UpSkill will continue to offer training and resources to support coordinators, allied health professionals and other sector professionals assisting people with complex support needs. Check out our upcoming courses for 2023.
UpSkill training for 2023
As we wind down after an especially busy year the time is right to reflect on our work and achievements.
There has been significant change in the disability sector in 2022. A change of government, a greater focus on the NDIS than arguably ever before in the community and now the start of what feels like a new era for the NDIS with new leadership and a scheme review.
Source: The Australian – Sarah Ison
The government’s plan to clear hospital beds by getting National Disability Insurance Scheme participants discharged sooner is saving the states “literally millions of dollars every day”, and a “frank” conversation is needed over how they can do more to support young disabled Australians, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten says.
Source: The Canberra Times – Dan Jervis-Bardy
Aida Janssen has lived a tough life. She was 12 when a bomb blast in her native Lebanon left her paralysed, the shrapnel causing scars which are still visible.
At 29 she would get to live out a dream of moving to Australia, where she would settle in Canberra and start a family.
Meet Elizabeth, she lives with Cerebral Palsy. She writes about her experience and explains why International Day of People with Disability is important.
Source: Disability Support Guide – Alex Jacobs
Younger people with disability are still living in residential aged care facilities as updates reveal key targets to move them into community settings with National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) support have not been met.
Source: The Australian – Sarah Ison
Waiting times for specialist disability accommodation would be slashed from the average of 125 days to just 10, under proposed NDIS reforms.
Source: The Conversation – Mark Brown & Di Winkler
Last week’s budget revealed the rapidly escalating costs of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and rekindled fears among people with disability about its sustainability.
The Albanese government is unequivocal in its support for the NDIS, but has also warned more needs to be done to bring down costs.
Source: Probono Australia – Danielle Kutchel
Participants say the NDIS is not delivering on its key purpose, but the government’s review provides an opportunity to go back to the drawing board.
NDIS Minister Bill Shorten must listen to the voices of people with disability if he truly intends to return the NDIS to its original intent.
Source: The Australian – Sarah Ison
More than 3000 properties for Australians with disabilities are sitting empty while NDIS participants languish in hospitals, group homes or aged care centres awaiting tick-offs from the agency.
Online Webinar – Zoom
DATE: Wednesday 30 November 2022
TIME: 11:00am – 12:30pm AEDT
This webinar brings together a panel of experts to discuss how we can better assist people who have behaviours that concern us. In this webinar we will look at behaviour as a means of communication of unmet needs and how we can better support a person to live a meaningful life.
People with disability who display behaviours of concern challenge us greatly. Often the response is restrictive practices to ensure the safety of the person and others around them. While often necessary, restrictive practices are a restriction on the person’s autonomy. So how do we support choice and control and improve a person’s quality of life when they have behaviours of concern? What can support coordinators and allied health professionals do to assist with safety and safeguarding AND choice and control?
After attending this workshop you will have a better understanding of working with people who have behaviours of concern and how you can demonstrate leadership in supporting rights, choice and control and supported decision-making.
The webinar is the 4th in our Supported Decision-making series and takes a rights-based approach to positive behaviour support and support for decision-making, with a focus on home and living situations.
Join UpSkill and our panel of experts as we discuss:
- Common reasons people may display behaviours of concern
- The link between positive behaviour support, human rights and improving quality of life
- Function and alternatives to restrictive practices
- Strategies to support positive behaviour
- Supporting self determination of people who have complex support needs
- Role of support coordinators in supporting people who have behaviours that concern us
- How we can demonstrate leadership in upholding the rights of people with disability
Meet your panel:
Donna White – National Director Behaviour Support, NDIS Quality & Safeguards Commission
Donna has been working at the NDIS Commission for over four years in a range of behaviour support positions and commenced in the National Director Behaviour Support role in June 2021. Donna has worked in the disability sector for over 30 years and prior to commencing with the NDIS Commission worked in a Statewide Behaviour Intervention Service in NSW.
Donna is a certified practicing speech pathologist and has extensive experience supporting people with disability who have complex communication, behavioural, forensic, trauma and health-related support needs. Donna has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology), Master of Arts (Communication Disorders) and a Graduate Certificate in Developmental Trauma. Donna is a published editor and author, and has presented at national and international conferences on issues related to clinical practice, intellectual disability, positive behaviour support and mental health.
Paul Jay – Self advocate and micro-entrepreneur
My name is Paul Jay, I am an independent person living in Fremantle. I am a music buff that enjoys live music, and a cafe connoisseur. I am also currently working on my own microenterprise that hopes to assist people like me to build the support network that is right for them.
Debbie Lobb – Director of Professional Supports and Behaviour Support Consultant, Microboards Australia
Debbie is a specialist behaviour practitioner and is known across the disability sector for her leadership roles in supporting organisations and families to understand the underlying needs and experiences of people with disability, particularly in relation to complex behaviour or communication needs. Debbie is regularly sought for her knowledge and experience in developing behaviour support models of practice and for her gentle supportive approach to partnering with people to go on a journey of discovery and support development.
