Last Month’s Review
We have seen the appointment of an in-house Lawyer to our team. Monique will be a great asset to our operation. Some of Monique's Role will be to conduct the following:
+ Onsite Worker Audits - On Time, Correct Uniform, ID etc
+ Internal Audits - NDIS Compliance
+ KPI Audits for Admin and Management
+ Policy Review
+ Looking for ways to incorporate Best Practice into all BigDog activities
Quarterly Check-ins
We are finishing up our first round of 3 monthly check in with all clients. This process has been implemented in to help with monitoring of support, workers and any issues that come up during this time with clients. We have had great feedback from clients that its great to be seeing people in person and building connections with their service coordinators. This also helps with building and revising our support plans to ensure we are working towards a common goal.
CareMaster Client App
We have had a few selected clients trial our Client App on CareMaster with great success and positive reviews. We would like to roll this out for all clients in the coming months.
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Barry Humphries died on Saturday 22 April at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney following complications from hip surgery stemming from a fall earlier this year. He was 89.
Barry Humphries was a true Australian legend. Somehow he helped us all feel good about where we came from. Didn’t matter what shape or size we were.
Mourning Barry who was taken ill in Sydney last week with complications after hip surgery, means saying goodbye to his charismatic, hyper-real fictional personas: not only “the Australian housewife and superstar” Dame Edna Everage, with her radiant, rinsed hairdo, trademark sparkling spectacles and bright gladioli, but also to the revolting Australian cultural attaché, Sir Les Patterson, and the irrepressibly dull Sandy Stone.
Over decades, each of these stage characters has mischievously shaped the world’s view of Australians, satirising the stereotypical lack of taste that British “pommies” enjoy looking down on.
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, described Barry as both “gifted and a gift”. His most famous creation, Dame Edna, based on his own aunts, first emerged in rather dowdy form in 1955. Early appearances of the lowly housewife from Moonee Ponds were at the Establishment nightclub in Soho, a venue set up by the satirical comic and Private Eye founder, Peter Cook.
I took this pic of two great Australians in 1992 at Carlton Hill Station in WA. Edna and Slim Dusty were performing together in the outback. Snapshot backstage.
Back in August 2022, Australia’s Criminal Intelligence Commission’s (ASIC) Chief Michael Phelan went on 60 Minutes to talk about fraud – specifically, NDIS fraud.
Phelan estimated that 15% to 20% of NDIS funding was lost to fraud. This was calculated to be $6bn a year.
These figures have been picked up and repeated in both progressive and conservative newspapers. The Courier Mail just last week rather magically smooshed together this estimate with rising Scheme costs to predict $12bn could be lost to fraud each year.
These are alarming figures, but according to information released in two FOIs, we should have some serious questions about their accuracy.
The accuracy of these figures matters a lot right now. Significant policy has been developed on their basis, with the Albanese government committing $126 million to fund a Fraud Fusion Taskforce. Calls for additional drastic policies have intensified – fraud figures have also been deployed to support mandatory registration for providers.
Testing ASIC’s claims
In an FOI, we asked ASIC for:
any document modelling or informing Michael Phelan’s statement that 15%–20% of the NDIS or $6 billion is being lost to fraud;
the total dollar amount of alleged NDIS fraud being investigated, or investigations coordinated, by ASIC.
The FOI response was heavily redacted, and the 15%–20% and $6bn figures were certainly nowhere to be found. Unless, of course, those figures were hiding under all the black text, which we can only assume was put there to stop the government leaking transparency everywhere.
Cheekiness to one side, two pieces of relevant data were helpful:
+ A statement found in the 2019 Organised Crime Risk Assessment that fraud in
Commonwealth-funded programs “almost certainly totals well over a billion dollars a year”.
+ ASIC’s talking points for Michael Phelan’s 60 Minutes interview refer to this research: “For background, the Australian Institute of Criminology assessed that in 2020–21, serious and organised crime cost Australians $60.1 billion, with $9.4 billion attributed to organised fraud”. ASIC’s did not answer our second question. According to the FOI, the ASIC believes $9bn in total is lost to fraud. So, if Phelan’s claims that up to $6bn or 20% is lost to NDIS fraud is also accurate, the remaining $3bn of fraud must be lost through all other “organised fraud”. Yes, that includes taxation, social security, and every-freaking-other-type-oforganised-fraud combined.
