Issue 106
5 May 2008
While many workers with disability won't require any workplace modifications, the Australian Government's Workplace Modifications Scheme aims to make accommodating employees with disability in the workplace easier.
What is the Workplace Modifications Scheme?
The Workplace Modifications Scheme (the Scheme) pays for the costs of modifying the workplace or purchasing special or adaptive equipment for eligible employees with disability. It is also available to existing employees if they have a change in duties, career progression, change in disability or a new modification becomes available that would increase their productivity. The Scheme can also pay for necessary training in the use of the modification or equipment.
Types of modifications and adjustments
There is generally no restriction to the types of modifications that can be approved under the Scheme, as long as each application meets the eligibility criteria.
Expenditure previously approved through the Workplace Modifications Scheme includes:
Modifications to the workplace and training in the use of special or adaptive equipment can help improve a person's workplace confidence. The modifications can allow them to complete tasks more efficiently and to perform additional tasks.
How to apply
Employers, employment service providers and Business Services can apply for financial assistance by visiting the JobAccess website.
More information
You can visit the JobAccess website or contact a JobAccess Adviser on 1800 464 800 for further information. The JobAccess advisors are a team of friendly professionals who provide advice on all matters relating to the employment of people with disability.
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Assistance is available to support deaf employees who use Auslan (Australian Sign Language) to communicate in the workplace.
The Auslan for Employment program aims to maximise the capacity and independence of Deaf employees.
Types of assistance
Auslan for Employment assistance consists of three levels:
You can apply for one or all three levels of assistance.
Eligibility for the program
Employers (including self employed and small business owners), Disability Employment Network members, Job Network members, Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Disability Business Services are eligible to apply for the Auslan For Employment program assistance for eligible Deaf employees.
How to apply
Employers and employment service providers can apply for financial assistance by visiting the JobAccess website.
More information
You can visit the JobAccess website or contact a JobAccess Adviser on 1800 464 800 for further information. The JobAccess advisors are a team of friendly professionals who provide advice on all matters relating to the employment of people with disability.
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You will be aware that as a part the Social Inclusion Agenda, the Australian Government is developing a National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy (the Strategy). The Strategy will be developed in close consultation with consumers, peak bodies, employers, state and territory governments and experts.
The Strategy hopes to explore barriers faced by people with disability and/or mental illness that make it harder for them to find and keep work. Another key aim of the Strategy is to investigate solutions.
The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, Minister for Employment Participation and the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services are jointly overseeing the development of the Strategy.
The Government is seeking input from a wide range of people with disability and/or mental illness who have experienced the challenges of seeking and maintaining or retaining work.
A discussion paper has been jointly released by Minister O'Connor and Parliamentary Secretary Shorten to assist feedback.
The discussion paper provides instructions and examples of how you can submit your ideas and outlines the background and purpose of the Strategy. The discussion paper, and a format for providing submissions, is available here.
If you would like a copy of the discussion paper in an alternative format, or if you want more information on the Strategy, call 1800 047 848 or email employmentstrategy@deewr.gov.au.
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Each fortnight a product from the Consumer Training and Support product list will be highlighted in disAbility e-news. In this issue we will be looking at the Workplace Safety Trainer's Guide.
The guide has been designed to support the slide show presentation Working Safely, which addresses supported employee workplace behaviours that relate to Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S). The goal is for supported employees to demonstrate safe work practices. They are not expected to be able to recite the OH&S Act! The aim is to impart the individual behaviours required to work safely.
Aim of the guideThis Trainer's Guide includes information and tips about various ways the training sessions can be conducted. The guide offers flexibility to support trainers in changing the presentation slides to reflect the participants' workplace safety needs. The presentation has been designed for supported employees with an intellectual disability, however it is useful for all supported employees.
To avoid supported employees having to grasp abstract information and transfer it to their own work environment, this presentation should be customised to reflect their workplace. Images of their work environment and of signs, equipment and hazards from their own workplace, help employees to more easily grasp the workplace behaviours they are to adopt.
All employers are obliged to provide OH&S training for employees. The Working Safely presentation has been developed to assist employers to fulfil this obligation. Using the slide show presentation, employers can provide OH&S training that is targeted to address the specific requirements of a work venue in a format that makes the presentation relevant to employee needs.
A copy of this product and all the other Consumer Training and Support material can be accessed on the FaHCSIA website.
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As you would be aware, a new website is currently being developed to replace the BizAbility website. The website will only be as useful as the information it contains and we encourage you to become involved.
In the coming weeks, FaHCSIA will contact each business service by email to confirm your contact details and product information. There will also be an opportunity to submit photos to advertise your products and services. Details of the photo specifications will be provided in the email.
We will keep you informed of the website rebuild progress over the coming months.
