Issue 116
22 September 2008
As reported in the previous addition of disAbility e-news, the Department is conducting half-day interactive marketing workshops for business services in each state and territory. The workshops provide hands-on training in using the DIY Marketing Kit to resolve marketing issues commonly experienced by business services.
The workshops to be held in Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia are as follows:
| State | City | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland | Brisbane | Thursday 25 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 |
To register your interest for the workshops, please contact Alice Ridgway on (02) 9963 7725 or by email at diyworkshop@redagency.com.au.
[ top ]
The Department reminds business services that people with disability listed on FOFMS must be receiving supported employment at your DEA funded outlet to receive Case Based Funding from FaHCSIA. This is a requirement of your funding agreement with the Department.
You should not claim DEA funding from FaHCSIA for people with disability:
People with disability who are not provided supported employment by your organisation should not be put onto FOFMS.
If evidence of these types of claims are found, for example during the audit and compliance process, immediate action will be taken.
This may involve the FaHCSIA Fraud Investigation team being involved.
Organisations are reminded that the Department can take action against any organisation in breach of their agreement and that there may be serious implications for organisations who are incorrectly claiming CBF payments for other purposes.
If you are aware your organisation is claiming CBF for a worker not in receipt of current employment support, you should contact your local state and territory contract manager immediately.
If you have any questions or want to discuss any issues around CBF eligibility please contact the CBF helpdesk on 1800 034 887 or by email to helpdesk.cbf@fahcsia.gov.au.
[ top ]
The Department is aware that some business services may be inputting an hourly rate into the weekly wages field in FOFMS.
Please note that the amount entered needs to be the weekly wage, not an hourly rate.
All business services are to review any data entry they believe to be incorrect and make adjustments before 15 November 2008.
Please contact the CBF helpdesk on 1800 034 887 or by email to helpdesk.cbf@fahcsia.gov.au if you require further information.
[ top ]
The Targeted Support Program was announced as part of the 2004 Security, Quality Services and Choice for People with a Disability package. While $31 million for the continuation of the program until 2012 was announced in the Disability Assistance Package in 2007, this initiative was always intended as a transitional arrangement with the aim of providing a temporary solution to ensure continuity of service for people with low productivity and/or more profound disabilities while negotiations took place to transfer them into more appropriate state and territory government funded programs.
The Department is working with representatives from each of the relevant state and territory governments on arrangements for this transfer. Every effort is being made to ensure it is handled in the most efficient manner and with as little disruption as possible to services providing Targeted Support services and the individuals receiving these services.
It is anticipated that the state and territory governments will be in a position to assume administrative responsibility for the Targeted Support Program with effect from 1 October 2008.
[ top ]
Leading South Australian disability employer, Phoenix Society, is growing its business and services network internationally through a partnership with a sister organisation in Malaysia.
Phoenix Society’s link to Malaysian disability employer, Persatuan Daybreak, began in 1994. A strong relationship soon formed with Phoenix staff making several visits to Daybreak’s facilities.
Phoenix Society’s General Manager of Human Resources, Robert Styling said the partnership was very beneficial for both organisations, with Phoenix acting as a mentor to improve employment services for people with disability in Malaysia.
‘We got involved with Daybreak early on and we assisted with their strategic planning and helped them develop a business network and improve their services to people with disability’, said Mr Styling.
‘Today, Daybreak Malaysia is recognised as one of the leading employers of people with disability in Malaysia. The organisation runs its own sock manufacturing facility, offers packaging services to businesses and also runs a garden nursery and an offsite cleaning service.’
Phoenix Society Chief Executive Officer, Ian Terry, said the South Australian organisation would continue to support its Malaysian peer with strategic advice and profitable business models to help maintain economic growth and facilitate expansion.
‘We are proud to be involved with Daybreak because we can contribute to the development of a great organisation that offers people with disability a more fulfilled and independent life’, said Mr Terry.
‘It is also a great opportunity for Phoenix to operate in the international market of disability services and be recognised as a leader in this sector.’
Mr Terry, Mr Styling and Phoenix’s Training and Development Manager, Peter Alderson, traveled to Malaysia between 10 and 18 August 2008 and worked closely with Daybreak Staff to enhance training programs for people with disability in their service.
They also joined Daybreak in a meeting with the Malaysian Minister of Social Welfare and the heads of her department to initiate a partnership with the Malaysian Government to further develop programs for people with disability throughout Malaysia. The Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ms Penny Williams, also attended this meeting. The partnership received funding from the Australia Malaysia Institute, which is part of the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as well as the Australia Malaysia Business Council.
For more information, please contact:
Phoenix Society Inc
Robert Styling AFSM
18 Ashwin Parade
Torrensville SA 5031
Telephone: (08) 8152 2448
Fax: (08) 8152 2411
Email: rstyling@phoenixsoc.org.au
Web: www.phoenixsoc.org.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.
[ 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 ]