Issue 145
14 December 2009
As we all prepare to enjoy the festive season with our family and friends, I would like to thank you for your role in the significant achievements that have been made for people with disability in the last twelve months. These include:
While much has been achieved in the last year, there is so much more work to do. People with disability still continue to experience significant disadvantage in work opportunities and education, and discrimination and lack of understanding in community life. This inequality demeans us all.
I encourage you to have a restful break with your family and friends, and send my best wishes to you for a prosperous 2010. I look forward to continuing to work with you in the coming year to ensure people with disability have the same opportunities to fully take part in work and their communities as other Australians.
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Disability Participation Program would like to wish you and your families a very happy and safe festive season.
There have been many achievements throughout 2009, this year the Disability Participation Program:
FaHCSIA offices will be closed across Australia from midday Thursday 24 December 2008, re-opening on Monday 4 January 2010. The first issue of disAbility e-news for the New Year will be distributed late January.
We look forward to keeping you informed about disability issues in the New Year. Until then, we hope you have a great holiday!
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In a similar fashion to the changes to the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines, State and Territory governments are changing their guidelines enabling procurement from Australian Disability Enterprises without the requirement to go to tender. The Western Australian Government has recently announced that Australian Disability Enterprises will be exempt from the tendering processes. The announcement follows recent announcements of the revisions to procurement guidelines by governments in New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. These revisions provide Australian Disability Enterprises with a real opportunity to market their goods and services to Commonwealth and State Government departments and agencies across Australia.
Australian Disability Enterprises should ensure their listing on the Australian Disability Enterprises website is up to date, as this will be the first point of call for departments and agencies looking to purchase products and services.
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As previously mentioned in Issue 144 of disAbility e-news, Girl Guides Australia will be participating in the Australian Service Challenge "Heads Held High", which aims to help Guides to gain a practical insight into the every day challenges facing people with disability and the organisations that support them.
If your organisation would like to be involved in this initiative, or if you would just like more information, please contact Ms Fiona Krautil, National Executive Officer, Girl Guides Australia, on 02 9319 7206 or email centenary (centenary@girlguides.org.au).
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We have a limited supply of Consumer Training and Support materials that we would like to make available to trainers/support staff working in Australian Disability Enterprises. The products are identical to those circulated to each Australian Disability Enterprise outlet in 2008, and were featured in the Consumer Training and Support workshops held earlier this year.
As stocks are limited they will be issued on a first come, first served basis. Please note they will be available to Australian Disability Enterprises trainers and support staff only. Requests should be emailed to Michelle Creed (michelle.creed@fahcsia.gov.au), specifying the products that are required. A list of the materials are available.
The full range of Consumer Training and Support products can be viewed and downloaded from the FaHCSIA website.
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The following article is for information only, the department and disAbility e-news does not endorse the use of the product or service.
DonorTec (www.donortec.com.au) provides donated and discounted technology products and services from IT companies such as Microsoft, Symantec, Sophos and Cisco to eligible Australian non-profit groups. Via this program non-profit organisations can access the latest technology.
The DonorTec Program is delivered by non-profit Connecting Up Australia (www.connectingup.org) in partnership with a capacity building non-profit, TechSoup Global (www.techsoupglobal.org).
All donated products made available via DonorTec are free to nonprofits however all qualified organisations are required to pay small administrative fees for each order placed which covers the administrative costs of running the program.
Non-profit organisations stand to make savings of between 92-96% on typical retail prices. DonorTec's current product catalogue can be found on their website (www.donortec.com.au).
Other nonprofits have benefitted from the DonorTec Program case studies with details on the eligibility criteria.
To gain access to this program register your organisation via an online registration form or if you would like to learn more about the program contact DonorTec.
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The Australian Industrial Relations Commission has recently issued a modern Award for workers with disability in Australian Disability Enterprises. A link to the Award is below. There are important changes in the Award that will impact on some Australian Disability Enterprises especially in relation to superannuation. Organisations are encourage seek their own industrial relations advice about the impacts on their Enterprise.
