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March 2007

March 2007. NDS NSW Regional Meeting Report Round Two, 2009. NDS National Issues Report. Australian Disability Enterprises Update Award Modernisation and Wage Tool Review Open Employment Update Federal Government Public Housing Initiatives FaHCSIA Presentation DEEWR Presentation.

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March 2007

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  1. March 2007 NDS NSWRegional Meeting ReportRound Two, 2009

  2. NDS National Issues Report

  3. Australian Disability Enterprises Update Award Modernisation and Wage Tool Review Open Employment Update Federal Government Public Housing Initiatives FaHCSIA Presentation DEEWR Presentation NDS National Issues Report Overview

  4. Australian Disability Enterprises • Co-Branding of Australian Disability Enterprises • ADEs are able to exhaust existing stocks of printed material before they adopt the new co-branding requirements • FaHCSIA will not enforce this requirement • New ADE Website • Has gone live mid April 2009 • Site launched 24 April 2009 • Marketing Strategy • FaHCSIA has a very limited • budget for marketing strategy • Awareness raising of ADE • “Brand” is essential • www.australiandisabilityenterprises.com.au

  5. Australian Disability Enterprises • Federal Court Matter – BSWAT • Two of the three original ADEs have been dropped from complaint and an additional ADE added • Number of complainants now two • Directions hearing held 9 April 2009; next scheduled 29 May 2009 • Additional BSWAT Complaints to HRC Victoria • Two Victorian ADEs have been recently named in complaints to the Victorian HRC alleging discrimination • BSWAT reassessment results are the source of the complaints • Same FaHCSIA funded advocacy service is lodging the complaints • If existing precedents apply, complaints will be terminated and proceed to the Federal Court as per matter above • FaHCSIA Policy Announcement • An important policy amendment sought by the CBF Review Red Tape Reduction Group will be announced by FaHCSIA today

  6. Australian Disability Enterprises • Looming Challenges for ADEs and Sector Sustainability • Sector faces huge challenges in current economic climate • NDS and FaHCSIA will work closely with the sector to anticipate and respond to these challenges • NDS has urged State and Territory Governments to adopt a procurement exemption for ADEs • Tas Government will implement a procurement exemption for ADEs • FaHCSIA has extended eligibility to the Temporary Viability Fund • NDS poll of ADEs – The impact of the Economic Downturn • Pressure on sales figures evident (55% down) with similar impacts on performance against budgets and profit figures • 43% reported fundraising is down • Just over 20% have reduced supported employee hours • Current asset values appear resilient for 75% • Investments reduced in value for 53% • Sales prices appear resilient, with 17% reporting decreases

  7. Award Modernisation and Wage Tool Review in the ADE Sector • Australian Fair Pay Commission is currently engaged in four streams of research: • Wage Assessment Tool audit • Development of an Industry Profile of the sector from data provided by FaHCSIA • Survey of employer knowledge of Wage Assessment Tools • Series of focus groups with supported employees • Wage Tool Review • Review may not take place as planned • Reference Group may be jointly convened by NDS and FaHCSIA • Include key stakeholders • Viewed as an industrial matter and not through a rights perspective • Emphasis on review being cost neutral

  8. Disability Employment Services – Quality Strategy Initiatives • National Quality Strategy for Disability Services • Major priority of National Disability Agreement • Key component is the review of the Disability Services Standards • Examine implications of increased use of individualised funding • Outcomes for PWD should be incorporated gradually and informed by evidence • Disability Services Audit Personnel Certification Scheme Review • Audit Personnel conduct DESQA audits of Disability Services and include auditors and consumer technical experts • Review aims to ensure Audit Personnel are suitably qualified • Consumer Training and Support Program Review • Program now over 10 years old • Focus of program has changed significantly over that time • Consumer involvement in quality assurance system is vital

  9. Open Employment Update • DEEWR ‘The Future of Disability Employment Services’ Update • Changes to proposed DES service model announced by Minister O’Connor on 7 April • DEN to be known as Disability Employment Services (DES) • NDS met with DEEWR and Minister O’Connor to underline proposals • Discussion Paper on ‘Invitation To Treat’ rules and business share allocation within the next couple of weeks • Exposure Draft of Tender due for release at the end of April • DES Request for Tender due for release at the end of August • DEN Star Ratings • NDS analysis of star ratings available on the NDS website • Results for capped program in NSW particularly poor • 32% of Metro and 46% of Rural services will need to re-tender

