WhatsUp in Disability Magazine Jan Feb 2023

Steven

The Editor’s Desk

We wish all our readers a Happy New Year

Every new year brings a time of reflection of what we’ve accomplished, what our new goals will be, and for what we are grateful.

For over 30 years, WhatsUp in Disability has been publishing the news, information, and opinions specific to disability matters which are important to our community and readers. News, information, and opinions are shared, with the intention that they will help to inform and shape sound decisions in our personal lives, and that of our community. And in our commitment to try to inform about disability issues which affect our lives, today, and tomorrow, sometimes we have succeeded and sometimes we haven’t.

As we close out 2022, I would also like to thank you, the readers, for your continued support and readership. We also thank the many people who have approached me personally to tell me how much they appreciate all our efforts, and to offer their support. That sentiment is appreciated more than I can ever express in words, and more than they will ever know. I also say a big “thank you” to our sponsors, who continue to support us financially in our efforts to publish this magazine.

That we have tried to raise the bar and provoke thought and reaction at another level is deliberate, and for that we make no apology and in the coming year, we will continue to try to do the best that we can. That is our New Year’s resolution. Even though we are a magazine with limited resources, we will continue to strive to bring you the information, analyses and opinions we think have the largest impact on the disability community, so that you can judge for yourself.

Magazines at times seem to be fighting a losing battle. Too few people read magazines. They prefer getting their news from television, mobile phones, and computers. However, there’s nothing like holding a magazine in your hands and reading it. We hope there will always be magazines (and newspapers), and we hope that you will continue to read WhatsUp in 2023 and urge you to feel free to share your opinions on local, State and Federal issues. Unless we hear from you, we will never know for sure just what issues and topics are important to you, our valued readership.

We find ourselves thinking of how certain stories a good number of them, in fact might seem complete when they’re first published but are only one draft or chapter of what soon becomes a more expansive and deeper story. As reporters and editors, we must continually refresh what we think we know about a story as new events, information and perspectives emerge. All this is to say we are looking forward to bringing new stories to light and adding new layers to existing stories in the weeks and months to come. Thank you for inviting us into your home.

Steven Paull

JP (Qual) President

WhatsUp

Matt Hansson

by Steven Paull

Matt describes himself a born and bred Toowoomba boy who is Cricket mad (a lunatic actually) and loves the Hobart Hurricanes and the Big Bash.

The Hobart Hurricanes are an Australian professional men's T20 franchise cricket team based in Tasmania. They compete in Australia's domestic T20 cricket competition known as the Big Bash League, which is a league where many international players compete. Editor

He comes from a family of battlers where his father worked as a meatworker and his mother works at Stahmann Farms. His father is an avid Pigeon Racer and travels all over the country.

At school Matt wanted to be a Lawyer and he nailed Legal Studies and Maths, but English let him down. However his grades were good enough for him to be able to enrol to become a teacher, well for one semester anyway.

Deferring his study Matt took the opportunity to undertake a traineeship in Warehousing and Logistics and for 4 years he worked as a storeman and then moved into sales. A good time where he went to work and played cricket.

Matt then had his introduction to the Disability Sector by taking a position as Production Supervisor at Endeavour’s Australian Disability Enterprise.

“How good was it to have people in work, except when I had to rush everyone to complete orders.”

Matt combined his employment with his love of cricket to form a Disability Cricket competition at the Carl Rackemann Arena. It was during a game that he was hit in the mouth with a cricket bat, losing his front tooth but now a key part of his iconic smile.

The Accident

In November 2014 one of Matt’s friends called him and said, “Mate, let’s go to the Gold Coast for the weekend.” And they did.

“Let’s jump on these 50cc bikes!” although having a bad feeling about the venture Matt was finally convinced to go on the ride.

Travelling up to the Spit, Matt came to a Give Way sign and in error he moved his hand forward and accelerated past one car and into the path of a truck colliding with the wheel arch and being knocked out.

As he recovered consciousness, the ambulance had arrived and Matt’s friend shouted, “Don’t move!”

This was difficult as Matt’s legs were being severely burned by the road surface, but as he may have suffered a spinal injury and gruesome injuries this was the best advice that could be given.

The Hospital Matt was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital and was on the operating table for 12 hours. The surgeon had rung Matt’s parents and told them, “Matt’s in a really bad way, he’s had a huge loss of blood and we’re looking at removing his leg.”

Matt had suffered a pelvic fracture, a compound fracture to his ankle but the most serious was that his foot had almost been severed and the ambulance attendant had to hold his foot to his leg.

Matt was in a coma for 9 days during which he had an additional 7 surgeries including having bolts and chains inserted into his pelvis.

When he came out of the coma Matt sent a text to his mum, “Hi Mum I’m alive, I need phone credit.”

The tubes were removed after 14 days, and

WhatsUp

Matt was confined for bed rest for an additional 70 days.

The Depression

In February 2015, Matt was transferred back to Toowoomba for further rehab and as the accident caused financial stress, Matt was declared bankrupt, had sold all that he owned and fell into a deep depression that required the use of anti-depressant drugs to assist him through this time. One day Matt simply decided that it was time to get on with life and as soon as he was able to use crutches, he went home.