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There are a number of useful resources available to Australian Disability Enterprise case workers to assist with understanding the Disability Employment Assistance Program and Funding Agreement requirements, Case Based Funding model, the Disability Maintenance Instrument and FOFMS.
Case workers can access these documents via FOFMS and the FaHCSIA website and include:
If you need further assistance with accessing any of these documents please send a request to Helpdesk.CBF (Helpdesk.CBF@fahcsia.gov.au) or phone 1800 034 887.
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The Case Based Funding Helpdesk will be closing for the Christmas - New Year holiday from 12 noon on 24 December and will reopen again on Monday 4 January 2009.
Case Based Funding payments for the period 21 to 31 December 2009 will be brought forward and payments run on 21 December 2009. High Cost Worker Payments will run on 22 December and all other payments such as Intake Payments, Work Based Personal Assistance and Australian Apprenticeship Payments will close on Wednesday 23 December 2009.
If you have any queries regarding CBF payments over the Christmas - New Year period, please contact the Case Based Funding Helpdesk at Helpdesk.CBF (Helpdesk.CBF@fahcsia.gov.au) or on 1800 034 887.
The Case Based Funding Team wishes you all a happy and safe Christmas-New Year Holiday.
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FaHCSIA regularly monitors weekly wages and hours. If your supported worker's weekly hours have been varied due to seasonal or other business requirement you should update these details on FOFMS. You are first required to enter details about a supported employee's weekly wages and hours into FOFMS when a supported employee obtains an employment outcome. Any updates should be entered when a change in the supported employee's wages or standard hours of work occurs. For example, after a new wage assessment is completed or there is an increase or reduction to the supported employee's weekly hours.
If your supported employee's hours vary from week to week because of seasonal or other fluctuations then an average should be applied, based on a quarterly (three month) basis.
If a supported employee has a casual work arrangement then an average can also be applied, based on either a fortnightly/monthly period, for example:
You should make a note on the client's file indicating which of these averaging processes you have used to determine the Weekly Wage and Hours data contained in FOFMS.
You must enter the weekly wages and hours before a DMI can be completed on FOFMS.
FaHCSIA has developed a series of short FOFMS training movies which are now available to all Disability Employment Assistance (DEA) FOFMS Users. Instructions and information about creating and updating case records including updating weekly wages and hours can be found in the Australian Disability Enterprises Creating and Managing a Case Record in FOFMS training video on the The Australian Disability Enterprises FOFMS Training Resource Centre website.
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According to the Records Disposal Authority, which provides instruction as to the correct custody and disposal of Commonwealth records, the Department may destroy records with regard to the establishment, maintenance, review and negotiation of agreements seven years after the Agreement expires or is superseded.
Records (including client records) kept by a funding recipient are not Commonwealth records and are accordingly not subject to the requirements in regard to Commonwealth records imposed under the Archives Act 1983. The aim of including provisions on record keeping in funding agreements is to ensure that records are kept so that the department is able to access these records to assess the funding recipient's compliance with the obligations in the funding agreement.
Records kept by the funding recipient are kept on their own behalf to meet their legislative, regulatory or internal accountability requirements and are not prepared or kept on behalf of the Department. In the absence of regulations or legislation that apply to the funding recipient's records of service delivery, the funding recipient must according to the current Terms and Conditions of Funding Agreements keep the records pertaining to the funded activity for five years from the activity end date.
Where records are destroyed by the funding recipient after five years of the activity end date, this must be done in accordance with Privacy legislation based on the types of records that are to be disposed of.
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There have been cases recently where Australian Disability Enterprises have not received important emails due to IT systems or firewalls being unable to accept automated emails. For example, FaHCSIA's requests for quotes for products such as printing are distributed via an automated system, so it is important that your IT system does not block emails coming from within the department. To check your settings you should contact your IT administrator.
