Support Worker on-the–job Injuries
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released its Work-related Injuries Report for the 2021 22 financial year and it has revealed that the injury rate for community and personal service workers was twice as high as the national average.
The most common cause of injury across all classes was ‘lifting, pushing, pulling or bending’, common actions in disability support.
Major causes of injuries were:
} Lifting, pushing or bending 24%
} slip, trip, stumble or fall 17.3%
} hitting or being hit by an object 11.4%
} stress or exposure to mental stress 5.0%
Although less frequent, stress or other mental health conditions led to the longest absences from work, an average of 44 days off.
Pension Rises
Age Pension, Carer Payment and Disability Support
Pension increased by $37.50 a fortnight for singles and $56.40 a fortnight for couples combined.
The increase to the Disability Support Pension applies to customers who are either:
• older than 21 years of age
• younger than 21 caring for a dependent child.
You don’t need to do anything, it will happen automatically. The rates for these payments are reviewed in March and September each year.
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Western Clydesdales
History was made when the Western Clydesdales and PNG Hunters clash in the first round of the Queensland Cup in Toowoomba.
The Clydesdales returned to the Queensland Cup for the first time in 17 years, having not played in the competition since losing the 2006 grand final.
Previously known as the Toowoomba Clydesdales, the club were a force in the 1990s and 2000s, with two premierships and four grandfinal appearances during an 11-year run. The club helped produce State of Origin talent
Former Melbourne Storm prop Darryn Schonig is the captain and the team has a mix of youth and experience, with the roster made up of Queensland Cup players, regional and local talent, as well as some who have played in the NRL. Try-scoring machine Bessie AufagaToomaga formerly with the Brisbane Tigers will headline the backs.
BigDog is proud to support local sport and is featured on the players shirts, on the left sleeve We will be providing 6 tickets each game for staff and clients to attend with an additional 4 tickets for the corporate area.
What we need to know
• Any adult is eligible for a COVID-19 booster, which can be received at the same time as influenza vaccine.
• Vaccination protection from serious COVID-19 illness has significantly dropped, increasing risks for everyone from future COVID-19 waves.
• All COVID-19 booster vaccines offer protection from serious illness; however, bivalents are preferred.
Disability providers are to communicate the revised COVID-19 booster information with workers, people with disabilities and their families or carers.
To recharge COVID-19 protection in 2023, all workers and people with disabilities are advised to check their eligibility for a booster vaccination.
A booster is any additional vaccination given on top of a primary COVID-19 vaccination. Keeping track of the number of boosters received is not required anymore to work out eligibility, because new timing recommendations apply instead.
The booster vaccination is available to:
• adults aged 18 years and older
• children aged five to 17 years who have additional risk factors, including disability or health conditions that put them at risk of severe illness, and it has been six months or more since their last COVID-19 vaccination or infection
Why a booster is needed
COVID-19 vaccination protection diminishes over time and a regular booster is advised by health authorities. Like other vaccinations, such as influenza, this is needed each year to maintain protection from serious illness.
Anyone who has not had their primary COVID19 vaccination is recommended to arrange an appointment with a health practitioner or pharmacy as soon as possible.
In home or residential
Disability in-home COVID-19 vaccination requirements should be discussed with local health services, Primary Health Networks, general practices or community pharmacies. The best vaccine is the one you can access when needed, unless medical contraindicators exist.
All currently available COVID-19 vaccines provide benefit as a booster dose.
The bivalent mRNA booster vaccines Pfizer and Moderna are preferred if available.
A COVID-19 vaccine can be administered at the same time as influenza or other vaccines.
Upcoming Events
National COVID-19: Cooler Month Planning webinar
A sector review of risk management for COVID-19 and other respiratory infections throughout the cooler months.
Date: Monday 17 April
Time: 1:00 to 2:00pm (AEST)
Location: Online
The NDIS was designed to give people with disability choice and control in relation to how their services are best delivered and who should be delivering them. When accessing NDIS supports and services, people with disability also have the right to be safe. Safety is not just about the conduct and capabilities of workers delivering their services. It is also about participants feeling safe to raise concerns, voice how they like their services and supports to be delivered and feeling culturally safe.
People with disability and their support networks require access to a diverse and sustainable market in which innovation, quality and contemporary best practice feature.
Platform Providers now represent a significant and growing proportion of the NDIS market. There are registered and unregistered Platform Providers with variation in how quality and safeguards are approached in the delivery of supports.
The Commissioner has heard that Platform Providers can offer people with disability flexibility, responsiveness and increased control and connection with support workers. The feedback given to the Commissioner also highlights uncertainty about who is responsible for ensuring services are delivered safely and of a high quality.
The NDIS Commission works with participants and providers to improve the quality and safety of NDIS services and supports. The Inquiry into platform providers operating in the NDIS market will examine how platform providers
function in the NDIS market while keeping the principle of choice and control for people with disability at the heart of it.