The Work

Matt was never comfortable being on Centrelink benefits and in 2016 he started with the Suncorp Call Centre on a 3-month temp contract, leading to a full-time and then a leadership development position.

“I never thought that I was disabled and it was during this employment that I met my future wife.”

The Relapse

Near the end of 2016 Matt felt that something just didn’t feel right and went to his doctors. The resulting blood tests showed a serious infection and degeneration of the bone in his leg. Several options were offered by the doctors, none promised a positive outcome and then there was amputation. Matt also had the issue of his weight, that was in excess of 160kg, that could make the fitting of prosthetics difficult, leaving a future using crutches or a wheelchair.

Matt told the doctors that he was determined to live his life and that life included being physically active and returning to his beloved cricket.

His decision was firm and final and that was to remove what the doctors had to.

The Goals

1. Lose weight join the gym

2. Prosthetic leg make it happen

3. Play cricket again

Firstly there were additional complications through the surgery being incorrectly stitched and this required the intervention of a plastic surgeon and more surgery to relieve the pain and discomfort.

While in hospital Matt had increased in weight to 250 kg and had to have a gastric sleeve inserted.

But 3 months later, Matt was losing weight, there was a prosthetic leg and he was bowling cricket balls again.

Matt applied to the NDIS for funding to assist him in his new goals of moving out of his parents place into his own home with bathroom modifications and getting a prosthetic leg that would meet his sport needs.

There was one minor sticking point, although the medical reports clearly stated that Matt had lost his leg the planner wanted additional proof.

“

Do I need to send in a photo?”

The drive to help others

“

I researched HELP Enterprises online and liked what I read” Matt wanted to use the motivation he had in returning to work to help others with a disability find employment and achieve their goals in life, so he began his career as a Disability Employment Consultant. This later led to working directly with NDIS Service Providers and the Indoor Sports Centre and winning an award for Queensland Cricket’s - Social Inclusion & Diversity Program of the Year.

Spend some time with Matt and be empowered by him to achieve your goals.

“

What’s the Difference

by Bronwyn Herbertson

The main difference between a plan manager and a support coordinator is a plan manager helps with the financial side of your plan and a support coordinator or recovery coach helps you establish and manage your supports and service providers.

Support coordinators

Support coordinators and psychosocial recovery coaches help to put your NDIS plan together. They work with you to identify what your needs are and help you to find and manage your supports and service providers.

Your needs will determine the level of support available to you from a support coordinator or recovery coach. There are three levels of support coordination:

Support Connection: helps you understand and manage your NDIS plan. This is a couple of hours of support a month and decreases over time.

Support coordination / recovery coach: initially a few hours per week, arranging assessments of your needs and helping you to choose supports and providers. Then continues with check ins with you for help in managing service agreements and helping in renewing and reviewing your plan.

Specialist Support Coordination: Over a few hours a month, specialist support coordinators will help with plan renewals and specialised support for any complex situations where, for example, multiple government agencies may be involved.

You can have both a support coordinator and a plan manager as they both support you in different ways, and you can request to have both at your planning meeting. Plan managers and support coordinators can communicate with each other about your supports and providers when needed.

Plan managers

Plan managers help you by managing the financial side of your NDIS Plan. They manage the payment of services and supports provided under your plan and the financial reporting of your plan management. The National Disability Insurance agency (NDIS) also provides a service to help manage your NDIS funding or, you can manage funding yourself, or do a combination of selfmanagement and plan management. The benefit of plan management is it gives you greater flexibility and removes the burden of financial management so you can invest more time working towards your goals.

All NDIS participants can access plan management and it is fully funded by the NDIS. When starting your plan, you can request to include a plan manager.

Plan managers provide expert advice, guidance, and support to help you live your life as independently as possible. For example:

• Processes your service provider invoices

• Processes your invoices within 5 business days

• Claims your funds through the NDIS portal

• Gives you the flexibility to use both registered and non-registered providers

• Ensures your service providers are limited to the maximum NDIS guide prices

• Tracks your spending and funding budgets under your plan

• Sends you monthly spending reports

• Being available to answer your questions over the phone

• Manages financial reporting for your NDIS plan review and audits.

WhatsUp Changes

COVID-19 PCR tests only at a GP

From January 1, people seeking a free PCR test must get a referral from a medical practitioner, such as their local GP.

The beginning of a new year is bringing with it a host of changes.

New Year's Day introduces some good news, including savings on child care, cheaper medicines, help for home owners who are looking to downsize, plus there is a boost in welfare payments.

Here's what else you need to know about what's changing.

Free PCRs will still be available without a referral at a limited number of state- or territory-operated COVID-19 testing clinics or respiratory clinics, but these clinics may turn away people considered at low risk of COVID-19 complications.

High-risk groups including the elderly, First Nations people, people with a disability and the immunocompromised can still access free tests through state testing sites and GP-led respiratory clinics without a GP referral.

Fee-free TAFE scheme introduced

Centrelink payments

Centrelink payments for many, including carers and students, will have their payments boosted from January 1.

The payments will be indexed, rising just over 6 per cent.

This means the Youth Allowance rate will go up by at least $19 a fortnight. Austudy will increase by between $32.40 and $41.40 per fortnight, and those under the age of 21 on the Disability Support Pension will receive an extra $27.40 to $40.70 a fortnight.

