BigDog July 2018 Newsletter

NDIS Quarterly Report Australian NDIS Market Administration updates 1

Editors Note As promised by the McKinsey Review there are some big changes to the NDIS Price Guide. The good news is that these uplifts in pricing and clarity over some support items, are worth waiting for.

From 1st July there are changes to 10 of the areas that McKinsey recommended:

“Difficulty is the price we pay for everything worth having”

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Regional Travel

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High intensity loading for centre-based activities

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Short Term Accommodation

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Temporary Support for Overheads (TSO)

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Cancellation policy for core supports

In This Issue

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Group supports

} NDIS Price Guide

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Cancellation policy for therapy

} In the world of DisAbility

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Reports requested by the NDIA

} NDIS Updates

Of the 592 line-item services listed in the guide: 

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95 have changed price. The largest price increases were for ‘Group Based Activities In The Community’ - some of which are up by 25%.

87 new Supports have been added (74 new Support Items that relate to ‘Group Based Activities In A Centre’ or ‘In The Community’).

21 removed (20 items in the Assistive Technology support category, such as wheelchairs, postural chairs and wheeled walkers are removed. These are now covered by eight new line items).

Steven

Jonathan Heimberg

} Community NEWS } Community Partners } Photograph Gallery } Management Updates } Day Service } Rockhampton

} Safety Matters } Admin Updates } July Events

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That time of year is here again! The NDIA have released the new Price Guides, which will come into effect Sunday, 1st July.

creased costs associated with delivering care in a facility.

This Price Guide update is much more significant than last year's as it comes hot off the heels of the McKinsey Independent Pricing Review. We've known since March/April that the NDIA intended to endorse a huge number of the recommendations but it wasn't until now that we knew to what extent.

New ratios: The NDIA have filled some gaps in the Price Guide with the introduction of price limits for new ratios:

So here they are - the key changes of this hotly anticipated update:

Community Engagement Assistance ($42.59): A brand new item: “Program to empower participants and improve interactions between participants and their social networks. Assistance to engage effectively in the community through a group approach to help achieve goals, gain insight into their lives and make informed decisions.”

Price Increases 7.6% price increase for standard intensity attendant care (i.e. with daily personal activities and assistance with community participation).

This is a combination of: A new 2.5% Temporary Support Overhead (TSO) loading, intended to support providers with their overhead costs during the transition period. This is just for 2018/19 and will drop down to 1.25% next financial year.

5.14% increase in prices to take into account increases in the SCHCADS (3.50%) Award and the Equal Remuneration Order (2.27%).

5.14% price increase for high intensity attendant care as the TSO does not apply.

2.1% increase for capacity building support based on national Wage Price Index. This is in line with last years’ increase though unlike last year, this price increase also applies to therapists. $2 per hour increase for centre-based group supports to support providers meeting in-

New Items

1:3 ratios in Short Term Accommodation 1:4 and 1:5 ratios in both standard and high intensive community-based group supports

What else?

Expansion on Support Coordination roles: The Price Guide includes the most extensive descriptions of the three types of Support Coordination that we have seen to date.

Easy to read Core supports tables: The layout of attendant care prices have is now set out as a matrix where all the relevant times and ratios are on one sheet.

As is standard practice, participants’ plans will be automatically adjusted to account for the increase in prices. They will not, however, be adjusted to allow for further travel or cancellations.

We await the outcomes of additional complexity loadings in the next McKinsey report.

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NDIS Quarterly Report by Sara Gingold Quarterly Report

Complaints

The March 2018 Quarterly Report has finally landed. It comes at a tumultuous time for the NDIA, with the countless scandals that seem to plague the Scheme increasingly finding their way into the mainstream media. The Agency would have undoubtedly been praying to the high heavens that this report would herald in some good news. Over the course of the 200-page report there is indeed some good news, some very bad news and enough statistics to satisfy your data needs for the next three months. We have leafed through it all and picked out the bits every provider needs to know.

Complaints are undoubtedly the curly topic of this report. The NDIA received a record 4,146 complaints this quarter, which is considerably higher than previous quarters. Some of these complaints were about service providers, but the vast majority were about the Agency. Of these, 31% were about timeliness, 19% about individual needs, 8% about reasonable and necessary supports and 6% about unclear information. Since inception, the equivalent of 1 in every 10 participants has made a complaint.

