Group Supports
It’s finally here! The document that group service providers have been waiting for has landed. But before you read the ‘Group-Based Supports Transition Guidance’, I’ve got bad news: it’s posed more questions than provided answers. For the last few years providers have been working only off the general rules in the Pricing Arrangements, and we had black, white and a bit of grey. This new guidance has given us 50 Shades of Grey except this is more painful for everyone involved (and this time not in the fun way).
A quick recap for those who haven’t been following this closely: in June 2020 the NDIA announced a fundamental change in the way group services (specifically Group & Centre Based Activities) were structured and billed. The deadline for this change was pushed back, then back again, then back again. In December last year the sector was promised a Transition Handbook to guide providers through the practicalities of the changes. This handbook has just been released.
The handbook was heralded as; supporting providers to understand the new pricing mode, would work in practice, and be able to be implemented. We’ve digested it and, frankly, we now have more questions and concerns than answers. If you weren’t sure whether a single sentence could be both clarifying and confusing, no need to wonder any more.
#confusifying #clarifusing
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Sue Dunlevy The Courier Mail
Children born with dwarfism could overcome their short stature if treated with a new lifealtering drug.
The treatment, which “allows average bone growth to resume”, was trialled in Australia and is set to revolutionise the way the condition is managed globally.
The drug Voxzogo is delivered as a daily injection in a cartridge similar to an insulin shot and targets the underlying cause of the genetic condition Achondroplasia, the most common cause of dwarfism.
The worldwide trial of the treatment, led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute’s Professor Ravi Savarirayan, was so successful it has received an Australian government subsidy, making it $30 per script or $7.30 with a concession card. Before the subsidy the drug cost more than $330,000 a year.
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In this form of dwarfism, it’s like trying to drive your car with the handbrake on. It can’t reach average speeds and so bones can’t grow normally,” Professor Savarirayan said. “This medication releases that handbrake from a molecular point of view, and allows average bon growth to resume.”
Not only do people with the condition have short stature, children with it are 50 times more likely to suffer sudden death in their first 5 years.
They often require invasive surgery to deal with spinal cord compression and bowed legs. In some cases it can cause a type of seizure.
“The treatment is now being given to children from birth and there is early evidence it’s re-
lieving common complications that require surgery to correct growth problems at the base of the skull and compression of the spinal cord,” Professor Savarirayan said.
“If the child gets the drug from very early on, we were expecting to see that their growth curves are moving upwards and more towards the average, but we’ll need to get the real-world evidence on that.”
About 140-160 children in Australia are born with the condition each year and around 400,000 people worldwide.
Children won’t need the drug forever. Treatment will cease when the skeleton stops growing and the growth plates fuse, around the age
Dwarf Games are the largest international sporting event held exclusively for athletes with dwarfism. Australia has 40 athletes competing. Australia will host the 2027 games.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered the 202324 budget. The night is Australia’s equivalent of the State of the Union, but with more math and much less glamour. The Treasurer used his speech to pronounce the NDIS ‘here to stay’, but what does the budget actually mean for the Scheme? And what support does it offer people with disability?
It’s time to get out your magnifying glasses, because we’re diving into the detail.
The government is making no secret about the fact that the rising cost of the NDIS is seriously freaking them out. After a National Cabinet meeting on 28th April, they announced a plan to reduce NDIS growth to 8% per year by July 2026, down from the current growth rate of 14%. This announcement naturally concerned many people as it failed to address the small matter of how they would meet the target.
The budget forecasts the NDIS growing:
• 2022-2023 $36.9bn
• 2023-2024 $42.1bn
• 2024-2025 $47.0bn
• 2025-2026 $52.0bn
• 2026-2027 $56.1bn
In a post-budget interview with the ABC, the Treasurer was asked directly how NDIS growth would be curtailed. His answer was the political equivalent of a giant shrug live on national television.
Extra to ‘Get the NDIS back on track’
The budget also included committed $910m
over 5 years to improve the NDIS. Details are thin on the ground, but here’s what we do know:
• $429.m to improve NDIA capabilities and systems to create more consistent and equitable planning and access decisions.
