Issue 53 | 7 November 2005
It is very important that Service Providers with access to FOFMS keep their personal login information secure and private as the system contains very sensitive information. FOFMS access is provided to users on the understanding that they alone will use it to access the system and these individuals are personally responsible for any work conducted under their logon ID. It is also best practice to change your password approximately once a month and avoid writing it down.
It should also be noted that it is the responsibility of the Service Provider to notify the FOFMS Helpdesk of the names of staff members who have left the organisation and no longer require access to FOFMS.
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For the first time access to an online catalogue of products and services offered by disability business services across Australia is available.
The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, today officially launched a new disability business website, BizAbility, at Ozanam Industries in Stanmore, Sydney.
"The BizAbility website will link individuals, communities, businesses and government to existing business services’ websites and will eventually include provision for online transaction," Senator Patterson said.
"The website, supported by the Howard Government, aims to extend the market reach of 230 independent business services operating in 390 locations throughout Australia, through the promotion of their products and services online.
"It will provide Disability Business Services with a way to advertise as well as help improve their viability by giving them access to a larger market.
"Disability Business Services evolved from sheltered workshops and today are viable commercial enterprises providing employment opportunities for around 17,500 people with moderate to severe disabilities.
"Ozanam Industries, run by St Vincent de Paul, is just one business service using the new website to offer products and employment opportunities for people with a disability.
"Ozanam Industries epitomises the resourcefulness of the disability business services sector with a broad range of activities including manufacturing and supplying Communion Hosts to parishes and religious suppliers nationally, as well as packaging and mail services.
"BizAbility is a great example of the Howard Government's commitment to bringing together individuals, business, government and the community.
"I look forward to seeing how this website will expand the positive role these services play, in local communities, and across Australia," Senator Patterson said.
For more information on the range of products and services available visit http://www.bizability.com.au/ or contact 1800 138 225.
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The results of the Business Services Wage Assessment Tool (BSWAT) for each employee with a disability are normally valid for three years. At present the Administrative Guidelines for the BSWAT indicate that at 12 to 18 months after an initial assessment CRS Australia can undertake a review to make sure the assessment is still accurate.
It appears that for many people there is unlikely to be a significant change in the assessment in the 12-18 month period and that the review process may place an unnecessary administrative burden on both services and workers. CRS Australia is conducting a number of reviews to help FaCS decide whether there is a need for mandatory reviews. Until the results of this process are know FaCS has decided that 12-18 month reviews should not be compulsory.
Of course reassessments can be requested at any time by services providers or the employee with a disability where the person’s job or performance has changed substantially. If you wish to have reviews conducted you should contact CRS Australia to schedule such reviews otherwise a full assessment will occur 3 years after the initial assessment.
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A consultation paper has been released as part of the post implementation review of the Business Services Wage Assessment Tool (BSWAT). The terms of reference for the post implementation review are also on the FaCS internet site.
During November, focus groups and face-to-face consultations are being conducted with people with a disability, service providers, parents, advocates, and CRS Australia assessors as part of the post implementation review.
If you or your employees with disabilities have not been involved in the focus groups or consultations you are invited to have your say through the submission process. We encourage you to make sure your employees also know they can do this.
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The Consumer Training and Support programme will change from 2006. The new Consumer Training and Support programme will focus on developing training materials and information products for you and your employees with disability. The training materials and information products will be available for free to you.
The change to the programme means that your current Consumer Training and Support provider will no longer be funded by FaCS to provide services to you after December 2005. If you have been using your current state based Consumer Training and Support Agency to assist you with your internal audits or training of your employees with disability about the Standards or Quality Assurance system you will need to start thinking about how to do this in the future.
A National tender process is underway to select a new provider from January 2006. If you require assistance in the transition to the new programme you should talk to your FaCS contract manager.
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Email disAbility e-news ) if you'd like more information on a particular issue or program in disAbility e-news or to let us know what you think of the newsletter.
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Your contributions to disAbility e-news are welcome. Do you want to let others know about your successes? Or how you engage with local businesses to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities? Email your story idea to disAbility e-news.
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