- Home
- About Us
- Membership
- Learning & Professional Development
- Mature Workers Matter Resource
- Publications
- Useful Links
Members login
Aged & Community Services
SA & NT Inc©
246 Glen Osmond Road,
Fullarton SA 5063
Phone: (08) 8338 7111
Fax: (08) 8338 7077
Disclaimer & Privacy Statements
web design by 
Volume 11, Issue 4, April 2010
View Snippets as PDF file 
338Kb
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.
Snippets is proudly sponsored by Randstad
Index
From the CEO's desk
COAG meetings leave aged care sector disappointed
The national health reforms agreed to at this week's COAG meetings fail to address the fundamental capital, recurrent funding and workforce problems the aged care industry faces.
ACSA, as part of the Campaign for the Care of Older Australians, has issued a media release in response.
Also attached for your information is the Communique from the COAG meetings held on 19 and 20 April and a copy of the National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement.
The Terms of Reference for the Productivity Commission inquiry into aged care have also just been released.
ACS Committee Nominations 2010
ACS is now seeking nominations from interested individuals who are keen to contribute to the committee structure by providing their knowledge, skills and expertise to the five committees:
Committee members will be selected based on the individual’s knowledge, expertise and skills relevant to the particular committee, rather than being selected as a representative of a particular organisation. Individuals nominating for committee positions must be an employee of an organisation which is a member of ACS SA & NT.
Appointments to the committees will commence on 1st July 2010 and will generally be for a three-year term, with the exception of committees which have additional vacancies replacing members who have resigned mid-term.
The Terms of Reference (ToR) should be read in conjunction with the Explanatory Memorandum, which provides general information relevant to all Committees.
The Nomination Process
Nominations must be submitted by close of business Friday 4 June 2010.Please forward your completed nomination to Aged & Community Services SA & NT Inc, 246 Glen Osmond Road, Fullarton 5063 or email.
In order to assess the best candidates for the committee positions we are asking interested parties to make statements against selection criteria on the nomination form. It is not our intention to make this an onerous exercise but we do need you to take a little time demonstrating your credentials so that we can give due consideration to your nomination. Please feel free to attach additional information to the application if you consider it enhances your nomination.
All individuals will be advised of the outcome of their nomination.
If you do have any queries please email the Executive Officer.
Join your colleagues on the red carpet for a night to remember!
The ACS SA & NT State and Territory Awards 2010 will be presented at a Cocktail Party on Thursday 17 June, 5-7 pm at The Observatory function centre, in the Starlight Ballroom.
Cocktails, canapés, and intergenerational entertainment will help celebrate the ACS SA & NT Awards for Excellence evening.
Tickets are $75 per head - please book online here. Should you have any inquiries, please contact Kellie Kulinski on 8338 8004.
For members’ information, a summary of combined media activity for ACS and ACSA (over the past month) appears below.
Articles
- Letter from ACS CEO Alan Graham published in The Advertiser 16 April
- Article in the Hills Weekender – working in the aged care sector
Media Releases
- Aged care reforms a stepping stone – MR 12 April
- Aged care on the sick list – MR 14 April
- Aged care reforms great news for older Australians – MR 12 April
- Aged care transition places a good move: CCOA – MR 10 April
- CCOA welcomes Roxon’s support for aged care reform – MR 28 April
- Health reform points to aged care – MR 23 March
- Aged care must feature in leaders’ debate – MR 22 March
Interviews
- Radio interview – ABC – Riverland (12 April)
- Radio interview – ABC News (12 April)
- Radio Interview – ABC – South East (13 April)
- Radio Interview ABC – The World Today (15 April)
Attention CEOs: Lynch Meyer Aged Care Briefing - Unfair Contracts regime
The Unfair Contracts regime is to commence on 1 July 2010. It has significant ramifications for the retirement village and aged care sectors. The attached update from Lynch Meyer's aged care team tells you why! Please note in particular the fourth Key Point on the front page of the newsletter.
Randstad News
For over 20 years, Randstad has been supporting the needs of employers and the careers of jobseekers right across South Australia.
Knowing how to be an inspiring leader- does it keep you awake at night?
Being a business leader in any industry is not an easy job. It can be demanding, mean you have to make difficult decisions, and it constantly - especially in the tough times - causes you to ask yourself, did I make the right call?