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You should receive a variation to your Disability Employment Assistance (DEA) Funding Agreement soon. Variation letters were sent to all business service organisations last week, covering the following issues:
It is important that you ensure your Boards are available during May 2008 to sign and return these variations by Friday, 30 May 2008.
If you need further information or wish to discuss these variations, please contact your FaHCSIA contract manager.
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In 2004/05 the Australian Government announced the four year ‘Security, Quality Services and Choice for People with Disabilities' package of measures, which included flexible funding assistance for business services to help improve viability. Under the BSAP, FaHCSIA has conducted over 200 Full Capability Reviews and approved and provided significant viability assistance to business services.
As funding for the BSAP initiative expires at the end of this financial year (30 June 2008), business services should focus attention on implementing BSAP business strategies and submitting invoices for payments, in accordance with prescribed timeframes.
Business services that do not meet deliverable milestones and submit invoices for payment before 30 June 2008, will not be able to access funding after 30 June 2008.
For existing providers of targeted support, 30 June 2008 is also the final date for reimbursement of funds approved for service based supports for existing case management/targeted support service recipients. This means if the case review process has identified the need for additional supports for an existing case management/targeted support service recipient, you must contact your local FaHCSIA contract manager as soon as possible to ensure finalisation before 30 June 2008. Funding of places is guaranteed to 2012 but there will be no further consideration of financial assistance for additional supports after 30 June 2008.
Please contact your local FaHCSIA Contract Manager if you have any queries about these requirements
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If you have a DEA or FOFMS question please contact the CBF Helpdesk by calling 1800 034 887, or by emailing helpdesk.cbf@fahcsia.gov.au
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An audit of FOFMS, conducted by the Australian National Audit Office last year, identified several issues with FOFMS security processes. The specific areas of concern are that:
To ensure compliance with Government security standards, it is now compulsory for users to change their password in FOFMS every 90 days.
You will receive an email before your password is due to expire with instructions on how to change your password. Please ensure your new password is:
If your password is deactivated and you require continued access, please contact the FOFMS Helpdesk on 1800 020 283.
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For the past 10 years, DSA Business Services (DSA) have worked to build a strong relationship with Q Catering (previously Qantas Flight Catering Limited). DSA employees work a seven day roster all year round - including Christmas Day - packing over 10 million sets of cutlery per year for Qantas and client airlines.
In addition, DSA Business Services repair and refurbish first and business class headsets for all domestic and international flights, and pack dry stores for the planes.
The service provided by DSA to Q Catering is just-in-time: if the job is not done, the plane does not take off. The length of the relationship proves its success, and the reliability of DSA employees in meeting the exacting demands of the customer.
When the contract began 10 years ago, DSA moved into the workspace at 4.00pm on a Friday and were fully operational the next morning. This level of service has continued, and at the recent Disability Services Australia's annual Employment Awards, Q Catering was awarded the prestigious Customer of the Year Award.
In 2007, DSA moved the airline operation to a new facility at Mascot in order to better meet the needs of the airlines. The Mascot factory employs 246 people with disability, most of whom are employed exclusively to do Qantas work.
Merilyn Cooke has worked in the Qantas section for 10 of her 30 years employment with DSA. She likes the type of work she does and she feels "proud to do work for a good company like Qantas". Merilyn also said that when someone asks her what she does for work, she is proud to tell them that the company she works for does work for Qantas.
Merilyn also likes the wide range of tasks she gets to perform in the Qantas section. Over the past 10 years Merilyn has worked on international Business Class cutlery packs, domestic cutlery packs, bulk sorting and headset refurbishment.
Merilyn says, "DSA has given me a job for a long time, which has given me confidence and has improved my life. I feel proud that I work like everyone else, I'm part of the workforce". She also likes working with her friends and believes working keeps her active.
DSA is one of Australia's largest and most respected providers of employment and community support services to people with disability, providing support to around 2,000 people.
DSA Business Services operates four factory sites in Mascot, Condell Park, Castle Hill and Braemar, undertaking manufacturing, packaging and assembly type work and labour outsourcing, employing over 500 people with a disability.
DSA Business Services can be found at:
76 Harley Crescent Condell Park NSW 2200
2/42 Church Avenue Mascot NSW 2020
9-11/8 Gladstone Road Castle Hill NSW 2154
19 Drapers Road Braemar NSW 2575
Phone: 1300 889 372
Mobile: 0412 020 478
Email: sholz@dsa.org.au
Website: www.dsabusinessservices.com.au
Each fortnight disAbility e-news profiles one of our business services. It is an opportunity for readers to identify other businesses where they may source products or services, or may contact to share ideas. E-news is distributed to almost 3,000 readers and is available for anyone to view through the FaHCSIA website.
Business services interested in a profile in future editions should email disabilityenews@facsia.gov.au
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Email disAbility e-news if you'd like more information on a particular issue or program in disAbility e-news or to let us know what you think of the 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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