Lower-cost PBS medicines

From New Year's Day, the maximum cost of medicine on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is $30, down from $42.50. The Pharmacy Guild of Australia says it will be the first time in the history of the PBS that the general co-payment for medicines has come down and not gone up.

From January 1, the federal and state governments will be handing out 180,000 fee-free TAFE, vocational education and training places. The federal government has contributed $493 million towards the scheme, with state and territory governments matching the contribution.

The places will be held for study areas that have been identified as a 'national priority' including aged care, child care, health care and disability care.

you need to know about

by Claire Moodie ABC NEWS

More subsidised university places

Select people heading to university will also benefit in 2023 as the federal government contributes $485.5 million to provide 20,000 Commonwealth-supported places.

Higher education providers have been allocated places in the following areas:

• 4,036 places in education

• 2,600 places in nursing

• 2,275 in IT

• 2,740 in health professions

• 1,738 in engineering

The remaining courses will be offered in other areas of skills shortage.

The places will focus on increasing participation for regional and remote students, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, students with a disability, First Nations students, and those who are first in their family to study at university.

Cheaper childcare in 2023

Kindergarten will also be cheaper for many Queensland families from January 2023. Queensland's scheme will offer 40,000 families free or cheaper kindy.

The federal government's childcare plan does not start until July 2023. Child Care Subsidy rates will increase up to 90 per cent for eligible families earning less than $530,000.

Mental health subsidy cut from 20 to 10 sessions

Medicare-rebated psychology sessions will fall from a maximum of 20 free sessions to 10 sessions per year.

Health Minister Mark Butler announced in

December that patients would only be able to claim Medicare rebates for 10 visits to a psychologist or an allied mental health service from next year.

More mental health help for small business owners

In October, the federal government announced that $15.1 million would be provided to help small business owners access free mental health and financial counselling support.

The NewAccess for Small Business Owners program is a free, one-on-one mental health coaching program delivered by Beyond Blue. The program provides small business owners with up to six structured sessions via telehealth with a trained mental health coach.

The Small Business Debt Helpline will provide free phone-based support to small business owners nationally.

Downsizing your home?

If you are selling your home, new rules apply too.

Australians on welfare payments looking to downsize may benefit from changes to the asset and income test coming into effect on January 1.

Services Australia announced people who sold their principal place of residence and used any sale proceeds for their new primary home would only need to declare the remaining profits.

This applies if you use the funds to buy, build, rebuild, repair or renovate your new principal home.

The changes apply to income support payments, certain allowances, and Low Income Health Care Card holders.

Ginger’s Mobile Barber

by Rachel Glover

Gingers Mobile Barber Services, is a unique new business offering the convenience of a traditional Barber Services to those who have trouble accessing the community, bringing this service to you, in the comfort of your home or care facility.

You will see her arriving in her little white moustache car, bringing with her a range of professional equipment to service every haircut style, beard, moustache trim and shave. Using quality products and giving professional advice to each client and their unique style and needs.

After spending 10 years working as a personal carer in the aged care industry, Rachel has taken the plunge into retraining as a Barber to continue with what she loves the most, giving respect and dignity to others, by bringing this personal service to clients, giving a friendly ear to listen and genuine smile and care into being a Mobile Barber. After seeing first hand from the years working with clients who were isolated from the community with disabilities and other health issues, Rachel felt that In-home men’s services have been lacking, and they are the ones who tend to be isolated, which leads to feelings of loneliness and depression “I hope by providing a regular service I can not only give them the sense of self care by way of a great haircut, but also someone to talk to with a nonjudgmental ear to listen”

From visiting those who have had an unexpected long hospital stay, to others in care facilities, the feel-good benefits of a haircut and pamper are self-evident, but there is much more to it than that. Relaxing while having someone who is there to make you look and feel good can make it much easier for people to unburden themselves of their worries.

Rachel specialises in disabilities, bring an

understanding of the special care needs from the many years experience working in the industry.

Offering further convenience of instant booking via her booking App and by have a tap and go payment facility and sending instant receipts, which can also be emailed as an invoice for NDIS claims according to individual care plans.

Find Gingers Mobile Barber Services on Facebook, Instagram, or via the website www.gingersmobilebarberservices.com or simply phone or message on 0402 213 615

OpenDyslexic for Chrome

Open-Dyslexic is an open sourced font created to increase readability for readers with dyslexia. This extension overrides all fonts on web pages with the OpenDyslexic font, and formats pages to be more easily readable.

Your brain can sometimes do funny things to letters. OpenDyslexic tries to help prevent some of these things from happening. Letters have heavy weighted bottoms to add a kind of "gravity" to each letter. You are able to quickly figure out which part of the letter is down because of this feature.

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I recently spent some time on a teleconference with Kennedy Lay, the director of Fly 2 Health and it was difficult not to be excited by the innovative nature of the services that his company provides.

They are new to Toowoomba and will be utilising Wellcamp as there base to service here but also, Warwick, Roma and other places west as the need arises.

Kennedy’s vision is to breakdown the healthcare access gap in regional, rural and remote Australia.

Too many people living in rural and remote Australia are not getting the allied healthcare services they need or spend far too much time travelling to receive care. Fly2 Health Group are helping to change this by providing care closer to home, family & community.

