Issue 46 | 1 August 2005
In May, the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) agreed to change its application before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) to vary the Supported Employment (Business Enterprises) Award to include a range of wage assessment tools. FaCS has funded an independent review of the wage tools listed below, which are now included in the Award as part of a research project on how commonly used tools operate and how they rate against the Good Practice Guide to Wage Determination.
The following wage assessment tools will be included in the Award:
Any wage tools included in the Award later, must s atisfy Disability Services Standard 9 and relevant Key Performance Indicators as determined or approved under section 5A of the Disability Services Act 1986, and the Guide to Good Practice Wage Determination (2001).
ACROD has asked FaCS to agree to fund more research on other wage tools now in use but not yet reviewed, for inclusion in a future variation application. Owners of any wage assessment tools not listed in the revised Award can ask FaCS to have them included by emailing anthony.bartolo@facsia.gov.au
If the wage tool derives from one of those listed, you will need to highlight this and explain how it varies from the original.
FaCS will consider all applications received by 31 August 2005 and will seek to have any review completed by 30 November 2005.
Once reviewed, the owner of the wage tool will need to decide if they want it listed in the Award (and advise the LHMU that they wish to seek a variation to the Award). ACROD is prepared to act as a key point of contact between wage tool owners and the LHMU.
This will maintain a consistent approach, allow all wage tools to go to the LHMU at the same time, and for the LHMU to make their own assessment before progressing a single variation to the Award.[ top ]
The National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline provides a free telephone service to report any abuse and neglect of people with a disability in Australian Government state and territory funded services. The Hotline is fully funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Family and Community Services.
The Hotline operates from 8am to 8pm in every state and territory, 365 days a year.
With consent, any reports will be forwarded to the government agency that funds the service so an investigation into allegations of abuse and neglect can be arranged. The Hotline will also assist in arranging advocacy assistance if the caller/notifier needs assistance in making the report. The Hotline will also follow up with the caller/notifier to find out what action was taken by the government agency.
The Hotline also accepts reports of abuse and neglect occurring in situations other than within government-funded disability services. With these reports, the Hotline will also make referrals to any other appropriate agency that can investigate allegations of abuse and neglect, for example, the Health Services Commissioner or the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
The service also provides callers/notifiers with information referrals about other services that can assist. Such referrals could be to counselling, community legal services and/or domestic violence services.
The Hotline is available for:
Phone: TOLL FREE 1800 880 052
Fax: (02) 9318 1372
TTY: 1800 301 130
National Relay Service: 1800 555 677
Telephone Interpreter Service: 131450
Address: Locked Bag 2705, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012
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Steady progress is being made on the eCommerce website, to the extent that the launch of Phases 2 and 3, originally due in September and October 2005 respectively, will be brought forward. All three phases will now be released in September 2005.
With the launch of this site, potential purchasers will be able to search and view products and services, and contact Business Services by phone or email to place orders. Businesses will also be able to identify other like Business Services for networking and marketing opportunities, as well as managing their own product and service portfolio.
Phases 4 and 5, due to be available in December 2005 and February 2006 respectively, will allow potential purchasers to place orders, verify the status of orders and make payments online with participating services securely, via the eCommerce site.
Updates on the progress of the website will continue to be provided in further issues of the e-news.
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The Disability Employment Assistance Services Project focuses on improving Business Service viability, linking them with business and industry and identifying resources needed to assist supported employment operations.
As previously mentioned, ACCI is staging forums across the country to identify challenges and opportunities. These forums are contributing valuable information toward the development of strategies to address key areas. Many business issues have been raised which are common among services, and others that are more specific, including:
It is important that all issues are examined, so all services are encouraged to raise their key concerns, suggestions, or queries relating to business viability.
To raise any points or discuss the Disability Employment Assistance Services Project, please contact Craig Blackman, National Manager Disability Employment Services, ACCI by email: craig.blackman@acci.asn.au
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Business Services are reminded that they still need to notify Centrelink when a client either:
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The Consumer Representation IDEAS Group Project has concluded, with the presentation of the project’s final report at the last meeting of the Project Reference Group held on 12 April 2005.
