New blog post from NSW Council for Intellectual Disability

Even less choice: the latest on the ADHC transfer of services 
NSW CID e-News, April 2017

People living in Ageing, Disability and Home Care group homes across the state and their families are dismayed at losing the small amount of influence they were promised in determining their new service provider.

They were originally told they would be presented with a shortlist and consulted about which provider they would prefer take over their group home.

Instead, they have been asked to choose from a shortlist of only one provider. As far as short lists go, that’s a very short list.

Read the full blog post here.

2016 NSW Carers Awards

Nominations for the 2016 NSW Carers Awards are now open:

The NSW Carers Awards recognise the contribution unpaid carers make in our community and the important role they play for the people they care for. By nominating a carer you know, you are helping raise awareness of the challenges faced by carers while also celebrating their role. Applications will close at midnight on 10 July 2016

This year there will be 10 Awards in total, two for each category outlined below. One of the ten recipients will become the 2016 NSW Carer of the Year.

The graphics at the foot of the Care for a Carer awards page are the links to online nominations:

NSW Council on Intellectual Disability - updated commentary on NSW services transfer

Transfer of NSW government disability services to the non-government sector

NSW Council on Intellectual Disability, 30 May 2016
NSW CID and other major organisations released a position statement in May spelling out what we see as needed if the NSW Government’s process for tendering out its services is going to work satisfactorily for people with disability and their families ...

Also in May, ADHC released its call for expressions of interest from service providers wishing to tender for ADHC services.

NSW CID welcomes that this information is now available and that the tender aims to continue at least to 2018 a range of very important services for people with complex needs, for example the Statewide Behaviour Intervention Service. We are pressing the NDIA the urgency of it having a clear plan for meeting complex needs including maintaining the role of services like SBIS.

We are very concerned about some of the NSW government's plans including the large size of the groupings of services that will be tendered out ... read on here.

Joint statement on ADHC transfer

From NSW Council for Intellectual Disability (CID), Facebook post:

Together with our colleagues from Family Advocacy, NCOSS and Carers NSW, CID has today released a Joint Position Statement outlining concerns with the transfer process ... Next week we meet with ADHC representatives to discuss these recommendations and we will keep you updated on our progress.

Joint Position Statement - ADHC Transfer

NSW Council for Intellectual Disability Council, 6 May 2016

We are very concerned that the NSW Government’s process for transition out of service provision is based on ADHC choosing a person’s new service provider rather than that choice being made by people with disability with support as appropriate from their families and other advocates.

However, we are now focusing on recommendations that we can make aimed at the Government’s process including maximum input by people with disability and their families and achieving important goals such as a diverse market of service providers, meeting complex needs and maintenance of vital ADHC services that will not be continued by the National Disability Insurance Agency ... read the full statement and recommendations here, on the NSW CID website.

Governments and disability in the news this week ...

New disability commissioner on the way

Nine News via AAP 28 April 2016
The federal government has gazumped a Labor policy by moving to appoint a new disability discrimination commissioner.

Federal cabinet has agreed to appoint a full-time commissioner to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, reversing a 2014 decision to abolish the role, which was absorbed into the age discrimination commissioner's job ...

Disability Program Review Calls for Public Input

ProBono Australia News, 27 April 2016
The federal government is asking Not for Profits to provide input into the review of the National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) to ensure the organisation meets the needs of people with disabilities.

The NDAP funds agencies that provide advocacy services to people with disabilities.

The government said the review is part of an ongoing process of improvement ahead of the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Assistant Minister for Disability Services Jane Prentice said that the NDAP has been largely unchanged since it was introduced in the 1980s ...

ADHC Transfer Update
NSW Council for Intellectual Disability via Facebook, 28 April 2016

Minister for Disability Services, John Ajaka has announced today details of the expression of interest process for the transfer of ADHC services to the NGO sector in the 14 page document, Specialist Disability Services PreEOI Release

Director of Advocacy at CID Aine Healy has said that ... 

"CID is pleased to see some more details on the transfer process, this has been a very stressful time for people with disability and their families." 

