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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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News Bites
Volume 3, Issue 1, February 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.
This edition of News Bites is proudly sponsored by Randstad
Index
Randstad News
Skills shortages in nursing are by no means new to Australia, with the aged-care and specialist nursing sectors particularly affected. Australian employment figures suggest the nursing population is ageing and therefore healthcare organisations in South Australia may look towards international sourcing options to fulfil staffing needs.
Randstad’s team has provided the best people in the industry for over 30 years. Coming from nursing and healthcare backgrounds, we know your industry inside and out.
We are committed to offering long term partnership solutions that focus on alleviating the critical skills shortage of the industry. By attracting high-calibre people both locally and internationally, we ensure you always have access to what you really need – the best people resources.
In January 2010, Randstad’s Health & Community Care Division launched a new team dedicated to international resourcing. From advertising right through to placement, candidate visas, state nursing registration and keeping up-to-date with legislation, we look after all of the administration required for candidates who arrive in Australia looking for a new opportunity. Our aim is simple — to support employers by giving you access to the best staff available in our industry, no matter where they are from.
For more information, call: 1300 996 135
Late Breaking News
Harnessing the skills and experience of older Australians: Rudd Government launches $43.3 million Productive Ageing Package
The Rudd Government have launched a new $43.3 million Productive Ageing Package to provide vital training and support for older Australians who want to stay in the workforce. Find out more
Golden gurus get a $500,000 kickstart from Productive Ageing Package
The National Golden Gurus program is set for a $500,000 funding boost to kickstart its important work connecting mature aged volunteers with mentoring opportunities as part of the Australian Government's Productive Ageing Package. Organisations that deliver the program will be able to apply for grants of up to $10 ,000 to help them prepare mature age mentors for their voluntary mentoring roles.
National News
Continence Aids Assistance Scheme Changes
The Continence Aids Assistance Scheme (CAAS) will become the Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) from 1 July 2010, and will be then managed by Medicare Australia.
The major change (for you and your clients) is that funds will be paid directly into client’s bank accounts for them to manage and individuals will need to source continence products through direct to door providers like Intouch, which has managed the CAAS program for 17 years.
Its experience in managing the scheme has highlighted to Intouch that there is a massive need in the community for support managing their continence needs. Intouch is the commercial arm of the Spinal Injuries Association, and it is already planning and working towards a smooth transition for current CAAS customers to the new CAPS. Intouch will continue to work to meet your clients’ personal needs, and your needs as health professionals, with its diverse product range, service and prices.
Intouch has been reappointed by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs as a dual national supplier of continence aids for the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP). Intouch CAAS Helpline is 1300 366 455 or visit the website
Report on Government Services 2010
The Productivity Commission recently released the Report on Government Services 2010. This is the fifteenth edition of the Report, produced by a Steering Committee of senior officials from Australian, State and Territory governments for the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). This document provides details on the performance of government services across the country such as aged care services, school services, Vocational Education and Training as well as housing access and affordability. The report also provides information on services to Indigenous Australians.
A summary of the report related to aged care services is available for ACS members. The full report is available for download from the Productivity Commission website.
Nominations now open for the 2010 HESTA Australian Nursing Awards
Is there a nurse in your organisation who deserves to be recognised for an extraordinary achievement? Is there an innovative, nurse-led program that would benefit from a development grant? Acknowledge the best and brightest in your workplace and nominate them for these awards.
- Nurse of the Year – winner receives a $5000 travel voucher plus a $5000 education grant
- Innovation in Nursing – winner receives a $10000 development grant
- Graduate Nurse of the Year – winner receives a $2500 travel voucher plus a $2500 education grant
Nominations close on 28 February – visit the website for all details.
Please click here for the latest ACSA National Housing Report, which addresses positive developments on the National Rental Affordability Scheme Tax issue.
New directory for older people to find services
Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot has launched the Directory of Services for Older People 2010. The free directory provides important information for older people and their families with chapters on accessing aged care, legal rights, finance and health.
The Victorian Government, on 25 January 2010, sent a letter of advice notifying all residential aged care services in Victoria of the availability of the new heat-wave resource.
This resource provides information on heat-waves, health and older people, and includes a specific checklist that can be used to assist with preparations in aged care facilities for hot summer weather.
Access the Victorian Government Residential aged care services heat-wave ready resource here.
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Local News
Aged & Community Services SA & NT Inc inaugural State & Territory Aged Care Awards
ACS will offer the inaugural State and Territory Aged Care Awards in 2010. Seven categories will open on Thursday 18th February for a six-week period.
