November 2021 Newsletter
Movember Mos for Bros 1
Newsletter Editor’s Notes Thousands of Queensland health workers have been given a final deadline to get the Covid vaccination or be banned from any facility where care is provided. Health staff refusing to be vaccinated against Covid will be booted from their workplaces and could face disciplinary action come 1 November. A letter sent out by Health boss Dr John Wakefield earlier this week states that anyone who has not supplied proof of vaccination and has not applied for an exemption can no longer work in any facility “where care is provided”. Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said about 2000 health staff had indicated they were unvaccinated, but said she had “full confidence” the system would manage. “There will be pressures on the system but those pressures are far less that what it would be if we had a major outbreak,” she said. “We make no apologies whatsoever for mandating vaccinations of our health workers and aged care.
BigDog Vaccination Policy
In This Issue 2 Editor’s Notes 3 NDIS Annual Pricing Review 4 Current software 5 CareMaster 6 Multicultural Australia 7 Community Partnerships
The vaccination for COVID-19 is voluntary and people maintain the option to choose, except when it has been made mandatory for employees in a government health order.
BigDog can only require employees to be vaccinated where a specific law requires an employee to be vaccinated or it would be lawful and reasonable for BigDog to give their employees a direction to be vaccinated, which is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
8 Staff Training Updates 9 NGO Training Infographic 10 Toowoomba Community 11 Rockhampton Community 12 Safety Updates 13 Staff Updates 14 What’s happening in November
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
BigDog Support Services Magazine
Updates Annual Pricing Review Price limits for group-based supports The 2021-22 Annual Pricing Review outlines each of the parts of the Price Guide that are up for review and, well, it’s pretty much everything. The Paper marks the beginning of what will be a 9-month journey to updated prices in July 2022. Prices for most supports will remain unchanged this financial year, and major changes will still coincide with EOFY. What are the changes being explored? Simplifying pricing arrangements
Remember when we were in the thick of the first wave of COVID and the NDIA announced that group support providers would have one week to fundamentally transform the way they bill? Well, now the NDIA seems to be looking back on that decision and wondering if it was a bit of an oopsy. It also asks an important question about how pricing arrangements could be adapted to better facilitate participant outcomes.
It’s not exactly a secret that the NDIS Price Guide (sorry, the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits) is too bloody complicated. The Paper points out that it’s currently 111 pages long (excluding addenda) and that providers and participants regularly report that it is difficult to understand.
Support Coordination
Price limits for 1:1 core supports
• Whether the price limits are appropriate for the skills and experience required;
73% of NDIS expenditure goes towards core supports, so this is understandably an area of pricing that we want to get right. Most prices in core are informed by the NDIS Cost Model for Disability Support Workers. For the unacquainted, this is a calculation that includes the NDIA’s assumptions of how much it costs to employ a worker, including salary, superannuation, on-costs, leave, utilisation, insurance, supervision, overheads and margin. The NDIA then uses this to set prices for most core supports and some capacity building supports, such as Recovery Coaching and Capacity Building by a Plan Manager.
The Support Coordination section is concerningly vague, with 90% of the word count dedicated to regurgitating the definitions in the current Price Guide. A mere two sentences are dedicated to outlining the issues the NDIA wants to look into, and these are also vague:
• Whether the overheads may necessarily be higher than those of other providers. Plan Management In looking at whether the current pricing arrangements are appropriate, the NDIA asks some generic questions about whether the establishment fee and monthly fees are reasonable. However, this is preceded by a short paragraph about the NDIA’s plans to move from the current portal-based manual claiming system to a real-time system, which is expected to change the role that Plan Managers currently play in processing claims. 3
Current Software Since 2018 we have been using a number of different software programs to meet our needs around accounting, billing, payroll, rosters and participant information and support records.
Google Forms
Our Accounting Software is great and with the current updates to cost centres, reporting templates and automated invoicing it will certainly serve us well into the future.
Google forms are easy to use but difficult to extract data information from.
Our current software packages are...well?
Gmail is easy to use and quick to share
This is a summary of the good and the bad.