In other words, we’ve been asked to believe that the cunning NDIS fraudsters are sneakier than all the fraudsters cheating all other programs – combined – by a factor of two. I get that this was the upper end of Phelan’s estimation, but it is still asking us to suspend disbelief.
Not having gotten any clarity from ASIC, I turned to the NDIA for the fraud that they’re allegedly emptying out of the Scheme.
Their most recent 2022–23 quarterly report (Q2 of Y10) highlighted that, at 31 December, there was $13.4 million dollars being investigated for alleged fraud. Yes, that is million with an “m” and an “a” for alleged.
The NDIS Commission will adopt the codesigned participant safeguarding principles outlined in the NDIA policy and will work with the NDIA to roll out relevant actions, to implement the Policy. By working together we can better support participants to uphold their right to safe and quality supports.
Everyone has the right to live a safe life, free from harm. It is recognised that people with disability are at a much greater risk than others of experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Together with the NDIA, the Commission is committed to supporting and working with people with disability who engage with the NDIS to take steps to uphold their right to be safe, while respecting individual’s rights to make decisions about risk.
The NDIA Policy aims to help participants reduce risks against violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation in their lives by building or enhancing safeguards.
Safeguards are things we can do or actions we can take to manage risks of harm that may be present in our lives.
For some participants this might look like building their capacity to recognise risk of harm and improve safeguarding through accessible information, training and education.
The Policy, implementation plan (both also in Easy Read) and co-design story documents are available on the NDIA’s website: https://www.ndis.gov.au/ participantsafeguarding
Manny’s Return
In a heart-warming comeback story, Emmanuel (Manny), an NDIS client of BigDog Support Services, has rejoined the yard maintenance team after a lengthy recovery from shoulder surgery. This positive news has brought smiles to the faces of the BigDog community. Manny had been a valued member of the mowing team for years before his injury, and the team had felt his absence keenly during his recovery. But now, with his triumphant return, the team is once again complete, and Manny is back to doing what he loves best. For Manny, the return to work has been an essential part of his physical and mental rehabilitation. His surgery and recovery had left him feeling isolated and disconnected from the world around him. The simple act of getting back to work and being part of a team has given him a renewed sense of purpose and belonging.
Billy, Manny’s BigDog Service Coordinator expressed his delight at his return.
"I'm proud of Emmanuel and his determination to overcome his injury and get back on board with his beloved mowing team. His hard work and dedication to his recovery have been inspiring. We're thrilled to have him back on the team, and we look forward to working with him for many years to come."
The positive impact that Manny’s return has had on him, and his team is a testament to the power of work and community. Through his hard work and dedication, Manny has shown that setbacks can be overcome, and a sense of purpose can be regained.
Manny’s story is a shining example of the positive impact that the NDIS can have on people's lives, and we hope that it inspires others to pursue their dreams and overcome their challenges.
Capras Community Care Program
The Capras Community Care is a community-based program that, in partnership with BigDog, provides support, education, well-being and genuine care for our Rockhampton communities, with a particular focus on people with disability and our CHILDREN, who are our FUTURE. Utilising rugby league as the vehicle, coaches and players from the Capras and NRL deliver a powerful and positive message, with the intent of creating good rugby league players, and most importantly better people who reinvest into their community.
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
WhatsUp in Disability
Stories in this issue include:
• Mark Munro
• Toowoomba Hospice
• Have we been mislead on fraud
• Supported Accommodation
• Restrictive Practice Transportation
• Practice Alerts
• Shorten’s Plan
• Disability Advocate
Click on the above magazine cover to read this online at Issuu.
Steven Paull PresidentComplex Bowel Care
Brand new course in May 2023. In this course, you will learn about your obligations when delivering Complex Bowel Care support. You will learn what Complex Bowel Care support involves and how to identify functional and dysfunctional digestive systems. We discuss bowel care plans, bowel care interventions and your responsibilities as a disability support professional.
Induction Group Modules
It is essential that all new employees receive the same information during their induction. We have created a group called Induction that will need to be completed prior to the commencement of employment and include the following:
May the 4th be with you!
Welcome to May, at the centre this month loads of exciting adventures to be had. PT with troy fish and chips at the park, Sensory food science on a Friday. We will be off to the Queen’s Park in Ipswich.
April is done and dusted we had many exciting days our Exploring sugar gave us all and understanding on how unhealthy some food items can be.
Footy, what an exciting day we had with the Clydesdales everyone was pumped we played some warmup drills and a mini game. Thank you to the men’s and women’s players who helped us out.