Leaders in 2010 are faced with a combination of decisions unlike any seen in years. While 2009's downturn may have been difficult, a successful upswing or recovery presents its own unique challenges.
Business leaders in South Australia can see a positive shift on the way, but after last year's trials, are asking themselves the big questions - in 2010 what am I expected to pay? How do I keep my employees on board as skill shortages take off? Where do I find the right people to build our business? And ultimately, do I need to
change the way I lead?
The 2010 Randstad World of Work Report addresses the biggest challenges of this year, taking the survey responses of more than 3000 employees and employers to answer ten of the burning questions keeping you, as a leader, awake at night.
The Randstad World of Work reports:
40% of employees want a leader who creates shared vision, yet 60% say their current leader can't communicate the existing vision effectively. Do you need to change the way you lead in 2010?
The 2010 Randstad World of Work Report arrives in May - contact your Randstad consultant to secure your copy.
General News
If you have changed workplace or roles, or just left or joined the sector, we'd love to know about it.
Please click here for a form to update your details - don't miss out on important industry information and updates! The completed form can be faxed to 8338 7077 or scanned and emailed.
National Report Issue 226 - The Aged Care Announcement
ACSA issued a special edition of the National Report, in response to the Prime Minister’s announcements regarding aged care reforms.
Items include:
- The Aged Care Announcement
- Next Steps - The Grand Plan
Police check renewals due – reminder
Police checks must remain current and need to be renewed every three years, before they expire. It is now three years since police check arrangements were first implemented.
Please click here for information regarding National Criminal History Record certificate (police check) renewal procedures.
If you have any further queries, please contact the Department of Health and Ageing through the Aged Care Information Line on: 1800 500 853, or by emailing.
Update on stage two of the National Health Reform Plan
A report on the second stage of the Commonwealth Government’s National Health Reform Plan was recently released. The report details the structural reforms to the healthcare system, the key item being the establishment of a nationally funded and locally run National Health and Hospitals Network.
The report details the Government’s plan in assuming full responsibility for aged care, with a full transfer of the Home and Community Care (HACC) program to the Commonwealth. Other key elements of the plan with regard to aged care include:
- Increasing the capacity of the aged care system through zero real interest loans to construct an additional 2500 aged care places.
- A capital funding of $120 million for 286 sub-acute beds in rural and remote regions.
- Increasing payment to GPs who provide attendances to residents of aged care homes.
- Increased financial assistance to states for long stay older patients in hospitals.
- 1200 innovative Consumer Directed Care packages.
- Investing in improvements for the Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme.
- Strengthening risk based prudential arrangements for accommodation bonds.
The National Health and Hospitals Network: Further Investments in Australia’s Health report can be downloaded from the DOHA website.
$3.5 million in community grants to increase dementia support
Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot, announced $3.5 million in grants will be provided to fund 82 community projects to provide support and raise awareness for people with dementia and their families.
Congratulations to all SA and NT organisations who received funding – please refer to thetable below.
Helping Hand Aged Care Inc will receive over $63,000 to fund its “Memory Farm Project” which uses memorabilia and antiques to support reminiscence therapy and social engagement and its “Telling My Story” filmmaking project to assist people with dementia to share their stories and assist with recalling and passing on life experiences.
Further details of the grant recipients are available at www.health.gov.au/dementia
South Australia
Organisation |
Project |
Grant Offer |
ACH Group (Aged Care and Housing Group Inc) |
Planning Ahead for Aboriginal Elders |
$50,000.00 |
ACH Group (Aged Care and Housing Group) Inc |
Getting Connected |
$45,720.00 |
Active Ageing Australia |
Active Living with Dementia |
$48,500.00 |
Alzheimer's Australia SA Inc |
The Art Café |
$50,000.00 |
Country Home Advocacy Project Inc (CHAP) |
Dementia in the community - who is coming through my door? |
$18,670.00 |
ECH Inc |
My Life…Me |
$45,360.00 |
Helping Hand Aged Care Inc |
The Memory Farm Project |
$18,850.00 |
Helping Hand Aged Care Inc |
Telling My Story |
$44,800.00 |
Netherlands Australian Aged Services Association Inc |
Dutch Dementia early awareness and support program |
$50,000.00 |
Riverland Division of General Practice |
Moments, Marbles and Memories |
$50,000.00 |
Northern Territory
Alzheimer's Australia NT Inc |
Theatre program - Awareness for children and residents of aged care facilities |
$50,000.00 |
From 1 July 2010, the Australian Government will provide 651 new transition care places to help up to 4,800 older people leave hospital sooner and take pressure off the state and territory hospital systems.