They have a close-knit allied health flight team that travels from Perth to rural areas of WA and now in south-west Queensland to deliver allied health services in a private plane, it’s a stunning way to get to work, its rewarding and its fun! Plus, we all get home at the end of the day.

F2H services over 30 locations on a regular basis in Queensland and Western Australia including 3 remote Aboriginal communities.

Their services include Psychology, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, GP and Audiology

by Steven Paull

Get in touch with their team at hello@fly2health.com.au or managing director Kennedy Lay at kennedy.lay@fly2health.com.au

The World of 2022

By Steven Paull

January - Wilbur Smith

From the moment I read 'When the Lion Feeds' I was a lifelong devotee of Wilbur Smith's storytelling. The experience was like no other. I loved the character so much that I promised myself that when I had children that the first born son would be called Sean or the first born girl would be called Courtney.

February - Dylan Alcott OAM

Australian of the year 2022. Russia invades Ukraine (Goliath vs David)

March - Neighbours Cancelled

After 37 years this iconic show is axed. Oscars return after 2 years

In sport Ash Barty calls it quits and Buddy Franklin kicks 1,000

April - Johnny and Amber (Who won?)

Federal Budget provides 20 weeks paid parental leave to be shared between parents

May - Labor wins Federal Election

Anthony Albanese was elected as prime minister in a bloodbath for the Coalition.

Interest Rates finally increase Monkeypox spreads across the world

June - Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Roe v Wade overturned. No longer a US Constitutional right to an abortion.

July - Cameron Smith Australian Golfer Wins British Open Tournament of Champions

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated.

Underdog Maroons claim State of Origin

August - Commonwealth Games

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games kick off and the Australian line-up

features Olympic champions and fresh faces repping Australia for the first time in the Games. There will be 435 Aussie athletes all vying for medals in 20 sports.

September - The Carnival is Over

It was sad with the passing of 2 of Australia’s music icons in Judith Durham (79) and Olivia Newton-John.(73) Both entertainers had incredibly unique and powerful voices, their music was iconic and memorable and they both called Australia home.

Optus suffers major data breach of 10 million

Cats beat Swans in AFL Grand Final

October“Kiloon House” Toowoomba

BigDog Support Services have purchased this house of historic significance to operate as their new administration office.

Elon Musk buys Twitter for $44 billion. Mandatory COVID-19 isolation ends November - Sins of Our Fathers

Netball Australia - A sorry state of affairs for all involved. Australian sport, the players, sponsors, supporters, the media and social commentators. Woke is broke.

The world’s population reached 8 billion

December - Loads of Love

The appeal has become a trusted way for thousands of Queenslanders to show their generosity to those that need it most.

Argentina wins the World Cup against France

Six people, including two police officers, were killed in an ambush-style shooting and subsequent siege at a rural Queensland property.

NDIS the Musical

by Lisa Duffy

Exhale, friends.

2022 has been a big one, hasn’t it?

As we round out the year, how about we reflect on some key themes by imaging the NDIS as a musical production? Why not?

Yes, I agree!

Ok. Here goes.

Cue music.

The Times They Are A Changin

Bob Dylan

Your sons and your daughters Are beyond your command

Your old road is rapidly agin' Please get out of the new one If you can't lend your hand

For the times they are a-changin'

’

I Can’t Remember the Words to This Song

Super Simple Songs

I can’t remember the words to this song. How does it go? Where did I go wrong?

I just can’t remember how this song goes. I asked all my friends, but nobody knows. The first day of July gave us updates to the NDIS Act 2013, with some changes to the legislation directly impacting the experiences of NDIS participants. Some of these modifications relate to the ever-changing language and jargon of the NDIS, and why I still consider my role in NDIS support and support coordination to be an “NDIS translator”. We could be forgiven for forgetting the words to the NDIS’ songs.

On 21 May 2022 Australians voted in a new federal government with a power shift to the Labor party. This led to changes to the ministerial portfolios and gave our sector a new Minister for the NDIS, Bill Shorten. The media release on the NDIS website reminded us that Minister Shorten has a history with the Scheme, having been part of establishing the NDIS under the Gillard government and holding the role of Shadow Minister for the NDIS for the 3 years prior to this new role.

From where I stood, as someone without a confident understanding of the complexities of politics but who has worked in the disability sector for over 16 years, this ministerial appointment seemed to give a sense of hope to the community, with a dash of uncertainty and a pinch of wait and see. People are ready for change and want a genuine and committed leader to steer the ship with them.

As of 1 July, scheduled plan reviews are now referred to as “plan reassessments”. We’ve also had the introduction of “plan variations”, plus new forms for an application for a “change of situation or change of details” and requesting a “review of a decision”. In typical fashion, this new language and the required forms were not clearly announced by the Agency to participants but instead pieced together by savvy participants, service providers, and support coordinators, who continue to do a wonderful job of sharing the love and educating each other to facilitate better outcomes for participants. Keep it up, guys: you rock!

Complicated

Avril Lavigne

Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?

I see the way you're acting like you're somebody else Gets me frustrated

Avril needs a mention because

(a) I went through a grungy-oversized jeans-punk-rock phase in the 1990s and loved it, and (b) the NDIS continues to have its own language that, if not understood, can truly impact the outcomes of planning meetings. Friends and I continue to refer to this reality as the ability to “speak NDIS”, and I will maintain teaching this language as my mission to anyone who wants to listen!