Sally Robinson – Professor of Disability and Community Inclusion, Flinders University
Sally does research with children, young people and adults with disability about what helps them feel safe, well and happy at difficult times in their lives. Most of her work is done in teams that include people with disability as researchers as well as asking them for their views. She also works with governments and organisations about how to listen to the things that matter to people with disability.
Who is this for:
- Support coordinators
- NDIS allied health professionals
- Advocates
Any questions?
If you would like to know more about this webinar or UpSkill training, click here, or email: upskill@summerfoundation.org.au
Online Webinar – Zoom (FREE)
DATE: Monday 5 December 2022
TIME: 11:00am – 12:00pm AEDT
This free 60-minute webinar will start to unpack how to facilitate well-timed discharges from hospital for NDIS participants. We will look at some of the key challenges within the NDIS and health interface that cause delays and discuss strategies to facilitate a sound hospital discharge.
We know that navigating the NDIS and health interface can be complex and change over time, so we want to hear the real time issues from YOU. We will discuss the most common barriers as identified by you and ways to manage these challenges.
After attending this webinar, you will be able to identify key barriers to discharge early in admission and work towards facilitating discharges that are coordinated, timely and keep the person with disability at the core.
Join us as we take a look at:
- Common barriers to discharges for people with new or existing disabilities as identified by you
- Strategies for timely discharges
This session includes Q+A.
Who is this for:
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Hospital clinicians supporting NDIS participants stuck in hospital
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Support coordinators and NDIS allied health professionals supporting NDIS participants stuck in hospital are also welcome to attend
Any questions?
If you would like to know more about this workshop or UpSkill training, click here, or email: upskill@summerfoundation.org.au
“At first I said No!” – NDIS Chair Kurt Fearnley reveals all in this exclusive interview
Latest episode
When NDIS services turn bad – Interview with NDIS Commissioner Tracy Mackey
VIDEO PODCAST: 11 October 2022
In this episode of Reasonable and Necessary, Dr. George speaks with NDIS Commissioner Tracy Mackey about what you can do if you are unhappy with your NDIS services, including how to deal with unregistered providers, and how you can make a complaint to the commissioner.
You can download and listen to the audio version on SoundCloud, iTunes (Apple Podcasts) or Spotify.
It’s an exciting and busy time for the Summer Foundation.
Our Annual Public Forum on Friday 25 November will look at a reimagined NDIS and what it means for participants. As the Labor Government settles in, it is the ideal time to explore how a reimagined NDIS could truly serve the people it was designed for.
The Summer Foundation would like to thank Selina Short for her service as a Director on the Summer Foundation board. Selina joined the Board on 17 November 2020.
We wish Selina the very best and thank her warmly for her service to Summer Foundation.
The Conversation – Megan Topping & Jacinta Douglas
When the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was established almost a decade ago, it was envisaged people with disability would be empowered consumers. It was hoped their customer insights would shape new services designed to meet their specific needs and preferences.
Latest episode
What does good NDIS support look like?
VIDEO PODCAST: 19 September 2022
In this episode of Reasonable and Necessary, Dr George speaks with Megan Topping (La Trobe University PhD research student) and Carl Thompson (NDIS participant and director of support coordination provider ‘Sort Your Support’) about what NDIS participants really want from support workers.
You can download and listen to the audio version on SoundCloud, iTunes (Apple Podcasts) or Spotify.
Source: 7.30 Report (ABC) – Lauren Day & Laura Kewley
We’ve all heard about the shortage of hospital beds across the country but in fact, there are hundreds that could be available if they weren’t being used by patients who are technically well enough to go home but can’t.
Around 1,500 Australians with disabilities are waiting to be discharged from hospital but they can’t because of NDIS delays.
LATEST PODCAST EPISODE:
In the latest episode of Reasonable and Necessary, Dr George Taleporos speaks to new NDIS Minister Bill Shorten . He discusses what he’s learned about the NDIS since taking over, and what he’s going to do to rebuild it now that he’s in charge.Minister Shorten has promised to fast track decisions, get people out of hospital, get rid of the lawyers and put people with disabilities in charge, in this in-depth interview.
Source: The Conversation – Di Winkler
Eighteen months ago, a Melbourne woman named Leila had a stroke and went to a local hospital. After medical support over a few weeks, Leila was ready to be discharged from the hospital, but required some specialist support due to her disability.
Source: Herald Sun – Jade Gailberger
Taxpayers are paying tens of millions of dollars for healthy patients who are stranded in Victorian public hospital beds due to a bureaucratic mess.
Source: The Conversation – Kate D’Cruz & Mark Brown
It is nearing ten years since the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was legislated in the dying days of the Gillard government. Not only was there bipartisan support for the NDIS, the reform came about on the back of a grassroots campaign from the disability community.
LATEST PODCAST EPISODE:
In research by the Summer Foundation and La Trobe University, participants revealed that their relationship with the NDIA needs repairing – most had lost confidence and trust in the NDIA. Many recognised that they can’t opt out of this relationship, so with the appointment of a new government, many participants are optimistic that the time may be right for an honest dialogue between all parties about the future of the NDIS.