  10. Open Employment Update • Productivity Places Program (PPP) for Jobseekers • New PPP program guidelines for job seekers released January 2009 • Service providers reported difficulty in accessing PPP training placements for their clients, however some are achieving success • Recently updated PPP guidelines for job seekers state that the training places will be allocated on a ‘first in first served’ basis • High demand for these places, important that service providers ensure that referrals are submitted correctly and on time • DEEWR is managing the allocation of places available until 30 June 2009 through the Program Information Management System (PIMS)

  11. Job Network Update • Job Services Australia (formerly Job Network) • Job Network has been renamed “Job Services Australia: People, Skills and Jobs” • Results of the tender have been announced and providers will commence operations from 1 July 2009 • The tender process provides some indication of possible trends for Disability Employment Services provision • 88 NFP contracts, 28 private sector contracts and two overseas providers • 29 currently contracted organisations will cease delivery of services from 1 July 2009

  12. Federal Government Public Housing Initiatives • Federal Government’s social housing reform agenda: • Move away from State Authorities to Community NFP providers. • $6.6 billion earmarked for social housing under the National Economic Stimulus Package was directed to not-for-profits • Housing Ministers agreed to long-term growth of no-for-profit housing

  13. Presentation by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) Presentation by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)

  14. NDS Generic Report

  15. National Disability Entitlement Scheme • Scheme is a “Light on the Hill” Issue • NDS strongly supports such a Scheme • Parliamentary Secretary Shorten believes it is a good idea worthy of investigation, debate and discussion – similar in scope to Medibank • Scheme should be a centrepiece of the National Disability Strategy • Range of issues relating to Scheme need to be resolved • Scheme would provide a service entitlement for all people with a severe disability • NDS building a Disability and Carer Alliance to pursue Scheme • Carers Australia, AFDO and National Disability and Carers Council • Seeking agreement on central principles – not entire concept • Emphasis is on an entitlement, not trauma Scheme • NDs would support a trauma scheme only as an interim measure • Trauma schemes are divisive due to arguments over who is in and who is not • Ultimate objective is a universal entitlement scheme

  16. National Disability Entitlement Scheme • Emphasis is on a sustainable support system • A Service Entitlement would sustain the Disability Service System • Evidence that current and projected increases in the population of PWD will place enormous pressure on the system and increase unmet need • Eligibility Issues • A trauma scheme will only cover those that acquire a disability • Entitlement scheme will cover all non insurable injuries or disabilities – fully funded no fault scheme • What happens to existing schemes? • Continue to be administered under current arrangements • Could gradually be subsumed by National scheme • How would such a scheme be funded? • Most equitably funded through a Medicare type levy or general revenue

  17. National Disability Agreement • Agreement took effect from 1 January 2009 • $5.3 billion over five years • Higher level of indexation than previous agreement (6%) • Significant improvements include: • Linkage between State services and employment • Commitment to social and economic participation • Stronger focus on performance management • Clear focus on workforce issues • Increased research budget and sector input into research agenda • Explicit inclusion of family carers in outcomes statement as clients • Aids and equipment • Better articulation of outcomes and outputs

  18. National Disability Agreement • Agreement poses new risks • Includes Disability Assistance Package ($112 million) and Young People in Residential Aged Care ($122 million) funding • There is no financial commitment from the States and Territories • Disability Departments will have to make bids to State and Territory Treasuries to access Commonwealth funds • Formula predicated on economic growth figures • Lead agency FaHCSIA not part of negotiations until last minute

  19. National Disability Agreement: Ten Key Priorities • Better Measurement of Current and Future Need (NSW) • National model to estimate demand by mid 2010 • Improved ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers • 2) Population Benchmarking for Disability Services (Commonwealth) • University of Sydney commissioned, initial report presented to Government; Ken Baker on Reference Group • 3) Making Older Carers a Priority (Commonwealth) • 4) Quality Improvement Systems based on Disability Standards (Victoria) • National Disability Quality Framework (including review of National Standards for Disability Services and QA System). Final report by mid 2009, implementation by mid 2010 • 5) Service Planning and Strategies to Simplify Access (Queensland) • Single access points and nationally consistent assessment processes in line with agreed principles by 2011

  20. National Disability Agreement: Ten Key Priorities • Early Intervention, Prevention, Lifelong Planning and Increasing Independence and Social Participation Strategies (NSW) • Early Intervention and Prevention Strategy by mid 2011 • Increased Workforce Capacity (Tasmania) • National Disability Workforce Strategy by end 2010: commissioned Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council • Reference Group meets 20 April; NDS has 2 positions • Shorten held forum at Parliament House to canvass issues • Increased Access for Indigenous Australians (Northern Territory) • 9) Access to Aids and Equipment (Commonwealth) • Jurisdictions yet to meet to discuss way forward • Working Group established • 10) Improved Access to Disability Care

