- Community Industry Group Newsletter
- Posts
- Community Industry Group Newsletter
Community Industry Group Newsletter
Thursday, 23 May 2024
Melissa Forbes
May 23, 2024
Federal Budget Hits and Misses
The 2024-25 Federal Budget has revealed very little support for not-for-profit community services and people living on low incomes.
“Housing affordability is the key issue impacting client groups across most of our local community services. We welcome, therefore, the 10% increase in Commonwealth Rent Assistance and acknowledge that this is the second increase in 2 years, which is highly unusual. However, we must recognize that in effect this is an extremely modest increase, amounting to less than $9.50 per week for a single person on income support.” CEO Nicky Sloan.
People on welfare support received no good news, except for a very small number of people with the least capacity to work who received an extra $27 per week. In fact, the only relief offered to people on the lowest incomes was the $300 energy rebate, which has been extended to all households. “This was a real mis-step by government, Instead of directing the full packet of rebates where they are most needed, they will also be enjoyed by people on the highest incomes, who are unlikely to even notice their impact.” CEO Nicky Sloan.
On the positive side, there have been an additional 24,000 Home Care Packages announced, although it appears that there is no new money, and the funding for this is coming from the existing Commonwealth Home Support Program. Even this number is not nearly as much as the current waitlist. “The 2024-25 budget holds nothing in response to the recommendations in the report from the Aged Care Taskforce…So there is no indication of changes to the way aged care is funded into the future.” CEO Nicky Sloan.
However, the budget does set aside money to fund the Fair Work Commission increases to the wages of our aged care workforce, and the expected increases to wages for workers in the early childhood education and care sector. “With a highly feminized workforce in both of these sectors, this will largely benefit women and their families,” CEO Nicky Sloan.
Of major concern is the proposed $14bn cut to the growth of the NDIS. “There is a distinct lack of detail about how this will be achieved, but we will be watching closely because the cost of delivering these vital services continues to increase and we don’t want to see people with disability exceeding their plan and being left without service. And we can’t expect not-for-profit disability providers to deliver services unfunded.” CEO Nicky Sloan.
Are you a potential STARS Volunteer?
STARS Volunteers, under Community Industry Group, are a group of dedicated volunteers with expertise in aged care and a genuine passion for supporting older people so they can access the aged care services they need. Our mission? To ensure older people have seamless transitions from hospital to more suitable living arrangements at home or in a residential aged care service.
It’s concerning that many older people get stuck in the hospital for over 200 days while they search for suitable aged care alternatives. Being stuck in the hospital can worsen their fears and exacerbate functional decline. Decision-making becomes more challenging the longer the older person is stuck in the hospital.
“STARS aren’t just advisors; they empower an older person with care and expertise so they can make informed decisions..”
Policy & Project Officer, STARS Volunteer Program Tanya Southworth.
STARS Volunteers can help address this issue by being trusted and experienced aged care advisers for older people, so they don’t get stuck in a hospital. They can help identify suitable aged care services and facilitate a seamless transition from the hospital.
With ‘STARS’ by their side, an older person stuck in hospital will receive personalised assistance in navigating their hospital transition process, exploring suitable aged care options, and independent, confidential support to help with decision making.
Training Opportunities!
Culturally Appropriate Care 360° - CHSP Providers Forum: With the major aged care reforms coming in 2025, the new Aged Care Act and strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards workforce enhancements remain a high priority for the Aged Care sector. This online forum supports CHSP providers to engage with the communities they work with, in a culturally appropriate way – register here
This 2-hour online forum will comprise of a diverse group of panelists from a mixture of culturally diverse and intersectional backgrounds, engaging in a robust discussion on applying culturally appropriate and quality care in the CHSP and aged care workforce.
Date and time: Tue, 18 Jun 2024 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM AEST (online)
Open to all CHSP services as well as other community organisations and service providers. Brought to you by Inclusive and Diverse Communities Inc., The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing and Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra, is FREE, funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care.
NSW Health are Calling for Community Advisory Council Members.
The NSW Ministry of Health is inviting NSW consumers, carers, and community members to express their interest in joining the new Consumer, Carer, and Community Advisory Council (the Council).
The Council will provide impartial and independent advice on strategic issues from the perspective of consumers, carers, and communities and will report directly to the Secretary, NSW Health.
The aim is to connect and involve people from diverse backgrounds, identities, and life experiences who reflect NSW communities. This will help elevate the voices and influence of consumers, carers, and communities in strategic health decision-making.
Consumers, carers, and community members will be paid in accordance with the consumer, carer, and community member remuneration guidelines.
Council members must:
• Be receiving, received, or could receive health services from NSW Health as a patient, carer, or community member.
• Have experience in consumer/carer/community partnership at program, system, governance, or strategic level, or similar.
• Have experience leading, co-leading, or participating in a range of engagement methods and approaches.
We’re looking for people who have different skills and qualities that will complement other members of the Council, including:
• the ability to work collaboratively and in curious ways that align with the six ways of working from All of Us: A guide to engaging consumers, carers, and communities across NSW Health.
• lived and living experience leadership qualities, and strong community networks.
How it will work - The Council will meet every two months and will provide advice on important issues that come through key referral pathways. If they can't provide enough advice, they'll suggest ways to get meaningful input from consumers, carers, and communities.
Gambling Impact Society Promoting a Public Health Approach to Gambling Harm.
We proudly welcome one of our newest Community Industry Group Members, The Gambling Impact Society (GIS). The GIS is a peer-led health promotion charity operating locally and throughout NSW. The GIS aims to raise awareness about gambling harms and the impacts upon individuals, families and communities.
The GIS promotes a public health approach to gambling harms and provides professional training and community education to a range of community and corporate organisations. Their popular FREE 1-Hour Consumer Voices program is suitable for all Community Services organisations, students, and social / community groups.
