Issue 150
22 March 2010
disAbility e-news has been in circulation since 2003 as a way of communicating with the disability employment sector about the significant reforms taking place in the sector at that time. disAbility e-news is now distributed to over 2,000 subscribers and is available for anyone to view through the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) website.
Do you have a suggestion for topics we should be covering in disAbility e-news? Would you like to provide a story about your own organisation? Contributions to e-news are welcome, if you'd like to submit an article please email your story idea to the disAbility e-news team.
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The marketing material for Australian Disability Enterprises produced by FaHCSIA was developed into a package and distributed to services in mid 2009. The Artwork DVD contains:
The style guide contains helpful information for Australian Disability Enterprises to easily apply the logo to their publications, posters, advertisements, website etc, in conjunction with their own business logo and branding.
Some files on the disk can only be opened with Adobe Creative Suite (professional graphic design software). These files have the following extensions:
These files are to be used when printing and designing material professionally. All other files (including .jpeg, .gif and .pdf files) can be opened on your desktop. However, these are not suitable for professional printing or for use by a designer.
Only one copy of the Artwork DVD was initially sent to each organisation, if you would like an additional copy please email michelle.creed@fahcsia.gov.au.
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Recently Australian Disability Enterprises were contacted to update their details on the Australian Disability Enterprise website. It became apparent that the current categories are very restrictive and additional categories were required.
The new categories are listed below, if you would like to add one or more of these categories to your listing please email the Australian Disability Enterprises website team.
| Category | Sub-Category |
|---|---|
| Corporate Gifts and Promotional Products | Corporate Gifts |
| Promotional Products | |
| Mail and Document Management | Document Storage |
| Cleaning and Recycling | Paper and Cardboard Recycling |
| e-Recycling |
Please note that each listing is currently limited to a maximum of three categories and three sub-categories, this still applies with the new categories. If your listing currently has three categories and sub-categories and would like to be listed under one of the new categories, you will need to decide which category you would like removed.
We are currently working on changing the category limit amongst other improvements being made to the Australian Disability Enterprises website. Improvements will be made to the website before June 30 and in coming weeks you will be notified in disAbility e-news of the website enhancements.
If you have any further suggestions for categories please email the Australian Disability Enterprises website team.
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FaHCSIA reminds Australia Disability Enterprises that people with disability listed on FOFMS must be receiving supported employment at your Disability Employment Assistance (DEA) funded outlet to receive Case Based Funding (CBF) from FaHCSIA. This is a requirement of your funding agreement with FaHCSIA.
FaHCSIA funds the provision of Employment Assistance services to people with disabilities. "Employment Assistance services" means the provision of supported employment in the workplace to a supported employee of yours, which is directly relevant to their employment and results in them being paid a wage by you. This is defined on page 13 in the Terms and Conditions of your funding agreement with FaHCSIA.
You should not claim DEA funding from FaHCSIA for people with disability who are not employed at your Australian Disability Enterprise. People with disability undertaking work experience or work preparation training should not be put onto FOFMS.
FaHCSIA can take action against any organisation in breach of their agreement and there may be serious implications for organisations who are incorrectly claiming CBF payments for other purposes.
If you are aware your organisation is claiming CBF for a worker not in receipt of supported employment, you should contact your local state and territory contract manager immediately.
If you have any questions or want to discuss any issues around CBF eligibility please contact the CBF helpdesk on 1800 034 887 or by email to Helpdesk.CBF@fahcsia.gov.au
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When FOFMS users leave your Australian Disability Enterprise, in accordance with the Funding Agreement, their access must be removed. Your organisation should complete the System Access Request Form and choose the "Remove User" check box.
For additional information on removing user access you can refer to the DEA Task Card - User Access - Remove Users from FOFMS, which is available on the Literature Tab.
FaHCSIA has developed a series of short FOFMS training movies which are now available to all DEA FOFMS users. Instructions and information about navigating to and accessing FOFMS Literature resources can be found in the Australian Disability Enterprises Introduction to the FaHCSIA Online Funding Management System training video on the Australian Disability Enterprises FOFMS Training Resource Centre website.
Please contact the CBF Helpdesk on 1800 034 887 or by email to Helpdesk.CBF@fahcsia.gov.au if you require further information.
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Issue 145 of disAbility e-news contained an article titled Disposing of client records. The information in the article was based on the general provisions for record keeping in organisations which receive funding from the Australian Government.
The requirements for all Australian Disability Enterprises organisations are specified at Clause 7.7 of the 2007-2010 Terms and Conditions of the DEA Funding Agreement. These DEA requirements differ slightly from the general provisions with regard to time frame for the disposal of records. For records which relate to the period 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2010, you must keep all reports, records (including client records) and account books in their original form until at least 31 October 2015.