  21. P E R S O N C E N T R E D A P P R O A C H E S Personalisation ‘ways to enhance choice, voice, and control so that people can live their lives’ Choice , voice and control Up front allocation, combining several funding streams, to design and purchase from a range of ‘providers’ Like IB, one funding stream a type of personal budget, a cash payment paid directly, Source: UK DH (Modified) Philips Lighting Australia, January 2007

  22. Key challenges and concerns for providers Personalisation • Financial Viability • Standards and accountability • where does responsibility sit for professional development, to achieve standards? • who bears the risk of an increasingly casualised workforce, if people are allowed to organise support ‘outside’ the formal service system? • who is responsible for market failure? • Measuring outcomes, and increased complexity of transactions in a more personalised funding system has the potential to increase the costs of compliance.

  23. Operational and strategic / systemic issues Personalisation Operational • What can be purchased? • From where? (mandatory entry qualifications) • At what price? (and who sets this?) • How closely the purchases have to relate to a plan? • How the plan will be managed? • How portability will be managed? • How crises will be funded? (cross- subsidisation) • Whether people will have the ability to ‘bank’ funds to use at another time? • Bad debt? Systemic • movement to a less regulated environment • running parallel systems • costs of change / transition

  24. Principles & ingredients Personalisation Transitional funding Incremental, evidence based change Clear contracts, reasonable notice Fully costed services, including $ management Purchase from quality orgs. Sufficient funds for real choices Flexible, timely planning and crises changes Unspent funds ‘banked’ People supported by forms of greater personalisation will be best served by the existence of a robust disability service system which offers choice and flexibility.

  25. Personalisation Our “to do” list Providers NDS Strategies and Actions NDS ‘Personalisation’ and PCP web space DADHC external working groups Regional and Policy Sub-committees Conferences, papers etc • Familiarisation and Education • Positive Engagement • DADHC Action Research Project

  26. Upcoming NDS Events • 2009 NDS National Workforce & OHS Conference • Building workforce capacity: satisfaction, safety & skills • Date: 4 – 5 May, 2009 • Location: Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart • NDS 2009 National Employment Forum incorporating The Workability International Conference • Shining through: creating sustainable employment in a turbulent world • Date: 6 – 9 September, 2009 • Location: Hilton, Sydney

  27. Upcoming NDS Events • Proposal:NSW Disability Support Worker Awards 2010 • Based on Western Australian initiative, open for feedback • Categories to include: • Individual Accommodation Support • Accommodation Support • Community Support • Emerging Leader

  28. NDS Upcoming Open Members’ Forums • All NDS members welcome • All meetings from 10am to 1pm (except CYPF 11am to 2pm): • Monday 15 June: Ageing & Disability • Wednesday 17 June: Australian Disability Enterprises • Friday 19 June: Social Participation (PSP and Day Programs) • Monday 22 June: Accommodation Services • Tuesday 23 June: Open Employment • Wednesday 24 June: Workforce Planning • Thursday 25 June: Children, Young People and Families • Online registration at www.nds.org.au, opening at the end of May

  29. NDS Special Projects Report

  30. The Aboriginal Resources and Pathways pilot is coming to an end in June 2009 • NDS has established five new and expanded three local networks of disability services and Aboriginal communities • Draft ARP website to be launched with the new and improved NDS website, including statewide LGA population data • NDS is in negotiations with DADHC to replicate the outcomes of the ARP into other NSW regions

  31. RTW Coordinator training • 2 Introductory courses – Sydney and Tamworth • 2 Advanced courses – Sydney • Disability Safe website • Documents including tools, posters and sample policies being placed on webpage this month • Benchmarking • Trial completed; expanding to more comprehensive exercise • Benchmarking form available on webpage and open to any provider to complete and submit to Project Manager: susan.smith@nds.org.au • The more participants the more valuable the information – see sample graphs

  32. OHS Harmonisation • Second report released by Review Panel into OH&S • Harmonisation, to the Workplace Relations Ministers Council • Draft model Act now being developed and will be open for comment later in the year • See NDS National News Update of 25 March 2009 entitled “OHS Harmonisation takes further step” • Regional OHS Network • Survey to establish interest circulated • JLT Risk Management / Workers Compensation Support Services • Discussion held regarding tailored ongoing services as part of National Insurance Scheme

  33. Workforce Project: Research Update

  34. Workforce Project: Brand Update

  35. Workforce Project: Campaign Update

  36. Workforce Project: Recruitment Update

  37. Governance and Financial Management Training • Good Governance and It’s Your Business • Board survey ended early April • Results will inform design of a statewide learning program • See the NDS website for survey results and planned program activity. Phase 1 will focus on: • CEO/ Board interface • Key governance and legal issues (in board sessions) • Specific sessions on other IYB chapters • Specific Aboriginal governance program • Financial Management • Unit Costing Tool Version 2 will be ready by May • More UCT v2 training from July 09 – May 2010 • There will also be MS Excel training run simultaneously

