Issue 44 | 4 July 2005
At the recent ACROD Employment Forum, there was some confusion about the deadline for organisations approved for the wage phase-in. The deadline is 11 May 2008, but some organisations may have dates earlier than this depending on their Full Capability Review results.
A revision to Disability Services Standard 9 that allows for wage phase-in was contained in a Disallowable Instrument. This Disallowable Instrument was signed on 11 May 2004 and ceases to operate four years after the day it commenced (that is, four years after it was signed).
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Did you know that you can use the Consumer Training and Support Agency in your state or territory to help you with consultations with your consumers? The Consumer Training and Support Agencies are experts in communicating with people with a disability. The Agencies offer a variety of services to you, such as assisting you with collecting information for your regular internal audits from consumers and explaining the Disability Services Standards to consumers. The services of the Consumer Training and Support Agencies are free for you to use. Agency contact details are:
| New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory | 02 4350 2385 |
| Queensland and Northern Territory | 07 5499 9422 |
| Western Australia | 08 9385 6666 |
| South Australia | 08 8212 7771 |
| Victoria | 03 9254 3433 |
| Tasmania | 03 6228 0787 |
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It was with some sadness that we advised you in Issue 43 of disAbility e-news that the Support Consultant Helpdesk service (1300 656 294), provided by Nic Bolto and his team at Full Support, closes from 1 July 2005. After that date, support will be provided by your FaCS Contract Manager and the FaCS Online Funding Management System (FOFMS) Helpdesk.
Full Supporthas been assisting FaCS throughout the CBF implementation, dating back to the introduction of the CBF Phase One Trial, the CBF Phase Two Trials, Growth Funding, and changes with the introduction of Outlet Capacity during the Australians Working Together (AWT) strategy. Most recently, Full Support has been involved in the commencement of the transition to full CBF.
Nic and his team have been invaluable in passing on their knowledge of all things technical, and ensuring a successful transition through the various stages of CBF. As the Funding Agreements changed with each year, Full Support adapted and learnt the changes in policy and procedures assisting providers to understand the changes.
However, as the Department has improved its technical systems, the Helpdesk function has also changed and will now be managed through FaCS Contract Managers and the FOFMS Helpdesk.
FaCS sincerely thanks Full Support, Nic and his team, for providing a flexible and professional service to assist us to support providers in managing CBF through this changing environment. We wish them all the very best for a successful future.
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Services that have recently completed a DMI will have received a lump sum DMI reimbursement payment in June 2005. Services have been paid $160 for all DMIs authorised between 1 March 2005 and 31 May 2005. The next quarterly reimbursement payment is due in September 2005, covering 1 June 2005 to 31 August 2005.
DMI reimbursement payments are paid to services that complete and authorise DMIs for eligible block grant workers. Services are not paid for the same worker more than once. This means DMI reassessments are not eligible for reimbursement when they have already been reimbursed for that worker.
If you have any questions regarding the DMI reimbursement payment please contact your FaCS Contract Manager.
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We have finalised the data collection exercise in preparation for the implementation of the eCommerce facility. Thank you for taking time out during this busy time to provide us with your contact hours, details of your products and services, and the regions you supply.
Some of you have indicated your interest in helping FaCS with the eCommerce project. We will be writing to those people shortly to form a working group to assist us with some design and testing.
The development of the eCommerce website is tracking well, and we are continuing to work closely with Polymorphic Solutions on Phase 1 of the development. Phase 1 of the eCommerce application will provide a searchable catalogue of Business Services and their contact details. Phase 1 will be available in August 2005.
Enthusiasm for the project is very high in the sector. We will keep you up-to-date with progress reports in further issues of the e-news.[ top ]
Email disAbility e-news if you'd like more information on a particular issue or program or to let us know what you think of this e-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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