Newsletter 2 April 2015

April / May 2015
NEWSLETTER
MANDY’S DESK
44 Williams Street, BOWEN QLD 4805
CAMP KANGA , Lake Proserpine
We are happy to invite any service users over the
age of 16 to attend this year’s Camp Kanga holiday,
which is always a favourite with those who attend.
The holiday will run from 9am Monday 18th May to
3pm Friday 22nd May. Camp will be in single or
shared units and all meals will be provided by
caterers. Bowen Flexi Care support workers will
supervise this holiday 24hrs/day.
The cost for the five days away (travel,
accommodation and all meals) will be $400pp.
Payments can be made in instalments if necessary.
All enquiries to the office
There will be no programs during this week
Rock’n Revs Festival
Kids Corner
Come and support us at the PCYC
Sunday 10th May
9am-2 pm
Join in the fun and help children make a
mother’s day card and decorate a
special cupcake.
Family fun for everyone.
Check out the great cars on display and
other entertainment.
Admission $2 Donation
NDS SDF Inclusion Initiative
Again we are thrilled with the news that we have been
chosen to do a special project in readiness for the NDIS.
This is a National project about Community Inclusion for
people with a disability – we have employed Emma and
Casper to manage our plan. See page 3 for more detail, or
contact the office of you wish to know more about this.
I have joined The Disability Workforce Innovation Network
project, established to support disability service providers
during implementation of the NDIS. The Disability WIN project
will contribute to the development of a workforce to meet the
challenges of this implementation.
Funded by the Australian Department of Industry, the Disability
WIN is a partnership between the Community Services and
Health Industry Skills Council and NDS. It runs from June 2014
to May 2016.
The Disability WIN has 8 Workforce Advisors, one in each state
and territory, with a National Manager overseeing the project.
The Workforce Advisors will work with local providers and
other stakeholders to achieve the objectives of the WIN and to
provide sustainable outcomes.
I am also undertaking an opportunity to complete the
assessment tasks for CHCSS00065 Workforce Planning Skill
Set (offered through membership of the DWIN group).
The Units of Competency covered by these assessments are:
 CHCCDP403B Analyse and apply education and
training information
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BSBHRM513A Manage Workforce Planning
Ric Thompson from Inclusion Works is coming to
Bowen to provide staff training & present the
NICAN CARD – excellent tool for improving
inclusion in communities. This training will be on
Tuesday 9th June 1230-1430 – if interested in
attending, please contact the office.
I would like to say thank you to the great team
participating here at BFC (clients, families,
employees, volunteers and community members) –
with your commitment, creativity and diversity we
will continue to offer best practice and have a
reputable service.
44 Williams St Bowen Qld 4805
Ph:07 4786 4755 Fax: 07 4786 4788 Email: admin@bowenfc.com.au
When service users are transitioned into NDIS they may have an individual
plan created.
Individuals will be contacted by a local area coordinator as Qld starts to transition
toward the NDIS to discuss your goals and needs (following the guidelines that are in
place).
Local Area Coordinators will need to understand how well current supports are
working for you, supports from your family and carers, what community connections
would help you achieve your goals, and any things you would like to change, for a
better quality of life. They talk about improving outcomes for you such as your
wellbeing, independence, social and economic participation, community connections,
developing and maintaining relationships, and choice and control over decisions
affecting your life.
Many people may not need an individual support plan, but want support to access
mainstream services;
They will work with community and mainstream services to improve the inclusion and
participation of people with disability, and support communities to make it easier for
them to participate in everyday life.
But if you do need a plan to be created then these are some of the things that need to
be considered.
Goals and aspirations, you should consider how you want to live your life, now and into
the future. For example:
• For carers of children, this may be about improving development opportunities and
minimising the impact of a disability through early intervention
• For carers of teenagers, it may involve thinking about what happens after school
• For adults, it could be about more independent living, getting a job, joining a club or
participating in a local community activity, studying or having more opportunities to
socialise
• It may be about adjusting to a recent diagnosis of a permanent disability and the
changes required for you to continue participating in social and economic life, or the
activities that help minimise or delay a decline in functioning.