Undoubtedly, this demonstrates how disappointing the Scheme has been to many participants.

The Good NEWS

Plan Utilisation

It's always good to start on a positive note.

That way anyone so inclined can knock off early and feel breezy (not you Rob De Luca!).

In the context of all the problems plaguing the Scheme, it is important to remember that there are some things that are going right. Namely:

Plan utilisation statistics might not have the sex appeal of complaints and satisfaction rates, but it is an important, albeit underdiscussed, indicator of the success of the Scheme. Low levels of plan utilisation can be indicative of market failure or participants struggling to navigate the system.

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84% of participants are still reporting their experience with the Agency has been ‘good’ or ‘very good.’

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90% of carers for children aged 0-6 feel that the NDIS had been helpful in their child’s development.

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72% of participants said that the NDIS helped them with daily living.

And my personal favourite: 

54% of participants over 25 said that the NDIS has helped them meet new people.

The Productivity Commission estimates that plan utilisation should sit at around 80%-95%.

Rates are supposed to increase as participants become more comfortable with the Scheme. While the report stresses that the picture for 2017-2018 is still emerging, utilisation rates are still problematically low at 59%, with only one quarter of the year left to go.

The report does not dedicate a lot of ink to the issue, but it is an essential marker for us all to watch, as it may be the first indicator of a system under stress.

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The Australian NDIS Market The Market While we are on the fun topic of market failure, there is also a problematic picture emerging in the provider's space. This quarter, only 45% of registered providers were active. More disturbingly still, 7% of providers who were previously active did not receive a payment this quarter.

Hopefully, they have all taken a 3 month vacation, because we cannot afford for providers to be giving up on the NDIS. Participants depend on a strong market to allow them to access the services they need and exercise choice and control. At the end of transition, it is predicted there will be 460,000 NDIS participants across the country. Right now, only 35% of them have entered the Scheme. As the rollout continues, we need a market strong enough to accommodate the next 298,000 people set to come.

Bilateral Estimates The bilateral estimates represent the expected number of people with approved NDIS plans at particular points of time. Currently, only 78% of the bilateral estimates for this quarter have been met, so there are fewer people in the Scheme than anticipated. This paints a troubling and confusing picture. There are two potential reasons for the variation: either there have been delays in the transition schedule or the bilateral estimates are an inaccurate representation of how many people will actually be entering the Scheme. The report argues that it is the latter. The bilateral estimates are based on the number of clients in selected State and Territory disability programs prior to

the NDIS. As of this quarter, as many as 16,005 former State and Territory clients have been found ineligible for the Scheme, could not be reached, or did not want to enter the Scheme. Therefore, there are obviously significant difference between the NDIS and former State and Territory programs that challenge the accuracy of the estimates. As a side issue - this raises significant concerns about what will happen to people in the programs when they draw to an end.

However, even with some inaccuracies in the bilateral estimates being taken into account, there are still undoubtedly delays in the transition rollout. Nearly 29,000 participants who have been confirmed into the Scheme are still waiting for plans.

While the Agency might want to avoid talking about the rollout schedule and delays, it is becoming increasingly evident that the speed of the rollout is becoming a problem.

Some Facts To finish it off, here are some fun(ish) facts from the report: 

Participants are supported by 1.53 providers on average.

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The top 25% of providers are accounting for 80-90% of payments.

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Therapeutic supports has the highest number of registered providers.

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Autism and intellectual disabilities remain the two most common disabilities accounting for 29% of participants each.

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Every Australian Counts

ABC Q&A Monday 25th June 2018 The panel of Dylan Alcott, Kiruna Stamell, Graeme Innes, Bruce Bonyhady and Catia Malaquias were asked lots of great questions by the audience. In fact Q&A tell us they have never had so many questions for one show before!

The episode had a lot to get through, but here’s a quick summary of the biggest questions and answers we heard from Q&A: 1. The NDIS has given us hope, but there’s still a lot to be done We’re a long way from where we were ten years ago, but we still have quite a way to go.

