Issue 49 | 12 September 2005
Further to the 16 August FOFMS upgrade, the interim way to get around issues with viewing Payment Requests is to use keyboard shortcuts. The problem arises when attempting to view more than 20 records. To view the next record press:
For further details about the upgrade and new functionality please refer to edition 48 of eNews dated 29 August 2005.
If you experience any problems please email the FOFMS Helpdesk or telephone 1800 020 283.
[ top ]
Many of you have asked that we find a way to allow to you change your user access level (“Position”) in FOFMS without having to log out and log in again as this would save you time when using the system.
This has been done, and a task card showing how to change your active position without logging out of FOFMS has been developed for your use. The taskcard will be emailed to each user and is also available on the FOFMS Literature site.
[ top ]
A post-implementation review of the BSWAT has commenced.
The post implementation review will look at whether the original project objectives for the BSWAT were achieved and identify delivery issues that emerged during the implementation phase. For example, this would include whether CRS Australia’s wage assessors were able to get good information about historical productivity patterns from team leaders and supervisors in Business Services to inform the wage assessments, as well as how they administered the BSWAT.
Stakeholders will be consulted to gather information for the post-implementation review. In mid-September a discussion paper will be available on the FaCS website outlining the scope of the review and asking for feedback on the way the BSWAT has been implemented. In addition, there will be face-to-face consultations and focus groups held with people with a disability who have had their wages assessed using the BSWAT, CRS Australia BSWAT assessors, Business Services and other stakeholders.
The Terms of Reference for the Post-implementation review are available on the FaCS website, and progress will be reported in future editions of the e-news.
[ top ]
An evaluation of the quality strategy has commenced. The evaluation will assess and make recommendations about the effectiveness of the quality strategy, with a key focus on quantitative outcomes, including consumer satisfaction and views about quality improvements.
The evaluation is being conducted by Jenny Pearson and Associates. Details of the terms of reference, reference group, and methodology are available on the FaCS website.
Future editions of e-news will report on progress of the evaluation.
[ top ]
There was an error in the article on Jobseeker Locational Loading in the last issue of the e-news (Issue #48). In the article, the list of Accessibility Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) classifications of services that are eligible to receive Jobseeker Locational Loading was incomplete, as it did not include the classification ’Accessible’.
The relevant paragraph should have read: "Please Note: only organisations which are classified under the Accessibility Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) as 'Accessible', ‘Moderately Accessible’, ‘Remote’ or ‘Very Remote’ are eligible to receive Jobseeker Locational Loading".
FaCS apologises for any confusion or inconvenience this error may have caused. If you have any further queries regarding Jobseeker Locational Loading, please contact your state or territory office contract manager.[ top ]
New agreements have been offered to Respite Centres to deliver services under the FaCS-funded Respite for Carers of Young People with Severe or Profound Disabilities Program and the Young Carers ‘at risk’ Respite Program.
The Commonwealth Carer Respite Centres (CCRCs) are funded by the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) under the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP).
Under a DoHA competitive selection process for managing services funded under the NRCP, some of the existing CCRC service providers were unsuccessful and several new CCRCs have been selected to provide respite carer services.
Unsuccessful CCRCs which are currently contracted by FaCS to provide carer respite services have been given an interim three‑month funding extension to 30 September 2005. After that date, respite care will be arranged via the providers selected through the DoHA process.
The Respite for Carers of Young People with Severe or Profound Disabilities Program is aimed at achieving an increased provision of immediate and short-term respite to carers whose needs are not being met through existing state/territory government or other Australian Government initiatives. These Agreements are for 12 months from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006.
The Young Carers ‘at risk’ Respite Program provides respite services to young carers at risk of leaving education prematurely and not completing their secondary education. These Agreements are for three years from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2008.
[ top ]
You cannot complete a DMI reassessment for a Block Grant Funded (BGF) client. If you need to complete a DMI reassessment for a BGF client you will need to wait until they have transitioned to Case Based Funding (CBF) at one of the two remaining transition points in January or July 2006. Once the client has been transitioned to CBF, you should complete the DMI reassessment within one month, before 31 January and 31 July respectively.
You will not be financially disadvantaged by this arrangement, as the client will continue to be paid under the Average Block Grant Price (ABGP) until they transition to CBF. You receive the first CBF payment for transitioned clients one month after they transition, hence the opportunity to complete the DMI reassessment before the first CBF payment.
You can easily use FOFMS to remind yourself to complete a DMI reassessment by using the ’Activity’ function. For example, to create a new Organisation Activity:
This will then generate an activity that will appear on your home page in FOFMS on the due date.
[ top ]
The CBF Helpdesk has a new fax number: 07 3005 6097.
Please note that all other contact details for the CBF Helpdesk remain the same.
Ph: 1800 034 887[ top ]
Services that have recently completed a DMI will receive a lump sum DMI reimbursement payment during September 2005 of $160 for each DMI authorised between 1 June 2005 and 31 August 2005. The next quarterly reimbursement payment is due in December 2005, covering 1 September 2005 to 30 November 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 services are not paid for DMI assessments or reassessments 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.
[ 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.
[ top ]
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.
[ top ]