• It may be about additional equipment or aids that improve safety or mobility around
the home.
For more information: National Disability Insurance Scheme 1800 800 110
44 Williams St Bowen Qld 4805
Ph:07 4786 4755 Fax: 07 4786 4788 Email: admin@bowenfc.com.au
Bowen Flexi Care have been supporting people with disabilities within our community for the past
20 years and have recently been selected to be part of the Community Inclusion Project as Australia
moves towards the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Bowen Flexi Care is the only organisation in Queensland to have been selected and one of only
eleven organisations Australia wide. This is a fantastic opportunity for the wider community of Bowen
to be seen as the front runners in changing the stigma surrounding the involvement of people with
‘disabilities’ Nationwide.
Time for Bowen to take the ‘dis’ out of disability and focus on the ‘ability’ of these people who already
contribute so much within our community with little to no recognition.
The aim of the project is to work closely with five clients of Bowen Flexi Care who have been selected
as participants. These five participants are part of forty six individuals whom have been selected
Nationwide. Together we have recently identified goals of these individuals and potential barriers and
obstacles we may encounter as we work towards actively including participants as valued members of
our community.
This project requires the input of our local community including business, organisations and
individuals. If you feel there is anything you can contribute to this exciting opportunity for Bowen please
contact
Emma (Community Liaison Officer) PH: 47864 755 Email: emma@bowenfc.com.au
or pop in to Bowen Flexi Care and say hello. Any feedback will be valued.
44 Williams St Bowen Qld 4805
Ph:07 4786 4755 Fax: 07 4786 4788 Email: admin@bowenfc.com.au
Commonwealth Home Support program – key changes from 1st July 2015
In order to access Community Care services, you must be a person, or the carer of a person,
who is:
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under 65, or under 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and
has a moderate, severe or profound disability, or a condition which restricts the ability to carry
out activities of daily living, and
is living in the community, and
having difficulty performing the core activities of daily living* due to functional limitations, and
is at risk of losing independence without assistance from Community Care, due to loss of
functional ability or unsustainable living arrangements.
* Core activities of daily living are communication, self-care and mobility. Core activity tasks
include dressing, bathing or showering, preparing meals, house cleaning and maintenance,
and using public transport.
Cost
Each organisation delivering Community Care services has its own policy on fees. Bowen
Flexi Care will be meeting with stakeholders to consult about a small contribution—this
depends on your situation. Special arrangements may be made if you cannot afford to pay a
fee.
How to apply - To apply, phone your local Community Access Point on
1800 600 300 1800 600 300 FREE. You do not need a referral.
To assess your eligibility and support needs, a worker from a Community Care service or a
Community Access Point will talk to you about how you are coping with daily living. The
information you provide is then used by the Community Care service to determine your
eligibility, and what type of service you may need in order to stay living at home.
If you are 65 and over, or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people
If you are 65 and over, or an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 or over, the
Australian Government’s My Aged Care website ( http://www.myagedcare.gov.au/ ) is designed to
give you more choice, control and easier access to a full range of aged care services.
It provides you with information on:
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what help you can get ( http://www.myagedcare.gov.au/what-help-can-i-get )
help at home ( http://www.myagedcare.gov.au/help-home )
aged care homes ( http://www.myagedcare.gov.au/aged-care-homes )
caring for someone ( http://www.myagedcare.gov.au/caring-someone )
finding a service ( http://www.myagedcare.gov.au/service-finders ).
You can also phone their national contact centre on 1800 200 422 1800 200 422 FREE
from Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, and on Saturdays between 10am and 2pm. The phone
line is closed on Sundays and national public holidays.
44 Williams St Bowen Qld 4805
Ph:07 4786 4755 Fax: 07 4786 4788 Email: admin@bowenfc.com.au