The scheme is working well for some - we have to get it working well for everyone. To do that we need the Federal Government and the NDIA to get on with sorting out the problems.

2. All our voices are crucial for getting the NDIS right The panel and the audience agreed that the

fundamentals of the NDIS are still strong. But to have real choice and control, the NDIA and all the governments involved need to listen to people with disability, their families and carers to really get the scheme right.

3. “Changing attitudes changes lives” – Graeme Innes Everyone agreed that while we have made progress, negative and discriminatory attitudes toward people with disability continue to impact everyone’s lives. Everyone agreed that the only way to challenge these attitudes was to see and hear from people with disability.

4. There should always be supports outside the NDIS The NDIS was never meant to be an oasis in a desert. People who are not eligible for the NDIS still need programs and supports to help them. There should never be a cliff outside the scheme. We need strong leadership by all our governments to ensure that no one falls through the gaps.

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Parent to Parent

WhatsUp in Disability

5. Society must be inclusive

Virgin introduces carer fare

Everyone agreed that we can’t build an inclusive society without everyone getting a fair go. There are still too many barriers standing in the way of people with disability having the same opportunities as everyone else - getting a good education, getting a job, moving out of home. The NDIS should be about enabling these things to happen - not standing in the way.

Virgin Australia is implementing a Disability Assistant Concession fare.

And most important of all – the NDIS is not the answer to everything. We need change in all areas of life so people with disability can enjoy the same opportunities that everyone else simply takes for granted.

As Kiruna said, we still have so far to go. So we all need to band together and keep fighting until we get there.

And that’s what the Every Australian Counts community is all about!

The fare offers a 50% discount (applied to the base fare) for an assistant’s airfare. The fare has been made available in recognition of the many travellers using the airline who require special assistance when travelling.

The fare is designed to facilitate the travel of guests who are required by Virgin Australia to travel with an assistant under the airline’s Independent Travel Criteria.

Flight crews are obviously there to keep us comfortable and safe but there is a limit to the services they can provide, therefore the airline recognises the need for some travellers to fly with the assistance of a family member or support worker.

Tasks like administering medication, assisting with bathroom visits and in the case of an emergency being able to apply an oxygen mask are not the responsibility of a flight crew.

July/August Issue is out soon!

Includes a detailed summary of the NDIS Quarterly Report 31st March 2018, NDIS 2018/2019 Price Guide and lots of local stories.

To obtain a copy of WhatsUp in Disability magazine or to be an advertiser, please contact WhatsUp via: Office

4/33 Bell Street, Toowoomba

Email

admin@whatsupindisability.org

Phone

4632 6678 7

By Get behind Bowel Cancer awareness On Wednesday 27th June we had a guest speaker from Queensland Health to talk about Bowel Cancer Awareness.

Typical Bowel cancers occur when tumorous growth develops in your large (lower) intestines. This is the second most common cancer diagnosed in Australia. Symptoms may not occur I the early stages of colon cancer, but if they do, gastrointestinal problems are the most common indicator.

Colon cancer begins with polyps in the walls of your intestines, regular bowel screenings are recommended after 50 years of age to diagnosis the condition as early as possible to ensure effective treatment and survival. A healthy lifestyle of high-fiber and low-fat intake can help

Marrissa

to prevent colon cancer, limiting smoking and alcohol consumption is another measure of defense.

If you are over the age of 50 in Australia, a free bowel screening kit is automatically mailed to you every 2 years. It is a simple process to collect and send away your sample to be tested. If you identify any symptoms in yourself, or a client you work with however then you can contact your local GP directly to be tested. Treatment will depend on the type and stage of the identified cancer, most commonly this involves surgical intervention, chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

For more information you can contact the Cancer Council on 13 11 20 or visit https:// www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/types-ofcancer/bowel-cancer/ Signs and Symptoms 

Rectum Bleeding (Blood in your stool)

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Anemia Symptoms

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A Change in Bowel Habits

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Abominal Pains (Cramping or Bloating)

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Unexpected Weightloss and loss of appetite

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Unexpected Fatigue (Unusually tired)

There are several conditions that may cause these symptoms to occur, not just bowel cancer. If any of these symptoms are experienced it is important that they are discussed with your Doctor immediately.