The NDIS Commission recognises that online platforms are used by many Australians to organise transport, order dinner and pay for services. The Commissioner’s Own Motion Inquiry into Platform Providers is focused on online platforms and subscriptions services used to put people with disability who receive NDIS funded services and supports in touch with workers and providers of services. This interest relates to the Commissioner’s role in monitoring the NDIS market.
The Commissioner will share key learnings to promote participant rights to safe and quality NDIS supports. The Commissioner will also consider whether the current regulatory settings that cover this part of the NDIS Market are appropriate.
The Census is now open. This unique survey data will inform NDS advocacy for more effective disability workforce policies.
https://survey.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/ SV_ah3VYOPWkTMYt6e
The Toowoomba Work Expo held recently was a resounding success, with the event seeing a significant improvement in both the location/facility and the turnout. The expo saw a large number of job seekers and employers coming together, providing a platform for businesses to showcase their services and to find potential candidates to fill their open positions.
The Work Expo was held at the Toowoomba Good's Shed, a venue that was a significant improvement over previous years. The location was central and easily accessible, which attracted a larger audience than ever before. The facilities were well-maintained, making it easy for attendees to move around and explore the various booths and exhibits.
The turnout at the Work Expo was tremendous, with thousands of job seekers visiting the event to meet potential employers and learn about new job opportunities. The event provided a great platform for businesses to promote their services and to engage with job seekers who were eager to learn about new job opportunities in the region. Our Business benefited significantly from the event. The company was looking to fill several positions in different departments and was able to find three new employees at the expo. The company also conducted numerous other interviews and found several other candidates who could potentially fit the bill.
The success of the Work Expo has demonstrated that events like this are crucial for the region's businesses to find the right talent to fill their open positions. The event provided a platform for businesses to connect with job seekers and to promote their services. It also provided an opportunity for job seekers to learn about new job opportunities and to meet potential employers.
In conclusion, the Toowoomba Work Expo was a great success, providing an excellent opportunity for businesses to find new employees and for job seekers to find new job opportunities. The improved location and facilities, along with the tremendous turnout, made it a valuable event for all attendees. Businesses like ours were able to find new talent, which will help them to grow and succeed in the future. The success of the Work Expo has demonstrated that events like this are vital for the region's economic growth and prosperity.
Petria Grabham
Petria started with “So let’s go back to when we worked together.”
We had the area from Toowoomba West and we travelled around educating people on the future with an NDIS. We also talked to service providers because everyone was somewhat confused about what was going to happen. We had a great time as well and we were very professional in moving ahead with the information that we had at the time
“Where your role was disability, mine was mental health. That is my passion”
In 2020 Petria joined the TRC council election race on the platform of growing the Toowoomba Region economically and socially with an inclusive society. "I'm about inclusion, and particularly for people with a disability, first nations people, people with mental health issues.”
Unfortunately Patria did not gain a seat, but this hasn’t stopped her in her drive for an inclusive community.
Patria is also heavily involved in the LGBTIQA+ community and is the co-organiser of the Rainbow Pride Float in the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.
“The first LGBTIQA+ float was in 1995 but there hasn’t been one since, Toowoomba might not have been ready for such a float back then and the people on the float had to wear masks.”
Patria is now operating as an independent NDIS Recovery Coach and Support Coordinator.
WhatsUp in Disability
Stories in this issue include:
• Petria Grabham
• Public Transport
• Saorsa Health
• Career Counselling
• AFL Inclusion
• Avalon Air Show
• Jimmy Little Biography
• UNICEF Access for every child
To obtain a copy of WhatsUp in Disability magazine or to be a sponsor, please contact WhatsUp via:
Office 11-15 Alexander Street, Toowoomba
Email admin@whatsupindisability.org
Online www.whatsupindisability.org
Click on the above magazine cover to read this online at Issuu.
Steven Paull PresidentHeld biennially at Avalon Airport, Geelong, Victoria, the 2023 event was the fifteenth such event staged at our Avalon Airport home. The Australian International Airshow and Aerospace and Defence Exposition came to Victoria in 1992 at the invitation of then premier Jeff Kennett who was keen to establish a technology-based event that would attract key industry and defence representatives and tourists alike.
There was over 600 participating exhibitors in a 3 day, action-packed public spectacular with breathtaking flying displays, vintage planes, skydiving and an amazing array of static aircraft to view up close.
Friday included a night time display that ended with the famous “Wall of Fire” that stretched for several hundred metres.
The key highlights for me were the South Korean Black Eagles with their absolute precision and formation flying, the USAF F-22 Raptor that could hover in mid air and then climb vertically until it was almost out of sight. The Australian Air Force Roulettes in their new Pilatus PC-21 aircraft were simply breathtaking. In fact every performance was a key highlight. Accessibility. Well the car parking was atrocious with exiting taking over 2 hours and on Saturday the line up to enter took over 3 hours with buses letting their passengers off with up to 2 km walk. Toilets were scarce and demountable with some access difficulty, long distances over gravel.
