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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 2 Issue
3 – June 2009
Please note some of the articles provided will have additional papers which can be downloaded, or you will be directed 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 Gretta Koch with your contact details and she will issue you with your access details.
Index
ACS response to ABC ‘4 Corners’ Program
ACS, along with the rest of the sector, was dismayed and shocked by the distressing stories presented on ABC’s 4 Corners program (1 June). It was very disheartening to see the industry portrayed in such a negative light once again.
We can take some solace from the fact the report was very unbalanced (for example, interviews with associations’ representatives were not included) and DoHA was the main target rather than providers, although of course we suffered.
In response, a nationally coordinated effort was considered the best approach and ACSA issued a media release the morning after the show. ACS SA & NT issued a combined ACS/ACSA release, adding some SA statistics. There has been some media follow-up in the Queensland, NSW and Victoria – primarily on ABC radio.
Yesterday, ACSA wrote to all Federal MPs (Reps and Senate) – click on the links for the Senate copy and fact sheet. ACS will be writing to all State MPs (Legislative Assembly and Council) this week, using the ACSA material as the basis of the correspondence.
In our view, this program provides us with an opportunity to exert pressure on the need for significant policy change. To this end ACS has been ‘feeding’ Senator Xenophon with questions for Senate Estimates this week, focusing on the underlying issues that arose in the 4 Corners program, and the need to prepare a response to the Hospital and Health report and the recent Senate Inquiry.
Working with the new Community Services Training Package CHC08
Date: Tuesday 30 June
Venue: The Wattle Room, Balyana Conference Centre, 46 Strathcona Avenue, Clapham
Session 1: Introducing the training package, 9 am-10 am
Session 2: Training packages in action, 10.30 am-12 pm
Find out more. You can register here.
ACS Committee Update: Housing Committee
The ACS Housing Committee (previously Retirement Committee) identified three key areas to focus on for 2008-2009 with a number of interest areas under each. The key areas are:
1: To create and promote affordable housing opportunities for older people
The Committee ran a business@breakfast in April on the Economic Stimulus Package social housing opportunities and the Greater Adelaide Plan (GAP). As a result of the briefing by John Hanlon on the GAP, ACS and the Retirement Villages Association are sending a letter to Minister Holloway requesting consultation to ensure the Gap addresses retirement living and residential aged care needs and understands its complexities.
2: To generate new and innovative housing design for older people
The 2008 Affordable Housing Forum included an architect’s panel which was rated highly in the evaluations. Theme and speaker planning for the next Housing Forum (4 December 2009) is leaning towards a longer session on affordable housing design and bringing in a topic which is gaining momentum….the growing need for a strong relationship between community care support and residents in independent living. Final details and registration flyer will be available in August.
The Committee is working to establish communications with state and local government authorities and engage them with the ACS membership where necessary during significant changes. Advocacy is viewed as a priority area to bring about change for members.
A subcommittee exists to discuss talking points with Planning SA and to meet with Planning SA representatives about member issues. Please email any issues or talking point suggestions to Kellie Kulinski.
The Housing Committee has regular guest speakers to Committee meetings. Recent guests include Wendy Campana (Local Government Association), Paul Mitchell (Affordable Housing Consultant) Justin Shadiac (Project Facilitator-National Rental Affordability Scheme) and Alan Graham (ACS). The guest speakers are chosen for their links to the sector and provide important information, issues and opportunities to be aware of for ACS members.
3: To promote effective management of retirement village living
Key legislative changes, accreditation and quality issues, understanding the impact of changing demographics and increasing community care within retirement village living and best industry practices to improve quality of life and lifestyle for retirement village residents are the main areas being monitored.
A housing-related ‘Business@Breakfast’ with Dr Debbie Faulkner; Flinders Institute for Housing, Urban and Regional Research, will present current research on older people and housing (7.30 am, Thursday 6 August 2009)
If you wish to discuss the Committee’s work further please contact Kellie Kulinski, Business Development Manager on 8338 8004 or email. Newly appointed to this committee, Kellie is keen to meet members who work in this area and learn directly of members’ issues and ideas. Please consider arranging a catch-up visit.
Housing Committee members. Ruth Pedler will retire after this term – thank you for your contribution Ruth.
