Issue 77 | 13 November 2006
Work Based Personal Assistance (WBPA) Fees are available for workers who need assistance with feeding by mouth or personal hygiene or who need assistance from a Registered Nurse to administer medical interventions. Section 30 of the Disability Employment Assistance (DEA) Program Procedures outlines what is required to qualify for WBPA.
Any Service wishing to claim WBPA must ensure that a qualified person has assessed the client before initiating a claim and that the WBPA requirements are recorded in the client’s Employment Assistance Plan (EAP). It is the Service’s responsibility to retain all receipts associated with the provision of WBPA.
WBPA is available for up to a maximum of 40 hours over a four-week period. Claim forms must be lodged with FaCSIA no more than three months after assistance has been provided.
If you have a worker who qualifies for WBPA and you wish to make a claim, forms are available under the Literature Tab on FOFMS. Claim forms should be completed and returned to the CBF Helpdesk by fax to (07) 3005 6097 or by mail to GPO Box 9820, Brisbane, QLD 4001.
In order to assist with processing of WBPA Claim Forms you should ensure that:
If you require any further information on WBPA please contact your FaCSIA State or Territory Contract Manager.
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The review of the National Disability Advocacy Program has concluded that it remains a valuable and much needed program, but that improvements could be made to its efficiency and effectiveness. A consultation process about a number of proposed changes has recently been conducted and there was general acknowledgment from stakeholders for the need for change. As might be expected, a wide variety of views were expressed in the consultations. A significant proportion of the written submissions support the proposed changes but make suggestions to improve both the proposed changes and the program itself. A small number of submissions reject the proposed changes outright. Most stakeholders have indicated a keen interest in working with the Department to improve the program. Further analysis of the written submissions is still being undertaken and will inform any changes to the program that are made. Future editions of the e-news will discuss the changes in more detail.
In the meantime, 18-month funding agreements will be sent soon to the 71 existing advocacy services. These funding agreements are based on the Department's latest standard agreement and have similar conditions to the old agreements. The schedule to the funding agreement requires advocacy services to commit to the proposed changes and work with the Department to develop and implement the changes over the coming 18 months.
The Department is keen to start developing the changes and is seeking expressions of interest from stakeholders who want to be on a reference group to help improve the program. It may not be possible to involve all people who nominate, but we are keen to engage stakeholders that can provide a wide variety of views. If you are interested in nominating please email jane.cohen-cramp@facsia.gov.au with a short explanation of where your particular interests and expertise lie. The reference group would meet regularly face-to-face and via teleconferencing over the coming 18 months. The department would meet the costs for attending face-to-face meetings.
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Good corporate governance is important to help your organization achieve its outcomes and obligations through sound planning and risk management, better decision-making and greater accountability to your organization’s members, your staff, your service users and clients and other stakeholders. If you’d like some tips on improving governance in your organization, try the link below to the corporate governance handbook on FaCSIA’s internet site. It gives an overview of the key corporate governance legislative requirements and concepts, outlines the features of good corporate governance and has practical tips for fulfilling your corporate governance obligations.
The Corporate Governance Handbook is available on the FaCSIA internet site.
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The Best Practice Partnership Project has continued to build on its aims to form a partnership with like-minded organisations focused on best practice in the disability employment industry. It aims to facilitate cooperative partnerships that share best practice and are committed to:
For more information and an update on the progress of this project see the FaCSIA Website.
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Stakeholders are reminded of the Wodonga TAFE website where draft Consumer Training and Support products are being posted. Feedback is being sought on new products. Please visit the Wodonga TAFE website to review and respond.
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On Thursday 26 October the Australian Fair Pay Commission (AFPC) delivered its decision on minimum wages, including minimum wages in the business service sector.
Before the Decision
Preserved Pay Scales in the Business Service sector were derived from Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union Supported Employment (Business Services) Award 2001 [Fed] (LHMU Award). However, there were gaps in coverage within the Business Services sector as there are only 15 respondents to the LHMU Award. Therefore, many Business Service employees not covered by the preserved Pay Scale were without coverage of a statutory minimum rate of pay or pro-rata arrangements.
The Decision
The AFPC’s decision as it applies to Business Services sanctions and reflects the substantial agreement between industry parties as to the way forward for wage determination in Business Services:
For Business Services that are respondents to the LHMU Award, the AFPC decision:
For Business Services that are not respondents to the LHMU Award, the AFPC decision:
The AFPC decision also provides that Business Services that have a wage phase-in agreement with the department will continue to be able to phase-in pro rata wages in accordance with the terms of the agreement. This applies regardless of whether or not the business service was a respondent to the LHMU Award.
‘Slow Worker’ and ‘Special Wage’ Permits
Under WorkChoices, ‘Slow Worker Permits’ and ‘Special Wage Permits’ were preserved as Pay Scales for a period of two years from the commencement of WorkChoices. These permits will then cease to have effect.
If you are uncertain about how the AFPC’s decision affects your business service you may wish to seek advice either from ACROD – for members – or from an independent industrial relations expert.
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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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