• $73.4m to support participants to manage their plans, including ‘holding plan managers, support coordinators and providers to account.’ It’s unclear what holding to account will look like, or even what providers are being held to account for. No doubt, plan managers and support coordinators will not love the fact that they’ve been specifically named.
• $63.8m to take a ‘lifetime approach to ensure plans are more transparent and flexible for life events.’ Please don’t ask me what this means!
• $56.4m to improve Supported Independent Living (SIL) decisions. This will include introducing a home and living panel, presumably to make decisions on plan budgets.
• $29.3m to ensure supports provided to participants are evidence-based. There is no information on what they consider evidence -based or how they will ensure an uptake in these services.
• $24.6m to trial blended payments. This seems to be a pilot of paying providers partly based on the outcomes achieved, not just the time spent delivering the support.
• $7.6m to pilot a new approach to support remote and First Nations communities.
• $48.3m to crack down on fraud and noncompliance, including developing the business case for a new IT platform to detect fraud.
Some of these measures could have huge ramifications for people with disability and the sector, which is why it’s disappointing to see announcements that are so light on detail. Government-speak and catchy one liners are all well and good, but the absence of proper information is bound to make people nervous. Other supports for people with disability
The budget also included a few additional measures to support people with disability, including:
• $10.2m for the Central Coordination of Disability Policy, to drive whole-of-government action under Australia’s Disability Strategy. To be honest, it would be wonderful to see much more investment in the Disability Strategy- given how vital it is for people not supported by the NDIS.
• $7.3m to support younger people to move out of residential aged care.
• $14.1m in leave payments for eligible support workers who have COVID-19.
• $31.4m to establish the National Disability Data Asset (NDDA) to improve data collection. Good news for all data nerds!
• $3.2m to the Complaints Resolution and Referral Service and the National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline.
• $1.1m for the design of the Disability Employment Centre of Excellence.
Autism funding
There were a few budget measures targeted specifically at people with autism, including:
• $22m over four years to deliver two early intervention pilots for infants showing early signs of autism. One of these is probably the Telethon Kids Institute pilot announced in mid-April.
• $3.7m for consultation and research for the National Autism Strategy.
• $1.2m to develop a National Roadmap to improve the health and mental health of people with autism.
Supported employment
The budget included $41m to ‘strengthen the supported employment sector’ to provide people with high support needs ‘access to a wider range of employment opportunities.’ 160 supported employment organisations will be able to apply for grants to help them upskill supported employees, improve the capacity of their workforce and explore innovative business ideas. Additionally, the budget committed $11.7m to establish a disability employment advocacy information program for people in supported employment.
Aged Care
One of the biggest announcements to come out of the budget was the 15% pay increase for aged care workers.
This creates a potential challenge for the disability workforce. For workers weighing up the disability or aged care sectors, aged care just became a whole lot more attractive.
In the journey of life, maintaining strong family connections plays a vital role in our well-being and sense of belonging. Robert, an NDIS participant residing in a BigDog SIL house, understands the significance of staying connected with his loved ones. Every week, Robert visits his mother and brother on their family farm, accompanied by his dedicated support worker. These visits provide Robert with a cherished opportunity to nurture his family bonds, while also offering him a sense of joy and connection. Join us as we delve into Robert's heart-warming story and explore the transformative power of weekly visits to the family farm.
Despite living in a BigDog SIL house, Robert eagerly anticipates his weekly visits to the family farm, where he can reconnect with his mother and brother. These visits serve as a reminder of the unbreakable bonds they share and provide a space for Robert to feel loved, supported, and understood.
Accompanied by his dedicated support worker, Robert embarks on a meaningful journey every Sunday to the family farm. As they traverse the familiar roads and countryside, Robert's excitement builds, knowing that he is about to spend quality time with his loved ones. The journey itself becomes part of the experience, offering a sense of anticipation and familiarity.
Robert's dedicated support worker plays a crucial role in facilitating his visits to the family farm. By accompanying him and helping when needed, the support worker ensures that Robert's experience is safe, comfortable, and enjoyable. Their presence acts as a bridge between the familiar world of the BigDog SIL house and the nurturing environment of the family farm, fostering a seamless transition and promoting a sense of security for Robert.