- Trainee
- Volunteer
- Employee
- Organisation
- Industry Supporter
- Media
- New & renovated building (*State Award only)
*The State award winners will then feed into the Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) national awards programme. Please contact Kellie Kulinski for further information - sponsorships are available for each category.
Thursday 17 June 5-7pm: An industry-wide Cocktail Party, at the newly-built extension of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, will launch the 2010 Award evening. Hosted by ABC 891’s own Tim Noonan (both morning shows and Big Red Car roving reporter), the Awards cocktail party will also feature a program of intergenerational entertainment.
Allied Health Assistants in South Australia
The SA Health and Community Services Industry Skills Board has launched a new website promoting the work of Allied Health Assistants and providing resources to support the development of this workforce. The website is one of the activities of the Allied Health Workforce Reform Project.
Lynch Meyer's latest Workplace Relations Briefing
Articles in this edition include:
- The New Industrial Relations regime - What's new in 2010?
- A key feature of the NES, which is new, is the redundancy pay provision
- Right to request flexible working arrangements
If you have any questions please feel free to contact the relevant authors.
Coming Events
State Election Business @ Breakfast series at The Monastery (Event two), Monday 15 February, 7.15 am–9 am
The State Minster for Ageing, Hon Jennifer Rankine MP, will present the Government’s views on priorities and vision for older South Australians. In attendance with the Minister will be Heather Witham, Ministerial Adviser for Disability and Ageing.
Business @ Breakfast: Eye Health in the Workplace - Thursday 25 February, 7.15 am–9 am, ACS Training Room (246 Glen Osmond Rd, Fullarton)
Target audience: Staff who spend working time in front of a computer screen, OHS representatives and anyone seeking to hold this session in the workplace.
The presentation will include: Normal Ageing of the Eye, Eye Safety, Defining Normal Vision, Visual Requirements of a computer, Defining Visual Fatigue and New Job Fatigue, Focusing Problems, Glare Problems and Reflections from the Screen.
Breakfast presenter Barry Rofe has been providing these services to industry since 1986, including 13 years working for Laubman & Pank. His company B & K Vision Services conducts approximately 130–150 training sessions and tests approximately 2,500 employees per year.
Finance Forum – Friday 26 February 2010
Stables Ballroom, Morphettville Junction, 470 Anzac Highway, CAMDEN PARK SA
‘Riding the waves of economic, industrial, legislative and environmental issues engulfing aged care’
The focus of the Forum is on managing the constant change across all areas of the aged care sector’s business – finance industrial relations, environmental and legislative responsibilities. The Forum is designed for both residential and community aged care providers in the non-profit sector.
Topics will be of interest to CEOs, finance managers, accountants, directors of care, human resource and business development managers.
An impressive line up of speakers will present on current issues to help us all to ‘ride the waves’ of change across the sector. Click here to see the full Program.
2010 Community Care Forum - Friday 19 March
Stables Ballroom, Morphettville Junction, 470 Anzac Highway, CAMDEN PARK SA
Aged Care/Health Interface – ‘Current excellence and future opportunities’
The ageing of the population, the greater focus on enhancing wellness, primary health care and sub-acute services in the community and the concern about the impact on the acute health system, have been the subject of a number of major reports and plans, both at the national and state level. Although aged care providers already support older people in these areas, and do this really well, the reports and plans focus on the health system for such community-based services for older people. Aged care providers have a great deal of expertise in providing a diverse range of supports and it is important for the aged care system and the health system to work in partnership to maximise outcomes for older people.
This Forum will showcase a number of initiatives where the aged care is currently bridging the aged care/health interface very successfully and explore the potential, from a policy perspective, for aged care to be a partner with health in supporting older people to age well.
Flyer and full Program will be available soon.
Residential Forum - Friday 16 April
Note this date in your diary - more information to follow on program and venue.
Regional Forum - Friday 18 June
Note this date in your diary - Friday 18 June, 9.30 am-4pm. The Regional Forum has been scheduled the day after the Aged Care Awards Cocktail Party to enable rural members to attend both events.
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.
Did you miss out on the FREE Fair Work Act information sessions in 2009?
Tuesday 16 February 1.00-4.00 pm
ACS has been fortunate to receive additional Commonwealth funding to conduct one final FREE metropolitan information session on the new workplace relations legislation, the Fair Work Act. The content of this session is the same as the free sessions conducted between September and December 2009.
