Issue 168
Monday 28 March 2011
Following the endorsement by Commonwealth and State Government leaders at COAG in February, last week I launched the National Disability Strategy.
To mark this important occasion, I was joined by members of the Australian Government's National People with Disabilities and Carer Council including Dr Rhonda Galbally and Senior Australian of the Year Professor Ron McCallum, as well as Australian of the Year Simon McKeon – all strong advocates for improving the lives of people with disability.
The National Disability Strategy provides the framework for change. It is the first time in our history that all governments have committed to a unified, national approach to improving the lives of people with disability, their families and carers.
Mr Simon McKeon, Australian of the Year; Senator Jan McLucas; Professor Ron McCallum AO, Senior Australian of the Year; together with Dr Rhonda Galbally AO, Chair of the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council, celebrate the official launch of the National Disability Strategy in Melbourne
We will continue to work with people with disability, their families and carers, and the disability services sector, to deliver changes that will improve people's lives.
The Vision for Supported Employment Advisory Group met last week in Melbourne to further progress the development of the long term vision for supported employment through to 2020.
I am excited about their progress and look forward to receiving their final report mid year.
The vision is an important step for Australia to ensure people with disability have a better future where people in supported employment, as well as supported employment organisations, are valued for their contributions to an inclusive Australian society. I know many of you have contributed to this process and I thank you for your contributions.
The disability sector has had some other important achievements this month. There have been changes to disability parking for Queensland’s red permit holders. They are now able to access local disability parking concessions across Australia.
Also, Auslan interpreting services reached an interesting milestone. This month marked the 100,000th time Australians who are deaf have used the Australian Government's interpreting services for their medical and health consultations.
You can read more about these achievements in this issue of DisAbility e-news. It’s an exciting time for the sector and although we still have some way to go, I am very proud of what we’ve achieved so far.[ top ]
All Queenslanders with a disability parking permit can now access local disability parking concessions across Australia.
This means that Queensland’s 100,000 red permit holders, who have reduced mobility, can still access their red disability parking permit parking concessions when they travel interstate.
The Australian Government provided $3 million to support the introduction of the new Australian Disability Parking Scheme, after extensive consultations with stakeholders, including permit holders, medical associations, peak organisations and state, territory and local government.
The National Disability Strategy was officially launched in Melbourne on Friday 18 March by Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Jan McLucas, together with Dr Rhonda Galbally, Chair of the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council, Mr Simon McKeon, Australian of the Year and Professor Ron McCallum AO, Senior Australian of the Year.
‘This is the first time in Australia’s history that the Commonwealth, State and Territory, and Local Government have agreed to a unified, national approach to improve the lives of people with disability,’ Parliamentary Secretary McLucas said.
‘We will continue to work with people with disability, their families and carers, and the disability services sector, to deliver changes that will improve people's lives. The strategy provides $11 million in new funding for accessibility packages to improve access to cinemas, local communities and library materials as well as liveable housing design, leadership development and the new ABC Ramp Up website.’
The long term strategy is supported by six key areas which aim to remove barriers and expand opportunities for people with disability and their carers through the support of:
For more information or to access a copy of the National Disability Strategy, including accessible formats, visit www.fahcsia.gov.au
This month marked the 100,000th time Australians who are deaf have used the Australian Government’s interpreting services for their medical and health consultations.
The service, delivered by Wesley Mission Brisbane, provides deaf people with access to interpreter services when attending medical appointments, enabling access quality services, while giving them greater independence in the community.
The Australian Government provides $4 million annually to support the National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service (NABS). The service is provided free for all private medical consultations that attract a Medicare rebate, as well as a range of other specific health care consultations, including physiotherapy.
The NABS also offers an online Diploma of Interpreting for people interested in becoming an Auslan interpreter. Since 2008, 23 people have graduated as accredited paraprofessionals.
The NABS operate from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 1pm on Saturday. For more information, visit www.nabs.org.au or phone 1800 246 948.
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Over the next few months there will be some changes to the way DisAbility e-news looks, and is delivered to you.
DisAbility e-news will still deliver to you the same important sector information as before but will feature a few new sections:
These changes, which will begin in the next issue, were suggested by Australian Disability Enterprises who participated in a 2010 DisAbility e-news survey as ways of improving the e-newsletter.
Instead of just receiving a link in an email to click on, you will see all the information in the body of the email. The e-newsletter will have a new design and colours, and may feature some new elements. Over the coming issues we’ll be refining the look and feel of the e-newsletter so you may notice small changes from issue to issue.
These changes will not affect the ability to read it using assistive technology as a text only version will be available within the email. However, DAISY format will not be available, as usage statistics show DAISY use for DisAbility e-news is extremely low.
