BigDog Newsletter April 2022

Cora Smith

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Here are some highlights from the government’s Federal Budget 2022-23 announcement and an explanation of what these changes may mean for you if they become law.

• Extension to the 50% reduction to minimum drawdown rates for pension accounts • One-off $250 payment for people currently receiving certain types of social security payments (including pensioners, carers, veterans and concession card holders) • One-off tax offset of $420 for low and middle-income earners • 50% reduction to the fuel excise to help reduce fuel prices • 20 weeks paid parental leave to be shared between parents

In This Issue 2 Editor’s Notes 3 NDIS Updates Rockhampton staff who have not received their Capras shirts in either standard or indigenous versions need to contact Trey immediately.

4 1000 Goals 5 Disability Employment 6 Cora Smith 7 Busy at Work 8 Child Safety 9 NGO Training Infographic 10 Toowoomba Community 11 Rockhampton Community 12 Booster Vaccinations 13 Staff Updates 14 What’s happening in April

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Media release from the Minister 15 March 2022

The Australian Government is seeking suitable community based organisations to help deliver the NDIS partners in the community (PITC) program. Services will be delivered in 74 service areas across Australia for a 5 year period from July 2023. This will further improve participant access to support in their local communities.

PITC Program providers are the primary contact for more than 70% of all NDIS participants, delivering local area coordination (LAC) and early childhood (EC) services on behalf of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), linking people with disability to the NDIS as well as to community and mainstream services.

Minister for the NDIS Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said “I have listened to participants and their representatives, and after 8 years’ of transitioning over 500,000 Australians into the insurance scheme, we are now focused on further improvements to participant access to community and mainstream services, which is the original intent of the PITC program.”

“This also provides an opportunity to partner with organisations in some regional and remote parts of Australia, where services can be difficult to access, and connection to community and mainstream supports are so crucial.

“With the NDIS fully funded and now transforming the lives of so many Australians with a

significant and permanent disability, my, and the Australian Government’s, focus is on maturing and improving how the NDIS supports participants and the sector.

“The Government has worked hard to deliver record NDIS funding of $142 billion over the next four years, compared to $8 billion a year for disability support when we came to office.”

“I and the NDIA have worked closely with the sector to understand their vision for the future of the PITC program. As a consequence of this engagement, the NDIA will refocus the PITC program to ensure these organisations are truly part of a participant and nonparticipants trusted network in their community, the sharing of information and resources, and connect them to services to pursue their goals.”

“The future PITC program will dedicate more time to the delivery of early supports for children, plan implementation support for individuals and their families or carers, and activities to facilitate greater community inclusion,” Minister Reynolds said.

The NDIA tender and assessment process will run until late 2022 and will ensure new contracts are in place before the current contracts approach their common expiry in June 2023.

Existing contracts were to finish in 2022 and there is nothing in this release to explain why.

Can COVID-19 be blamed for this as well?

This is the time to ensure that local community organisations are providing the community linking in their own communities. Editor 3

Lance “Buddy” Franklin Friday night’s ground invasion when Sydney’s (Nee Hawthorn’s) Lance “Buddy” Franklin kicked his 1000th goal was an incredible moment and a reminder of all that is great about AFL footy. It was just so Australian.

Thousands streamed onto the SCG, mobile phone cameras in hand, to share the moment.

It was chaotic and sparked some COVID-19 and safety fears for Franklin, his teammates, Geelong players and the crowd.

But the sentiment was overwhelmingly cheerful and carefree, and Franklin himself wasn’t scared .“I was lapping it up, to be honest with you,” he later said.

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For two years we’ve had COVID-affected seasons and too many crowd-free games. Spectacles like Friday’s will hopefully encourage those who may still be hesitant, whether it’s due to COVID fears, complicated ticketing, scheduling, or public transport disruption, to pack the stands again.

It showed that nothing beats attending your favourite sports game and creating lifelong memories.

Buddy won 2 premierships, 4 All-Australian selections, 2 Coleman Medals and a Peter Crimmins Medal in his time at Hawthorn. He was Hawthorn's leading goalkicker for 6 consecutive seasons Now at Sydney he has won a further 4 Coleman Medals and 4 All Australian selections. Buddy Franklin - Bloody Legend

BigDog Support Services Magazine

Recruitment agency Randstad has partnered with Get Skilled Access, founded by disability advocate Dylan Alcott, to launch RecruitAble, said to be a groundbreaking recruitment program for people with disability.