If you have any queries about disposing of client records, please contact the Case Based Funding Helpdesk on 1800 034 887 or email Helpdesk.CBF@fahcsia.gov.au.
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contributed by: Churinga Employment Support Service and St John of God Accord
You have Down syndrome or Cerebral Palsy or an Autism Spectrum Disorder, an intellectual disability or acquired brain injury. As a consumer or community participant, with equal rights and opportunities, now imagine opening a retail business in your local community. The very idea would make any new business owner feel quite nervous, anxious or ill prepared. Imagine now, the added stress when you are part of a service moving to a new location, with a new look and a new concept to engage the community in a viable, popular and demanding service. Do you have the courage it takes to settle for an unknown future out in a competitive retail world? Well the team at Apollo Parkways Ironing Service who all have one of the above-mentioned disabilities, are currently adapting and achieving with their newfound venture.
Thanks to the great support behind their business enterprise and despite the lack of funding this sector has to deal with every day; John, Mary, Jane, Liam, Kate and Nicole are shining their light over a brighter future for their ironing service. They are now the face and energy behind a new retail outlet in the local Apollo Parkways Shopping Centre in Greensborough. Like turning sunlight into energy, this team of strong willed, enthusiastic and dedicated individuals could one day be expanding to another shopping complex near you, if their service keeps moving up and up as it has so far. But none of this would ever have taken place without the commitment to growth, recognition of individual aspirations and true service from St John of God Accord.
When the idea to move out into the community first struck this ironing team, the outlook was positive, motivated, inspired and driven from the get go. Setting milestones, dates and long-lead times, the project eventually got underway. Slowly the shop was fitted out and is still being modified in design and layout. Once the entire team signed off on the final inspection stage, the Apollo Parkways Ironing Service opened for business on February 1, 2010. This team had plenty of practice with teamwork, having already worked with each other for many years prior to their idea to grow and extend to the local community arena.
A huge thanks has to go to the endless support from the staff at Churinga Employment Support Service (CHESS), Lisa McMahon (CHESS Coordinator) and Sandra Shortis (CHESS Employment Consultant). Together they created the right conditions for the team to flourish and grow, participate, dream and visualise what can be no matter what obstacle fell before them. Today they all share a smile and a sense of satisfaction looking back at the experiences with one another that got the team where they are today.
St John of God Accord has been working hard to unveil some surprising stories about each individual in its search for the energy driving their desire to have a truly fulfilling life and work life success. We are all equal at CHESS. We all have access to and contribute to the community in our own way. Liam, Mary, John, Kate, Nicole and Jane are people truly engaged with what they have been creating for so long ... a service with a smile. A sense of ownership for the ironing service stimulates their commitment daily, and as a result, today their allegiance with one another and the goal to get the job done and succeed in their business is a significant, no, a stupendous achievement!
At Accord we preach about leadership constantly. You can count on the team at Apollo Parkways Ironing Service. And do you know why? They are real leaders. They are open and honest at every fork in the road and take a stand for themselves and their ideals, dreams and future, regardless of the personal risk involved. Each member of the team has real attitude to succeed in life.
If you want to see inspiration in the making, grab a coffee at Carla's Kitchen next door, come back and stay for a moment to chat to the team whilst you wait for your basket to be completed. The passion these individuals have for the service they provide is hard to manufacture, but when present, their laughter, enthusiasm and energy is contagious. Their success sustains us all, especially the support of the CHESS employment consultants who have carried them forward with gusto for such a long time.
All you consumer-survivors out there can grab an opportunity to experience some truly rewarding retail therapy. Help contribute funds to develop and support such amazing projects as this one by finding your treasure in our Opportunity Shop next door. Even at the Op shop CHESS employees are taking on front counter and retail skills to the next level for themselves. Certificate II in Retail & Sales from a local TAFE Institute will be the next goal on the team's agenda. Come and witness real community engagement in the making.
Like the ironing team, Damien is going places, picking up on new skills, growing as a person. His life is becoming richer and truer every day as a result of working in the Op Shop. The entire CHESS team is living proof that through our mission and values at Accord, we are helping people understand how our actions in this industry not only reinforces our identity, but more importantly contributes to the individuals we encourage to grow within their community.
A new, innovative and pioneering era is ahead for the ironing team and all those supported by the Employment Consultants at CHESS. Foreseeing a future of offering training in retail operations, customer service, business operations and placements for students and ongoing support in achieving fulfilment in our working lives. For more information about the service you can reach one of the CHESS team members on (03) 9432 3622.
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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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