(c) We all want people to be able to navigate the NDIS in a much less complicated way – maintaining the current complexity can lead to people feeling anxious, uncertain, powerless, and sometimes deciding not to request access to the Scheme in the first place.

The Room Where It Happens

Hamilton—Lin-Manuel Miranda

No one really knows how the game is played The art of the trade

How the sausage gets made We just assume that it happens But no one else is in the room where it happens

So many enormous decisions that impact the lives of NDIS participants and their support networks have been and continue to be made without their having a seat at the table, or as Lin-Manuel Mirada would say, “in the room where it happens”. How can there be true empowerment if participants aren’t in the “rooms” where change happens?

On 26 September, there was an announcement that gave many people hope that some of these “rooms” will change. As tweeted by Minister Shorten, “Today I’m

The Musical

thrilled to announce that Australian Paralympic legend and disability advocate Kurt Fearnley AO will be the new chair of the board of the National Disability Insurance Agency”.

We now have an NDIA board chair with lived experience and, with it, the hope that the Agency can truly listen to more voices that represent lived experience.

Non-Stop

Hamilton—Lin-Manuel Miranda

Why do you assume you're the smartest in the room?

Why do you assume you're the smartest in the room?

Why do you assume you're the smartest in the room?

Soon that attitude may be your doom!

How is it that NDIS participants, who are empowered self-advocates, can still be left feeling vulnerable and at the mercy of their assessors? Again, I think that Lin-Manuel Miranda can best explain why.

I think that there continues to be a culture in NDIS planning meetings in which local area coordinators and NDIA planners assume that they are the smartest people in the room, and that lived experience and participant voices are not as valuable or worth hearing as someone with @ndis in their email signature. Or that a personal statement or desire is only valid if it is echoed in a therapy supporting letter and quote.

My dream for my career (and indeed one of my overarching dreams for my life as a whole) is that NDIS participants can access, use, and understand any and all NDIS information, rules, guidelines, and jargon so that they can feel empowered and truly know

that they are the smartest person in the room. NDIS participants are the experts of their own lives, and the weight of their voices and statements must be heard that way.

This Is Me

The Greatest Showman

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down

I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out

I am brave, I am bruised

I am who I'm meant to be, this is me

Look out 'cause here I come

And I'm marching on to the beat I drum

I'm not scared to be seen

I make no apologies, this is me

I do not have rose-coloured glasses: there are deep and concerning issues in our sector that need addressing and action – in some cases urgently. We have serious issues with sector burnout, worker turnover, and staff shortages. We have too many appeals going to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). We have ongoing cases of abuse and neglect and stories of fraudulent service providers.

BUT, as someone who was a case worker in the pre-NDIS NSW disability sector for 10 years, I can still see the potential and actual magnificence of the NDIS. There are opportunities and possibilities that exist now that could not even have been conceived before the NDIS was founded. And in my opinion, the more that participants and their informal supports know their rights and the way the NDIS actually works, the more opportunity people have to ensure that the NDIS meets its potential.

Ice Ice Baby Vanilla Ice

Stop, collaborate and listen.

Thank you, Vanilla Ice: a very short lyrical sentence, but very telling, powerful, and topical words. It’s true though, right?

The potential change that could come from stopping (the low expectations, assumptions, and power imbalance), collaborating (true co-design, anyone?), and listening (less of the “TSP” (Typical Support Package), and more of the “listen to me”)? In my opinion (as a wannabe rapper), “Ice Ice Baby” will always help us dance through change.

I’ve danced and rapped to this song A LOT this year!

Lose Yourself Eminem

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment

You own it, you better never let it go

Writing this article has made me reflect on the old saying that “knowledge is power”. I have never seen this reflected in more days of my life than when I work with people to navigate the NDIS.

But writing this article has also had me thinking about responsibility.

Once we have the knowledge, we need to use it, but people must receive the support they may need to do that.

To own it.

So that we can lose ourselves in the music. Until next year, friends. A wonderfully imaginative way to tell your story. Editor

WhatsUp Community

by Jess Wright

Maarten van de Weijden

The Dutch swimmer was once diagnosed with leukemia. The life-threatening illness struck when he was only 20 years old. The swimmer was realistic about the illness and prepared for fate to decide his future: “If I have the luck, then I will recover fully. If not, leukemia will come back and I will die.”

In the end, after several sessions of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, van der Weijden overcame leukemia and “won his first gold medal.” The “reborn” swimming sensation decided to

aim for Olympic gold and - after five years of hard work - he was ready for the Olympics, having won the 25km gold medal and 5km bronze medal at the 2008 Open Water World Championships in Seville, Spain.

Marathon Swimming made its Olympic debut in Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China.

Maarten van der Weijden took to the Olympic stage in style, the 2.05m baldheaded swimmer catching the public eye in an instant. The scar on his head left by leukemia was no less eye-catching.

Over the final 200 metres, van der Weijden came from behind to take the lead at the last, winning the title in a time of 1:51:51.6 and becoming the first man to win an Olympic gold medal in marathon swimming.

Later, van der Weijden stated that he had been through two surreal moments in his life. The worst was being diagnosed with leukemia. The best was being on top of the podium in Beijing.