The new places will be fully funded by the Australian Government as part of its $293.2 million commitment to provide an additional 2,000 transition care places by 30 June 2012. The new places will be rolled-out from 1 July 2010 and will become operational throughout the financial year.
The new places will be allocated to the states and territories as follows:
State/Territory |
Transition care places |
South Australia |
58 |
New South Wales |
222 |
Victoria |
163 |
Queensland |
126 |
Western Australia |
59 |
Tasmania |
15 |
Australian Capital Territory |
8 |
TOTAL |
651 |
$80 million to help Australians with a mental illness
Australians with a severe mental illness will continue to have access to intensive, one-on-one support through an $80.3 million (over three years) funding extension to the Personal Helpers and Mentors (PHaMs) program. Through this funding, 33 providers offering services at 58 locations across Australia will be able to continue to employ 290 full-time equivalent personal helpers and mentors to work individually with people with mental illnesses. Since 2007 PHaMs services have helped around 9,000 people with a mental illness. PHaMs is designed to help people with a severe mental illness reconnect with the wider community and live more independent and satisfying lives. Find out more.
The funding allocated in SA and NT is as follows:
Mid-North Country, SA |
Australian Red Cross Society |
$1,434,000 |
Noarlunga, SA |
Mental Illness Fellowship of South Australia Incorporated |
$1,296,000 |
North and Far West Country, SA |
Mission Australia |
$1,513,670 |
Southern Metro - Marion sub area, SA |
UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide Incorporated |
$1,296,000 |
Darwin-Palmerston Urban, NT |
Mission Australia |
$1,368,000 |
Katherine - Urban, NT |
Australian Red Cross Society |
$1,513,670 |
Top End - Remote and Rural communities, NT |
Top End Association for Mental Health Inc. |
$1,434,000 |
Free in-language workshops to help seniors understand medicines issues
More than 150 workshops will be held across Australia over the next three months to help seniors from non-English speaking backgrounds understand medicines use issues.
The workshops will be run in six different languages – Cantonese, Mandarin, Greek, Italian, Arabic and Vietnamese – and will cover two specific topics: ‘safe and wise use of medicines’ and ‘sleep and ageing’.
For more information contact Jackie Stephenson, NPS project officer, on 02 8217 8756 or email
Weekly payments for vulnerable Australians
Vulnerable Australians can now receive their regular income support payments weekly, instead of fortnightly, to help them better manage their budgets. Under legislation recently passed – the Social Security and Family Legislation Amendment (Weekly Payments) Bill 2010 – Centrelink staff can offer the weekly payment option to customers identified as having difficulties budgeting their payments across the fortnight.
The changes will help people, particularly the homeless and those at risk of homelessness, who find it difficult to budget and often end the fortnight with no money left to pay the bills.
Disability Care and Support Public inquiry
The Australian Government has asked the Productivity Commission to undertake a public inquiry into a long-term disability care and support scheme. The Inquiry will examine a range of options, and consider whether a no-fault social insurance approach to disability is appropriate in Australia. It will also examine the implications of such a scheme for Australia’s health, aged care, and income support systems, and potential interactions with injury insurance schemes.
Click here for information on making a submission to the Productivity Commission’s Disability Care and Support public inquiry.
Saint Hilarion relocation sale
Saint Hilarion Aged Care wishes to sell the following assets prior to their relocation to Seaton in about six weeks. Please contact them for further information on 8347 2242.
Coming Events
ACSA National Community Care Conference 2010, Gold Coast, June 2-4
Next Generation Community Care
Rewarding, Rethinking, Reshaping
Sign up today for the National Community Care Conference. It’s your opportunity to keep the spotlight on Community Care.
Share your experience with colleagues; listen to experts and together we can Reshape the future of Community Care.
Key note speaker Peter Beresford understands the different perspectives of community care and his unique experience has helped reshape his views. The UK social policy professor has been a recipient of community care and an integral player in policy development to change the face of caring for people in the community.
He joins an impressive list of speakers over three days.