The centrepiece of the project was a two-day Consumer Representatives Best Practice Forum, held in Brisbane 9-10 February (see Issue#35 of the e-news). Funded through the Continuous Improvement Initiatives in Disability Employment Services, and hosted by Community Employment Options Inc., the purpose of the forum was to “identify, develop and support consumers who are involved in boards of management”.
It also aimed to stimulate services to be open to this involvement. The Forum included sessions about consumer rights and obligations, marketing and communication, training in the operation of boards of management and a range of workshops including writing a job description for consumer representatives.
From the Forum, delegates achieved a Consumer Statement endorsing the role of the Consumer Representative, and a Job Description for Consumer Representatives, both of which were presented to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) and to FaCS.
Since the Forum, delegates have formed a support network for fellow consumers still struggling with consumer representation and participation in their local services.
Copies of the Final Report of the project, including Plain English versions, are available by contacting Community Employment Options Corporate Services area by email at: corporate@employment.org.au
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Organisations are reminded that Acquittal Reports are due by 30 September 2005 for the 2004-05 financial year.
Please note that in accordance with your Funding Agreement, organisations must acquit all Block Grant funds received in the reporting period. These requirements are set out in Clause 3 (About the Funding) and Clause 4 (Records and Reporting) of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Funding of your current Funding Agreement, and Paragraphs 4.2 and 4.3 of the Procedural Guidelines.
An audited financial statement that reflects all Block Grant and Case Based Funding (CBF) income and expenditure, with an accompanying signed statement that all Block Grant income has been accounted for, will be accepted.
Organisations unable to meet the reporting deadline (e.g. due to separate ASIC reporting requirements), should approach their FaCS Contract Manager before 30 September and seek their agreement to extend this deadline to either 31 October or 30 November 2005, depending on the individual circumstances of the Organisation.
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The second FOFMS DEA Working Group Meeting for Business Services was held in Brisbane on 11 July 2005. The Working Group was established so that service providers can advise FaCS on the user requirements and performance of FOFMS. The meeting was attended by
11 service providers who were able to give valuable feedback on performance and functionality as well as aspects such as frequency of payments, user roles, training and communication.
We would like to thank those who were able to take time out from their busy schedule to travel to Brisbane to participate in the FOFMS Working Group Meeting. In particular, we would like to thank the following:
Robert Styling, Phoenix Society Inc, Adelaide SA
Dave Elliott, Tulgeen Group, Bega, NSW
Keryl Neville, Community Programs Association, Canberra/Yass - ACT/NSW
Allen Mowday, Hunter Contracts, Newcastle - NSW
Penny Atfield, Printabout, Brisbane - Qld
Michael Jackson, Endeavour Foundation - Qld
Debbie Simpson, Latrobe Valley Enterprises, Morwell – Vic
Liz Schroeter, Ballarat Regional Industries, Ballarat - Vic
Georgie Spinks, Clearwater Business Service, Geelong – Vic
Darrell Andrews, Activ Industries, Perth – WA
Sherie Avalos, Macarthur Disability Services, Sydney – NSW
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Thanks to service providers who participated in UAT of FOFMS Release 3, in Brisbane on 11 and 12 July.
The UAT trialled the functionality of FOFMS Release 3 in a simulated working environment. The two days proved very successful. Providers gained a first hand introduction to the additional functionality of FOFMS and FaCS received useful feedback to help prepare for the launch of Release 3 on 15 August.
In particular, we would like to thank the following people from the following organisations:
| Michael Jackson | Endeavour Foundation | Brisbane |
| Penny Atfield | Printabout | Brisbane |
| Robert Styling | Phoenix Society Inc. | Adelaide |
| Keryl Neville | Community Programs Assoc. | Yass/Canberra |
| Darrell Andrews | Activ Foundation | Perth |
| Debby Simpson | Latrobe Valley Enterprises | Morwell |
| Regina Williams | Oak Enterprises | Hobart |
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