Attached please find copies of the two presentations given last Saturday.
Firstly, Caroline Cuddihy's NDIS PowerPoint...
click on this link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8rZ09ZXFyX7eXNnWTctdzBOSUk/view?usp=sharing
and secondly Steve Robb's .ppt re Enterprises...
click on this link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8rZ09ZXFyX7RlVhZGRKQWlmNWM/view?usp=sharing
We will issue a Notice of Meeting shortly by email to announce a date & time where we can publicly worksop what, as individual families, should each should do to properly address planning for NDIS.
July 2016 is less than one year away...
Monday, September 21, 2015
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
The National Disability Insurance Scheme will roll out across New South Wales between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2018.
The New South Wales and Commonwealth Governments have signed an agreement that outlines how and when the NDIS will roll out.
When and how people access the scheme will be based on three factors:
- Where they live.
- What supports, if any, they currently receive.
- Their need for support if they don’t currently receive any.
People wishing to access the NDIS should check that they meet the access requirements, which are available on the national NDIS website.
When will the NDIS be available?
With so many people coming into the scheme in such a short time it is important that there is a planned approach to how they access the NDIS.
People with disability living in the local government areas of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Maitland can already access the NDIS though the Hunter trial.
From 1 July 2015, the NDIS has also become available to eligible participants aged between 0-17 in the Nepean and Blue Mountains area, a full year ahead of schedule.
From 1 July 2016, people living in the Hunter New England, Southern New South Wales, Central Coast, Northern Sydney, South Western Sydney, Western Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains districts will be able to access the NDIS.
From 1 July 2017, the NDIS will be in place across the rest of NSW, and people living in Northern New South Wales, Mid North Coast, Sydney, South Eastern Sydney, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Murrumbidgee, Western New South Wales and Far West NSW will be able to access the NDIS.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Notice of Meeting - 19 September 2015, at the Canteen, Allambie
Proposed Agenda
Allambie/Chatswood Auxiliary - Meetings, Officers and Committee/s
Prior meeting/s and actions arising
NDIS
Timetable for introduction
NDIS Plan & pre-planning
Continuity or funding & “principal of no disadvantage”
Annual reviews
General Business
Next Meeting
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
NDIS Western Sydney roll out
On 1 July 2015 the full rollout of the NDIS will commence in NSW. To mark this occasion NDS is joining with the broader disability community to host a community information forum and celebration.
We would like to invite your organisation to join us at Penrith Panthers Exhibition Marquee on 1 July at 10.30am.
The registration link for the event is: http://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ndis-kicks-off-how-will-it-transform-your-life-tickets-17269080284
In partnership with the disability community, we have made the NDIS a reality. Its implementation is a direct result of the collective efforts of over 150,000 people with disability, their families and service organisations who participated in the Every Australian Counts campaign. That's why it's only right that the disability community come together to celebrate this milestone moment.
Here is how you can help make this event a success:
1. Promote this event by emailing the information to your networks. You can download a banner image, flyers and posters at:http://www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au/ndis-kicks-off/
2. Post the details of this event to your organisation’s social media – the Facebook page for the event is: https://www.facebook.com/events/840882329332376/
3. Provide NDS your details and we will mail out a pack of posters and flyers to your office. To sign up for a pack in the mail please fill in your details here:https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NDISkicksoff
4. Don’t forget to register to attend at: http://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ndis-kicks-off-how-will-it-transform-your-life-tickets-17269080284
NDS appreciates your support. We believe that everyone who attends will be provided with useful information about how the NDIS works, and how it will transform the lives of people with disability.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
CALL for URGENT SUPPORT - 20,000 JOBS for PEOPLE with DISABILITY at Risk
20,000 people with a disability are employed by Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs)
across Australia. At Sunnyfield we employ 292 supported employees, who are proud to
work and contribute meaningful value for many business customers.
Sunnyfield supported staff love their jobs, and those who are familiar with Enterprises will readily understand the passion that goes into running the business by staff and families.
We urge you to join us in supporting the campaign to save people with disability supported employee jobs.
Some Background
An Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE) is a not-for-profit organisation, usually with charitable status, which provides products and services to business customers, with a mission to provide meaningful employment for people with significant disability (who would otherwise be unlikely to work).
ADEs are mostly run by a not-for-profit organisation, that try to break-even or make a surplus after paying all its costs, including wages. So, an ADE operates in a similar same way as other businesses, but there is one major difference, an ADE employs mostly people with disability and these employees are supported to undertake their work.
What happened – High Court Case?
In the Nojin v Commonwealth of Australia High Court decision, the court looked at the wages of two people with an intellectual disability working in an ADE. It was decided that the use of the Commonwealth governments Business Services Wage Assessment Tool (BSWAT) to determine their wages wasn’t fair. The findings then went to the Human Rights Commission which administers the Disability Discrimination Act.
What did the Human Rights Commission decide?
The Human Rights Commission found that the BSWAT wage assessment tool was not fair and it would be too complicated for ADEs to immediately change to another wage assessment tool, so it gave ADEs one year to move to a different tool, that will pay supported employees much higher wages . ADEs don't think a year is enough time – three years at least is needed. But where does the money for the extra wages come from?
What will this decision mean for ADEs?
This decision directly threatens the long term viability of ADEs because ADEs will have to pay significantly higher wages to supported employees. ADEs would be most pleased to pay higher wages to supported employees, if they could afford too!
However most ADEs struggle to avoid a loss each year. In fact without additional government funding many ADEs may be forced to either downsize or close altogether. It is
Sunnyfield supported staff love their jobs, and those who are familiar with Enterprises will readily understand the passion that goes into running the business by staff and families.