Sign up prior to 30 April 2010 to take advantage of the early bird rates and save over $100 on a Full Registration.
The 3rd annual Community Care Conference will be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from 2 – 4 June.
Go to http://www.acqi.org.au/acsa-2010 for the registration brochure and speaker profiles.
Rural and Regional Sponsorships – three available, click here for details.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference 16 June 2010
ARAS has organised a great range of speakers for this year’s conference – mark it in your diary now. The event will be held in the Convention Centre on North Terrace.
Our keynote speaker is Professor Laura Mosqueda from the Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect in California. The presentation discuss ways that abuse can be recognised and stopped in its early stages and ways to prevent abuse from occurring at all.
Associate Professor Susan Kurrle is the plenary speaker for the afternoon and will discuss what abuse is identified on admission to hospitals from residential care and the community.
There will be two sets of concurrent sessions with presentations targeted to residential care or to community care.
Program and registration information will be sent out very shortly so watch out for this great event.
New Resources
Clinical Practice Guidelines Portal and Register
A new national Clinical Practice Guidelines Portal was recently launched to provide links to current Australian guidelines developed by governments, professional colleges, specialty societies and nongovernment agencies. Clinical practice guidelines are critical tools used by health professionals and researchers to improve the health of Australians, yet in the past have often been hard to locate, difficult to access and sometimes out of date.
Developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council’s National Institute of Clinical Studies, the new national portal is a ‘one stop shop’ for clinicians, researchers, policy makers and consumers to access guidelines developed during the preceding five years for use in the Australian health care system. In addition to the Portal, the NHMRC has developed a national clinical practice Guidelines in Development Register. This Register contains information about clinical practice guidelines that are planned or currently being developed in Australia.
The Portal and Register can be accessed here. Further information is available here.
New medicine information resource for Arabic speakers
Australia’s growing population of Arabic speakers now has access to a translated brochure explaining what they need to know about their medicines. The Medimate brochure contains information about prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines and natural and herbal medicines.
The brochures are available from NPS at no cost. To order some visit the website or call 02 8217 8700. Click here to view a copy of the research report into the medicines issues for Arabic speakers in Australia.
New videos about palliative care
The Caresearch palliative care knowledge network has recently made available new DVDs on palliative care.
CareSearch is an online resource designed to help those needing to find relevant and trustworthy information and resources about palliative care. The new resources are available in English, Greek, Italian, and Cantonese. They can be watched online or downloaded onto a DVD and they highlight some of the important issues for people including living with illness, how to care, bereavement, grief, and loss.
CareSearch is available free of charge here.
New clinical guidelines for managing osteoporosis
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners recently released a new clinical guideline for the management of osteoporosis in older people. The guideline was released to mark National Musculoskeletal Awareness Week (which ran from 28 March to 4 April 2010).
Almost 700,000 Australians have been diagnosed with osteoporosis and this new clinical guideline will provide healthcare professionals a comprehensive and evidence-based resource on the management of osteoporosis. Copies of the guideline are available for download from the Royal College of General Practitioners’ website.
VHC Bulletin: Paying VHC Service Providers in emergency situations
This bulletin provides policy advice on one-off emergency situations where a VHC Service Provider’s care worker attends a scheduled visit and finds that a veteran, war widow/widower, or a member of the household requires medical attention or is deceased.
News for Residential Providers
Review of the Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme
The Department of Health and Ageing recently released a report on a review conducted on the Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme (CIS). The report was a result of consultations and submissions from 119 stakeholders involved in the delivery of aged care services nationally.
Associate Professor Merilyn Walton, the author of the report, identified key issues between consumers and the CIS around communication, the management of complaints, perception, training as well as issues on key CIS processes and practices.
A summary of the report is available for ACS members.
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Safety Notice March 2010
The Safety Notice informs Health Services medical device recalls and product corrections that have been issued by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
Medicine Recall
AMLO 10 tablets (10mg amlodipine) - Urgent Medicine Recall. Please click here for details.
Better Oral Health in residential aged care
Please click here for the up-to-date list of Better Oral Health session dates. There have been a significant number of changes.
News for Community Providers
ACS Bushfire Risk Management Plan for Community Care Providers – Call for Member Feedback
The ACS Community Care Committee, in preparation for the next bushfire season has developed a draft Bushfire Risk Management Plan for Community Care Providers. The draft plan was developed in consultation with the Country Fire Service (CFS) as well as with the Local Government Association.