Our BigDog banking has been going great some participants have also applied some banking skills to their own everyday life.
We have been taking Auslan sessions and they have been helping us all communicate together this has been a wonderful learning experience for us all.
With mothers on the 14th of May we have a full craft day planned with some pampering involved. Happy Mother’s Day to all the
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
BigDog mothers as well as to Mavis xo
A birthday shout out to Kahn and Jess P, have a wonderful day and stay amazing.
Stephen L enjoys being out in the yard and gardening, he is growing a range of plants and now has Mint growing in his front garden. He takes great pride in this and is happy to have a conversation with you to explain each and every plant to you. He also enjoying fishing group every Monday out in the community.
The team have been improving on their Daily Living Tasks by engaging in regular Health and Hygiene activities, learning about money and how we make purchases within the community, and continuing with their Recycling days where Participants gain knowledge on the processes of Recycling. Day Service Participants have also been practicing their cooking skills with regular Cooking Classes during the month.
The Day Service Group really enjoys brainstorming locations/activities to participate in for the Friday Activities that they plan for the following month. This has been a great way to have everyone involved in our Monthly Activity Calendar.
BigDog Rockhampton also welcomed back our School Holiday Program which kicked off with an exciting week full of great engaging activities for the children. The group visited various locations in our community while learning about the heritage of the communities that surround our own. The SHP enjoyed celebrating Easter by doing Easter Craft as well as joining in with Day Service for an all-inclusive Easter Egg Hunt!
First Aid and CPR
A first aid certificate is essential for a BigDog support worker to have for several reasons.
Firstly, support workers often work with clients who have disabilities, illnesses or injuries, which means that they are at a higher risk of encountering a medical emergency. In the event of an emergency, a support worker with a first aid certificate is trained to provide immediate assistance and potentially save a life.
Secondly, having a support worker with a first aid certificate helps to create a safe work environment. A support worker who is knowledgeable in first aid is better equipped to identify and assess risks and hazards, and can take appropriate measures to minimize these risks. They are also able to respond quickly and effectively in the event of an accident or injury, which can reduce the severity of the incident and prevent further harm.
Thirdly, a first aid certificate is a requirement for BigDog support worker roles. BigDog has a legal responsibility to provide a safe work environment, and this includes ensuring that their employees are adequately trained in first aid. Having a first aid certificate is therefore necessary to meet workplace health and safety requirements and ensure compliance with regulations.
Finally, a support worker with a first aid certificate provides peace of mind for both the individual they are supporting and their families or carers. Knowing that a support worker is trained in first aid can help to alleviate concerns about potential emergencies and provide
reassurance that the support worker is able to handle any situation that may arise.
In summary, a first aid certificate is essential for a support worker to have because it provides the necessary skills and knowledge to respond to medical emergencies, helps to create a safe work environment, meets legal requirements, and provides peace of mind for all parties involved.
Toowoomba First Aid Session
Saturday 27 May 2023
Paul Myatt Community Centre
All students MUST have their Unique Learner Identifier (USI) this can be obtained from www.usi.gov.au.
A payment deduction from your pay can be organised on the day by completing a form.
Leave Requests
+ Leave must be applied for and its not a given if you are Permanent or Part Time.
+ If you are Casual please remember to use Casual Leave Request to alter your availability if with in 14 days of the day you apply for leave.
Availability
Please ensure your availability is kept up to date to help with rostering this can ensure we are giving you the correct work hours and shifts that align with your availability.
Timesheets
Logging on and off shifts - This is a must so that payroll is correct 75% of errors come from staff not completing this action
Uploading Documents & Personal Information
+ If you have anything you need to provide to the office please use the option of uploading the document to your profile as we get notified and it is automatically saved to your profile.
+ Keeping personal information updates is your responsibility, if you move or change phone numbers or email please let us know as soon as possible.
Operations Focus
In May we will be focusing on building our goal support plans and recording this data in CareMaster with detailed information from the Participants to enable the Staff to have a complete breakdown on how we will achieve the goals over the next 3 months.
This is the core of person-centered support as we build each plan individually. We will be able to use this data to help write provider reports, participants reaching their goals quicker and Workers have clear direction in their roles.
Staff Birthdays
5th Kahn
12th Tiaan
14th Timothy 28th Michelle 30th Ettore
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 21 May 8:00 AM—Noon
