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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.
ACS has arranged through EMA consulting to provide members with an array of material that hopefully will assist your organisation changing over to the new awards regime during the transition period which commenced 1 July 2010.
If you have any queries about any of the material that has been supplied please contact EMA consulting direct.
Aged Care Low Paid Bargaining – update
A full bench hearing was held on Tuesday 6 July to consider submissions from the LHMU, the AWU and the employers regarding directions that should be issued in the case regarding low paid bargaining in aged care.
The employers have submitted:
The unions opposed the employer’s position. It is unlikely that the FWA will agree to the employer’s request of commonwealth regarding disclosure on funding, but note that the LHMU also opposed this request (in contrast to its informal position on the matter) with employers.
The full bench has reserved its decision and will issue directions at some time in the near future. In any event we note that those directions will mean the commencement of work by the employers to prepare our case.
Call to apply for Golden Gurus grants
The Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens, has announced that applications are now open for the Australian Government’s $500 000 Golden Gurus grants.
Golden Gurus, an Australia 2020 Summit initiative, brings together a diverse range of quality organisations to link the expertise of mature age mentors (50 and over) with community organisations or start-up businesses.
The residential aged care sector has achieved a really good record in the fourth accreditation round, according to Mark Brandon, CEO of the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency. He was speaking at an aged care conference in NSW.
In December 2009, 94 per cent of the nation’s aged care facilities were compliant with all 44 of the agency’s expected outcomes, up from 92 per cent in December 2006.
Non-compliant homes now tend to have fewer problems than they did in the past, with the number of areas that are found to be non-compliant is much lower. The vast majority of homes manage to fix the problem within the timetable for improvement.
The most common risks for residential providers include changes in ownership, changes in systems and processes, the loss of key staff, building projects and changes in resident mix, with expected outcome 1.8: information systems being the major problem.
Grant Thornton Retirement living survey 2010
The information available on retirement living services in Australia is relatively limited. Our consultations with operators throughout Australia indicate that resident priorities and development trends are often not clearly understood. This can make it more challenging for operators to maximise their returns through strategic infrastructure investment.
The Grant Thornton/RVA Retirement Living Survey will provide invaluable information on the profile of retirement villages across Australia, the services offered and the changing landscape over the past five decades. It will also examine the inter-relationships between retirement living, residential care and community care services from both an operator and consumer perspective.
Click here to take part in the survey online and begin entering data.
Participants in the survey will receive reports providing national and state based data on village configuration, contract and fee arrangements, resident service priorities and critical industry issues.
For information on our retirement village and aged care research, click here.

The Grand Plan Campaign Update 2010
ACS emailed all CEOs of member organisations earlier this week regarding the Grand Plan and how members can get involved. Click here to read the notice.
Our Facebook site is currently up to 160 fans and John Safran has been busy tweeting - http://twitter.com/safran_john and Father Bob blogging - http://www.fatherbob.com.au/
It’s easy to get involved:
Send a card to the Grand Person(s) in your life and this will generate an email to your local MP.
Send an email to Ministers and Opposition Shadow spokespersons.
ACS will run briefing sessions for interested staff from member organisations.Come in for a coffee and more info on the Campaign! Next session: Monday 12 July, 10 am-10.45 am in the ACS Training Room. Please phone ACS on 8338 7111 to register.
ACS SA&NT staff can also visit facilities to help your staff become involved (visits to regional areas will necessarily be limited). Phone us on 8338 7111 or email Rebecca Nicol ACS Training Manager to arrange a session.
Discussion Paper: Draft Health & Community Services Charter of Rights
Please click here for the discussion paper ‘Draft Health & Community Services Charter of Rights’. HCSCC welcomes feedback forms/written submissions until 11 August 2010. All queries or comments should be directed to HCSCC:
Email: info@hcscc.sa.gov.au Fax to 8226 8620 or Post to HCSCC – Charter of Rights Consultation, PO Box 199, RUNDLE MALL SA 5000.
June 2010 edition of the Residential Aged Care Communiqué
Please click here to access a copy of the Communique.
Kim Bannon from MIMS is keen to hear from Aged Care Providers about e-medication and how MIMS can help the Aged Care Industry. Kim is based in Adelaide and can be contacted on: M 0400 091 050; Email: kim.bannon@mims.com.au
Networking opportunity: Are you looking for board members for your organisation?