However, with our initial review of the process some questions remain –

• We appreciate that people will have some choice, albeit limited, in choosing their future providers – but what happens if people with disability and where required their families or carers do not like any of the providers short listed in their area?

• What happens if the market does not provide? This is a particular concern for people with complex needs and there needs to be assurance that their needs will be met.

• Properties will be leased to service providers, but who will retain ownership of these? How will the conflict of interest be managed of a service provider being both an accommodation provider and a support provider?

• Will people with disability or their representatives be involved in the first phase of the EOI selection process?

• Who will provide independent oversight of the transfer process? Where will people with disability and their families receive independent information from during this process?

CID will continue to review the EOI documents and process and provide a more detailed report shortly.

CID would ike to hear from you - what are your thoughts? Are you happy with this process? Do you have any concerns?

• Contact details for NSW Council for Intellectual Disability

NSW Carers Awards 2015: nominations now open

More than one in 10 people in NSW are carers. Carers can be anyone including parents, partners, brothers, sisters, friends, sons or daughters. They provide unpaid support to those who need it because of a disability, mental illness, chronic health condition, dementia or ageing.

The NSW Carers Awards acknowledge and celebrate the significant unpaid contribution carers make to the person (or people) they care for and to the community.

A carer is not paid a wage or salary, although they may receive a pension or allowance for their caring role. Carers can be employed, at school and/or have a range of other commitments at the time they take on the role of caring.

• Nominations for the 2015 NSW Carers Awards are now open 

Disability Inclusion legislation: feedback invited on new NSW regulation

From the NSW ADHC website:

The Disability Inclusion Bill 2014 was passed by the NSW Parliament on 14 August 2014 and is now the Disability Inclusion Act 2014 (the Act). The Act is available on the NSW legislation website at www.legislation.nsw.gov.au

The Act aims to better recognise the human rights of people with disability and to help people move to the new funding arrangements under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Before the Act can commence, the Disability Inclusion Regulation 2014 needs to be finalised to ensure the Act operates effectively. The draft Regulation has now been issued for public consultation.

It is planned that the new Act and Regulation will start on 3 December 2014, International Day of People with Disability.

Further information about how to provide feedback is here. The closing date for feedback is 5pm on 27 October 2014.

Progress on devolution of Westmead and Rydalmere large residential centres

People with disability to move closer to their families
NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care (media release), 4th September 2014

Minister for Disability Services, John Ajaka and Local Member for Menai Melanie Gibbons today visited a new group home in Liverpool, which is scheduled to open next month as part of replacing Metro Residences in Westmead and Rydalmere.

In 2014/15 the NSW Government will spend more than $43 million to redevelop Metro Residences as part of the biggest decentralisation attempted in Australia to date.

"In the coming months more than 90 people will move from outdated facilities and into purpose-built new homes integrated into local neighbourhoods," Mr Ajaka said.

"Families and clients have chosen where their new homes are built and were closely involved in the design process during construction.

"The brilliantly designed homes will place residents closer to their families and provide opportunities for increased participation in their local communities."

Ms Gibbons said the properties will be protected with fire sprinkler systems and will provide every resident with their own bedroom, an accessible kitchen, two large living rooms and a landscaped backyard.

"Five residents will soon call this place their new home. It will be staffed by nurses so that residents can access the care they require.

"Providing the opportunity to exercise choice and control by residents and their families were the hallmark of this major project."

More than 300 people from the Westmead and Rydalmere Centres will be living in 64 brand new houses to be located in Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong by the end of 2015.

NSW Carers Strategy 2014 - 2019 launched

The NSW Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, the Hon John Ajaka MLC, launched the NSW Carers Strategy 2014 - 2019 last week.

It is an important document for the 857,000 men, women and young people who are carers in NSW. Carers are the family members and friends who provide ongoing care and support to people who need it because of disability, chronic illness, mental illness, dementia or frail age.

The NSW Carers Strategy is a five year plan to improve the position of carers in NSW. It is expected that the Strategy will help carers to participate in activities outside their caring role, including education and employment, and to have input into the development of policies that affect them.

It was developed collaboratively and will be implemented collaboratively with carers, government, non-government, private and academic sectors to ensure we achieve better outcomes for carers.

