Issue 118
20 October 2008
The Australian, State and Territory Governments are developing a National Disability Strategy to address the barriers that are faced by Australians with disability and to promote social inclusion.
A discussion paper for community consultation has been developed and a series of public consultations will be held across Australia during October and November. The government would like to hear from everyone with an interest in creating a more inclusive society for all Australians.
You can provide written feedback by 5:00pm AEDST Monday 1 December 2008 or attend one of the consultations being held around Australia. Consultations end 26 November 2008.
To find out more about the Strategy, to RSVP for a consultation, or to obtain a copy of the discussion paper, phone 1800 077 765 or visit the FaHCSIA Website.
[ top ]
3 December 2008
Don’t miss out - register your event today
International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is just around the corner and time is running out to register your event!
Event registration on the IDPwD website will be open right up until IDPwD on 3 December 2008, however, free promotional products are only available to events registered before Monday 17 November 2008.
Don’t miss your chance to receive IDPwD promotional products! Register your event on the IDPwD website at www.idpwd.com.au
This year’s products include wristbands, balloons, badges, stickers and posters, as well as new temporary tattoos and stress balls. There are limited quantities available so to avoid disappointment, start planning your event and register today!
Event ideas, suggestions and details to help you plan and hold your event are available on the IDPwD website. There is also a schedule of events so you can find out what events will be taking place in your area.
Check out all the details at www.idpwd.com.au
[ top ]
On 10 October 2008, the Hon Lindsay Tanner MP, Minister for Finance and Deregulation, released the revised Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines (CPGs) which will take effect from 1 December 2008. The new CPGs provide Australian Government Departments and agencies with the flexibility to undertake simple procurement processes from disability Business Services where they represent value for money.
The Department intends publicising the revised CPGs via the distribution of a booklet which will contain details of products and services provided by all Business Services in Australia. The products and services information for the booklet will be drawn from the information the Department is currently collecting from Business Services.
The booklet will be distributed to Australian Government Ministers with a letter from the Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Bill Shorten, explaining the change to the CPGs and encouraging the use of Business Services by Australian Government departments and agencies.
For more information on the revised CPGs, please contact Mark Heywood on (07) 3004 4604.
[ top ]
A review of the Case Based Funding (CBF) model for Business Services was undertaken in 2006. Although the review established that the CBF model provided improved employment outcomes for people with a disability and a more equitable means of funding than the previous Block Grant Funding model, it also made a number of recommendations to improve its effectiveness.
FaHCSIA has been making steady progress on implementing the CBF review recommendations. One of the review recommendations was to establish a reference group of Business Service representatives to provide guidance and assistance with progressing the review’s findings. The reference group, which met recently, has been asked to broaden its terms of reference to include assistance with reducing red tape and improving the administration of the Disability Employment Assistance Program.
The reference group members are:
A report on implementation of the recommendations will be provided to the Government early next year.
[ top ]
A discussion paper on developing a National Arts and Disability Strategy was recently released by the Cultural Ministers Council. This discussion paper is relevant to any individual or organisation interested in the areas of arts, health (including mental health), disability and community services, ageing, education, employment, Indigenous affairs and infrastructure. It seeks feedback and ideas about arts and disability. The strategy is also an opportunity to highlight best practice in the arts and disability field and to share stories of your experiences and what works well.
It is available for download on the CMC website in Word, HTML PDF and MP3 audiovisual formats. A printed brochure version, Auslan interpreted captioned DVD, Braille and large-print versions are also available.
Submissions will be open until 3 November 2008 and can be submitted via email to arts.disability@environment.gov.au Alternative ways to submit your response is provided in the discussion paper.
Please distribute this paper through your networks—the more responses received the greater the recognition and potential support for improved access!
[ top ]
There are a number of useful resource documents available to Business Service case workers to assist with understanding the Disability Employment Assistance Program and Funding Agreement requirements, Case Based Funding model, the Disability Maintenance Instrument and FOFMS.
Case workers can access these documents via FOFMS and the FaHCSIA website and include:
FOFMS Service Provider User Guide and Task Cards can be accessed through the literature tab on FOFMS.
If you need further assistance with accessing any of these documents please send a request to Helpdesk.CBF@fahcsia.gov.au or phone 1800 034 887.
[ top ]
Please be reminded that all active cases need to have the Weekly Wages and Weekly Hours fields completed by 15 November.
The Case Based Funding Helpdesk now has a step-by-step guide on how to update these new fields in FOFMS.
If you would like a copy of this document please send a request to Helpdesk.CBF@fahcsia.gov.au or phone 1800 034 887.
[ top ]
An initial DMI Assessment can be completed and authorised after a total of 13 weeks employment at 8 hours a week has been achieved. This is the minimum required for an employee to achieve an employment outcome.
The initial DMI must be completed and authorised on or within 12 months of the supported employee’s Intake Completion date (plus period/s of Suspension if any) to ensure a continuation of funding.
If the Initial DMI Assessment is not completed within 12 months (plus period/s of Suspension, if any) of the supported employee’s start date on FOFMS we will suspend payments after you have received the 12th Employment Assistance payment for that particular case. The case must then be exited on FOFMS.
If you have any queries regarding DMI Assessments please contact the Case Based Funding Helpdesk at Helpdesk.CBF@fahcsia.gov.au or on 1800 034 887.
[ top ]
The A frequently asked question of users when completing DMI Assessments is:
What does each of the DMI rating categories mean?