ACS Community Care Forum - 29 June 2009
Morphettville Junction, 470 Anzac Highway, Camden Park SA
'The momentum for policy change has never been stronger. There is an opportunity to approach aged care policy reform in a structured, proactive fashion.' (Grant Thornton Aged Care Survey, Second Report, January 2009)
The ACS forum will provide an opportunity for members to hear about future directions for community care from a range of perspectives including the Australian Government, Aged Care Peak body and Consumer Peak body. It will look at ways members can help shape the direction. Current pressures on community aged care providers will also be addressed.
Speakers include:
- Keith Tracey-Patte (Assistant Secretary, Community Programs Branch, Ageing & Aged Care Division, Department of Health & Ageing)
- Ian Yates (CEO, COTA)
- Pat Sparrow (Policy Manager, ACSA) and Alan Graham (CEO, ACS SA & NT)
- Andrew Stoll (General Manager, Community Services, ECH)
Please click here for the Registration Flyer. Full program available soon.
Survey - Cost of Regulatory Compliance 2009
Invitation
ACAA would like to invite as many aged care providers as possible to participate in a survey designed to estimate the costs associated with your efforts to comply with regulatory requirements under the Aged Care Act (1997) and Quality Principles. A similar survey was conducted in January 2006 relating to unnecessary red tape and the Resident Classification Scale (RCS).
If you participate in this study, you will be asked to provide estimates or averages for time and resources involved in complying with regulations and follow-up dealings with mandated agencies. The survey should take around 30 minutes but if you need to stop and come back later, you will be given a unique access code when you start, that will allow you to access your survey later.
The online survey runs until 30 June 2009. Find out more and access the survey.
SA Gerontology Conference - Call for Abstracts Extension
Regenerating the Ageing Debate
Talking about our generations
The 10th Annual SA Gerontology Conference will bring together a wide range of people with an interest in Ageing, and offers a great opportunity to share innovative work and recent knowledge in this field.
Keynote speakers include
- Professor Robert Newton, Exercise and Sports Science, Edith Cowan University WA
- Dr Lynn Arnold, Chief Executive, Anglicare SA
- Professor Jennifer Abbey, Consultant ACH Group
Submissions of abstracts for concurrent session presentations are welcome from academics, students, aged care practitioners and service providers and others. Abstracts must be submitted by June 11 2009.
Don't miss out!
Don’t miss your chance to nominate for the WorkCoverSA Recovery and Return to Work Awards 2009 – they close Friday 3 July.
The Awards recognise candidates who demonstrate great examples of successful rehabilitation and return to work. If you know someone who has excelled in these areas, nominate them in one of the following categories:
- Worker achievement award
- Employer excellence award (small to medium)
- Employer excellence award (large)
- Employer excellence award (self-insured)
- Health and rehabilitation achievement award (individual)
- Health and rehabilitation achievement award (organisation)
- Case management excellence award
New ACS Industry Supporters
ACS is delighted to welcome two new industry supporters: Verso Consulting (Verso) and Your Nursing Agency (YNA).
Verso aims to be a provider of choice for high quality, responsive consulting services. Established in 2001, they currently work with agencies and services operating in the aged care, disability support, health and community support sectors.
Their clients include local government, government, nongovernment and not-for-profit community organisations as well as private organisations.
Verso specialise in and have a strong commitment to community care, home based services, community development projects, community capacity building and consulting with local communities.
The Autumn edition of Verso's Focus is now available.
Your Nursing Agency (YNA) is proud to be an ACS industry supporter and looks forward to a long-lasting professional relationship with ACS members. They are Adelaide based, located at 250 Glen Osmond Road, Fullarton (next door to ACS). YNA recruit only experienced and highly skilled staff who offer a superior service to the Aged Care community in Adelaide.
As a special offer to ACS members, YNA has provided discounted introductory rates. The rates are the most competitive in South Australia and are applicable until 31 July 2009. As a further incentive, those members who book a shift during the offer period will be eligible for an extension until 30 September 2009. YNA are committed to providing the best agency staff and most competitive rates for ACS members.
Please call them on 08 7129 5000 or email to discuss this special offer.