The Strategy sets out at a glance the vision for carers and the planned reforms and outcomes for each of the five focus areas: employment and education; carer health and wellbeing; information and community awareness; carer engagement; and the evidence base about carers. It identifies the 16 projects that are the first to progress the work.

Carers deserve to be valued and the NSW Carers Strategy is a positive step towards achieving this.

The NSW Carers Strategy is available at www.carers.nsw.gov.au. You can also download the ‘Have Your Say’ online consultation report and background information that informed the development of the Strategy.

For more information contact Carers, Ageing and Disability Inclusion on 9248 0870 or email carerstrategy@facs.nsw.gov.au

News from NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care

NSW Government introduces Disability Inclusion Bill

Media Release, John Ajaka, (NSW) Minister for Ageing and Minister for Disability Services, 28 May 2014
Minister for Disability Services John Ajaka today introduced the landmark Disability Inclusion Bill 2014 into the Legislative Council, which will improve the lives of people with disability, their families and carers.

The main purpose of the Bill is to enhance protections and enshrine the rights of people with disability into NSW law during implementation and following full transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is transforming disability services in NSW and the Disability Inclusion Bill is a cornerstone of that,” Mr Ajaka said.

“People with disability are now shaping disability services, rather than being passive recipients of services from governments and other providers.

“The development of the Bill was shaped by feedback that was received during an extensive consultation process in the past few years which involved thousands of people across NSW.

“The feedback indicated a strong need for change and I thank those who took the time to share their opinions, thoughts, hopes, suggestions, stories and concerns.

“We have listened carefully to the legitimate concerns and expectations of individuals and organisations and, as a result, have delivered a Bill that is both responsive and supportive.

“The public told us they wanted the new disability law to promote human rights, give people with disability greater choice and control over their lives, clarify the role of the NSW government before and after the introduction of the NDIS, provide safeguards to protect the rights of people with disability and help make communities more inclusive.

“I am extremely proud of this Bill – it represents the NSW Government’s commitment to support and protect people with disability so they can live their lives free from abuse, neglect and exploitation.”

The Bill establishes a strong, outcomes-focused approach to whole of government strategies which aim to make communities more accessible and inclusive for people with disability.

When the Bill is enacted, the new legislation will replace the Disability Services Act 1993 which, for the last 21 years, has provided the main legal foundation in NSW for regulating supports, services and funding for people with disability.

Although progressive when introduced, the Disability Services Act, does not sit comfortably with the present day approach to disability which focuses on empowering people with disability to have greater choice and control so they can live more independently.

New University Chair for Intellectual Disability

Minister for Disability Services John Ajaka has announced Associate Professor Leanne Dowse as the newly appointed Chair in Intellectual Disability and Behaviour Support at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

“The NSW Government established this new role as part of its commitment to improve services for people with intellectual disability,” Mr Ajaka said.

“Associate Professor Dowse brings a wealth of experience to the position, having worked as a practitioner and passionate advocate for intellectual disability since the 1980s.

“She is a leading member of UNSW’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and has been a researcher since 1995 and an academic since 2008.

“Associate Professor Dowse has developed and promoted disability studies in Australia and has taught social policy, social research methods, disability studies, human behaviour and criminology ... read more here and here

NSW Carer Awards 2014 - nominations open

Nominations are now open for the 2014 NSW Carers Awards and encouraged the community to nominate someone they know.

NSW Carers Awards are an opportunity for the community to acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding contributions being made by unpaid carers.

Nominations can be made in the following categories:

Carers Award – IndividualFor individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to caring. 

Carers Award – OrganisationFor community groups, schools, workplaces or other organisations which provide exceptional support to carers.

Up to 60 individual carers and 20 organisations will be honoured with an award during NSW Carers Week which runs from Sunday 12 - Saturday 18 October 2014.

The 2014 NSW Carer of the Year will be announced at a ceremony at Parliament House on Monday 13 October.

Nominations can be made online at www.facs.nsw.gov.au/carersawards until Monday 30 June 2014.

Developing the NSW Carers strategy - what do you need to be included?