Thursday 22 July, 6–8 pm at the Crowne Plaza, Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide
The Australian Institute of Company Directors together with Volunteering SA & NT are delighted to host a Cocktail Party as part of the Emerging Directors Series.
This enjoyable evening will provide not-for-profit organisations with the opportunity to expand networks and find board members by having direct contact with a group of new and emerging company directors.
Places are limited: please register via this flyer.
Falls Prevention Program – Recorded Workshop presentations available
SA Health Falls Prevention Program recently delivered three workshops including several presentations that were recorded. If you were not able to attend the recent workshops or would like to hear them again, these presentations are available on the safety and quality website. Below are the direct links for your convenience.
Dementia, delirium and falls prevention workshop
The keynote speaker – Associate Professor Dr Jacqueline Close from University of NSW. This presentation was of interest to a variety of health professionals who are working in acute, community or residential aged care and are interested in reducing falls rates in this challenging client group.
Dr Jacqueline Close – Preventing Falls in the Confused Older Person - The Evidence and the Real World
Improving the Safety & Independence of Older Adults at Home Workshop
The program for the Workshop can be accessed here.
Don't miss this FREE education opportunity at the Palliative Care Council! Starts in August
This education program for palliative care runs once a month on a Tuesday afternoon, 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm from August 2010 until July 2011 at the Palliative Care Council of SA, 202 Greenhill Road, Eastwood.
This program is kindly supported by a grant from Resthaven – celebrating 75 years 1935-2010
Join us to explore the possibilities in Aged Care . . . ACSA National Conference 19-22 September
The ACSA twenty 10 National Conference will be the most important aged and community care event this year. The Conference will be held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor on Hobart’s beautiful waterfront from Sunday 19 September to Wednesday 22 September, 2010.
The theme is ‘Explore the Possibilities.’ In 2009 we stood up for the future of aged and community are and made our voices heard in Government and the community. This year it is time for us to design a bright and sustainable future for our industry. To make sure we explore all the possibilities we will draw on sources far and wide – finding lessons and innovation both outside our industry ‘square’ and from within our industry.
At the Conference you will be asked to:
The Registration Brochure is available here.
2010 National Dementia Research Forum 23 and 24 September
23 and 24 September
Holiday Inn Gold Coast
The Forum will showcase the latest research in Quality of Life and Quality of Care for people living with dementia and their carers as well providing updates on intervention research, translation of research through education, diagnosis, treatment and management of dementia, drug treatments, and prevention of dementia.
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.
Thursday 22 July Stress Management
With the ever-popular Mike Fenwick
Have you ever been overwhelmed by issues that people describe as ‘stressful?’ Do you sometimes feel others don’t know what you are going through? Are there lots of things happening to you? Any headaches, back pain, tummy upsets, palpitations, anger, sleeplessness, or lethargy after sleep?
Participants will learn to:
Tuesday 27 July Diabetes awareness for people working in a Community Care setting
Presented by Diabetes SA
Facts:
This session will provide participants with introductory information about diabetes and practical solutions to managing the care of people living with diabetes.
Bring along your questions about diabetes and have them answered by a Credentialled Diabetes Educator.
Thursday 29 July We can work it out
With the ever-popular Mike Fenwick
All workplaces have a range of ‘different’ behaviours from a range of different personalities on a minute by minute basis. Managing and addressing some of those negative behaviours can sap a lot of emotional and physical energy. What do we say? How do we get other ways of thinking in place to support productivity and the team goals?
Participants will learn how to:
Thursday 5 August Developing Resilience During Workplace Change
With new presenter Marina Bakker, founder and Managing Director of Counselling Works
Resiliency is about the positive adaptation by individuals despite their experiences of significant stress, change or adversity. Constant and persistent pressures can wear employees down, produce burnout or negatively impact on emotional, physical, and mental well-being. Employees who are more highly resilient more effective and productive than employees who are stressed. It also increases an individual’s capacity to manage conflict, deal with difficult work-related behaviours and develop positive working relationships.
Topics discussed:
All Participants are issued with a training manual, PowerPoint presentation notes and a Certificate of Completion.
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.