Fans may not know that the athlete raised a lot of money for research with some of his recent swims. After swimming for 55 hours to raise money for cancer, the pictures show the result. Pruned is not a strong enough word, is it?

WhatsUp

DES Star Ratings Error

The Government has launched an investigation into the Disability Employment Services (DES) Star Ratings system after it discovered a coding error has impacted the ratings awarded to some providers.

DES providers are graded on a scale from 05 based on their success in providing employment outcomes for participants, with the ratings impacted by external factors such as economic and labour market conditions.

To ensure they remain accurate, only two years’ worth of data is used for assessment by the Department of Social Services.

But a coding error meant historical data outside of that time period was used and inaccurate ratings were given to approximately 50 DES providers.

Roughly 2% of the impacted providers had services incorrectly dumped from the scheme as a result of the mistake, while an unknown number of providers escaped necessary performance reviews conducted on poorly performing operators.

Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, expressed her concerns and says immediate action will take place to rectify the incorrect ratings.

“The Star Ratings are an important part of monitoring [the] performance of DES providers. I have been clear that broad reform to the DES program is required,” says Minister Rishworth.

“

That is why in the recent Budget I announced immediate adjustments will be made to the DES program to improve quality, while the Government conducts the detailed reform work to implement a new system.

“

The Government is committed to a DES program that provides improved outcomes for both participants and taxpayers.”

Two immediate actions have been announced to fix the Star Ratings error, with Department of Social Services Secretary, Ray Griggs, tasked with establishing an external investigation into the error and application of the system.

Meanwhile, Formal Performance Assessments of DES providers based on Star Ratings, and the publication of Star Ratings, have been suspended until the coding error is fixed.

Minister Rishworth is also reassuring DES participants that any immediate action is not going to impact their services.

Disability employment has been a recurring topic in the second half of 2022; Dylan Alcott urged employers to hire more people with disability at the Jobs and Skills Summit in September.

A new Government trial was announced for 2023 that will directly connect NDIS job seekers with a DES provider, while the Federal Budget allocated nearly $20 million to extend the DES for two more years.

Minister Rishworth says additional discussions with people with disability are an important step to ensure the new DES Quality Framework provides stronger employment opportunities.

“

I am very keen to see what we can do to boost quality of these services and lift up the whole system to provide better outcomes for people living with disability,” says Minister Rishworth.

“

We need a more rich, highly specialised employment service to deliver good outcomes.”

An NDIS behaviour support practitioner is someone considered suitable by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner. NDIS providers who deliver behaviour support must use NDIS behaviour support practitioners.

An NDIS behaviour support practitioner can only deliver behaviour support if they are engaged by a registered NDIS provider, or also registered themselves as a provider (e.g. sole trader). Provider registration and practitioner suitability requirements both apply. You can confirm if a behaviour support practitioner is considered suitable by searching for them in the search tool. You can search for a behaviour support practitioner by their name, postcode or email address.

Only behaviour support practitioners who have consented to publish their details are included in the search results. A number of provisionally suitable behaviour support practitioners awaiting an outcome on their application will not appear until their application is approved and they have been considered suitable.

If you are seeking a behaviour support service in your area go to the NDIS provider finder. To find behaviour support services in the NDIS Provider Finder, select behaviour support from the registration group.

There are two levels of NDIS funding available for behaviour support:

• Specialist Behaviour Intervention Support. This is for harmful behaviours where the Behaviour Support Plan may need to include the use of restrictive practices.

• Behaviour Support Plan and training.

https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/find-ndis-behaviour-support-practitioner

Warrina Services is a specialist support agency that has been providing individual support to people of the Darling Downs since 1986. We support people with a diverse range of needs and also provide mental health services to assist personal recovery.

We can help you to achieve positive outcomes in your life. These may be related to choice and independence, education or training, attending social activities, increasing skills, getting a job or contributing to your community.

If you would like further information please visit our website www.warrinaservices.org.au Or contact us Phone: 07-46 380 399 Email: warrinas@warrinas.com.au or visit our office at 172 Bridge Street Toowoomba

Office hours Mon-Fri 9-5pm

People we lost in 2022

Uncle Jack Charles (aged 79)

Aboriginal elder, author and activist Sir Sidney Poitier (aged 94)

Oscar winner To Sir with Love, Lilies of the Field Rod Marsh (aged 74)

Australian wicketkeeper and cricketing icon

Shane Warne (aged 52)

Greatest Cricket spin bowler of all time

Dennis Waterman (aged 74)

Star of Minder, The Sweeney and New Tricks Andrew Symonds (aged 46) Car crash

Australian Cricket Legend

Archie Roach (aged 66)

Gunditjmara Elder, song man and storyteller

Judith Durham AO (aged 79)

Lead singer and songwriter of the Seekers

Olivia Newton-John AC DBE (aged 73)

Singer, actress and Foundation for Breast Cancer research

Hopelessly Devoted to You, Grease and Xanadu Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (aged 96)

The longest-reigning monarch in British history.