The NSW Carers Strategy will shape the way NSW supports carers between 2014 and 2019. Have your say on the strategy and let the government know what support you need.

Further information about the areas to be addresses, and questions about the roles of carers are available from the NSW Government's Have Your Say website, along with a link to the online survey:

Creating innovative solutions with carers

The NSW Government wants your help to develop strategies for the state’s 850,000 carers. Carers are family members, friends, housemates and neighbours who provide ongoing, unpaid support to someone who needs it because of disability, chronic illness, mental illness and frail age.

Carers and the broader community are vital to the development of the NSW Carers Strategy so please complete the consultation survey before leaving this site. The survey is quick and easy to complete. Simply tell us which ideas you think are the most important for supporting carers in each area of their life.

The proposed ideas have been developed through a collaborative process with carers, government and community all working together to develop innovative solutions. The Frequently Asked Questions and Information Paper have more information about the consultation and development of the NSW Carers Strategy.

Please share this page with your friends and family and encourage them to get involved.

What we can expect from ADHC: Service Charter

You might recall that NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care asked early in 2013 for input to the development of its first Service Charter. The finished Charter was released online last month:

'A new Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) Charter setting out the rights and expectations of people with disability and older people when they access supports and services has been released. 

The Service Charter outlines the standard of service people can expect from ADHC services and contains practical and easy-to-follow advice to ensure people get the most out of ADHC services. 

It provides an overview of the standard of service clients and their families can expect, how these standards are monitored, and what people can do if services do not meet expectations. 

The Charter is rights based and person centred, with an emphasis on people who receive ADHC-funded services. It aligns with the current focus on person-centred approaches, the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and existing Stronger Together 2 and Ready Together commitments. 

The ADHC Service Charter is available in English, Easy English, and 27 languages other than English. 

The Charter is the first of its kind to be introduced within ADHC, and includes clear information about how to provide feedback and make a complaint about a breach of the Charter or any other issue. 

To view the charter visit the Service Charter page.'

Source: ADHC News, 6th January 2014 

(NSW) Disability Inclusion Bill 2014 - have your say

This might not be your first choice in reading over the summer holidays, but if you want to give some feedback, the submission date is 14th February 2014.  From NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care:

Have your say on the Disability Inclusion Bill 2014  

The NSW Government is committed to improving the lives of people with disability, their family and carers. 

As a part of that process, disability law in NSW is being reviewed. 

We are asking for feedback on a new disability law to be introduced in Parliament next year.

You can read the draft Bill online here. Resources are provided to help you give your feedback, including an Easy Read Information Booklet, and a link to an online forum where you can comment on the draft law.

Review of the recent closure of three large residential centres in NSW

Specialist Supported Living Services – Post Implementation Review (PIR) Summary Report: The aim of the PIR is to ensure that lessons are identified to improve the process of the closure of Large Residential Centres (LRCs) and the development of new accommodation services for people with disability. The Large Residential Centre closures reported on here are Peat Island, Lachlan and Grosvenor.

• Read/download the full report here.

Source: NSW Council on Intellectual Disability e-news, November 2013

New from NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC)

Strengthening supports for children and families 0-8 years
Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) is changing the way it supports children with disability and their families.

Through a series of reforms, children with disability aged 0-8 years and their families will receive supports that address their needs in a stronger and more integrated way.

... details here 


Accommodation support options resource now available in Easy Read and translated versions
People with an intellectual disability will now find it easier to participate in discussions about their accommodation support needs with the publication of the Accommodation support options booklet in Easy Read format and six translated languages.
... details here

Feedback from first phase of Disability Services Act review

From NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care:

The Disability Services Act 1993 (the Act) is being reviewed. A total of 600 people attended 25 public consultation session and 64 written submissions were received. The Feedback summary paper on the reform of NSW disability laws (PDF) is now available on the ADHC website.

Some recurring ideas that were raised include:

• that laws should better define disability and support with a focus on needs and not what a person’s disability is
• people should be able to choose where they receive services
• that laws should work towards building a community that includes everyone.- 

See more here. 

The new Minister for Disability Services (NSW)

The Hon Andrew Constance was recently moved from the position of NSW Minister for Disability Services, to become Minister for Finance and Services.