Pictures from top to bottom:
South Korean Black Eagles F-50B
USAF C-17A Globemaster III
USAF F-22 Raptor
Cessna A-37 Dragonfly
March kicked off with a science bang. We had a huge few days of mind-blowing fun.
We had our visit to the Railway Museum in Ipswich. This Museum was wonderful very interactive for all ages.
BigDog banking has been so much fun mak-
ing money count and we have kicked off with a maze of morning tasks to help us start our brain and bodies for the day.
We had a visit from the Toowoomba police for our road safety day and what a huge success it was.
Look out this month as we have the police returning to chat about their campaign around personal safety.
BigDog Day Service Toowoomba
Paul Myatt Community Centre
11-15 Alexander Street
North Toowoomba 4350
Coordinator
Jess Wright
Phone: 4512 6020
dayservice@bigdogsupport.com.au
Our Rockhampton Day Service cooled down from the heat today by making a trip down to the beach #disability #beach #cooldown #zinc
Of course, being a gateway to the reef, Emu Park makes it easy to explore some of the most beautiful hot-spots of the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkelling, swimming and diving at islands like Great Keppel, Humpy Island and Pelican Island are popular activities.
BigDog Day Service Rockhampton
BigDog Community Centre
170 East Street Rockhampton 4700 Coordinators
Macka & Carli
Phone: 4573 4611
rockhampton@bigdogsupport.com.au
Psychosocial Safety at Work
Starting 1 April 2023, the Queensland WHS regulations implement a change that requires employers to proactively eliminate the risk of psychological harm to workers. What is psychosocial safety?
Mental (psychological) health, just like physical health, is an important part of work health and safety (WHS). Understanding and managing risks in the workplace that may lead to physical or psychological injury creates a safe, healthy and productive workplace.
Psychosocial hazards are anything in the design or management of work that increases the risk of psychological or physical harm, and the list of risks is extensive.
As for physical risks, BigDog has an obligation to eliminate risks to health and safety, so far as is reasonably practicable; and if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risks to health and safety, to minimise those risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
Psychosocial hazards
Psychosocial hazards can create stress. Stress itself is not an injury, but if workers are stressed, often over a long time, or the level of stress is high, it can cause psychological or physical harm. Occasionally, a seemingly minor incident can have long term impacts on
worker’s psychological and physical health. Psychosocial hazards can result in psychological and physical harm.
Control mechanisms
} Considered recruiting that assesses a person’s suitability for the organisation and type of work.
} Exercise employer’s right to ask about preexisting injuries before making an offer of employment.
} Complete thorough reference checks.
} Have well-drafted employment contracts.
} Meaningful workplace policies that everyone is trained in, coordinators understand and monitor and are consistently enforced.
} Engage with the workforce to understand the environment and identify potential issues early.
The rise of social media has no doubt had a detrimental impact of psychological safety but most of the issues we have considered are not new.
Best practice implementation of the new requirements, in addition to the new sexual harassment standards soon to be implemented, brings about a new standard for safe work and can be expected to fundamentally change the way some organisations operate.
Paid Parental Leave
On 6 March 2023, the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022 (Cth) was passed by both Houses of Parliament which will make changes to paid parental leave entitlements from 1 July 2023.
It is important to note that these changes only relate to paid parental leave entitlements that some employees receive from the Government. There is still no right for employees to receive any form of paid parental leave from their employer.
The Act currently provides for a total of 18 weeks’ government-funded paid parental leave for eligible employees (who must earn less than $156,647 per annum). Parental leave pay is paid at the national minimum wage rate. The main changes are:
} The existing maximum 18 weeks’ parental leave pay will be combined with the two weeks’ father and partner pay to provide a single 20-week scheme, to be shared between each parent.
} Parents will be able to receive a maximum of 18 weeks’ parental leave pay each, and a maximum of 20 weeks’ parental leave pay between them.
} For example one parent could receive 18 weeks pay, and one parent 2 weeks pay, or both parents could receive 10 weeks pay each, etc.
} Employees who are single at the time they claim will be able to receive the full 20 weeks’ parental leave pay.
} The means test for eligibility will be amended by introducing a $350,000 per annum family income test under which claimants can qualify for parental leave pay if they do not meet the individual income test.
We are pleased to announce that Monique will be returning to BigDog as our HR Compliance Manager.
Staff Birthdays
9th Kye
17th Chisato Gabriel Liam
19th Kylie
29th Jake
30th Jesuah Lance
Have a great day!
Come and volunteer in our Big BBQ Van. Learn cooking skills for eggs and bacon muffins or our sausage sizzle. Learn food handling in preparing the items for the customers. Learn cash handling and customer service skills.
Sunday 19 April 8:00 AM—Noon
