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Aged & Community Services
SA & NT Inc©
246 Glen Osmond Road,
Fullarton SA 5063
Phone: (08) 8338 7111
Fax: (08) 8338 7077
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Volume 3, Issue 3, April 2010
Please note some of the articles provided have additional papers which can be downloaded or links to another website page. In some cases these documents are linked to the ACS Members Only section of this website and will require a Username and Password. All members have been issued with a Username and Password. If you have not received this please contact the Communications Officer with your contact details and you will be issued with your access details.
Late Breaking News
Enrolled nursing & medication management training for aged care workers joint round 2010
Please click here for information regarding the Enrolled Nursing and Medication Management Training for Aged Care Workers Joint Round 2010.
Funding is available for up to 550 enrolled nurse qualifications and medication management training places. There is a limit of one training place per service.
Productivity Places Program (PPP) for Job Seekers
Applications are invited for the next round of PPP funding. Proposals to up-skill job seekers in qualifications which address industry skill shortages close on 30 April. Training can include Cert II, Cert III, IV or Diploma. Email or telephone 8207 8767.
National News
Aged care message getting through at last
A recent interview with Health Minister Nicola Roxon on the ABC’s Insiders program (28 March; Reporter: Barrie Cassidy) reveals some progress is being made on aged care issues –and we are being listened to.
During the interview, Minister Roxon noted the Government has “not had the right incentives in place to provide any types of care between high level residential care and hospital care”.
“We’ve had home and community care packages but the funding arrangements being so divided have meant we’ve never said: what is actually better supported accommodation models? What do the baby boomers of the future, what type of care and support will they need that might not be as high level as residential care?”
Minister Roxon also commented on the health / aged care interface: “If we don’t reform the financing and governing arrangements of our health system we’ll never actually invest in those other innovative models because you’ll have the states with the hospitals and us with aged care and never the twain shall meet. We just can’t afford to keep doing that.”
Click here to read the full transcript.
Reminder - ACSA Conference Call for Presentations, closing Friday 30th April 2010
We are now calling for presentations for ACSA’s annual National Conference. “Explore the possibilities” is this year’s theme. We want to explore the possibilities around how we can adapt lessons from our collective experience, and embrace innovative practices from within and outside our industry.
The Conference will be held at the Grand Chancellor Hotel on Hobart’s waterfront from Sunday September 19 to Wednesday September 22. The Twenty 10 National Conference is the most important aged and community care event this year and we want you to be part of the action.
Presentations for the concurrent sessions should address the themes of sustainability, IT, food, travel, community, workforce, and the challenges ahead.
In addition to traditional presentations, this year’s conference will also include a new concept - an Ideas Market Place. Projects, ideas and innovations suited to PowerPoint presentations displayed on designated screens, will run throughout the Conference. The Ideas Market Place will allow delegates to gather for informal discussions on the presentations displayed. More details, including how to make a submission for the Ideas Market Place, will be provided in the coming weeks.
For concurrent session presentations, we invite you to submit a 200-word summary including how your paper fits within the Conference themes.
Please refer to the conference website for more information including the Call for Presentations document.
Local News
ACS State & Territory Aged Care Awards - only one week left to nominate!
There is just one week left to participate in the Inaugural State and Territory Awards for Excellence. Nominations close Friday 16 April 2010.
These Awards recognise and promote excellence across all fields of the aged care industry. They celebrate significant contributions to the quality of life of older people, people with disabilities and/or their carers.
The State and Territory Awards will be presented at a Cocktail Party on Thursday 17 June, 5-7 pm. The winners will automatically be nominated for the National Awards in their relevant categories (with the exception of the Design Award).
Further information, please contact Kellie Kulinski on 8338 8004. 
Our thanks to principal sponsor Health Super.
Volunteer Grants 2010 recognises the valuable work of Australia’s volunteers. Funding of $21million is available to eligible non-profit community organisations to assist their volunteers and encourage volunteering.
Volunteer Grants 2010 provides funding of between $1,000 and $5,000 to help non-profit organisations to:
- contribute towards the costs of training courses for volunteers and/or undertaking background screening checks for volunteers; and/or
- purchase portable, tangible, small equipment items to help volunteers; and/or
- contribute towards fuel reimbursement for their volunteers, including those who use their cars to transport others to activities, deliver food and assist people in need.
Further information on the 2010 Volunteer Grants program and an online application form are available here. Organisations can also request paper-based application forms by calling 1800 183 374 or by emailing
Applications close at 2 pm on Friday 16 April 2010 AEST.
Coming Events
Easy Moves for Active Ageing - 14 and 15 April
The Easy Moves for Active Ageing® (EMAA) training is a two-day practical training, giving people working within aged care the skills and knowledge to safely and effectively deliver an exercise class for older adults. The training goes through a range of flexibility, strength and balance exercises and includes both seated and standing exercises.
Click here for further information on the training and the booking form.
Residential Forum - Friday 16 April - only one week left to register!
Enhancing Your Service Delivery in a Changing Environment . . .
Stables Ballroom, Morphettville Junction, 470 Anzac Highway, CAMDEN PARK SA
This Forum will focus on changes within the aged care industry and ways in which the industry can improve service delivery. The Forum is designed for both residential and community aged care providers in the non-profit sector and topics will be of interest to CEOs, managers, directors of care and other senior staff who oversee the general performance of service delivery within their organisations.