The table below provides an example of one category. The full set of descriptors can be found in the Consumer Training and Support Handbook for Employers and within each domain of FOFMS.
| Rating category | Description |
|---|---|
| No assistance provided | Worker consistently achieved this with no prompts, reminders, counselling or other support during the past three months |
| Some assistance provided | Worker required up to three or four prompts, reminders, or brief (for example, up to 10 minutes duration) counselling or role modelling sessions during the past three months |
| Moderate level of assistance provided | On average worker required weekly prompts, reminders, counselling or role modelling sessions during the past three months |
| High level of assistance provided | Worker required frequent (for example, daily) prompts, reminders, counselling and/or other support during the past three months |
All business services were sent a copy of this handbook by the department, it can also be found on the FaHCSIA website.
This handbook is an excellent source of reference for all business services.
[ top ]
Under the DEA Funding Agreement Clause 15 Business Services have obligations when dealing with Personal Information.
You must ensure that your administration and support employees or agents who are required to deal with Personal Information are made aware of the obligations under Clause 15.
Paragraph 25 of the Additional Procedures and Information also outlines additional requirements in respect of Privacy and Confidentiality including:
25.2 In addition, you must ensure that an officer of your Outlet has explained to the Supported Employee or their advocate that their personal information provided is collected for the purpose of:
25.3 You must also ensure that:
It is important that Client Consent is obtained from clients when they first request assistance, before the Intake Assessment is authorised on FOFMS, prior to a DMI Reassessment and/or if they have not previously provided such consent. Your obligations in relation to Client Consent are set out in the DEA Schedule Item P11.
You can access the DEA Funding Agreement on the FaHCSIA Website.
If you have any queries regarding privacy of personal information please contact the Case Based Funding Helpdesk at Helpdesk.CBF@fahcsia.gov.au or on 1800 034 887.
[ top ]
From Monday 27 October you can add an existing client record to your organisation on FOFMS using both CRN and DOB of a new Client.
The new client locator function will allow Business Services to associate an existing client record to their organisation if there is no active disability case already existing in FOFMS.
If there is already an active case in FOFMS for the client, the new functionality will provide Business Services with an error immediately. Business Services can then contact the CBF Helpdesk to assist with starting a case.
Provided below is a Step-by-Step on associating a client to your organisation.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | You must check that there is not already a client record in FOFMS linked to your organisation. To do this, navigate to the Clients screen.
|
| 2 | On the Clients screen, click New. Result: The add Associated Client box will appear. |
| 3 | Fill in the Centrelink Reference Number (CRN) and Date of Birth. Click OK |
| 4 |  Tick the box in the left hand column to select the client and Click OK. |
| 5 | The client is now added to your client screen |
| 6 | Click on the client’s last name to take you to the Client Record to complete mandatory client information including Address, Primary Disability and Australian Residency. Note: These details need to be completed on the Client Record prior to creating a case. |
IMPORTANT: You must ensure prior to creating or accessing a Client Record on FOFMS that you obtained Client Consent. The DEA Funding Agreement – Terms and Conditions – Part D – 15 provides information on your obligations in respect of personal information.
If you have any queries regarding the new client association function please contact the Case Based Funding Helpdesk at Helpdesk.CBF@fahcsia.gov.au or 1800 034 887.
[ top ]
On 4 - 5 October 2008, FOFMS experienced a problem with some Case Based Funding (CBF) payments by either making a double payment against a case or in some cases a payment was not generated.
If you have received a double payment against a case, the CBF Helpdesk will process a recovery. The amount will be off-set against future CBF payments. You do not need to take any action to assist in the recovery as the off-set payment will do this automatically. FOFMS will continue to process payments against your case records and agreement schedule while the overpayment is recovered to prevent any disruption to your reporting and payments reconciliation.
The CBF Helpdesk will process manual payments for all CBF cases that did not receive their eligible payment on 4 - 5 October 2008.
If you have any queries regarding these issues please contact the Case Based Funding Helpdesk at Helpdesk.CBF@fahcsia.gov.au or on 1800 034 887.
[ top ]
From 27 October 2008 you will notice changes to how you view client records in FOFMS. These changes are due to a new Program being added to FOFMS which uses Case and Client information similar to the Disability Employment Program.
These changes do not impact on the information that Business Services are required to enter onto FOFMS but do present the information in a different view.
There are a number of changes to the client screen including:
The new communication tab includes all the communication details previously shown on the client view tab and also includes living arrangements.
The new origins tab includes all the origins details previously shown on the client view tab and also includes primary language used at home.
If you have any queries regarding the new Client View and Tabs on FOFMS please contact the Case Based Funding Helpdesk at Helpdesk.CBF@fahcsia.gov.au or 1800 034 887
[ top ]
From 27 October 2008 you will notice changes to how you view case records in FOFMS. These changes are due to a new Program being added to FOFMS which uses Case and Client information similar to the Disability Employment Program.
The new screen view will have Funding Model Name and Funding Model Version Fields which will be auto populated from the Agreement Schedule. Two other new fields - Claims Suspended Field and Maximum Claims Limit Field are not used for Disability Employment Cases and will be ‘read only’ after saving the case details. Business Services will not enter any details into these fields.
Case Type field will change to a drop down pick list and Business Services will choose CBF for all cases.
The CBF Info Tab has also been moved to the Tab View under the Cases information. The CBF Info Tab contains information on the Assessment Dates and Fee payments made under the case. This information was previously shown when you scrolled down on the case screen.
If you have any queries regarding the new Cases View on FOFMS please contact the Case Based Funding Helpdesk at Helpdesk.CBF@fahcsia.gov.au or on 1800 034 887.
[ 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 3,000 readers and is available for anyone to view through the FaHCSIA website.
Business services interested in profiling their organisation 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.
[ 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 ]