Issue 147
8 February 2010
The Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) helps Australians with a disability to participate in sport and compete at the Paralympic Games through partnerships with governments, business, sporting bodies and the community.
Recently, the APC officially launched its new E-newsletter which aims to inform those interested in the Paralympic movement about news, upcoming competitions and updates on Paralympic sport from Australia and around the world.
Titled the 'Australian Paralympian', the E-newsletter is the first of a range of new projects that the APC is launching in the lead-up to the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver from March 12-21.
Members of the public will soon be invited to join the APC's Facebook page and follow the progress of the Australian winter team on Twitter. The APC Vancouver Paralympic Games site will also provide site visitors with the latest news, videos, images and results from the 2010 Paralympics.
The 2010 Australian Paralympic winter team will consist of nine Alpine skiers, two Nordic skiers and three sighted guides for vision-impaired athletes, making it the largest team Australia has ever sent to the Winter Paralympic Games.
If you would like to subscribe to the APC's E-Newsletter email Auspara (auspara@paralympic.org.au)
For more information about Australia's Paralympic athletes and the launch of the APC's new projects, log onto APC's website (www.paralympic.org.au)
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What is award modernisation? How will my business be affected?
Award modernisation is the process of reviewing and rationalising awards in the national workplace relations system to create a system of modern awards.
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) began the process in March 2008 following a formal request from the Australian Government and has now released the new award for Australian Disability Enterprises, the Supported Employment Services Award 2010. The new award is effective from 1 January 2010 and a copy is available on the AIRC website (www.airc.gov.au).
The new award is now in effect. It is strongly advised that all Australian Disability Enterprises seek industrial relations advice immediately on how the new award will impact on your organisation. Fair Work Australia provide free information and advice on all modern awards and you can contact them on 13 13 94 or visit the Fair Work Australia website (www.fwa.gov.au) for live online help.
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There have been some recent instances of people working or doing an activity with an Australian Disability Enterprise who may be eligible for Mobility Allowance but have not applied.
Mobility Allowance can help with the cost of travel for people with a disability who cannot use public transport without substantial assistance. People must be undertaking an approved activity, as outlined below, and demonstrate that they need to travel as part of that activity.
Things people might not know about Mobility Allowance:
People may get Mobility Allowance if they:
What else should people know about Mobility Allowance?
Voluntary work must be performed for a charitable, welfare or community organisation, run on a not-for-profit basis with the objective of providing services or assistance to the community.
Vocational training includes secondary school, special school, independent living skills/life skills programs, tertiary study and trade courses.
For more information about Mobility Allowance visit Centrelink website (www.centrelink.gov.au) call 13 2717or visit a Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
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It is important to keep your information up-to-date on the Australian Disability Enterprises website (www.australiandisabilityenterprises.com.au). The success of the website relies on the accuracy of the information provided to consumers. Keeping your contact details up-to-date is particularly important for ensuring you receive information on jobs logged through the 'Log a Job' function on the website and government business opportunities from the Disability Procurement Manager.
All Australian Disability Enterprises should have received an email recently advising that all listings will be required to be updated on a 6 monthly basis. Notification emails will be sent out to remind enterprises when their listings are due to be updated.
To update details or create new listings please complete a Website Update Form and email to Australian Disability Enterprises (australiandisabilityenterprises@fahcsia.gov.au).
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Registrations are now open for Accessible Arts-Activated Conference at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney over 25-26 March 2010. A range of national and international speakers from the arts and disability sectors will come together to explore the themes of Arts - Access - Excellence through a series of workshops, panels and performances.
The conference is intended for artists with and without a disability, arts workers, disability service providers, policy makers, funding bodies, festival organisers and volunteers, cultural institutions, venues and anyone interested in arts and disability.
For more information, visit accessibleArts website (www.aarts.net.au)
CONTACT:
Jane Pollard, Education and Training Manager
jpollard@aarts.net.au
02 9251 6499 ext 106
Accessible Arts promotes full inclusion, access and opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities through advocacy, education and information. As the peak arts and disability organisation across New South Wales, Accessible Arts promotes and provides opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in arts and cultural activities, either as audience members; through attending galleries, theatres, museums and festivals; or as participants in art, drama, music, dance and multimedia activities; and by developing as professional artists.
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Changes to FOFMS are scheduled to occur over the weekend of 20 February 2010. The FOFMS changes are designed to align FOFMS terminology with the new FaHCSIA Common Business Model which aims to standardise funding management practices across all programs and providers.
The changes that will appear in the portal will be to the Case Activities Tab, Agreement Tab and Agreement Schedule Tab. All of these Tabs will now have new names and the screen shots below show how the new naming has been applied.
This first screen below highlights the change to the Agreement Screen Tab - which will now be known as Program Schedules. If your organisation is funded under several FaHCSIA programs you would see a Program Schedule for each one with an individual Program Schedule ID. In this example Prompt Packaging Services is only funded by FaHCSIA to provide Employment Assistance.
In the second screen shot you can see that Activities are now used to describe where each of the Employment Assistance Activity is being provided. Previously this tab was known as the Agreement Schedule Tab. Activities no longer describe a case activity that needs to be completed in FOFMS, but refers to the Activity you are being funded for under your Funding Agreement. In this example, Prompt Packaging Services has Employment Assistance Activities being provided at four different sites. Cases for your supported employees will be attached to one of your Activity Sites. Each Activity has an individual Activity ID.
These last two screen shots show that the old case activities have been replaced with Actions, on both the Actions Tab and on the Home Page. A case action is a notification to you or to FaHCSIA that an action is required on a case such as Completing or Authorising a DMI Assessment.
If you have any questions regarding the updated naming of Actions, Activities or Program Schedule, please contact the CBF Helpdesk for assistance on 1800 034 887 or at Helpdesk.CBF@fahcsia.gov.au
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The GV Centre Disability Services have changed their name to ConnectGV. Celebrating its 55th year, ConnectGV have just entered into an exciting new era and recently unveiled this new name and image in-conjunction with International Day of People with a disAbility 2009. Approximately 130 people attended this event, with the new image very well received by all. The change, which was initiated by the Board of Directors after consultation with key stakeholders and the broader community, reflects the progressive nature of the organisation and the growth in terms of the community options that are now available.
ConnectGV see the possibility, not the disAbility, and connect people with their community. Life skills, day options, employment options with a number of Business Enterprises, recreational activities, accommodation options and outreach services are offered by talented and qualified support staff.
ConnectGV is committed to providing diverse options and quality service provision. Now less centralised, ConnectGV offer a range of options that are community based and in partnership with various other local organsations.
ConnectGV have evolved over the years to develop new and innovative options and Business Enterprises. Options are developed with the individual to meet individual goals and support them to achieve their dreams.
Please take the time to up-date your address books and to visit ConnectGV's new website (www.connectgv.com.au), to see the options on offer and be inspired by the showcase of Ability.
For more information about ConnectGV check out their listings on the Australian Disability Enterprises website.
Board of Directors Chairman, Barry Kruse and Jeanette Powell MP at the launch of ConnectGV
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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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