We urge you to join us in supporting the campaign to save people with disability supported employee jobs.
Some Background
An Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE) is a not-for-profit organisation, usually with charitable status, which provides products and services to business customers, with a mission to provide meaningful employment for people with significant disability (who would otherwise be unlikely to work).
ADEs are mostly run by a not-for-profit organisation, that try to break-even or make a surplus after paying all its costs, including wages. So, an ADE operates in a similar same way as other businesses, but there is one major difference, an ADE employs mostly people with disability and these employees are supported to undertake their work.
What happened – High Court Case?
In the Nojin v Commonwealth of Australia High Court decision, the court looked at the wages of two people with an intellectual disability working in an ADE. It was decided that the use of the Commonwealth governments Business Services Wage Assessment Tool (BSWAT) to determine their wages wasn’t fair. The findings then went to the Human Rights Commission which administers the Disability Discrimination Act.
What did the Human Rights Commission decide?
The Human Rights Commission found that the BSWAT wage assessment tool was not fair and it would be too complicated for ADEs to immediately change to another wage assessment tool, so it gave ADEs one year to move to a different tool, that will pay supported employees much higher wages . ADEs don't think a year is enough time – three years at least is needed. But where does the money for the extra wages come from?
What will this decision mean for ADEs?
This decision directly threatens the long term viability of ADEs because ADEs will have to pay significantly higher wages to supported employees. ADEs would be most pleased to pay higher wages to supported employees, if they could afford too!
However most ADEs struggle to avoid a loss each year. In fact without additional government funding many ADEs may be forced to either downsize or close altogether. It is
worth noting that to be a supported employee you must be eligible for a disability support
pension, and the higher the wages earned means the lessor pension entitlement (thus the
government could reduce pensions with substantial wage increases).
What will supported employees do if they lose their jobs?
If ADEs have to close or downsize because there is no extra government funding to pay higher wages, supported workers will, unfortunately, very likely lose their jobs.
A small number maybe be able to get an open employment job, however these people with disability will need to be high functioning and be able to secure a job in the current highly competitive job marketplace, with its increasing unemployment rates.
Very few people might be able to get into a state-funded day program. Others who lose their jobs may eventually get some form of support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), but depending on where they live, that might not be until 2016 to 2018 or beyond.
Most will be unemployed, with no meaningful activity and ability to work, with a loss of their social work connections. Many will be thrown back into the family home and will probably require family support.
How you can help Supported Employees keep their jobs?
Please go to http://www.ade.org.au/ to automatically send an email to the Federal Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator The Honourable Mitch Fifield. A preformed letter is available on the website and only needs your name and address inserted to send a very important message to the Minister urging action to find a solution to this untenable situation.
This process only takes a few seconds and if many people register their support then the Minister will get a very strong message.
All supported employees (people with disability) need your urgent support to ensure the ongoing viability of their jobs!
What will supported employees do if they lose their jobs?
If ADEs have to close or downsize because there is no extra government funding to pay higher wages, supported workers will, unfortunately, very likely lose their jobs.
A small number maybe be able to get an open employment job, however these people with disability will need to be high functioning and be able to secure a job in the current highly competitive job marketplace, with its increasing unemployment rates.
Very few people might be able to get into a state-funded day program. Others who lose their jobs may eventually get some form of support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), but depending on where they live, that might not be until 2016 to 2018 or beyond.
Most will be unemployed, with no meaningful activity and ability to work, with a loss of their social work connections. Many will be thrown back into the family home and will probably require family support.
How you can help Supported Employees keep their jobs?
Please go to http://www.ade.org.au/ to automatically send an email to the Federal Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator The Honourable Mitch Fifield. A preformed letter is available on the website and only needs your name and address inserted to send a very important message to the Minister urging action to find a solution to this untenable situation.
This process only takes a few seconds and if many people register their support then the Minister will get a very strong message.
All supported employees (people with disability) need your urgent support to ensure the ongoing viability of their jobs!
Threat to Employment of Disabled People
I should like to acknowledge the wise words of Allan Holswitch, a Central Coast Sunnyfield Family Member, as follows:
Yesterday [25th November] was something of a landmark in that a bill was passed in the Senate which appears to have a profound effect on the future viability of supported employment operations ( known as Australian Disability enterprises or ADE’s).
This is a complex situation, but really seems to demonstrate how one noble quest for equality can conflict with an equally noble quest to provide support in meaningful disabled employment. No middle ground appears to have been considered and there is every possibility that hardship and exploitation will accompany the otherwise laudable but perhaps narrow objective of workplace equality.
I am attaching two documents.
One is a copy of a newsletter from the organisation "People with a Disability (PWD)" which announces and applauds the bill, which they initially proposed and promoted. Click here...
One is a copy of a newsletter from the organisation "People with a Disability (PWD)" which announces and applauds the bill, which they initially proposed and promoted. Click here...
The other is below... which outlines the position as it now affects the Sunnyfield's supported employment service, and other ADE’s. This contains an explanation of the situation [from a Family/Member point of view],
...and a link to a web page which has a petition in the form of an email.
Please go to http://www.ade.org.au/ to automatically send an email to the Federal Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator The Honourable Mitch Fifield.
The petition is asking the Minister to take urgent action to allow ADE’s to continue in operation and remain financially viable. You will appreciate that almost all ADE’s are ‘not for profit organisations’ and have limited resources.
This is a crisis.
Will you please read both the case for and against then form your opinion. Sunnyfield families believe there is a compelling case to at least support the petition and we urge you to add your name.
Sunnyfield's November 2014 Info Sessions
For those who cannot easily access a PDF on their PCs at home here is a web version you can review.
Click on the link below:
Click on the link below:
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