Contacts clash with Insightly contacts
easyemployer
Not so good
Rostering, availability, time and attendance, timesheets, leave, award interpretation
Everyone who knows me knows that I am not a big Google fan and that I prefer to use the Microsoft Office suite of programs.
Good Timesheets link directly to our payroll system and employee information is easy to use as is the phone APP which is user friendly Not so good Slow to load a roster and multiple screens are difficult to update Shifts show minimum information and have to be duplicated each fortnightly roster
Insightly Customer Relationship Management system allows us to administer our interactions with customers, typically using data analysis to study large amounts of information. Good
Travel log, shift notes, medication log, update participant details and have your say. Good
Calendar is easy to use and transfers directly to most smart phones
Google sheets do not have the flexibility of MS Excel and data filtering and sorting Google docs do not provide the watermarks and the audit properties of MS Word
CodeREADR Creates QR Codes for employees, participants and activities. Good Simple way to record links to websites and identify items without naming them. Is used as an identifier for employee ID cards Not so good Needs a separate software to transfer the data into a usable reporting format
Interacts with Gmail and Google Contacts
Zapier
Allows for group emails and updates
Links Data from different programs
Not so good
Good
Only used by coordinators and is designed for sales or project management not for NDIS information records
Links CodeREADR to Google Forms.
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Not so good Difficult to set up additional data bases
BigDog Support Services Magazine
Care
Master
From the 1st January 2022 (by coincidence the start of a new fortnight) we will be operating under CareMaster software and Apps. CareMaster is fully integratable with our current accounting software and our data is currently being updated for this to occur. CareMaster features worker GPS tracking, signature capture, case notes, task lists, goal evidence, employee reminders to clock in and out, breaks and allowance options. Team Management Rosters and timesheets generated automatically based on client needs and worker availability. When you're ready to send new jobs out, just broadcast it to worker emails and mobiles with one click. Automatically Generated Alerts Is your worker's licence about to expire? Do you have a client due for reassessment? Need to know when client funding is down to the last 10%? CareMaster tracks and alerts
you - so you can just take action.
Cloud-based Mobile App Automated timesheets, worker GPS tracking, case notes entry, evidence uploads and signature collection with the CareMaster App. Payroll made easy CareMaster’s seamless integration and automation with Xero will save hours off processing employee payroll. Send approved timesheets from CareMaster to Xero to eliminate the time consuming task of entering data from manual timesheets and add a new level of accuracy. Training Over the next 2 months there will be a number of training sessions for all employees to assist with the transfer from easyemployer to CareMaster.
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Our Community Multicultural Australia Once you meet Prince Long Lo, our local representative for Multicultural Australia you are immediately drawn into his world of positivity and inclusion for everyone. Born in Hong Kong, Prince came to Australia to study and been the program coordinator at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and a Board Member of the Queensland Student Advisory Panel at Study Queensland. Whenever there is an event where Prince can promote Multicultural Australia, he will be there and his efforts were rewarded during the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards where Multicultural Australia was a finalist.
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BigDog Support Services Magazine
Community
Partnerships
Whatever you grow—will save a Bro Movember fundraisers are a global community of fired up Mo Bros and Mo Sisters – aka rock stars making a difference in mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Your donation could help save a father, a brother, a son, a friend, a partner, a man’s life. https://au.movember.com/get-involved/moustaches
Nov/Dec Magazine WhatsUp in Disability Stories in this issue include: • Daryl Nicholson • Multicultural Australia Toowoomba Business Disability Awards night with attendees from APM Employment and BigDog Support.
• NDIS has no Shepherd • Future of jobs in Toowoomba
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
• Our Community Centre
admin@whatsupindisability.org
Online
www.whatsupindisability.org
• My Sydney 2000
Steven Paull President 7
Sponsorship
Training
In 2022
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 this 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.