The Fair Work Act is significantly different to the previous Act and will affect business operations. The session will cover:
- Minimum standards for employees including wages, hours, leave, entitlements, protections, agreements, unfair and unlawful dismissals.
- Operation of unions including collective bargaining
- Establishment of a specialist commission that helps resolve disputes and sets standards
- Industrial action
- Modern award overview – Aged Care Award and Nurses Award including leave obligations, shift work loadings, ordinary hours, breaks between shifts, and overtime.
Cleaning in Food Preparation Areas in Residential and Aged Care
Wednesday 17 February, 9.30 am–4.30 pm
This up-to-date training addresses the essential cleaning issues for any person involved in cleaning food preparation areas.
- 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
It is designed for any staff and volunteers in residential aged care and acute care whose role involves (a) cleaning in food areas or (b) supervising staff who clean in food areas.
Aged Care Facilities Disaster Event Preparation: subsidised cost for members – $55 incl. GST
Thursday 18 February, 9.30 am–2.00 pm
Kindly co-sponsored by Resthaven Inc and Flinders University
Please note the venue for this session is next door to ACS, at YNA (Your Nursing Agency) 250 Glen Osmond Rd.
This session was over-subscribed when it was offered in December, and Flinders University have offered to facilitate the session again due to popular demand.
This session will be critical for all staff involved in disaster event preparation in residential facilities or independent living units and will cover:
- SA context for emergency management
- Understanding a disaster management framework
- Assessing disaster events and undertaking risk assessment impact analysis.
- Developing an Emergency Management Contingency Plan
- Exercise on activating the Emergency Management Contingency Plan
- Developing a communication strategy
- Discuss staff personal preparation and planning
REGIONAL session in Wallaroo – AFCI Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
Friday 19 February, 9.00 am–3.00 pm
Jacqui Banham will again be visiting Wallaroo to present an ACFI session focussing on successful clinical assessments:
- What is accurate clinical comprehensive assessment?
- How do we ensure our residents get the best outcome and ensure the funding instrument ACFI is well supported?
- Learn how to accurately execute and interpret the two ACFI tools—the PAS (Psychogeriatric Assessment Scale) and the modified CDS (Cornell Depression Scale).
- How to accurately assess continence, behaviour
Designed for Registered nurses, enrolled nurses or senior care workers involved in the clinical assessment process.
Upcoming RDNS clinical courses
ACS is pleased to provide information about upcoming RDNS clinical courses and education events.
Mental Health First Aid
This award-winning course delivers critical skills in supporting people with mental health conditions or experiencing mental health crises. Delivered by Andy Kelly, a mental health nurse with more than 30 years experience, this interactive and stimulating 2-day course is a must for anyone involved in front-line services in health and community services. Book now (registration form attached) on 1300 364 264, fax to 8208 5311, or via email
When 22 & 23 March 2010
Where Education Development Centre, Milner St, Hindmarsh
Cost $225 (inc light lunch)
Papers and Presentations 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.
Visit the ACS Training & Events Program
Industry Supporter News
Bloomers – The Art of Selling Retirement Living
LAST CHANCE to register - today or by COB tomorrow!
8th and 9th February, special price for ACS members
Retirement Partners are the providers of “Bloomers® – the Art of Selling Retirement Living”. The sales training program that is unique, purpose-built and created from the ground up just for the retirement living industry. The purpose of Bloomers® is to cultivate the specific knowledge and skills you need to sell retirement living, no matter whether you’re a budding sales recruit, experienced but new to the industry, or a crack professional seeking the tips that will bring a bounteous harvest of additional sales results.
The people behind the development of Bloomers® are highly qualified and credentialed, with an extensive array of experience in seniors marketing, sales, operations and practical training – nationally. The developers have experience across a variety of villages, resorts, and facilities – ranging from well-established villages, development of new sites, right through to building community support at concept stage.
Feedback from participants has been terrific – as an example, Sasha Andrews from St Lukes Care (Sydney) said “10 out of 10 – excellent facilitators and a great programme” and Peter Witnish from Retirement by Design (Melbourne) said “Best course I have attended, totally relevant to the retirement profession.”
For more information about the two-day training program, visit the website. The next program is in Adelaide on February 8th and 9th – and ACS members are eligible for a special price. Registrations are limited to a maximum class size, and close on Thursday 28th January (unless filled prior to this date).
The Bloomers team have also developed a new CRM (Sales database) to help nurture clients through the process – and this will be available from March 2010.
Please click here for a flyer about a purpose-built, hands-on sales training program for the retirement living industry.