Flyer and full program now available. Sponsored by:
‘Active Moves for Active Living’
Active Moves for Active Living is a current project being delivered by Active Ageing Australia, providing free training to carers and the person they care for to equip them with the skills to be able to complete exercises within their own home. The half day training goes through the HAMP booklet of exercises (both seated and standing) designed for those who can’t access community based programs, or whom would like to do some exercises at home on their ‘off days’. Participants also receive a copy of the ‘Get Active for Living’ (GAL) DVD as an addition method of completing the exercises.
Click here for further information.
Australia’s Open Garden Scheme
The Australia's Open Garden Scheme opens about 60 gardens throughout SA every year in both metropolitan and country areas. The aim of the organisation is to spread the knowledge and love of gardening by opening inspiring private gardens to the public.
Visitors can enjoy grand Adelaide Hills gardens, or ingenious ideas on normal city blocks. The scheme has a range of gardens open that appeal to all garden lovers.
Normal opening times are Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4.30 pm, although sometimes gardens open on weekdays.
Most gardens are wheelchair accessible and have parking for coaches. Click here to view the April events .
Active Ageing Australia is offering another NoFalls Leader training in May this year in Adelaide, with the exciting opportunity to then do further training to become a NoFalls Train the Trainer!
Click here for information on both courses.
21st May 9th annual RVA & ACS Retirement Living Conference
8.45 am - 5.00 pm (including post-event cocktails)
Adelaide Pavilion, Veale Gardens
Cnr South Tce & Peacock Rd, Adelaide
The Conference offers a diverse and stimulating program with excellent speakers addressing topics such as:
- The economic climate and its impact on retirement villages
- Planning for future resident lifestyle (what residents want)
- Shaping your workforce for the future (award modernisation and workforce planning)
- Quality management systems for the future (the benefits of a legislative and marketing perspective) and Surviving the future (‘selling on a shoestring’)
- Intellectual property and the Implications of the Federal change to the COAG Agreement
- Duty of Care in independent living (handling dementia, isolation and loneliness)
The committee has once again expanded the Conference to include two options for the day before: a village tour and a networking dinner at Scuzzi with the MC, George Kapiniaris.
Click here for the full programme and registration form.
ACSA National Community Care Conference 2010
Next Generation Community Care: Rewarding, Rethinking, Reshaping
The Next Generation of Community Care will evolve through Rethinking and Reshaping our outlook; and Rewarding carers and older people with a new generation of care.
The 2010 ACSA National Community Care ‘Next Generation’ Conference will be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from 2-4 June 2010.
The exciting program to inspire the reshaping of Community Care is a must for everyone involved in our industry. We already make a difference in people’s lives – more than ever we have to make that difference count.
The Conference Dinner is included in the full registration price so there is no excuse not to star at this year’s event being held at MovieWorld!
Registration Brochure available now! Click here to download
ACS Education & Training Events
ACS 2010 Training Program
The 2010 Training Program is constantly updated. Registration forms for the events will be placed on the website as they are prepared, and also sent to members. Please mark this page as a bookmark and return to it regularly to view any changes and additions.
Papers from ACS Forums
Papers and Presentations from some of the recently held ACS Forums are available for members-only access. Click here to view the list of presentations available.
FREE: Thursday 15 April, 10.30 am–12.30 pm, Zurich Risk Management Solutions for Aged Care – morning tea provided
Compliment the policies, procedures and general risk management measures you have in place to retain your certification and accreditation. Identify potential gaps in existing practices and discover ways to reduce them. You will learn about:
- Your Roof Space—the hidden dangers
- Contractor Controls—your rights and responsibilities
- Disaster Recovery Planning—”it will never happen to me”
Friday 16 April, 1–4 pm, Employee Counselling and Discipline
Who should attend? Directors of Care, Managers and other staff responsible for counselling and disciplining staff
This practical and interactive workshop will provide skills and techniques immediately applicable in the workplace. Content includes:
- The principle of ‘Natural Justice’
- Supporting staff performance
- Counselling staff
- Mediation
- Disciplining staff
- Undertaking investigations
- Terminating employment
Tuesday 20 April, 9.30 am–4.30 pm, Cleaning Food Preparation Areas in Residential and Acute Care
Who should attend? Staff and volunteers in residential and acute care whose role involves cleaning in food areas or their supervisors.
This up-to-date training addresses the essential cleaning issues:
- Why cleaning is important
- Planning cleaning activities
- Occupational Health Safety & Welfare requirements
- Cleaning wet areas
- Hard floor surface cleaning
- Effective cleaning and sanitising of equipment and surfaces
- Maintaining a cleaning storage area
22 April, 6 May and 20 May, 8–10 am Performance Management (three short Thursday sessions)
Who should attend? Managers who want to develop and manage their staff’s performance
Three practical and interactive sessions will cover:
- What performance management is
- The issues affecting a person's performance
- The difference between appraisal and performance management
- Best practice in performance development
- Linking the performance process with key systems
- Outcomes of performance development
- Ensuring performance development is logical and psychologically satisfying