ACS is seeking feedback from its members on the draft plan before it is finalised. This will enable members to provide input on issues that have arisen about the risk management of the Community Care clients, workforce and services during a bushfire event. ACS members are requested to provide feedback by 7th May 2010 via email
Recognising, preventing and responding to abuse of older people living in the community: A resource for community care workers
There is growing recognition of the incidence of abuse of older people by people in a relationship of trust with them such as family, friends or others on whom they depend. Community care workers are in a unique position to support older people who are vulnerable to abuse, and to assist them if abuse occurs.
A research briefing has been prepared by the Department of Social Work at The University of Melbourne in partnership with The Benevolent Society. Click here to see the full paper.
‘Community Aged Care: A Better Way Forward’
Catholic Health Australia has released their Community Aged Care: A Better Way Forward Policy Paper which goes some way to advancing the debate about community care reform.
The Metropolitan Equipment Scheme (MES) provides access for older people to a range of basic equipment and more specialised items. Assistance with home modifications or, in some circumstances, more complex modifications are also available within the scheme. Further information is available in the following documents:
- MES Brochure
- Information for HACC Service Providers (which includes information for CACP/EACH providers re specialised equipment.)
- Key Approval Criteria
- Referral Form
Office for the Ageing newsletter
The first issue of Office for the Ageing – News Update for 2010 is now available.
Housing
Inaugural National Affordable Housing Exchange
Presentations from the Inaugural National Affordable Housing Exchange are now available. Please click here to access.
Housing Alternatives in Aged Care – Minding the Gap Forum 12 May
Cooperatives are a much more common housing option overseas than in Australia. This Forum is a great opportunity to hear how cooperatives operate in Canada. Click here for details.
Housing Australia Factsheet: a quick guide to housing facts and figures - March 2010
National Shelter have updated their housing factsheet. It looks at Housing Stress, Home Purchase, Rental, Social Housing and Homelessness in Australia.
Download the factsheet here. This information sourced from CHCSA Weekly E-Bulletin 11/10.
Retirement Villages and Rent Assistance Fact Sheet
The updated Retirement Villages and Rent Assistance Fact Sheet is effective from the first pension payment after 20th March 2010.
Housing Shortage Tracking to 500,000 by 2020
The Housing Industry Association, Australia's largest building industry organisation, has released its inaugural Housing to 2020 report. The report found that if current building trends persist, then Australia's cumulated housing shortage would reach 466,000 dwellings by 2020.
Transcript of Minister for Housing’s speech at ‘Great Growth Debate’ symposium
Click here for the transcript of Minister Pilbersek’s speech at 'Great Growth Debate' symposium, Brisbane; subjects include: demand for housing in major Australian cities, growth opportunities, rent affordability
Housing Affordability Time Bomb
Please click here to read Matthew Quinn’s, (Managing Director, Stockland) address to Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce (16 March 2010).
Service integrated housing for Australians in later life - AHURI Final Report
(2010) Service integrated housing for Australians in later life. AHURI Final Report No. 141. Melbourne: Australian. Housing and Urban Research Institute - click here for a copy of the report.
Northern Territory News
New Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) arrangements on Groote Eylandt
The Australian and Northern Territory Governments have announced new arrangements under the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) on Groote Eylandt, Gunbalanya, Belyuen and Acacia Larrakia in the Northern Territory (NT).
Further improvements to NT Indigenous housing program
A new independent, expert quality assurance team will be established to inspect and assess new houses and refurbishments delivered under the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) in the Northern Territory (NT).
Rural and Regional News
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) FREE workshops on Professional Practice Framework
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) standards such as the Codes of Ethics and Professional Conduct, Competency Standards and others form a matrix that support nurses and midwives in providing safe, quality care in an increasingly complex and challenging health environment. This matrix of standards is called the Professional Practice Framework.
The ANMC has been successful in obtaining funding from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing to implement the Professional Practice Framework across the jurisdictions.
Free workshops are being run in the following locations:
- Whyalla - Tuesday 27 April (6 places)
- Mt Gambier - Thursday 29 April (15 places available)
- Berri - Friday 30 April (10 places)
To register please email ppf@anmc.org.au with your name, organisation, position title, email address and the workshop date/location you are registering to attend. Please note, there are criteria for registration eligibility.