Supported by $2.43 million in funding from the Federal Government, the national pilot and new website will allow the estimated 2.1 million people with disability of working age, gain more employment opportunities.

RecruitAble is the first initiative under the Federal Government’s Disability Employment Strategy, a commitment across all levels of government to create a more inclusive society where people with disability can reach their full potential. Developed by people with disability, RecruitAble will identify key areas to increase accessible practices in the hiring process to create more inclusive workplaces.

Organisations including Coles, Tennis Australia, Bendigo Bank, Hydro Tasmania, RACQ and Randstad are amongst the first employers to participate in the pilot, which is scheduled to run for two years.

Coles will focus the first stage of the pilot on its technology function within its store support centre, dedicating up to eight roles this year to new hires for candidates with disability.

Businesses signing up to the program must commit to training their staff to ensure a supportive environment and meet an initial quota for hiring people with disability. Some businesses will also release new job opportunities to RecruitAble ahead of going to their current preferred supplier panel.

According to Alcott a more inclusive model of recruitment is long overdue. “RecruitAble will offer all Australians an equal opportunity to go after the job of their choice, fulfil their potential and live the life they deserve,” he said.

Minister for Social Services, Anne Ruston, said the majority of employers indicate an openness to hiring people with disability, but only around one third show behavioural commitment to doing so. “The pilot will highlight the benefits of a highly talented but regularly overlooked workforce,” the minister said. “It aims to provide organisations with insights into the accessibility of the current recruitment process and identify key areas for improving the hiring process.”

Results of the pilot program will be evaluated

by La Trobe University and the findings will help inform future reforms and initiatives under the Disability Employment Strategy. It is hoped that a successful pilot will lead to a wider rollout of the program and a significant shift in employment outcomes for Australians with disability.

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Speaking on behalf of our whole support family, we are so sorry to hear of Cora's passing. To Cora's family we are sending our love and sharing memories of the great moments we all had together, and the ways she touched our lives and hearts. To Manny, the loss of your wife can feel like losing part of oneself and we are all here to share your grief. Cora will be greatly missed.

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BigDog Support Services Magazine

Busy at Work We have recently partnered with Busy at Work to provide registrations and Traineeship support through the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network. We have followed Sharon Ryan from her previous ASSN to her new company. Sharon prepares and completes training contracts in Toowoomba while Nicole Manning is our go to person in Rockhampton.

Certificates III and IV will continue to be provided through Aurora Training Institute utilising their online training platform.

Some of the questions that Sharon often has to answer include: What is a trainee?

A trainee is someone who combines work and study to obtain a certificate qualification in a particular industry or occupation. There are workplace laws that apply to all employees in the national workplace relations system. Trainees receive the same entitlements as other employees, such as annual leave, sick leave, public holidays and breaks. These entitlements are set out in the National Employment Standards and the award or agreement that applies to your business.

WhatsUp in Disability

Can a casual employee become a trainee?

Stories in this issue include:

No, while engaged as a casual employee, a person cannot be signed up as an apprentice or trainee. Your business will need to employ all apprentices or trainees under the required PAYG tax withholding, super and fringe benefits tax obligations.

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

Mar/Apr Magazine

• Bronwyn Herbertson • Dylan Alcott • Disability Strategy 2021-2031 • Changing the Landscape • Local Area Coordination • Assistance Animals

Steven Paull President 7

Maintaining Family Connections Family contact is primarily about the child’s needs and their right to have opportunities to develop and maintain an attachment and connection with family members and significant others when they are in care.

Connecting with family is much more than just meetings between the child in care and their parents.

Family contact is considerably broader than this and extends to the child’s wider family circle, and may include the child’s siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

There are a range of mediums that enables direct or indirect communications with the child’s family members and significant others, such as meetings, outings, visits to the family home, telephone calls, FaceTime, social media messenger services, email, letters and so on.

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For some children, contact may need to be supervised for safety reasons, or for a specific time-limited purpose, like an assessment of interactions between the child and the parent.

BigDog staff participation or role in family contact will be negotiated with us and documented in the case plan and placement agreement.

This might include assisting with transport arrangements or supervision of family contact, and only where we are able to do this and agree to the proposed plan.

For siblings who are separated in care, contact is an important means of sustaining their relationship, enabling them to stay ‘familiar’ with each other and remain ‘close’ despite no longer living together.

A number of training modules are now available on our NGO Training Portal and it is mandatory for those support workers in Child Safety that they undertake and complete these modules as they become available.

BigDog Support Services Magazine

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April all ready!

Easter is here.