Why should you study? According to the Australian Government's Job Outlook service, the number of people working as aged and disability carers is forecast to grow very strongly in the coming years. With around 179,000 job openings expected over the next five years, graduates with skills in this area will be in high demand. You will learn how to support independence and wellbeing, gain a range of technical skills, and develop a range of transferable skills from communication to teamwork. This specialised course will give you the skills to facilitate the empowerment of people with disabilities, and support community participation and social inclusion. Our highly-experienced teachers provide one-on-one guidance and support every step of the way to ensure you have the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the field. It will also prepare you to undertake further studies in the community services sector.. 8
Highfields Lions AFC This will be the first year that Highfields Lions will field a Women’s Senior Team and we are excited to be a part of this historic event. Continuing from 2021 our logo will appear on the front and rear of the under 7’s and under 9’s junior team jerseys.
Western Clydesdales RLFC The Toowoomba and south-west region was the only region in Queensland not represented in the state-wide Intrust Super Cup, which directly feeds to the NRL. That has now changed with the Club changing its name from the Western Mustangs to the Western Clydesdales and preparing to be in the 2023 season. BigDog logo on both sleeves of the Hasting Deering Colts, Mal Meninga Cup, Cyril Connell Challenge and Harvey Norman Cup playing jerseys in 2022. BigDog logo on one sleeve of the Club training shirt worn by all players and staff.
Central Queensland Capras Following on from 2021 we are looking to continue with our sponsorship of the Club with our logo to appear on the sleeve of the Club polo shirt worn by both players and supporters.
We will also be the sponsor of the Capras Community Care Program which includes all ability game days and working with schools and local indigenous groups to encourage young people to be involved in team sport.
BigDog Uniforms BigDog Employees will be provided with their local team’s polo shirts to wear at work and promote BigDog and local sport.
BigDog Support Services Magazine
Infographics
Training
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Toowoomba Community Centre Another spectacular month nearing its end for our community centre and what a successful month its been. This month we introduced Hamish King from Motives In Music for a very well received music therapy session, we want to thank Hamish for the class and look forward to seeing him again come November.
Billy & Jess eling experiences with a BBQ for Australia and boerewors and a zoo visit for Africa! Both Jess and myself await eagerly to see yet another month come and go pushing to new standards and limits within the centre!
Dogtober and Halloween took over the centre this month with everyone having an absolute ball involved with centre activities and indulging in all of the amazing handmade foods that come with the celebrations. Proceeds from the Dogtober morning tea funds were proudly donated to Ariels Training Journey through Assistance Dogs Australia. Feeling a little fuller then usual with all of the festivities this month, we are excited to announce a new collaboration with ’The Cave Gym’ Toowoomba who have offered an amazing program focusing on weight loss, fine motor skills and movement. Were also very excited to reintroduce swimming to our monthly programs as the weather continues to grow warmer. The Group Cooking Programs continue to develop and be a hit with everyone involved, this month we look to incorporate our World Trav-
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
BigDog Support Services Magazine
Rockhampton Community Centre Our busy week started off learning how to float and having fun with the kick boards, story time at the library and bowling. Cafe day is always a huge success with the delicious food. Finishing the week off watching the army chopper land and take off at one of the high schools. Some say Halloween is only for America… Well we disagree!! It’s so much fun dressing up and decorating and how Spooktacular does the day centre look. After a full week of activities we ended the week with cooking Paris style (croissants) and a movie on the big screen! And don’t forget now the warmer weather is here Rockhampton Day centre will be swimming every Monday and Tuesday.
SARAH & Michelle How fast is this year passing by and with Christmas fast approaching, and times being tough for a lot of families this year Day Service is asking for any unperishable goods to do a hamper for a less unfortunate family this Christmas. If you would like to help and donate anything big or small, please feel free to drop any donations off to Rocky Day Centre. Day Service is pleased to announce with the successfully African Drumming class last month, it will be returning monthly…Yayy!!! With swimming on Monday and Tuesday participants have taken this opportunity to learn some useful basic swimming skills which has been full of fun and laughter with staff getting splashed a lot more than usual lol.
Our World travel will begin will commence again in the next couple of weeks heading to Hawaii and Bora Bora.
