Advance Summer 2014 newsletter.
Page 1
Chairperson Report
Welcome to 2014, and on behalf of the Board we hope you all have a prosperous and happy New Year. I am sure 2014 will bring with it challenges, to which we will rise to the challenge.
In December l organised an inaugural celebration breakfast for International Day of People with a Disability, and am pleased to say, it will be happening again in December this year, thanks to a few supportive attendees.
Organising this event highlighted the need to try different strategies to engage our community and show them they have a voice and we are proud of there efforts.
It is with pleasure that we welcome new board member Mr Peter Dent, Peter brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience and will be a wonderful asset to our Board.
Already the diary is filling, as we review our strategy for 2014 and settle into the New Year, l wish to personally thank our Executive Officer and all staff for their commitment and passion for their work in 2013 and look forward to working with them in 2014.
·
Yours sincerely, Dianne J King, Chair.
End of story.
Jim is hanging up his hat
After 9 years of assisting people with disability address their issues and have their voices heard, Jim is retiring and hanging up his hat at DAIS.
Jim has been a dedicated advocate for people in the Local Government Areas of Alpine, Indigo, Wangaratta, Benalla and Mansfield who always worked hard to achieve the best possible outcomes for his clients.
Jim will be sadly missed by all the staff of DAIS and we wish him the very best in his future endeavours.
DAIS will of course continue to offer the same advocacy service to all our current clients and any new clients in the above areas.
DAIS can be contacted by phone on 02 6056 2420 or 1300 886 388
End of story.
Page 2.
NDIS Update
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Extract from NSW Family and Community Services Ageing, Disability and Home Care
(ADHC) Fact Sheet about the Hunter NDIS Launch, September 2013.
This fact sheet is designed for people outside the Hunter launch site to give a general overview of how the transition of clients and funding to the NDIS will occur.
NDIS context and impact
In December 2012, the NSW and Commonwealth Governments reached agreement to transition to the NDIS in NSW commencing in the Hunter in July 2013, with state-wide implementation to commence in July 2016 and be completed by July 2018. The Hunter launch of the NDIS will be implemented progressively over three years.
The NDIS is a generational reform which will deliver a new system of disability supports focused on the needs and choices of people with disability. ADHC is already working closely with service providers who have clients residing in the NDIS Hunter launch site encompassing the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Maitland local government areas.
Service providers outside of the NDIS Hunter launch site have not yet had the same level of engagement with ADHC and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA; formerly DisabilityCare Australia) as those providers in the launch site.
Transition principles and arrangements
ADHC has agreed a phasing plan with the Commonwealth Government which schedules the transition of individuals to the NDIS. This scheduled was developed taking the following principles into consideration:
ensuring the appropriate balance of participants’ needs and supports
an appropriate mix of existing and new participants
· the operational capacity of the NDIA
agency responsible for administering this into the future.
· the readiness of existing clients and service providers to transition
· ensuring continuity of support for participants outside the Hunter launch area including those that receive supports from within the launch area.
As a person transitions, all the supports they are receiving are identified and transitioned with them. This means that providers not scheduled to transition, including some outside the launch site, may be affected. ADHC will work with these providers to ensure that changes to funding arrangements are managed in a timely and transparent manner and facilitate an orderly and seamless transition of participants to the NDIS.
As part of the transition process, an individual will meet with NDIA and an individual support plan will be developed. This plan will identify supports required and funding associated with these. Once a plan is approved, ADHC no longer has a funding or service responsibility for that person and will cease paying the service provider. The NDIA becomes the agency responsible for the individual plan and related supports, and funding.
Following this process, individuals will be able to choose how and who they want to manage their support arrangements. Funding for supports will be on a ‘fee for service’ arrangement. NDIA will be the agency responsible for the individual plan and related supports.
The lessons learned from the first year of the NDIS launch in the Hunter will help ADHC, NDIA and service providers improve and streamline the transition process for the remainder of the launch. It will also help prepare for the full roll out of the NDIS which is due to commence across NSW in July 2016.
Further Information
www.adhc.nsw.gov.au > About us > Major plans and strategies > NDIS www.disabilitycareaustralia.gov.au
NDIS Helpline 1800 800 110 and email
End of story
Page 3.
For your information.
ehealth records
What is a personally controlled electronic health (eHealth) record?
An eHealth record is an electronic summary of your health records. You and your healthcare providers can access it online whenever you need, from wherever you are.
As the system develops over time, having an eHealth record will give healthcare providers involved in your care access to a summary of your key health information, as long as you give initial consent when you set up the access settings for your eHealth record. This will include information such as medications, hospital Discharge Summaries, allergies and immunisations.
As more Healthcare Provider Organisations register and use the eHealth record system, your eHealth record will contain more healthcare information - which will result in better, more informed and considered care for you.
Why should I get an eHealth record?
Having an eHealth record can make getting the right treatment faster, safer and easier:
faster - because doctors and nurses and other healthcare providers will not have to spend time searching for past treatment information;
safer - because authorised healthcare providers can view your important healthcare information, including any allergies and vaccinations and the treatment you have received; and
easier - because you will not have to remember the results of tests you have had, or all the medications you have been prescribed.
How much will it cost to have an eHealth record?
It is free to register and use your eHealth record.
Why is it better than what I have now?
Medical records are often stored in different locations by different healthcare providers. With an eHealth record, you can access an online summary of your information wherever you have access to the internet.
Your eHealth record has strong security and privacy safeguards – you will have a login and password to access your record. You can also see who has accessed or updated your eHealth record. If you feel someone has inappropriately accessed your eHealth record you can contact the helpline by calling 1800 723 471.
How do I get an eHealth record?