Our very own “Poo” cupcakes to promote Bowel Cancer Awareness 8

AFL Queensland

Community Sponsorships

Act of kindness as Hermit Park Tigers deliver memorable goal

Highfields Lions

It was the moment which captured the hearts of football fans around the nation.

Today our great game in @AFLQ was put into perspective when a young man with a disability playing in the Townsville reserves comp had his shoe laces tied by his opponent mid game.

BigDog is pleased to be sponsoring the Highfields Lions AFL Club by providing sports shorts for all of the players.

One leg shows the Lions’ logo and the other the BigDog logo.

2018 Darrell Holt Tenpin Bowling Carnival Chirnside Park, Victoria 11th to 24th August Holt Challenge Incorporated, known simply as "Holt", provides Tenpin Bowlers in Australia with the opportunity to compete on a level playing field against others of similar ability. Since 2007, this organisation has conducted a highly successful event known as the Darrell Holt Tenpin Bowling Carnival, during which numerous challenges and trophy events are hotly contested.

He also kicked a goal and both teams got around him #AFLQfooty #inclusion #outstanding

BigDog has provided branded drink bottles and bottle carriers for the members of the South Queensland Team.

We wish Lindsay Knorr and the rest of the team our very best for the carnival.

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Thanks to Lyn from Darling Downs First Aid Training who provided an action filled day with lots of laughter...

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the continuing success and growth of the business that our staff understand it and how their role contributes to the operational goals of the business. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

Website enquiries form

Rockhampton Visit Steven and I enjoyed our trip up to Rockhampton. We set up a new computer and a mobile phone which now connects the Rockhampton office to Toowoomba and enables better communication and support.

We also measured up the front windows and signboard so we can now organise to get signage made and installed. We’re really excited about the opportunity for growth in Rockhampton.

Organisational Structure To ensure that BigDog operates in a consistent manner and effectively manages its growing business, an organisational structure has been implemented. This structure establishes distinctive areas of the business and outlines reporting lines for all staff. This structure represents a significant change for BigDog as a business, and it is important to

Our website has been updated to make it easier for people to make enquiries about our services.

Under the ‘Contact’ page there is now a button which links to a simple form. This enables service enquiries to be made at any time by anyone. Please feel free to suggest to anyone who might be looking for NDIS support services, including cleaning or yard maintenance that they drop by the BigDog website and submit an enquiry.

And of course they are still always welcome to phone or drop in during our business hours.

Staff website Just a reminder to all our staff that the BigDog staff website is a valuable source of information such as policy and procedures, and contains more links to tools for reporting and other business functions that are being migrated away from paper processes. The staff site is under constant development, so please check it regularly. If you have any requests or suggestions for the site, please let me know. If you’re unsure of how to access the staff site, please get in touch with the office and we will be happy to show you where it is.

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Sling - Group Chats

Hi Team, It is good to see all support workers embracing Sling to communicate with each other.

We are going to take this to the next level; when staff are communicating about a participant, create a group chat with all the members of the team. Better still, I have already created group chats for most of the participants, just continue along with this conversation thread.

Together we can ensure that we are doing the most we can to assist the participants on their journey through life.

Clean cars are safer Having a clean car is always nice, however sometimes finding the time and opportunity to give your car some attention can be difficult.

There are things we can do to ensure we keep our cars cleaner and safer. Here at BigDog we ensure any personal items such as water bottles, lunch boxes and groceries are secured in our vehicles by bags, clips, straps and compartments so they do not spill or become loose. This is also a matter of safety as occasionally loose items may move on the floor bed of your cabin and in fact lodge themselves in spots like under your brake pedal, such things may include empty bottles, containers, shoes, sports equipment, etc.

So always ensure excess rubbish is removed and your items are secured in the provided compartments or you are utilising securing methods within the vehicle.

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Medication Assistance

Shift Note Form

Here at BigDog we support many participants who use prescribed medications. BigDog assists in the administration of these medications, when we do these medications must be Webster packed by the pharmacy so we can identify them correctly.

