Issue 115
8 September 2008
The Workplace Modifications Scheme pays for the costs involved in 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, and change in disability or a new modification becomes available that would increase their productivity.
Further information on the Workplace Modifications Scheme and step by step instructions on how to apply for funding through the Workplace Modifications Scheme is available for employers and managers, job seekers and service providers:
The Workplace Modifications Scheme is administered by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations through the JobAccess website or phone a JobAccess Adviser on 1800 464 800 for more information.
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As reported in the previous edition of disAbility e-news, free half-day interactive marketing workshops for business services are being arranged in each state and territory. FaHCSIA has engaged a consultant, Antoni Lee of Red Act, to facilitate the sessions. The workshops will involve hands on activities for participants, using the DIY Marketing Kit to explore and solve marketing problems experienced in their businesses. The first workshop session will be held in Melbourne at the FaHCSIA office on Thursday 11 September 2008.
The DIY Marketing Kit is a free resource available to all FaHCSIA funded business services through the Literature Tab in FOFMS. For details on how to access the kit through FOFMS, please refer to Issue 112 of disAbility e-news.
The next set of workshops will be held in Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia as follows:
| State | City | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Traralgon | Monday 15 September 2008 | 1pm to 5pm |
| Victoria | Ararat | Tuesday 16 September 2008 | 1pm to 5pm |
| Victoria | Shepparton | Wednesday 17 September 2008 | 1pm to 5pm |
| Tasmania | Hobart | Monday 22 September 2008 | 1pm to 5pm |
| Tasmania | Launceston | Tuesday 23 September 2008 | 1pm to 5pm |
| Queensland | Brisbane | Thursday 25 September 2008 | 1pm to 5pm |
| Queensland | Townsville | Friday 26 September 2008 | 1pm to 5pm |
| Western Australia | Perth | Tuesday 30 September 2008 | 9am to 1pm |
| South Australia | Adelaide | Wednesday 1 October 2008 | 1pm to 5pm |
Details of further workshops will be announced in future editions of disAbility e-news. Please note that FaHCSIA will not reimburse any travel or accommodation costs for participants.
Workshops will be strictly limited to a maximum of 15 participants per session. To register your interest for the workshops, please contact Alice Ridgway on (02) 9963 7725 or by email at diyworkshop@redagency.com.au.
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If a Supported Employee requests a start at another Business Service they will no longer be able to receive services from your outlet. Their Case must be Exited on FOFMS immediately.
This gives Supported Employee’s flexibility to access new employment opportunities and ensures a smooth transition.
Paragraph 3.15 of the Funding Agreement Additional Procedures and Information (Providing Activities to Supported Employees) states ‘…You must allow Supported Employees to Exit an Outlet and recommence in a new Outlet, if the new Outlet has vacant Outlet Capacity.’
Paragraph P21.8 of the Funding Agreement Schedule (Exits and Suspensions) states: ‘…if We consider, for any reason (whether or not a reasonably held suspicion or opinion) that You are no longer providing the Activity to a Supported Employee, then We may Exit or Suspend the Supported Employee by notice to You, or direct You to Exit or Suspend the Supported Employee.’
If you have any queries relating to Exiting Cases please contact the Case Based Funding Helpdesk on 1800 034 887 or by email at helpdesk.cbf@fahcsia.gov.au.
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When running reports for upcoming DMI Reassessments due, you may notice due dates for cases that are currently suspended.
While a case is suspended there is no need to complete a DMI Reassessment as it would be impossible to gather evidence for someone who is not working. Even if the three months evidence had been gathered prior to suspension it would be inappropriate to complete a DMI for an employee who is not currently working.
When a DMI Reassessment becomes due on an active case, the Business Service has two months prior and three months after the due date to complete the reassessment.
If, when a case is returned from suspension, the DMI Reassessment is overdue, the Business Service needs to call the Case Based Funding Helpdesk on the day of return and we will reset the due date to the return date, giving you three months to gather evidence and complete the reassessment.
It is important to call the Helpdesk on the day of return as FOFMS will not allow us to back-date the due date.
If you have any further queries regarding DMI Reassessments please contact the CBF Helpdesk on 1800 034 887 or by email at helpdesk.cbf@fahcsia.gov.au.[ top ]
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 3000 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[ top ]
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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