Happy Easter to all our participants and their families, To all our BigDog team, have a fantastic Easter.

In a wonderful world of colour and light, we spent some time at Cobb and Co. and went to Highfields Pioneer Village to see the Big Cow. Wear Green for St Paddy’s day was a huge hit. Food exploration is over for now, but we had fun exploring all the amazing foods worldwide.

Big plans this month at Toowoomba Day Service with an Easter lunch on the 12th , social bowling with our BBQ in the park is in full swing.

Mouth water month here we

BigDog Day Service Toowoomba Paul Myatt Community Centre 11-15 Alexander Street North Toowoomba 4350

come we have I’m going blue for autism morning tea on the 20th April. Pyjama day on Monday the 4th come in your PJs for a movie and popcorn.

Off to the Zoo in Ipswich for an adventure. We are back at the library.

Coordinator Jess Wright

Birthday shout outs to Manny and Hannah.

Happy Birthday, guys have a wonderful day.

Phone: 4512 6020 dayservice@bigdogsupport.com.au 10

BigDog Support Services Magazine

Inclusion Sports Day a Hit Variety hosted a Rockhampton Disability Inclusion sports Day this week with over 100 students enjoying a day of fun and inclusion.

Rockhampton school students with physical, sensory, cognitive, and intellectual disabilities were given the opportunity to trial a range of sports on Thursday March 17.

Specialised coaches and athletes from key sporting organisations also attended to teach and support the students.

Variety Activate Inclusion Sports Days are a free and fun program for kids aged between 5 and 17 that aims to achieve greater inclusivity and participation in sports.

er Queensland towns throughout this year including Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Bundaberg, Toowoomba and many more.

Over 100 students from 4 schools registered to take part in the Rockhampton event.

Activities included National Rugby League, Queensland Cricket, Football Queensland, Victoria Park Gymnastic & Trampoline Club Inc., Athletics Australia, and Beaks Tennis.

BigDog also sponsored the All Inclusion day in Gladstone through the Capras. Wayne Bennet was one of the guest coaches and took the opportunity to meet with lots of local people with disability and fans.

The program is also coming to numerous oth-

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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AHPPC statement on mandating booster vaccination for disability support workers The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) is the key decision making committee for health emergencies. It is comprised of all state and territory Chief Health Officers and is chaired by the Australian Chief Medical Officer.

Following recent advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), the AHPPC has announced that it recommends mandatory COVID-19 booster vaccination (three doses) for disability support workers who provide intensive support services to NDIS participants as a condition of work or entry to the participants’ accommodation.

Greyfleet Greyfleet is a term used for any vehicle used for work-related purposes which is not directly provided by BigDog. Greyfleet includes personal vehicles, client vehicles, and all forms of leases, whether or not workers are reimbursed for expenses. WHS law applies to all Greyfleet vehicles.

Effectively managing WHS risks from Greyfleet is based on the same principles as that of traditional fleet management. However, use of Greyfleet requires greater attention to risk management processes and procedures.

As some issues are outside of the direct control of BigDog including the currency and coverage of vehicle insurance and registration.

The AHPPC had previously recommended mandatory vaccinations (two doses) for disability support workers who provide intensive support services to NDIS participants but in view of the changed ATAGI advice, this recommendation is now three vaccine doses.

Current high rates of community transmission of the Omicron variant in Australia increases the risk of exposure to participants receiving intensive supports. Ensuring workers have received three doses of vaccine has a direct impact on reducing transmission to people with disability receiving supports by preventing infection in workers.

All staff are reminded that BigDog support staff are required to comply with public health orders or directions relating to COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

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BigDog Support Services Magazine

Toowoomba Winter Uniforms With winter fast approaching we are again this year providing Toowoomba staff with a winter vest featuring:

Staff Birthdays

} Insulated quilting on chest front for lightweight warmth } Contrast colour front zipper and pockets } Stand up collar with chin guard } BigDog logo on the LHS breast.

April 2022

This should help keep out those cold westerly winds.

1st 2nd 6th 13th 17th 30th

Orders must be in by Thursday 14 April (before Easter) with your size and pick of contrast colour, to Ann, preferably via her email apaull@bigdogsupport.com.au

Zac T Tiara Carlie Kelly-Renee Chisato C Lance Sharon P

Have a great day!

This is a once only order and if you fail to submit your order by the due date there will not be a second order and you will miss out.

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Brisbane Disability Connection Expo Friday, April 29th - Saturday, April 30th, 2022 Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

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BigDog Support Services Magazine

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

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BigDog Support Services Magazine