BigDog Newsletter February 2022

Picture Perfect

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Newsletter Wellcamp quarantine hub welcomes first guests from New Zealand The State Government’s Wellcamp quarantine facility will welcome the first cohort of guests on Saturday, with fewer than a dozen arrivals. Deputy Premier Steven Miles confirmed first guests were due to arrive on an Air New Zealand flight on Saturday. The group will be taken by bus from Brisbane to the 500-bed facility near Toowoomba.

Queensland Quarantine Taskforce Commissioner Joanne Greenfield, according to the ABC, said the first arrivals would be a mixture of tourists, workers and students.

The accommodation site was originally going to be used for international students, but its purpose was scheduled to change after Queensland opened the borders to vaccinated international travellers without the need for quarantine.

I hope that this is managed safely as the State Government don’t have the best history!

In This Issue 2 Editor’s Notes 3 NDIS Updates 4 Dylan Alcott OAM 5 CareMaster 6 Hike to Heal 7 Capras All Abilities Clinic 8 NDIS e-learning module 9 NGO Training Infographic 10 Toowoomba Community 11 Rockhampton Community 12 Emergency & Disaster Policy 13 Staff Updates 14 What’s happening in February

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BigDog Support Services Magazine

provided to 858,000 concession card holders which includes the majority of NDIS participants; and

Media release from the Minister 4 February 2022

The Australian Government has commenced distributing 1.2 million rapid antigen tests to high risk residential disability care settings, with five million test kits to be delivered by June this year.

Minister for the NDIS, Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds CSC, said the Government was providing free rapid tests to NDIS Supported Independent Living (SIL) residents and workers in line with the National Cabinet’s agreement to the new Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPCC) guidance.

“Initial deliveries are being distributed to SIL providers with three or more participants while work is underway to identify the best distribution points for smaller providers,” Minister Reynolds said.

SIL providers will receive an allocation of tests to manage outbreaks and outbreak prevention. Providers will distribute tests to participants and their workers as required.

“The provision of rapid antigen tests in higherrisk residential disability settings provides an additional control to ensure the safety of participants and workers, and support providers to help manage any COVID-19 outbreaks.”

The direct supply of test kits to high risk residential disability care settings is in addition to previously announced measures including: •

Free rapid antigen tests as part of the concession card holders scheme which has already seen more than 3.5 million tests

•

Providing eligible NDIS participants with access to rapid antigen tests via their NDIS plan.

This latest measure supersedes the existing measure which enabled SIL participants and providers to claim up to $12.50 per rapid antigen test when a support worker is required to undergo testing to safely deliver supports.

“I would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank the disability care sector for their collaboration and their tireless efforts to ensure continuity of care and support through very challenging circumstances,” Minister Reynolds said.

BigDog has placed or order this week…

Honours for disability community Dylan Alcott (OAM) has been named 2022 Australian of the Year. This is the first time in the award's 62-year history that a person with a visible disability has been named Australian of the Year.

Sue Salthouse was posthumously honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

Sue, who before her passing was a member of our Independent Advisory Council, was a fierce advocate for people with disability and was honoured for her significant service as an advocate for people with a disability, and to the prevention of family violence. We continue to remember Sue, her work in the community and her contributions to the Scheme.

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Australian of the Year 2022 Athlete, Paralympian, philanthropist, media commentator and advocate As a teenager, Dylan Alcott hated being in a wheelchair because he didn't see anyone like him in mainstream media. Then sport changed everything.

A gold medal at the Paralympic Games in wheelchair basketball preceded three more in Paralympic competition after a cross-code switch to tennis. Now, with 23 quad wheelchair Grand Slam titles and a Newcombe Medal, Dylan Alcott recently became the first male in history, in any form of tennis, to win the Golden Slam.

Amid his training and competition load as a world-class athlete, Dylan notes that his most profound impact has come from beyond the field of play. He founded the Dylan Alcott Foundation to provide scholarships and grant funding to marginalised Australians with a disability.

He also authored his best-selling autobiography, Able, and co-founded Get Skilled Access. Further, Dylan's AbilityFest is Australia's first and only inclusive, fully accessible music festival. In realising his childhood dream, Dylan holds several high-profile media roles spanning TV, radio and podcasting.

His acceptance speech, on receiving the award from Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week, is the stuff of inspiration, along with motivation, passion and compassion.

Dylan received his award for achievements in both his sport and his disability awareness work.

He told the supportive crowd on Australia Day he was proud of who he was and took aim at 4

the NDIS and improving the employment numbers of people with disabilities.

"We've got to fund the NDIS, first and foremost, and listen to people with lived experience and ask them what they need so they can get out and start living the lives they want to live and remind ourselves that it is an investment in people with disabilities, so they can get off pensions and start paying taxes, just like their carers and their family members as well,” he said.

"We have to have greater representation of people with a disability absolutely everywhere.

