: 4512 6020 dayservice@bigdogsupport.com.au 10
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Rockhampton Community Centre Last month saw us in Hollywood on the red carpet meeting some of our favourite movie and TV characters.
SARAH & Michelle
You may be wondering where we are at the moment with our world travel! The truth is, we took some time out to have some fun and to work on our motor skills! This month ...
BigDog Day Service Rockhampton BigDog Community Centre 170 East Street Rockhampton 4700 Coordinators Sarah Dillon and Michelle Schefe Phone: 4573 4611 rockhampton@bigdogsupport.com.au
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Safety Updates
Steve
Participant Documentation Communication
Continuous Quality Improvement
Participant documentation is an effective method of sharing information. There may be more than one service provider or person supporting an individual, so it’s best for everyone to be on the same page.
This is an important aspect of providing quality services and support. Although there are identified standards that support the industry, and your organisations might be currently assessed as meeting these, you cannot become complacent. The expectations of individuals and their families’ change. Good documentation can assist in picking up trends in the needs of an individual, your target Participant group and the needs of your workforce going forward.
Assessment Participant documentation is the primary reference source when conducting a reassessment. Participant documentation can indicate improvement or deterioration of the individual and prompt changes in service delivery or identify needed referrals. Continuity of Care
As well as being useful for effective communication, good documentation helps everyone to understand the current needs of a Participant. This in turn promotes continuity of support and services. Documentation can be used to prompt or remind individuals of specific actions. Shared Knowledge Participant documentation promotes quality outcomes. Legal Requirements Accurately reported facts are the best defence against litigation. Any and all documents that relate to the care, services and support of an individual can be called upon as evidence in a court of law. All Participants have a legal right to safe, professional services and support – including accurate and truthful documentation.
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Funding Participant documentation assists to receive appropriate funding for an individual from government agencies. Participant documentation acts as a measure of the care, services & support needs of individuals. Physical Evidence ‘If it isn’t written down, it never happened.’ Without documentation, you have no concrete evidence of services delivered, goals achieved or interventions implemented. Mandatory Participant Documents PLEASE NOTE - All Participants receiving services and support from a sole trader, unregistered or registered provider who are government funded at all and diagnosed with a disability MUST have mandatory documentation completed at least annually or as required during the year. The document must be sighted, actioned and stored on the Participant file.
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Staff Updates
Ann
SCHADS Award Update These changes are proposed to commence in October 2021. Clauses 10.5 and 25.6 will be amended as follows: Clause 10.5 – Part-time and casual social and community service workers (except disability workers) will be paid a minimum three hours. All other Part-time and casual workers will be paid a minimum two hours. Clause 25.6 – Broken shift will be a shift consisting of 2 separate periods of work with a single unpaid ‘break’ (other than a meal break) with a maximum of 2 unpaid ‘breaks’ by agreement for an additional allowance.
Travel Allowance This is a reminder that if you wish to use your own car for a shift that you must gain approval for this prior to the commencement of your shift. Permission is recorded in the manager’s notes on Easy Employer and not visible on your shift notes. Manager’s notes are used when the pays are prepared so that any allowances or special condition payments can be calculated and included in your pay.
Staff Birthdays
October 2021 5th 6th 17th 19th 21st 29th
Kane Benoni Steph Billy Peter Steven Michelle
Have a great day!
If you do not have an approval, you will not be paid the allowance for that shift.
Employee of the Month Congratulations to Steph who has been keen to take on new tasks including reconciling the transport reports, consolidating the Participant Notes, updating Easy Employer with everyone’s licences, positive notices and training details as well as ensuring that all of the employee induction documentation has been completed and electronically filed. Now, Steph has also taken on the additional role as one of the on-call team. With her encyclopaedic memory of participants and support staff she can quickly solve the calls. A $50 voucher is so well deserved. Thank you. 13
What’s happening in
October
Rockhampton River Festival 22nd October 2021
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Justice of the Peace This service is available at the Paul Myatt Community Centre 11-15 Alexander Street Toowoomba (please call first to make an appointment) The JPs in the Community Program is also available through major shopping centres, libraries, court houses and hospitals.
Contact Us BigDog Support Services
232 Ruthven Street Toowoomba QLD 4350 PO Box 234 Harlaxton QLD 4350
(07) 4632 9559 1800 22 44 32 www.bigdogsupport.com.au 15
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