We would love to get your feedback on what you think of the new look, or to suggest new important dates or useful web links that may be helpful for the sector to know about. Please send your feedback, suggestions or questions to
disabilitye-news@fahcsia.gov.au
Are your business details are incorrect on the Australian Disability Enterprises website?
The success of the website relies on the accuracy of the information provided to consumers. Updating out-of-date contact details is particularly important for ensuring Enterprises receive information on jobs logged through the ‘Get a Quote’ (previously ‘Log-a-Job’) function on the website.
To update your listing please complete the Website Update Form RTF [80kB] and email to australiandisabilityenterprises@fahcsia.gov.au. There are also some helpful tips included to help you maximise the potential of your listing.
In addition, if you would like us to include a case study on your Australian Disability Enterprise or a satisfied customer testimonial on one of your valued customers, write in and let us know. We are happy to showcase it on the website. Please make sure you also provide approval from your customer to include their information on the website.
There has been a small change in FOFMS within the client address field. The address location coding system has been upgraded and a new look address box will appear when you type in the client address as shown below.
The DEA Task Cards in FOFMS available through the Literature Tab have been amended to reflect this change. Please refer to the DEA_Task Card – Clients – Update Address and DEA_Task Card – Clients – Create a new Client Record.
If you have any questions regarding changes to the client address please contact the Case Based Funding Helpdesk on 1800 034 887 or email us at Helpdesk.CBF@fahcsia.gov.au.
A case should be suspended if an employee is temporarily unable to maintain employment with your outlet for a minimum period of one calendar month, for reasons such as change in condition, education placement, personal reasons, seasonal work ended, time out, whereabouts unknown, etc. A suspension should be used for a temporary absence if you are reasonably sure that the employee will return, or an absence without explanation, while you attempt to reengage the supported employee back into employment.
A case should be exited as soon as you become aware that an employee will no longer be working for your outlet, for reasons such as consumer needs increased, consumer terminated service, Employment Assistance Plan (EAP) requirements unmet, moved out of area, moved to another ADE, moved to open employment, etc. An exit should be used for a permanent absence or an absence where an employee is considered to no longer be employed by your outlet.
In the instance of an absence where the employee is moving to another ADE or moving out of the area but you expect that they may return, the case still must be exited as they are currently not employed by your organisation. As with suspensions, cases which have been exited can still be returned within 12 months or 2 years for return from open employment; so exiting a case is not necessarily permanent and still allows the employee to come back if they change their mind.
If you have any questions about suspensions and exits, please email the Case Based Funding Helpdesk or phone 1800 034 887.
DisAbility e-news spoke to the Business Manager at Inprint Design, Lee-anne Sparkes about employing people with disabilities.
Tell us a little about your business?
We are located in Adelaide, South Australia. Our team consists of 39 people with a range of skills and skill levels from business managers to production staff. All play an important role in the success of our business. We are a modern, professional graphic design studio that offers innovative designs to suit client needs. We have customers in both government and private business.
Why do you think people want to work there?
While many aspects of Inprint are heavily tailored towards its supported employees, it is first and foremost a successful graphic design business.
Inprint's office is accessible and welcoming for all of its employees – those with and without disability. Most of our employees require minimal assistive equipment, and many of these features are things that any business could implement. Again, this is an important demonstration of the practicality of employing people with disability.
Our premises are modern and stylish. It is an unfortunate truism that when many people think "disabled" they don't equate the concept with "style". Inprint refutes this notion completely and is proud of its funky atmosphere and creative team.
We are also very proud the producers of the ‘Link Disability Magazine’ which is Australia’s only cross-disability magazine.
Inprint Design's receptionist Mandy Vercoe working on subscriptions for Link Magazine.
How does good business positively affect your business and employees?
The Inprint “model” ie, having the majority of employees being people with disability is something different to the average workplace. We are proud of being able to model such an accessible and welcoming workplace. The fact that it is a successful business proves the viability of our model. When business is thriving this reinforces the validity of what we are doing and hopefully serves as a positive example to other business considering hiring people with disability. It is also great for employee morale.
Production Supervisor Lorelle Kellow providing training and advice to supported employee Wayne Crabb.
How do you make your services competitive?
We tailor tasks to suit staff abilities and recognise individual strengths and limitations. We allocate appropriate tasks, provide relevant training, and assistive aids where required.
Is there anything your business does that is special or unique?
Many companies and employers are at best hesitant and at worst outright discriminatory about employing people with a disability. This is an unfortunate mindset and we are proud to be leading by example and showing what people with disability can offer in the workplace.
Inprint Design’s employees Wayne Crabb and Adrian Morgan hard at work.
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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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