In our boardrooms, in our parliaments, in our mainstream schools, on our dating apps, on our sporting fields, in our universities, absolutely everywhere, so we get the opportunity to start living our lives just like everybody else and I promise you, you won't just enrich the lives of us, but also yourselves in the process.”

BigDog Support Services Magazine

CareMaster training for Support Workers is available on their YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPb5ohNHo9chU-z5BsDgcWbIqRZz2wR4M •

23 CareMaster Mobile Worker App Overview

•

CareMaster Worker App—My Participants

•

CareMaster Mobile Worker App—How to clock on, take notes and clock off

•

CareMaster Worker App—Create Incidents

•

CareMaster Worker App—Worker Menu

•

CareMaster Worker App—Enter notes for completed supports

Additional training modules are being developed that address areas of the CareMaster reports that are available to the coordinators only and are unique to BigDog. These training modules will be available on the NGO Training Portal.

We are currently running a number of dual rosters through EasyEmployer and CareMaster to iron out any bugs that we may encounter before we operate under CareMaster exclusively.

Hopefully full roll out will be in early March.

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The Hike to Heal Scavenger Hike is an exciting event unique to the Toowoomba Region, and possibly Australia! It is an interactive hiking experience for all levels of fitness and hiking experience. Hikers will have fun following clues on the Mt Peel Nature Reserve to find natural treasures and solve riddles as they walk along the trail.

Finish the Scavenger Hike between Sat 19/02/22 and Sun 27/02/22 at Mt Peel (or your chosen destination).

Complete photo challenges, create your own unique mental health slogan and have fun! All entrants will also receive raffle tickets in the Hike to Heal Scavenger Hike multi-draw raffle (see ticket sales for details). All profits will support the counselling service offered by Lifeline Darling Downs.

The Hike to Heal Scavenger Hike has been created by the Barton family in memory of their much-loved son and brother lost to suicide in 2016. The Hike is aimed at raising awareness for suicide prevention and mental wellness through engaging people in a healthy outdoor activity that is fun and builds community connections and resilience. Get Tickets at: https://hiketoheal.oneraffle.com/hiketohealaaa

Beers and Barbies Welcome to Toowoomba’s Brews and Barbie Bash!

If there is one thing any true-blue Aussie should know how to do well, it is to throw a ripper BBQ! We all love a friendly gathering when the sun is warm & the beer is cool and there’s no better time to throw a backyard BBQ than Spring.

The Brews & Barbie Bash is a family BBQ festival celebrating succulent BBQ eats, craft beer, estate wine and live music set in beautiful Toowoomba – South East Queensland’s backyard.

Brews & Barbie Bash 2022 will be held on 19th February in Toowoomba’s Railway Goods Shed. With a fantastic line-up of vendors, this event will be smokin’!

Please note this event is 'cashless' so you will need your credit or debit card on the day.

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BigDog Support Services Magazine

Jan/Feb Magazine WhatsUp in Disability Stories in this issue include:

Community Care Program Come and join the players and support workers in an inclusive environment that is also full of fun activities.

• Wendy Adams • Good Access • Access Design Failures • Appeals at what cost?

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

• Welcome to Radio Persia

Office

11-15 Alexander Street, Toowoomba

• Christmas Wonderland

Email

admin@whatsupindisability.org

Online

www.whatsupindisability.org

• No Sweat

Steven Paull President 7

Supporting Effective Communication Effective communication is essential to providing quality and safe services, and contributes to the rights of people with disabilities to have choice and control. With effective communication, workers can support and enable people to express themselves, to be heard and be safe.

We have released a new e-learning module Supporting effective communication for NDIS workers that demonstrates – from the perspective of NDIS participants – what effective communication looks like; how it supports choice and control; and the importance of communication in avoiding the risk of harm to people with disability.

So how can you support your NDIS workers to best support effective communication?

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The module is designed to support NDIS providers and workers in meeting their obligations under the NDIS Code of Conduct. It also supports registered NDIS providers in meeting their obligations under the NDIS Practice Standards.

All NDIS providers are strongly encouraged to include the module in their induction process for workers, and to encourage existing workers to undertake the module over time, as part of their ongoing learning.

Although the module is not mandatory, anyone working with people with disability, especially those with communication support needs, would benefit from completing it.

The module was co-designed and developed in consultation with the sector, including people with disability and NDIS providers and workers.

BigDog Support Services Magazine

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The month of Love. Happy Valentines day.

We are back for another fantastic month of activities and fun. Ready set go, we are off to explore food from Canada to try some Poutine pie, Then over to Jamaica for some Jerk chicken and rice.

“Mouth Watering in know” Back to the gym and bowling with some other fantastic fun to follow. Goals have been made for us to kick.

Our wear Red to keep hearts beating morning tea is the 16th February all are welcome just a gold coin donation, staff $5.

Happy Birthday to Paddy, Dan ,Matty, Anthony and Chloe stay the amazing people you all are. A few more surprises up my work shirt but you will all have to wait and see..