These weekly visits, facilitated by his support worker, offer Robert the opportunity to nurture his relationships, create lasting memories, and experience a sense of joy and belonging. Robert's story serves as an inspiration for us all to prioritize and cherish our family ties, recognizing the transformative power of connection in our lives.
Mark Monroe—Toowoomba Hospice
The doors of the Toowoomba Hospice opened on 1st July 2003 with one Mark Munro at the helm as the Administration and Fundraising Manager.
“You know, we have 6 bedrooms here and since opening we have cared for over 1,800 clients, at no cost except for their medication and that can be for up to 3 months.”
I had done my research and already knew that!
With a yearly budget of over $2.2 million Mark acknowledged that Grants are not always accessible and his activities in the community seeking sponsors and fundraising are essential as is the generous support of the Queensland Government and our local Buddhist Community.
The hospice also has over 70 volunteers and they work in the kitchen, housekeeping, gardens, maintenance, courier, reception, accounts, flowers and fundraising events.
“What was your greatest challenge?”
“Networking, meeting people and meeting with businesses to come and support us.”
“I have a great team here, a great leadership team and fantastic volunteers to support me and the Hospice.”
Knowing Mark from the time that he joined the Toowoomba Hospice has been a great honour for me as he is a generous and passionate person, immensely likeable and totally engaging.
I cherish our conversations.
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 PresidentAnnouncement
I am very pleased to announce that we are now sharing our Toowoomba office with Robyn Kavanagh from True Relationships & Reproductive Health (True).
True was established in 1972 and is a profitfor-purpose organisation. Their goal is to achieve substantial, positive social impact by improving reproductive and sexual health and promoting safe and respectful relationships. True achieves this through the delivery of expert clinical services, education and counselling.
True provides free counselling, advice and information for all people impacted by sexual violence (recent or historic) regardless of age, gender, sexual preference, ethnicity, religion, personal values or cultural background.
Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeanette Young PSM, Governor of Queensland, is a Patron of True Relationships & Reproductive Health for the duration of her term in office.
True also provide education sessions including Looking After Me Program (LAMP) education packages have been developed to provide information about relationship and sexuality education for people with disability. The topics are designed to meet the needs of children, young people and adults with disability in a way that supplements education provided by families, schools, and service providers.
In addition to LAMP, True offers group education sessions for people with disability, school
programs, and professional development training for teachers and other community organisations.
Other programs include:
• Keeping safe from abuse and exploitation
• Learning about the rules of touch
• Safety networks
• What to do if you don't feel safe
• The No-Go-Tell safety plan
With offices in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Rockhampton and Cairns we are working on sharing our Rockhampton office sometime in the future.
The first month of winter, June. How exciting this month, we will stop swimming and try some body positive yoga at the centre to warm up our bodies for the day. Our cyber safety chat with the Toowoomba Police was wonderful and very interesting insight into a lot of information for our participants to stay safe while online. Our big lunch out was to The Stock Exchange Hotel our meals where wonderful and the staff are great. This month we will have another epic science day, with so many fun actives to try. The past few months we have gone back to basics and asked the centre participants what skills they would like to learn. Meg has been learning to use the washing machine so she can help her mum out at home. Damien has been learning how to pack his lunch box for the day. Bec has been trying new foods. Its small steps we all take in assisting and encouraging to help in everyday life. Little things make big things count.
To celebrate First Aid Kit Week we will have a special visit from the Queensland Ambulance service at the Toowoomba Day Service.
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
Birthday shout out to Azad [rojbûna te pîroz be Azad]
Sean R has recently transitioned into full-time care with BigDog after the tragic loss of his Mother Tracey in December 2022.
Transitioning to full-time care under the NDIS can be both a significant milestone and a transformative experience for participants.
This transition marks a new chapter in life, offering enhanced support and opportunities for individuals with disabilities. However, it also brings about various changes and considerations.
Transitioning to full-time care as an NDIS participant offers numerous positive aspects, including enhanced support, improved quality of life, safe environments, relief for families and carers, access to social and recreational activities, and smooth transitions between services. It opens doors to new opportunities for growth, independence, and overall well-being. During the last 5 months, Sean has shown phenomenal progress in his ability to adjust to new experiences. With the assistance and support of his care team, Sean's transition into 24hr care has been an overwhelmingly, heartwarming experience for all involved.