BigDog staff follow a policy when assisting in the administration of medications. We are only able to assist with PRN medication if in the Participant file it is clearly identified, and the medical directives are established.

Staff ensure we record the time we assist on the Participants medication Register.

If staff have any concerns with medication administration the first point of contact should be the Participants pharmacy or Poisons Hotline Australia and in an emergency call 000.

While on shift BigDog staff may have an incident with the Participant they are supporting.

In the past we have only had the option of reporting major incidents through our current Critical Incident Report. Now staff can submit a Shift Note via the internet on their device.

The Shift Note once submitted is received by the Supports Coordinator who then assesses the information and processes the note accordingly, it can be resolved immediately or may need a follow up.

The idea of incorporating the Shift Note means that management and staff can now work more effectively together.

The shift Note form is accessible through the BigDog website which staff can log in to whenever they need.

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New Coordinator

Congratulations to Marrissa who has taken on the role of Day Service Coordinator now that we have found Kylie to replace her in her previous role as our NDIS accounts and payroll officer.

Defibrillator We have installed a defibrillator in the first aid room at the Paul Myatt Community Centre in the case of an emergency.

BigDog Day Service Toowoomba

Paul Myatt Community Centre 11-15 Alexander Street North Toowoomba 4350 Coordinators Marrissa Moore and Sharon Price 4512 6020 dayservice@bigdogsupport.com 14

NAIDOC Week It’s a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements as part of NAIDOC Week from July 8 to 15.

It is also an opportunity to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to our country and society.

The 2018 theme is “Because of Her, We Can” and this recognises the spirit and leadership ATSI women have shown and continue to show in our lives. ATSI women play active and significant roles at the community, state and national levels as leaders, trailblazers, politicians and activists. They have fought for equal rights, justice and rights to country along with access to education, employment and the right to maintain and celebrate their culture. All this, often while also caring for their families, maintaining their homes and breaking down cultural and institutional barriers and stereotypes.

Capri - New Chimpanzee

Their achievements, voice and unwavering passion have given us strength and paved the way for generations to come.

Capri is a new baby chimp born to parent Leakey and Alon and the first to be born at the Rocky Zoo since the 1970’s. The guys went up and visited the new chimp and learnt about how Capri is part of a breeding programme and how numbers in their natural habitats are reducing quite rapidly.

Chimpanzees can only be seen at 3 zoos in Australia. One in South Australia, Taronga Zoo and Rockhampton Zoo.

Because of her, we can!

Beef Week

BigDog Day Service Rockhampton

1/105 Denham Street, Rockhampton 4701 Post Office address PO Box 9777 Frenchville 4701 Coordinator Suzanne Smith 0438 724 306 Suzanne@bigdogsupport.com

The guys are off to Beef Week this Friday.

Beef Week happens at the Rocky Showgrounds every 3 years and showcases all things beef. People from all over Australia along with international guests come to take part in Sales, competitions and food. Celebrity chefs including Curtis Stone, Adrian Richardson and Iron Chef Sakai. (Just to name a few) will be serving up the very best gourmet beef dishes. Rockhampton as a whole takes part in the week long festivities with window displays and concerts.

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Working in Cold Conditions Working in cold conditions isn’t just uncomfortable, it can be dangerous. Frostbite, numbness, dehydration and hypothermia are real concerns from chilly outdoor weather. If you’re working outdoors this winter, be aware of the dangers and stay safe. ers from getting wet. Remove any wet clothing immediately.

The following tips will help you and your participants stay safe in the cold. 

Stay well nourished by eating and drinking enough -Make sure to drink enough fluids, we dehydrate faster in cold weather conditions. Dehydration causes headaches, dizziness and fatigue, and it’s important to stay alert outdoors. Eating enough food during the day, especially fats and carbohydrates, is also important. Our bodies use those nutrients as energy to stay warm in cold temperatures.

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Stay well rested - Working outdoors can be challenging, and increases risks to our safety. Make sure you and your participant are getting enough sleep to stay alert on the job when conditions are more dangerous.

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Plan breaks from the cold - Just like we need to take breaks from work throughout the day, our body needs to take breaks from the cold. Plan warm-up times throughout the day to avoid numbness and shivers.