Dame Angela Lansbury (aged 96)

Actress of stage and screen. “Murder She Wrote”

Robbie Coltrane OBE (aged 72)

Actor and comedian in Cracker and James Bond films

Paul Green (aged 49)

NRL Premiership winning coach for the Cowboys

Kirsty Alley (aged 71)

Emmy winning actress from Cheers and Look who’s talking Pele (aged 82)

Brazilian Soccer Legend and winner of 3 World Cups

WhatsUp Participants

When the participant doesn’t pay the invoice

If you are a provider with outstanding invoices for support provided to a selfmanaged NDIS participant, start with the basics:

• Has the participant received the invoice?

• Check contact details and follow up to ensure receipt

• Does the participant agree with the dates, amounts, supports, and services included on the invoice?

Common sticking points can include cancellations, non-face-to-face time, report writing, and kilometres for participant transport and provider travel

Try to resolve minor billing disagreements by explanation or concession. This could smooth the payment process and get funds flowing again

Is the participant able to access their plan to make the payment request via the NDIS portal or the new NDIS mobile app?

Even the best of us can forget a password or the answer to a secret question that we set on myGov all those years ago

Claiming via the portal can be complicated. Support categories have one name on a participant’s printed plan and a different name on the NDIS portal. Check the language protocol your invoicing system uses and adjust if required

If the source of payment delay isn’t among the easy fixes, then we need to dive deeper. Is it that your self-managing participant can’t pay or, worse, won’t pay? Can’t pay

If a self-managing participant can’t claim an invoice because of technical issues, then

they could get support from

The NDIS myplace Portal Step-by-step guide: recently updated, this resource includes screen shots from the myGov and NDIS participant portals

The NDIS myplace Participant Portal System Messages and Error Codes: includes the most common and most obscure error messages that the portal can throw up

Using a manual claim form: the MyPlan Purchase Payment Request Form is available in both MS Word (.docx) and PDF formats and can be used if the participant can’t access the participant portal. Payments are processed “promptly” by the NDIA (read that as payment within days/weeks rather than months/years)

A support coordinator or local area coordinator (LAC) could support the person to flexibly and creatively use their current plan budget. However, if a person can’t pay an invoice because they don’t have enough funding available, their options include

• Submitting a Change of Details or Change of Situation

• Requesting an Internal Review of a Decision

• Pursuing an external review at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal

For the record, I have never seen a new NDIS plan “backdated” to cover support delivered in excess of funding in a previous plan period. Providers should proceed with extreme caution if they are aware that there is no funding available to cover the support delivered. The participant should be directed to contact the NDIA, advise the Agency of their situation, and clearly detail the risk(s) they face without access to funded supports.

Not Paying their Invoice

Charmaine Fraser

Won’t pay

If a self-managing participant has your invoice, has funds available in their NDIS plan, and simply won’t pay, you need an alternative resolution strategy: Ask nicely: send a reminder, marked “Overdue”, with payment terms and details highlighted

Refer to the NDIS Guide to SelfManagement: it states that “responsibilities of self-managers include claiming and paying for supports by making payment requests and paying for your supports on time” (page 4).

Refer to the new NDIS Self-management Policy point 7.15, which states that “evidence of mismanaging the funds for supports in a participant’s plan is likely to be considered an unreasonable risk that prevents the participant, child representative or nominee from managing all or part of the funding for supports in a participant plan. This is based on the risk that participants may incur a debt or be unable to pay providers” (page 8)

Refer to the service agreement: draw the participant’s attention to the terms of the agreement that binds both parties

Set a firm boundary for continued service delivery: choose a cut-off date that is in accordance with the terms outlined in your service agreement and your organisational values, and put the participant on notice that supports will be suspended from that date if payment isn’t received

Strengthening Service Agreements with self-managers

If your Service Agreement is lacking in clarity, then let’s see examples of how other providers have strengthened their payment

terms, limited exposure to unpaid invoices, and provided a framework for those awkward money conversations.

Payments: 'If participants are more than one month behind in payments for provision of support, then they will not be permitted to come back on the program until all payments are cleared'.

Suspension of Services: 'The provider may suspend the delivery of services in the event that the participant/representative fails to pay the amount required for the service delivered'.

Meanwhile, this provider has translated their Service Agreement Terms and Conditions into the language, mode of communication and terms that the participant is likely to understand and provided a link to a video explainer in Auslan. Terms of Payment for Self-Managed Participants: ‘Self-Managed participants are required to pay their invoice within 14 days of the invoice date’ and liability where insufficient funds: ‘SelfManaged: the participant’ .

The NDIS Practice Standards

We all agree that ceasing, or threatening to suspend funded support, would be a serious move which might be at odds with a provider’s values. So let’s check how the NDIS Commission Practice Standards and Quality Indicators guide providers:

Section 2: Provider Governance and Operational Management, Continuity of Supports, Outcome: Each Participant has access to timely and appropriate support without interruption.

Section 3: Provision of Supports, Access to Supports. Indicator: Each participant is supported to understand under what circumstances supports can be withdrawn.

WhatsUp Bushfire

Bushfires are a major threat to rural homes across Australia and without the appropriate safety measures you could put yourself at additional risk, particularly if you have a physical or intellectual disability that could impact your movements during a serious fire.

It is essential that you are organised and ready for any outcome during the bushfire season. Depending on where you live, the bushfire season can start in early November and end in April.

During this time you should be aware of what safeguards should be in place, how fires behave, and what considerations need to be made to look after yourself or anyone with a disability.

