After a month off I am returned - reinvigorated, energised, full of ideas for service improvement and greeted with 4 requests from new service providers to help with post placement support because, 'you do that and we don't'!
Brilliant!
What a shining example of the success of the recent funding round.
60 providers that 'did do that' replaced with inexperience providers that 'don't'
Over the next few weeks hundreds of people with significant disability will lose their employment due to a fundamental lack of understanding of the support requirements for people with significant disability.
What a disaster.
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Your Comments Sandy from Geelong wrote on 4 Feb 2013 8:06:16 AM The Federal Government promised existing staff would have the oportunity to be re-employed with new provifers (they haven't been - also raises the question of why replace them??).
The Federal Government didn't consult people with disability and ignored those of us that did attempt to comment through their Senate process.
We are represented by cowards and by ignorant and misguided policy - that's why Australia ranks so poorly in international surveys.
Change is needed in direction and leadership in both the funding body and the Minister's office.
The only shame is we must wait a further 8 months - good on you for having the courage to speak out
David & Sally from Prahran wrote on 4 Feb 2013 8:34:04 PM Our daughter has been in open employment for 6 years. Prior to this she was in a sheltered workshop for 16 years. During that time she was frequently the subject of abuse from other workers, including physical and sexual assault. No action was ever taken against the perpetrators.
We have just been told we can no longer expect the new employment agency to help Adele when she needs on the job help. She needs this help and while she doesn’t need it every day the business owner has been very clear that no support means Adele may lose her job. The stress and worry is making me sick and that is affecting our family’s health as well.
This is just too terrible – why is it happening and why didn’t we have a chance to speak out?
Peter Smith from Eastern Suburbs - Melbourne wrote on 15 Feb 2013 3:10:12 PM Whats clear is that Post Placement Support is going to be a phone call occasionally. The reality is that providers should be training their staff firstly that this is more important than actually getting the placement and secondly there is evidence based practices that should be mandated and applied. PPS isn't doing the job for the client and it certainly isn't a pat on the back and you'll be right mate attitude. God help the client!
Previous Posts
Fair Warning
I'm giving fair warning of my intention to expose examples of the current DES-ESS contract's exploitation.
I have written to the Commonwealth expressing my concerns about clear manipulation of the present contract....
Fundamentals
The new contract for Disability Employment Services (DES) will not bring performance improvement.
Government will scratch it's head, blame the economy, blame people with disability, talk about educating employers and spend money on consultations before coming to the conclusion that people with disability must meet more stringent 'mutual obligations'....
100%
Each year, around about the International Day of People with a Disability (IDPwD) NOVA Employment holds a formal graduation for students that have participated in our pre-employment programs....
Profiting from poverty
Profiting from Poverty
I am genuinely horrified by this disaster: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/02/the-demerit-system-is-ruthless-social-policy-designed-to-keep-the-poor-powerless
I believe that we presently represent the job hopes of around 1500 people, in various stages of their progression to independent employment....
New Contract but no change!
New Contract but no change!
Today marks the first day of a new Disability Employment Service (DES) contract.
There are new players and new rules....
Administrative Overload
'It's nice to be busy' and 'busy is better than idle' and all of my mum's other sayings about work being good for you, and all of them said; we're drowning!
The administrative burden of a new Disability Employment Service contract (starts July 1st) and the mountains of paperwork required for an NDIS dollar (approximately 10X that of the former TTW program) has seen us add 3 extra staff to the admin team and we are still receiving a large volume of enquiries that are causing us some time delay in getting back to folk....
Podcasts I've been learning all about Podcasts (I suspect that this may be a long road!)
However, getting paid to be inspired is not the worst way to spend a Monday afternoon and that is just how my day has gone....
Lucky Lucky
I am truly fortunate to work with the very best people in this great nation and we are truly lucky to be part of the best short film festival this side of anywhere!
"Focusonability" voting starts today and there is an even larger number of films (287) than last year....
On the money Sometime over the next week a new Disability Employment Service contract will be announced.
We are moving into a new world of greater consumer choice and greater mobility of job seekers....
Making a tough job tougher!
Making a tough job tougher
It isnt easy to get a decent job and its harder to do so if you have a disability.
NOVA employs around 190 people, an effective and experienced team who are able to draw upon a staff of highly skilled trainers and a support program honed over almost 30 years and tens of thousands of participants....
Your Work There was never any doubt in my mind that I would work. My dad told me I would work and there wasn't ever a suggestion that my future held an alternative option....
Not so bad! Taken from: Today's Guardian at 4.09pm Tuesday 7th November 2017:
www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/jun/23/russia-and-the-us-have-the-worst-employment-gaps-for-disabled-people
In a world full of discouragement there’s always a space for good news....
Informed Choice
The NDIS mantra is 'choice and control'
To be valuable, choice needs to be informed.
Since 2010:
Average Sydney Disability Employment Services placement rates are 34....
Hard Job
It's voting time at "Focusonability" - with a record number of films entered, a tremendous effort by more than 100 High Schools and 19 countries competing in the International section it was always going to be a hard job to pick a winner....
Choice & Control
The NDIS slogans around choice and control demonstrate the importance of consumer involvement in both the choice and control of supports they need.
However, in order to be valuable, choice needs to be informed by accurate data such is this: http://www....
Belfast
Last week (14-16) it was my privilege to attend the 1st World Supported Employment Conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
"Employment for All - A Global Perspective" brought workers from around the globe (primarily Europe) to discuss best practice in supported employment....
Quality and the Stars Quality and the Stars
There have probably been few people more openly critical of the Disability Employment Service (DES) Star Ratings than me.
The Stars, ranging from 1 to 5 are supposed to give some insight into whether a service is a poor or high performing program....
DEA Forum
Attended the Disability Employment Australia (DEA) forum in Canberra. THis is a regular get together that offers disability employment services tha chance to be kept up to date from our funding body and also listed to expert speakers on topics associated with the goal of seeing as many people as possible find and keep suitable employment....
Greatest Asset
NOVAs greatest asset is its staff. I suspect you would struggle to find the CEO of any organisation state their staff are not vital and at the core of business reputation and results....
A corner turned?
We are presently holding events to promote employment for people with disability - nor surprise there, that's our job.
What has been a surprise is the willingness of employers to come along and listen and more importantly, to consider adopting inclusive employment practices across their organisations....
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