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
Toowoomba CBD Accessibility Map Toowoomba Regional Council is happy to announce a new online mapping system to assist residents and visitors to the Region in navigating the Toowoomba CBD. Where ablebodied people can simply decide where they want to go, hop into the car and go there, people living with limited mobility face daily challenges in finding viable routes to go new places. Many spend hours planning their route to ensure their way will not be blocked or inaccessible, most having experienced abandoning their journey to return home. The Toowoomba online CBD accessibility map has been delivered as a collaboration between the Toowoomba Regional Council and Briometrix. The online map provides users with a variety of helpful details, including its unique “effort-based” mobility ratings as an aid in wayfinding for people in wheelchairs. Colour -coded “effort ratings” provide an invaluable guide to accessible routes based on each individual’s capacity. The routes are also popular with parents pushing strollers, children on scooters as well as less mobile elderly citizens and e-scooters. Using sophisticated sensors on their chairs, Briometrix’ team of wheelchair pilots surveyed the footpaths and parklands within a portion Toowoomba CBD. They measured footpath gradient, cross slope, surface type and condition, kerb ramps, intersections, trip hazards and obstructions. As well as creating the “effort-based” mobility maps, more detailed footpath information will help Council in the
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future to identify and rectify potential risks for footpath users. Local pilots were used to capture the data necessary for the map and included Bryan Flemming and Beven Kearsley. “We are mapping the footpaths for accessibility. It’s not only us (wheelchair users), we’re getting a lot of ageing population with wheeliewalkers and mobility scooters going across gutters and kerb ramps that are a bit ordinary, (crossing) buttons that are hard to reach, then down to the tactile pavers for vision-impaired people, we’re covering the whole scope – we’re registering and accounting for every little bit of accessible (footpath) – we’ve done most of the CBD.” “When you’re in a wheelchair, any small pothole or crack that you see, you feel them a lot more than an able-bodied person would, because they’re walking along the footpath and don’t even notice (a hazard) because they’re just stepping over it. “All that, is mapped and it is colour-coded so you can see which is the easiest route. So if somebody comes to town and wants to go somewhere, … the map will show them the easiest route to take to get there…” To access the map go to the following link https://brio.maps.arcgis.com/apps/ webappviewer/index.html? id=18b850ee78d14de190705eaed8abefac
BigDog Support Services Magazine
Staff Updates
Ann
Confidentiality There have been a number of Privacy and Confidentiality breeches in the last week and I need to remind everyone: that they must adhere to all the objectives of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth) and rules, the Disability Services Act 2006 (QLD) and the Community Services Act 2007 (QLD) and uphold all the ethical principles of dignity and respect for privacy of all persons with which I encounter through my work with BigDog. Employees are not to discuss any matter relating to their support of a participant with any person who is not employed by BigDog without a Coordinator in attendance.
Travel Allowance Payments (Again) If you need to use your own car for a shift you must first 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
November 2021 5th 6th 7th 14th 15th 23rd 27th 29th
Trinity Kirsty Amanda Monique Kiana Nirat Darcy Tasha
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 Wayne Swansson has helped us out incredibly in the last 2 months with staff shortages. Wayne will work whenever and wherever needed. Also is on top of all his reporting and is a great communicator when it comes to issues with participants.
Requirement for a Director ID From 1 November 2021, directors will need to apply for and verify their identity as part of a new requirement for them to have a director Identification Number (director ID) under the Corporations Act 2001 (Commonwealth). 13
What’s happening in
November
Remembrance Day Who will you stop to remember? At 11:00 am on the 11th November millions of Australians will join in observing one minute's silence to commemorate Remembrance Day a quiet moment held in recognition of those who have served, died, or suffered in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. Wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing, you can stop and reflect this Remembrance Day with help from your voice assistant. To get started, just ask Amazon Alexa or your Google Assistant to "Ask Anzac Stories" and follow the prompts to hear Queensland war stories, place a poppy, or play The Last Post.
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BigDog Support Services Magazine
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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BigDog Support Services Magazine