Bushfire behaviour depends on several factors, including weather conditions (temperature, wind), fuel sources (vegetation) and even the topography of the environment.

Grassfires are one of the most common types of bushfires. Dried out, dead grass burns easily and fire can spread rapidly, which is why long grass must be slashed, mowed and cleared regularly during summer.

You will also find that Australia’s native scrubland/shrubland vegetation creates serious fire risks. They burn slowly, but intensely, and the additional heat could lead to trees or man-made structures catching on fire.

Trees can also pose a major risk factor as the embers can spread easily through the wind if treetops catch fire. However, fire will only reach the top of a tree if there is enough fuel around the base and dry, fibrous bark that helps the flames travel upwards.

Those strong winds often create unpredictability as embers can travel hundreds of metres away, while the bushfire front – that is the leading edge of the fire – can change directions suddenly.

To reduce the impact of natural fuels strengthening a bushfire around your house, you should:

• Mow, slash, rake and weed any grasses within 20 metres of your home (and other buildings) to remove fast-burning fuels

• Clean the gutters

• Prune shrubs to keep their tops away from low-hanging tree branches

Survival Plans

• Prune lower branches of trees and remove nearby ground fuels and foliage

• Remove or reduce loose bark, dead twigs, branches and leaves in the garden

• Keep any other flammable items away from the home, such as firewood or paper recycling contents

If you are unable to complete any of the tasks due to disability or limited mobility, contact a family member, friend, neighbour, local maintenance person or the local Country Fire Service/Authority and they may be able to assist you.

A Bushfire Survival Plan is necessary

Bushfire Survival Plans outline all the critical steps you should take when a bushfire threat is imminent. It is a personalised document that is designed to reflect the needs of those in your house, your location and the exact steps you need to take to safely escape and relocate.

It is particularly important that your Bushfire Escape Plan is designed to accommodate a person, or people, with disability or limited mobility as additional support may be required.

The Bushfire Survival Plan should be a detailed plan that everyone in the household is familiar with, outlining important information such as:

• Who it includes, e.g. adults, kids and animals?

• What trigger or event will indicate it is time to leave early?

• Where will you go, e.g. public refuge or a family member’s house?

• How can you get there, e.g. car, taxi or public transport?

• What are the escape route options available to you?

• What belongings and medical equipment do you have to take?

• How easy is it to make your home fire-ready if you have to leave in an emergency?

• How will you notify family and friends of where you are?

• What happens if someone is at work or school?

• What happens if guests are over?

WhatsUp in January

WhatsUp in February

mycommunity WhatsUp

www.mycommunitydirectory.com.au

Climate Risk Management

Residents are encouraged to complete Toowoomba Regional Council’s (TRC) online climate survey by January 16, 2023 to help inform the development of a Climate Risk Management Strategy.

TRC Planning and Development Committee chair Cr Megan O’Hara Sullivan said Council invited residents to fill in the 10-minute survey by visiting, Climate Risk Management Strategy – Community Survey

“Survey findings will identify community sentiment about climate change and offer guidance around Council’s future responses to climate risks and how they affect our community,” Cr O’Hara Sullivan said.

“This work will help Council develop a Climate Risk Management Strategy that will provide a shared reference for Council’s collaboration with the community.

“The initial phase involves understanding climate risk and undertaking detailed climate risk planning.

“The strategy will be a foundation document to guide joint action and mitigation measures around the effects of climate change across the Region.”

With Sarah Rossiter

WhatsUp Executive Team

PUBLISHER: Disability Media Association Inc (Australia) (DMAA)

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MANAGEMENT BOARD: Steven Paull (President) Courtney Carroll (Editor) Jess Wright (Secretary) Ann Paull (Treasurer)

CONTRIBUTORS: Bronwyn Herbertson, Sharon Boyce, Aidan Wilcock, Dean Gill, Jess Wright, Steven Paull and many others.

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Support Services

Anuha Services (Gatton) Page 16

BigDog Support Services Page 36

Breakaway Toowoomba Page 16

Quality Lifestyle Support Page 20

RAWR Support Services Page 8

Wagtail Services Page 24

Warrina Services Page 24

Y Connect Page 12

Support Coordination

Access Support Coordination Page 28

Semloh Support Services Page 20 Plan Management

ALLPLAN Management Page 28

CONNECT Plan Management Page 8

Jakins Accounting Page 24

NDSP Plan Managers Page 12 Employment

MAS Experience Page 12

Uniting Care Community Page 20 Mobility Equipment

Reben Mobility Page 8

Toowoomba Friendlies Page 9

Sponsors

Information Services

Down Syndrome Support Group (Toowoomba and District) Page 20 Epilepsy Queensland Inc. Page 16 TASC National Page 12 Toowoomba Disability Information Page 33 Recreation

Super Starters Ten Pin Bowling Page 16

Toowoomba Sunset Superbowl Page 16 Toowoomba Region Page 28 Other Services

Akadia Training Page 24 BigDog Cleaning Services Page BigDog Lawn Mowing Services Page 20 Cranbrook Press Page 35 Fly 2 Health Page 20

Ginger’s Mobile Barber Page 12

Queens Park Market Page 31 Tony Wigan Show 102.7 FM Page 33