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With Christmas catering needs The Cookery Nook at Mercy Disability Services is a buzzing hive of hard work on the production line! Staff are extremely busy preparing for Christmas: baking traditional rich fruit cakes, individual Christmas puddings, rolling truffles and filling hand-made fruit mince pies. There is a range of special Christmas treats which are available for purchase from The Cookery Nook and orders have been flying in over the airwaves by fax, telephone and email. The shortbread presentation pack is a huge favourite at this time of year.
During the other months of the year The Cookery Nook caters for all forms of functions both on and off site - so for your next corporate event let them give you a quotation and tailor make a menu for your special needs. Mercy Disability Services, which is where The Cookery Nook is based, has a long history of helping people with disabilities build a better life for themselves and this is just one of the ways in which they may be employed in a real job earning real money for real work.
Developments on site have been fast and furious over the past few weeks where renovations have taken place and a new retail outlet created for the public at large. The head chef of The Cookery Nook, Ms Rosy Desouza, has her sights strictly set on her aim of ensuring that her staff who have intellectual disabilities are valued within the community and the production line of mouth-watering baked goods is testament to this fact. Catering is also offered for funerals, birthdays, family gatherings, office parties and other events as required.
In addition there are two corporate function rooms which may be hired by the public which come with a corporate package including catering by The Cookery Nook for your corporate seminar or training session.
The Cookery Nook shop is new as a retail outlet, but has run as a catering service from the site in Wooloowin for many years. As can be seen from the new summer menu, members of the public may purchase a range of baked goods, preserves and hot cooked meals to takeaway. Whether it's afternoon tea, a nutritious lunch on-the- run or a busy night with no time to cook, they've got you covered. Some of the meals which will be on offer are: Lasagne and Salad, Rogan Josh with Rice, Hungarian Goulash with Mashed Potato, Fried Rice with Chicken and Spaghetti Bolognaise. There are also gluten- free and vegetarian options available. These meals can be purchased frozen or hot for your convenience. There is a 10 minute parking space available at the front of The Cookery Nook for you to easily pop in and purchase a delicious treat or meal.
The Cookery Nook will be closed from 24 December and will re open again for business on 11 January 2010.
For more information about the cookery nook or to request a copy of their new summer menu, check out their listing on the Australian Disability Enterprise website.
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An inaugural award that identifies 'unsung heroes' who work in the disability sector and recognises their dedication and commitment to their workplace and colleagues has been awarded to employees from Hobart based timber flooring manufacturer Oakdale Industries.
Individual award winner Martin Sherrin received his award at a ceremony in Hobart recently in front of his proud family members, colleagues, supervisors and members of the Rotary Club of Hobart – organisers and sponsors of the Rotary Pride of Workmanship Awards.
Martin is a production worker in timber manufacturing at Oakdale Industries, one of five Australian Disability Enterprises operated by Oak Tasmania. Oakdale Industries manufactures a broad range of high quality Tasmanian timber products that includes tongue and groove strip, overlay and parquetry flooring. Manager John Hollis said despite many personal challenges, Martin has developed into a positive and committed team member.
"Martin works to direction, is very responsible within the workplace environment and is an extremely positive and effective team member. Although initially very shy, he has developed into a confident person who interacts very well with his workmates and supervisors. He is so eager to get to work that he gets his parents out of bed early to ensure he arrives on time!"
John also paid tribute to Oakdale Industries' supervisory team who were presented with a Pride of Workmanship Award – the first time the award has been presented to a group of people in this category.
"Our supervisory team of Brett Howlett, Lyle Bedelph, Richard Daly, Steve Watts, Michael Flanagan and David Absolom were recognised for their significant contribution to the training and well-being of Oakdale Industries special needs employees. They are unique in that they care for and develop the skills of our supported employees whilst themselves being highly skilled in timber manufacturing."
John himself has been recognised for his achievements and awarded the level of Vanguard by the Australian Timber Flooring Association (ATFA). This is the second year in a row that John has been awarded the level of Vanguard which recognises individuals who annually provide a considerable contribution to the timber flooring industry in Australia.
Enquiries can be directed to John Hollis on (03) 6244 2277 or john.hollis@oak.org.au
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