  38. Behaviour Support Training • NDS is conducting training on DADHC’s Policy and Practice Manual: Behaviour Support • Ten sessions in total; four held so far with 54 people attending • Demand for training places is high • Vacancies currently exist in Young on 11 and 12 June • Investigating demand for further sessions • Express interest to: kieren.purnell@nds.org.au 02 9256 3106

  39. NDS State Issues Report

  40. Update on Action Items from Round One, 2009 DADHC Update NSW Companion Card SACS Award Update Post School and Day Programs Update Children, Young People and Families Update Accommodation Services Update NDS State Issues Report Overview

  41. Update on Previous Action Items • Regional Action Items Report from Round One available • See NDS website: http://www.nds.org.au/nsw/Regions/regions.html • Attendance forms collect email addresses for distribution of Regional Action Items Report in future

  42. DADHC Update • Stronger Together II • High level discussions taking place • Sector must be proactive in preparation for 2010/11 Budget • NDS recommends that providers share stories of success at local, regional and state levels • Packaged Support Action Research Pilots • Tender for consultants close April 14. • To occur initially across 4 service types: • EarlyStart Early Childhood Intervention (20/250 places) • Extended Family Support Program (41/100 families) • New Day Programs: ‘Life Choices’ and ‘Active Ageing’ (Self Managed) • Older Parent Carer Program (40 places) • Important for providers to engage positively, to inform wider systemic change on individualised funding

  43. DADHC Update • NDS is pulling together several additional provider reference groups to advise DADHC on aspects of reform: • Accommodation • Eligibility, Intake and Assessment Processes for New Clients • Revised Funding Agreement • Collaborative Working • Retiring Director General – Brendan O’Reilly • Brendan O’Reilly brought a fresh approach to the sector • Enhanced previous adversarial relationship between Department and non-government service providers • Announcement of new Director-General imminent, pending Cabinet clearance

  44. Companion Card NSW • Current NSW Position • The Companion Card NSW is now fully operational. • The Honorable Paul Lynch, Minister of Disability Services, launched the program on 28 March 2009 at the Sydney Aquarium. • Cardholders • The first batch of Companion Cards were issued the last week of February. • Currently approximately 400 cards have been issued throughout NSW. • Affiliation • In total, approximately 250 venues, activities and events have registered as affiliates with the program • NSW Public Transport now has systems in place to recognise the Companion Card • Affiliate Manager, Jeff Tonge, 9256 3152 jeffrey.tonge@nds.org.au

  45. Companion Card NSW • Resources • The Companion Card NSW is now fully staffed with 8.5 full time positions. • A Health Professional Education Officer has been contracted • Companion Card NSW webpage is operational and continually updated www.nds.org.au/nsw/companioncard.htm • Eligibility • You are a resident of NSW • You have a significant and permanent disability • You are unable to participate in most community based activities without significant assistance with mobility, communication, self-care, planning and the use of aids and other technologies does not meet those needs • Your level of support is life-long

  46. SACS Award Update • NSW SACS Award is due to be renegotiated • NDS is working with key stakeholders • Aim is a significant increase that is fully funded • Positive effect on workforce capacity concerns • Under new Labour laws, Government required to be party to any hearings • creates responsibility for wage rises to be funded • NDS will keep members informed of any future developments.

  47. Post School and Day Programs Update • DADHC Person Centred Planning in Community Participation Working Group, Workshops and Guidelines • Practice Guide: Exploring and Implementing Person Centred Approaches, now available on DADHC website: http://www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au/dadhc/People+with+a+disability/Post+School+Programs.htm • Extra PCP in Community Participation Workshops announced: • 5 May: Sydney • 13 May: Wallsend • 28 May: Parramatta • Evaluation due end May; NDS provided feedback to DADHC. Provide further feedback to emily.caska@nds.org.au • Further resources available at: • http://www.nds.org.au/nsw/personalisation.html

  48. Post School and Day Programs Update • Evaluation of Community Participation (Self Managed Model) • Commencing 20 April through to July • NDS represented on Evaluation Steering Committee • Evaluation of Transition to Work • Commencing end April through to July • Transition to Work Tender • Closed 20 March • Local Government Area’s (LGA): North Sydney; Far North Coast; Mid North Coast; New England; Illawarra; Southern Highlands; Riverina/Murray • Successful tenders notification expected early May

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