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Stay dry - Damp clothing can quickly drop our body temperature. It’s more important than ever to stay dry in the cold. Wear a moisture-wicking base layer to draw away sweat as we work. Wear waterproof gear as an outer shell to prevent the under lay-

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Dress for the conditions - Dressing in layers is key, as it not only keeps us warm but allows you to adjust to changing temperatures. Proper gloves, socks and footwear are essential. Choose headwear that keeps your head and ears warm. Balaclavas can also help to warm our necks and warm the air we’re breathing.

Travel and Cancellations Therapists may now charge up to 45 minutes of travel time in rural areas against the appointment they are travelling to. Outside of rural areas, this limit is 20 minutes. The Agency has also clarified that therapy providers can also claim for return travel from the final appointment in a day Clarifying participants’ paying for cost of own travel: The Price Guide also provides what will be a welcome clarification for many providers: providers can negotiate with participants to pay for the cost of their transport in addition to the support worker’s time.

Greater scope for cancellations: providers can now charge up to 90% of the service booking price for short notice cancellations (i.e. after 3pm the day before) up to a maximum of 12 per year for Core supports (up from 8).

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End of Financial Year

Birthdays

Payee Summary Sheets With the end of the financial year approaching staff are reminded that Payee Summary Sheets will be provided and that new Employee Detail Forms for 2018-2019 will need to be completed to coincide with the new pay schedules effective this month.

July

EFTPOS Only A reminder that we will not be accepting payments for daily activities, application fees for Blue Card or Positive Notice Cards, training fees or any other miscellaneous payments in cash from the 1st July 2018.

Kylie Gordon Kylie comes to us with a wealth of business experience. Welcome to your new role as our accounts and payroll officer and we hope that you enjoy your time with us.

1st 2nd 13th 14th 18th 21st 24th 28th

Cora S Dylan V Kyle P Bettina A Alyssa S Darren H Tracey U Colin B Jenny B

Have a great day!

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My Son Pinocchio Empire Theatre Toowoomba Saturday 14th July 7:00pm Featuring the beloved classic songs, When You Wish Upon a Star and I've Got No Strings, alongside a host of new songs by Oscar - and Grammy Award winner and master melodist, Stephen Schwartz, tackling timely issues about what it means to be "the perfect child" - and what it means to be "a real father.

Tickets: Adult $25, Concession $19

Winter Wonderland Civic Square 1st - 15th July 2018

NAIDOCC Baillie Henderson Hospital Wednesday 11th July 11am - 1pm Galamaay Dance Troupe Flag Raising Ceremony DDHHS NAIDOC Awards Cake Cutting Ceremony Rapt in Reptiles Free BBQ Contact Pat Murphy 0414 261 280

Toowoomba’s Civic Square will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland and provide a magical experience for young and old. Get your winter woollies on, strap on your skates and glide across the outdoor ice skating rink.

Full event details and ticket purchase available at www.tr.qld.gov.au/winterwonderland

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HELP Toowoomba 5 Bell Street Monday 9th July 1:30pm - 3:00pm 5 - 6 July 2018 Brisbane QLD

Source Kids will be hosting the first disability expo in Brisbane focused on children, youth and young adults – bringing together the latest products, services and technology, alongside some incredible speakers under one roof for two days.

What’s on in July 1st - 15 July

Winter Wonderland

3rd July Tuesday

Highfields Business Breakfast

4th July

American Independence Day NDIS Industry Briefing

5th - 6th July

NDIS Advocacy Workshop Brisbane

6th - 7th July

Source Kids Disability Expo Brisbane

8th - 15th July

NAIDOC Week

9th July Monday

HELP Employment opening

11th July Wednesday TDSPN Meeting 10am - Noon NAIDOC Baillie Henderson

Grand opening of our new Toowoomba Office to be officially opened by Paul Antonio Mayor Toowoomba Regional Council

Contact Us BigDog Support Services 232 Ruthven Street Toowoomba QLD 4350 PO Box 234 Harlaxton QLD 4350

(07) 4632 9559

1800 22 44 32 0427 408 698 (On Call) admin@bigdogsupport.com Visit us on the web at www.bigdogsupport.com

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