Psychosocial Hazards at Work
The code of practice on managing the risk of psychosocial hazards at work is an approved code of practice under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act). An approved code of practice is a practical guide to achieving the standards of health, safety and welfare required under the WHS Act and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (WHS Regulation).
Psychological health occurs on a continuum of responses which workers may experience, with harm occurring at one end of this continuum. An individual’s experience may move back and/or forward on this continuum over time.
+ Psychological injury, where harm is evident.
Employee Obligations
+ Cooperate with reasonable policies relating to work-related bullying, work-related violence and aggression, sexual harassment or other forms of harassment.
+ Notify a supervisor if they identify a psychosocial hazard or if they are unclear about how to perform their role safely without risk to their health.
+ Report clients who exhibit violent or aggressive behaviour.
BigDog Obligations
+ Setting achievable performance standards and workloads for the number of workers, work hours and their skill sets.
Experiences may include:
+ Psychological health - a state of wellbeing in which individuals realise their own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and are able to make a contribution to their community
+ Reacting in a normative way to negative work events which does not constitute harm
+ Struggling with exposure to psychosocial hazards, where changes can be made to prevent harm
+ Using a trauma-informed approach when responding to complaints of work-related violence and aggression, work-related bullying and sexual harassment and ensuring investigations are fair, independent and handled in a sensitive way
+ BigDog is not required to manage personal health issues or stressors that are not work-related (e.g. family or personal financial issues). However, where an employee informs us of a pre-existing psychological injury, or if BigDog otherwise knows of the pre-existing psychological injury,
+ BigDog should ensure psychosocial hazards do not create further harm, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Using CareMaster
Staff News Staff need to be checking this regularly for company updates
CM Notification Please ensure you’re not turning off notifications for CareMaster as you will miss important details
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. This is still not happening and causing issues with rostering!
We have seen some significant changes in our Rockhampton office with NDIS and Child Safety.
Simone is our Branch Manager who oversees both NDIS and Child Safety. Her knowledge and passion for both industries is a huge asset to our company.
Mackenzie is now a coordinator for Child Safety and also providing assistance to the NDIS Coordinators. Macca has an amazing rapport with the YP in our care and will play a vital role in implementing our exciting new programs and structure in our Child Safety Program.
We are thrilled to introduce Taylor as our new Day Service Coordinator! Taylor brings an abundance of passion and enthusiasm to her role, infusing it with a fresh perspective and energy. She has quickly established strong relationships with both our participants and staff, which has been instrumental in maintaining the smooth operation of our incredible programs. Taylor's dedication and rapport have not only ensured the seamless continuation of our existing initiatives but have also sparked a flow of exciting new ideas. We are fortunate to have Taylor on board.
We still have an advertisement for a NDIS Coordinator for the Rockhampton, if you would like to join our team at BigDog please checkout our seek ad.
In Toowoomba we currently have SIL vacancies, and are looking for 2 amazing people to join our BigDog Family.
Staff Birthdays
Harry W
12th Christopher F
Laura H
Wilson K
14th Zev J
15th Hannah D
20th Deborah H
26th Noey A
27th Tracey D
29th Herman S
Have a great day!
Paul Myatt Centre
2 Free Workshops
Rights and Services
Tuesday 6 June 1pm—3pm
The NDIS Commission, Code of Conduct and Complaints
Wednesday 7 June 9am-11am
11-15 Alexander Street Toowoomba
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
Wheelchair Rugby Australia (WRA)
WRA is the governing body for the development and growth of the sport of wheelchair rugby in Australia. WRA is dedicated to providing athletes with a disability the opportunity to participate and excel in wheelchair rugby from grassroots to international competition.
While the sport was introduced to Australia in the 1980’s, WRA was officially formed as an independent organisation in August 2022.
Wheelchair Rugby Australia Ltd is a registered charity and not-for-profit recognised by The Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission.
The Santos Wheelchair Rugby National Championship returns in 2023! Across 3 days, the Gold Coast will play host to the best of Australian and International wheelchair rugby.
Justice of the Peace
This service is available at the Historic BigDog House
3 Clifford 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.