Enjoy the month of Love

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 10

BigDog Support Services Magazine

This year we are sponsoring the Capras club and training shirts and the BigDog logo appears on the sleeve of both. Rather than issuing a new batch of standard work shirts, Rockhampton employees will be able to order one of the new club shirts in either the standard maroon colour or the unique indigenous version. Employees will be expected to treat these as a work shirt and wear it to work as well as the usual shirts. Support our local club and players. Go Capras!

Lego Club at Gracemere Library When: 9th, 16th, 23rd of Feb 3 – 4:30 pm Description: welcome LEGO® builders and creators of all ages at LEGO® Club at Gracemere Library. Great for making friends and improving fine motor skills while having fun.

No Bookings are needed for these sessions.

BigDog Day Service Rockhampton BigDog Community Centre 170 East Street Rockhampton 4700 Coordinator Sarah Dillon Phone: 4573 4611 rockhampton@bigdogsupport.com.au

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2.9 Emergency and Disaster Management Policy BigDog has effective planning processes to prepare, prevent, manage and respond to emergency and disaster situations whilst mitigating risks to and ensuring continuity of supports that are critical to the health, safety and wellbeing of NDIS participants.

History has shown that on a regular basis, disasters occur in which human lives become very vulnerable. This policy is designed to give some basic guidelines for a disaster where participants, employees and stakeholders become at risk. It should be understood that in any eventuality that enacts this policy that the Directors may be required to enact urgent re-

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sponse plans designated by Government. This may mean a variance or a rejection of elements of this policy but are endorsed by the intent of the policy.

The Disaster Management Act 2003 clearly articulates disaster management stakeholders must be ready and equipped to help the community prevent, prepare, respond to and recover from both natural and man-made disasters.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is tasked with creating safe and resilient communities and to minimising the impact and consequences of emergencies on the people, property, environment and economy of Queensland.

BigDog Support Services Magazine

Major SCHADS changes expected July 2022 In the second half of 2021, the Fair Work Commission did their 4-yearly review of the SCHADS Award, to assess what changes are needed to create reasonable conditions for workers in the disability sector. There were many submissions from stakeholders including employers, peaks and unions. The Fair Work Commission’s decision was announced on 31 January.

These changes will be effective from 1 July 2022, or the first pay period after that. Five months might seem like a long time, but I have a funny feeling life will throw us a few Covid curveballs between now and then. And some of these changes, as you will see below, are quite significant.

Minimum shift of 2 hours Closing a gap in the previous Award, there are now minimum engagement periods for part-time and casual workers. Staff undertaking disability services work will need to be rostered (or at least paid for) shifts that are a minimum of 2 hours long. Readers playing along at home will note that NDIS supports are generally delivered and billed by the hour, not in 2 hour blocks.

Staff Birthdays

February 2022 1st 5th 8th 13th 14th 17th

Nawaf Melissa S Leanne Lawrence Trinity Maitland Tiko

Have a great day!

A broken shift is defined as a shift with one or more breaks (that aren’t meal breaks) within a 12hr period. For example, if a worker is rostered with the same participant from 8am to 11am, then 2pm to 6pm, that would be considered a broken shift. This one was a big ticket item for many providers – with lots of submissions calling the proposed broken shift changes incompatible with the NDIS pricing model. Workers will now be paid an additional allowance of 1.7% of the standard rate per broken shift, or 2.25% of the standard rate for two unpaid breaks in shifts in a 12 hour period. The Award does not specify an allowance for more than two unpaid breaks, or indicate whether these will be allowed.

The Toowoomba Administration offices will have some disruption on Thursday 17 February as we move some people into different offices and change the phones.

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The Play Something Unreal Festival is a new initiative aimed at introducing new members of the community to Rugby League in a fun and inviting way and BigDog is a proud partner of this event.

NRL stands. We will then ask the kids to move into the field and break into groups by age and from there we would run games, skills and drill on field for 45 minutes and the festival would conclude at 12noon.

PSUF is a large festival themed day hosted at Clive Berghofer Stadium on Saturday 19th of February. BigDog will have a stall that the families can interact with, with information about their business, games and giveaways.

We have raffles and prize giveaways donated from NRL and other partners.

The first hour, 10am-11am would consist of the families walking around the stadium interacting with the community partners, clubs and

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BigDog Support Services Magazine

Met Hotel Friday 11 February from 8:00 pm

We know everyone loves a bit of trivia and we wanted to offer something virtual to our Community given the current COVID climate in some places making it tricky for people to attend BBQs. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86530872314

Justice of the Peace This service is available at the Paul Myatt Community Centre 11-15 Alexander 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.

Contact Us BigDog Support Services

232 Ruthven Street Toowoomba QLD 4350 PO Box 234 Harlaxton QLD 4350

(07) 4632 9559 1800 22 44 32 www.bigdogsupport.com.au 15

New training shirts with the BigDog logo on the sleeve.

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BigDog Support Services Magazine