The new Minister for Disability Services and Ageing and Minister for the Illawarra, the Hon John Ajaka MLC, takes some time out to introduce himself.

• Direct link to video

Response to 'Living Life My Way' Framework, from Family Advocacy

For some time, Family Advocacy has made individualised funding a priority for for its statewide systemic advocacy efforts, and released this response to further information about NSW policy on 5th July:

On 3 July 2013 Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) released their Living Life My Way Framework: Transitioning NSW to the NDIS.

In response to this Family Advocacy has identified the key points and responded to (them).

• Click here to visit the Family Advocacy website for links to the Framework, and Family Advocacy's response to it

NSW ADHC funded services, the NDIS and individualised funding

Statements recently posted by NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care:

NSW ahead of schedule for its transition to NDIS

On 3 July 2013, Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, Andrew Constance released the Living Life My Way Framework which will guide the expansion of opportunities for people to exercise choice and control over their supports as NSW transitions to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

While the NDIS is being launched in the Hunter, the NSW Government will continue to implement its Stronger Together 2 reforms to ensure people with disability and service providers are positioned to move seamlessly to the NDIS.

People with disability currently receiving disability services who are interested in moving into an individualised funding arrangement can register their interest by contacting Ageing, Disability and Home Care on 1800 605 489 or emailing livinglifemyway@facs.nsw.gov.au

The framework is based on the findings from the extensive Living Life My Way consultations held across NSW during 2011 and 2012.

• View the Living Life My Way Framework (PDF)
• View the Living Life My Way Framework (RTF)

Register for regular updates by emailing livinglifemyway@facs.nsw.gov.au

• See more at the ADHC website, here. 

Statement from the Minister for Disability Services, on his previous commitment to make individual funding packages available to all ADHC funding recipients from 1st July 2014
The NSW Government is committed to a service system that increases choice and control for people with disability. For this reason, NSW became the first Australian state to agree to a fully funded NDIS in which we'll contribute $3.1 billion a year from 2018/19, with the Commonwealth to invest $3.3 billion.

Disability services and supports in NSW will grow from a system that is funded $2.5 billion a year now, to one that is funded $6.4 billion a year in 2018/19, delivering care and support to around 140,000 people with disability.

You should be in no doubt that Stronger Together 2, and the individualised funding reforms we've embarked on in NSW were the foundations to this historic agreement with the Federal Government.

Without our $2 billion growth monies and the associated reforms in NSW, the NDIS would still be a thought bubble. By embarking on the Living Life My Way consultations in July 2011, NSW is now in a prime position to be 'NDIS ready.'

While the NDIS is being launched in the Hunter, the NSW Government will continue to implement its Stronger Together 2 reforms, including self-directed supports and individualised budgets, to ensure the whole NSW system is positioned to move seamlessly to a NDIS.

We are recasting the growth under Stronger Together 2 to direct even more funding to ensure that people who want the option of a more flexible and portable funding arrangement can have that option. We will do this responsibly, within the existing limited resources available, and in a way that does not require people to change again when the NDIS comes to NSW.

The date of 1 July 2014 is now redundant with the NDIS agreement. We will advance people to individualised support packages where we can and in many cases earlier, while ensuring we're not duplicating systems.

Initiatives under Stronger Together 2 such as the Supported Living Fund have been hugely successful and instrumental in providing that choice and control to over 300 people. The next round of places have just been announced, to deliver individualised arrangements to a further 100 people with disability. This adds to the 7,800 people in NSW who already receive individualised supports.

If you are interested in moving your current services into an individual package you can register your interest by contacting Ageing, Disability and Home Care on 1800 605 489 or emailing livinglifemyway@facs.nsw.gov.au

• See more at: the ADHC website, here 

Free information sessions about the NSW Supported Living Fund, Round 3

Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) along with Carers NSW are holding information sessions for people with disability, their families and carers who want to know more about the Supported Living Fund Round 3, which opened this week, with applications closing in August. Free 2 hour information sessions will be held across NSW:

 

• Click here to download the flyer with further information about the information sessions, what will be covered, dates and locations