The Audaire Report The essential reference document
Written for people working in the aged and community care industry, The Audaire Report will stimulate strategic thinking and provide a context for future planning. With over 40 references, the Report is essential reading for Board Members, Executives and Managers as:
- An introduction to working in the industry
- Background material when preparing for planning and
- An overview that will improve understanding of the external environment as it is today
The Audaire Report covers current, emerging and planning issues that relate to external drivers of change including the demographics of the aged population, government policy and the social and economic environment.
Men’s Activity Forum
The Eastern Regional Collaboration Project is facilitating a Men’s Activity Forum to be held on Friday 19 June 2009.
Free Seminar: What rights do unions have to enter your workplace? New laws apply from 1 July 2009
All employers should know their rights and obligations with respect to ‘right of entry’ under the new Fair Work Act 2009 from 1 July 2009. EMA Consulting is holding free information sessions for employers to outline the right of entry laws and subsequent implications this may have on your organisation.
Wednesday 24 June 2009: 8:00 am – 9:00 am (registration from 7:45 am)
Wednesday 24 June 2009: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm (registration from 3:45 pm)
Venue: EMA Consulting, Level 2, 82 Waymouth Street, Adelaide
4th International Conference on community health nursing research
Registration brochure and preliminary program are now available.
Arts, Ageing & Creativity Conference - keynote speakers announced!
22–23 October 2009
Adelaide Convention Centre
The Conference program highlights a range of industry professionals and specialist speakers and presenters. Confirmed international keynote speakers include:
Dr Dalia Gottlieb-Tanaka (Canada), Chair and Founder of the Society for the Arts in Dementia Care, Vancouver, British Columbia. Dr Gottlieb-Tanaka combines her research with practical work with seniors with dementia, focusing on creativity, dementia and the therapeutic environment. She is an adjunct professor at the Centre for Population Health Research at the University of British Columbia.
Dr Yukimi Uchide (Japan) is currently the chief director of ten facilities run by the Social Welfare Foundation Tennjin-kai, which includes Group Homes, Special Nursing Homes and Day Care Centres. Dr Uchide’s latest research theme is ‘A Non-verbal Monitoring Method for Emotional Response Designed for People with Advanced Dementia’. This theme reflects the importance of exploring and understanding the inner world of people with dementia.
ACS SA&NT Training Courses
Last chance to book . . .
Members-only: Medicare online claiming for community service (CACP) providers
Presented by Medicare staff from the SA office.
Medicare Australia’s Aged Care Online Claiming is a fast and secure solution for sending forms online and claiming directly with Medicare Australia. It was initially introduced to streamline the payment of residential Aged Care subsidies. Medicare is now establishing a system to allow Commonwealth-funded community aged care providers to claim online - come and find out all about it.
Date: Wednesday 10 June 2009
Time: 9.30 am-11 am (morning tea provided)
Venue: ACS Training Room
Attention managers/supervisors: better manage your relationships with clients, residents and their families ...
with OzTrain's Alli Taylor
Knowing how to effectively manage your relationships with clients, residents, their families and other advocates is an essential skill for managers, supervisors and team leaders. Come and learn about the evolving client: their changing needs and expectations. You will also learn how to:
- Identify the ‘service quality gap’
- Methods of identifying service quality factors
- Understand the cycle of service
- Understand the client's ‘moments of truth’
Date: Friday 12 June 2009
Time: 9 am-4 pm (morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea provided)
Venue: ACS Training Room
Food safety courses
Follow work procedures to maintain food safety
A must-attend training session for any person handling food in the aged care industry! This session will help you to identify specific food safety risks with your products and processes. It will also provide advice on food law, how to manage your risks, demonstrate best practice and due diligence.
Date: Friday 26 June 2009
Time: 10 am-4.30 pm (morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea provided)
Venue: ACS Training Room
Implement the Food Safety Programs and Procedures—HACCP
This one-day intensive training program has been customised for participants working in aged care facilities. It is designed to equip participants with the tools to develop and implement the Food Safety Program.
Date: Wednesday 1 July 2009
Time: 9 am-4 pm (morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea provided)
Venue: ACS Training Room
Visit the full ACS 2009 Training Calendar.