You can register for an eHealth record in one of the following ways:
· online – by visiting www.ehealth.gov.au
· over the phone – by calling 1800 723 471 and selecting option one
· in person – by visiting a Medicare Service Centre
· through Assisted Registration – by a Healthcare Provider Organisation and
· in writing – by completing a registration application form, available from a Medicare Service Centre or from www.ehealth.gov.au and posting it to: Personally Controlled eHealth Record Program, GPO Box 9942, in your capital city.
Hume Medicare Local eHealth team are available to help you register for an eHealth record.
Please visit our office at 594 Hovell Street Albury NSW 2640 (opposite the Flying Fruit Fly Circus). You will need to bring your Medicare card to register.
End of Story.
Page 4
DAIS Outreach for 2014
Advocates will provide an outreach service to rural communities in Victoria and NSW during 2014.
To make an appointment phone DAIS on 1300 886 388 or (02) 6056 2420,
or email:
Deniliquin and Finley on same dates
Deniliquin 10:30 am - 12:00 noon
Neighbourhood Centre,
Cnr Trickett & Napier Streets.
Finley 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Shop 1, Central Arcade, Murray Street.
February 13
April 10
June 12
August 14
October 9
Corowa 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Corowa Community Hub, Shop 9, Corowa Arcade, 113 Sanger Street.
Client appointments
10.00 am - 12:00 noon
General Outreach
12:30 pm– 2:00 pm
February 6
March 6
April 3
May 1
June 5
July 3
August 7
September 4
October 2
November 6
December 4
N
Holbrook
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Holbrook Library Meeting Room, Bowler Street.
February 5
April 2
June 4
August 6
October 1
Corryong
Client appointments
10.00 am - 12:00 noon
General Outreach
12:30 pm– 2:00 pm
Community
Neighbourhood House, 39 Hanson Street.
March 13
May 8
July 10
September 11
November 13
Myrtleford
10:00 am - 12 noon
O&K Community Health Service,
32 Smith Street.
March 20
May 22
July 24
September 25
November 27
Mansfield
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Delatite Community Health Service,
Buckland Place.
February 21
April 11
June 20
July 26
August 22
October 24
End of story.
Page 5.
DAIS AGM and Law and Justice Forum
Dennis Young - 2013 recipient of the Jack Irvine Memorial Shield
Jack Irvine, was a foundation member of DAIS, served as President for many years, and lobbied for people with a disability to have their rights upheld. Jack passed away in May 2007.
To acknowledge and commemorate the late Jack Irvine, the Jack Irvine Memorial Shield will be awarded at each DAIS AGM recognising an individual who has an association of some kind with DAIS and who has demonstrated qualities of leadership, self advocacy and community inclusion principles.
Picture of Dennis Young
speaking at the AGM on receipt of the award.
The Albury Wodonga Headway Support Group was started and supported by DAIS during the 1990s. For most of the time the group was in existence Mr Dennis Young held the position of chairperson of the group. He would sometimes step down to the role of Secretary to provide opportunity and train other people in the role of chairperson. His association with Headway continued until 2007 when Headway folded.
Dennis would regularly assist DAIS with folding newsletters, speak at disability awareness forums, help out at information expo stalls and be a support person for families of people with newly acquired brain injury to give them insight into life with a brain injury.
For a long time after the group disbanded Dennis continued to attend the DAIS AGMs, assisting on the registration table, giving a warm welcome to everyone who attended.
End of story.
Law and Justice Forum
DAIS held a very successful forum for people with disability, supporters and service providers who have had contact with the criminal justice system at the Hovell Tree Inn Albury in October.
Guest speaker, Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes spoke on ’20 years of the Disability Discrimination Act. What has been achieved?’ Professor Rosalind Crouther, President of the Australian Law Reform Commission ended the proceedings.
In July last year Graeme was appointed as a part time Commissioner with the Australian Law Reform Commission to assist in an enquiry that will examine laws and legal frameworks that deny or diminish the equal recognition of people with disability as persons before the law and their ability to exercise legal capacity.
The forum broke into round table groups, each to examine a different issue. The findings and personal stories from these groups were then recounted to a panel of professionals, made up of senior officers from police and justice department, Graeme Innes and Rosalind Crouther.
All the personal stories were documented and used to inform a number of inquiries into law and justice for people with a disability. DAIS wishes to again thank all who participated in the forum and have contributed to potential systemic change.
End of story.
Page 6
When in need a friend is only a call away
From the Border Mail 22 November 2013
Elderly people and people with disability will never have to travel alone thanks to a companion service launched in Wodonga late last year.
Trained volunteer companions will meet clients at High Street’s bus interchange or The Cube and accompany them on public transport to appointments on the Border.
Appointments may include medical ones or essential visits to places such as Medicare, the pharmacy or bank. Project co-ordinator Robyn Dean said the service had attracted six volunteers but they were always looking for more.
“We are looking for those who have empathy and who like talking to people,” she said.
“Volunteers receive training and must have current first-aid training.”
Picture of Wodonga resident Ruth Spurr said she would take advantage of the service whenever her friend was not available to accompany her on medical appointments.
More than 400 people had used the Melbourne medical companion service this year.
Volunteers can be booked by phoning 1300 704 530 at least 48 hours in advance.
The service is available for a $2 contribution.
Abuse and neglect Hotline
The National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline is a free, independent and confidential service for reporting mistreatment of people with disability.
Anyone can contact the Hotline – family members, friends, service-providers or the
person with disability themselves.
Abuse is not to be tolerated and comes in many forms:
Physical abuse, where someone hits or
beats a person with disability
Mental or psychological abuse where someone is called names, yelled at or ignored