This session, delivered in partnership with local GambleAware service providers, includes a Lived Experience perspective of gambling related harms by one of the GIS trained Lived Experience Speakers.
For more information email GIS Executive Officer, Dr. Kate Roberts at [email protected]
SVA Invites You to a Morning Tea Info Session on The Funeral Saver Safety Net!
Social Ventures Australia (SVA), a not-for-profit, has been working with Tender Funerals and financial counsellors to develop an accessible alternative to funeral insurance. The result of 6+ years of consultation and design is the new Funeral Saver Safety Net. It is a new option for Australians experiencing financial hardship to save money regularly into a funeral bond, with the potential for a top-up payment from the Funeral Saver Safety Net if they pass away before reaching $5,000 savings goal. This morning tea session will provide an explainer for community organisations who engage with clients that may benefit. Please RSVP via this link: https://forms.office.com/r/M2itJwV6j or email: [email protected]
Affordable Funerals
Tender Funerals is a not-for-profit funeral service model offering choice and transparency in delivering personalised meaningful and affordable funerals. Our vision is for all Australians to have access to affordable, meaningful funerals. We are part of a movement towards reclaiming the rites and changing the culture around death and dying. By delivering community education on rights and responsibilities around death, dying, and end of life, we aim to foster open conversations and empower people to take control of their dying, their deaths, and their funerals.
12th Annual Illawarra Dementia Public Forum 25 September 2024
Venue: Fraternity Club, Fairy Meadow (Wollongong) Time: 9:30 am - 3:00 pm. Speakers include Mr. Nick Morgan, Australian Government Dept. of Health and Aged Care, Prof. Tanya Buchanan, CEO of Dementia Australia (TBC), Marie Alford, Dementia Support Australia, carers of people living with dementia and people with dementia, allied health professionals and others associated with dementia- friendly communities and dementia research.
From 25 June: Free registrations open (details will be published before this date). Reservations for display tables are open. Major sponsors: Dementia Australia, Australian Government Dept. of Health, Dementia Support Australia, University of Wollongong
Calling all CHSP Aged Care Service Providers!
Are you part of our monthly RAS (Regional Assessment Service) CHSP network group? The Community Industry Group RAS/CHSP network meeting currently attracts providers and assessors from right across our membership area, from Helensburgh to the Victorian border out to Goulburn and through the Snowy Monaro area too.
Our hour-long monthly hook-ups are a chance for service providers to provide a real-time update on availability of services so that assessors can connect older people directly with services who have capacity not reflected in online platforms. We also regularly have Department representatives on the hook-ups for updates and questions.
There are no obligations on you to attend every meeting but it is a collegiate and useful space. One regular participant Paul Hartley, location lead and Wollongong orientation and mobility specialist for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT had this to say about the network meetings:
“We cover the whole Illawarra Shoalhaven where RAS assessors are so getting to provide them with a direct update is great and helps connect people to our service. We do so much more than our work with working dogs and not everyone in the RAS space knows about our extensive service provision. Having the opportunity to reinforce the message that Guide Dogs is here providing a service with no out-of-pocket costs and providing allied health services for people in this region is so valuable as is being able to let RAS assessors know how long or short the wait for those services directly.” Katelin McInerney, Policy and Project Officer - Aged Care
Email [email protected] if you would like to join the online meetings.
Food For Thought
 DELICIOUS FOOD - CHANGING LIVES- PLATE IT FORWARD’. MUST LISTEN - An inspiring story of an organisation who are helping to substantially improve the lives of underrepresented Australians and their families. "So many first-generation migrant kids grew up with a lot of opportunities that most people who look like me didn’t get. Not because they were any different... I won a birth lottery. I knew that I wanted to do something important with my life; I needed to find a purpose, and I needed to find something that was meaningful. I formed 'Plate It Forward Hospitality Group'. We have 100 staff, 90% of whom are from underrepresented communities. That includes refugees and asylum seekers, women over the age of 55 who have never had a job before, people who have been incarcerated, people living with a disability, people with a story and a love to share, who don't get represented in the hospitality sector." Shaun Christie-David. |  IS AGEISM THE NEW SEXISM?HOW OLD IS TOO OLD? MUST WATCH - During Kumi’s Q&A session, we hear conversations with a number of interesting older people who choose to discuss traditional narratives relating to the challenges of older life, independence, politics, lifestyle, autonomy, parenting, older workers, older people on social media and more. This episode we hear from Val Fell, a notable Australian advocate for the well-being of older adults, particularly focusing on dementia awareness and support. At the age of 95, Val is recognised for her extensive volunteer work and dedication to improving the lives of people affected by dementia. "I’d been for a medical to see whether I was able to drive anymore, and I was, I passed it 100%. A few days later I pulled up to a service station and filled the car with petrol, got into the car and had a possible TIA / a mini-stroke and had a car accident… my immediate thought was, nothing happened this time but I felt that if this happened again, there may have been a child in the way… Previous to this I was going to keep my licence as long as I could.” Val Fell. |
Grants & Funding Opportunities
The latest round of DOHAC Grant Funding for Growth is now open to Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers.
The grant opportunity is a targeted growth round with $100 million available in the 2024-25 financial year for providers looking to increase the availability of Domestic Assistance, Home Maintenance, Allied Health, Therapy, and Transport Services.
The grant opportunity seeks to attract new providers currently delivering other similar services that are focused on supporting the care economy, including those for Aged Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the National Disability Support Scheme.
Estimated Period of Release: January to June 2024. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Members News
Are you a member who wants to add something to our ‘Members News’ section in our Newsletter?
Guidelines: If you are a member and want to add something to our Newsletter email your flyer to [email protected].
Member Jobs / Positions Vacant