The workshop runs from 0945 to 1500 hours. Venue information will be forwarded to participants as soon as they register.
Scholarships for allied health placements in rural areas
The Rudd Government will double scholarships for allied health clinical placements in rural areas and establish a locum scheme to support 1,000 allied health workers over the next decade.
These investments are part of the Rudd Government’s plans to reform the health system to deliver better health and better hospitals for all Australians.
Three places up for grabs for rural and remote delegates
A unique opportunity exists for rural and remote providers to attend ACSA’s “Next Generation” National Community Care Conference Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, 2-4 June 2010.
Three Sponsorships of $1,000 each are available as a contribution towards your airfares, accommodation and attendance at the conference. These places are proudly sponsored by HESTA Super Fund and SmartCare.
If you are a rural and remote, including indigenous, service provider and would like the opportunity to attend the upcoming National Conference as a sponsored delegate then apply now!
Simply send an email to events@acqi.org.au by no later than Friday 30 April 2010 and explain in 200 words or less why you would like to attend the conference and what you will do with the knowledge and networks you gain from attending. Please ensure you include your contact and organisation details.
ACSA will advise all successful applicants by Friday 7 May so travel arrangements can be made in time.
If you have any questions please contact Kim Hart on 07 3725 5588.
Research, Publications & Grants
Mortality from cardiovascular disease declining in older people
A recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reported that the greatest decline in mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) was among older people. The report, Cardiovascular disease mortality: trends at different ages, looked at trends in CVD deaths across different age and sex groups, and across the main individual diseases that make up cardiovascular disease.
The report demonstrated that death rates for total CVD and each of its component diseases: coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, heart failure/cardiomyopathy, rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, all fell between 1987 and 2006.
The recent declines in CHD and stroke mortality have been greatest among people aged 55–74 years and the average annual rate of decline has accelerated among older people (65 years and over).
The report also indicated that for the Australian population as a whole, there have been:
- favourable trends in smoking rates and blood pressure levels
- little evidence of national change in blood cholesterol levels
- unfavourable trends in physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes prevalence.
The full report can be downloaded from the AIHW website.
Health urban development checklist
NSW Health has released the Healthy Urban Development Checklist aimed at building the capacity of health professionals to provide valuable feedback on health issues in relation to urban development plans and proposals.
With an increasing recognition of the influence of the built environment on health, this checklist would be a useful tool for healthcare professionals and services to actively engage local councils, developers and other relevant organisations in the urban planning and development process.
The checklist provides guidelines in providing feedback on areas such as:
- Health food
- Physical activity
- Transport and physical connectivity
- Housing
- Community safety and security
- Public open spaces
- Social infrastructure
The Health Urban Development Checklist can be downloaded on the NSW Health website.
The research paper, Respect in an Ageing Society, investigated why respect is important and how values about respect are taught and learnt. It also examined intergenerational differences in expressions of respect for older Australians.
The research, conducted by Deakin University, was commissioned by Victorian aged care provider, Benetas. The report recommended increased consumer choice, an increased focus on healthy active ageing and further social inclusion measures to improve respect for older Australians.
For a copy of the full report click here For a copy of the summary of findings click here
National Carer Recognition Bill introduced
The National Carer Recognition Bill 2010 was tabled in Parliament on 17 March 2010. The new Bill was first announced at the launch of Carers Week 2009 in October last year and establishes a definition of carer and sets down ten key principles. The Bill also highlights the fundamental principle that all carers should have the same rights, choices and opportunities as other Australians.
Further information can be accessed via the Carers Australia website.
ACS Education & Training Events
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.
Wednesday 28 April, 9.30 am–3.30 pm, ACFI What do I need to know? RN / EN perspective
Who should attend? Registered Nurses and Enrolled Nurses
ACFI in a nutshell for RNs and ENs:
- Accurate clinical assessments involving diagnoses
- ACFI validation—what do I need to know?
- How do I complete the ACFI continence records?
- Behaviours—what do I need to know and how do I complete the ACFI Behaviour record?
- How do I correctly time medication administration?
- Pain assessment— how to do this well?
Monday 3 May, 9.30 am–12.30 pm, When the Going Gets Tough: Critical Incident Training for Supervisors
Who should attend? Managers, coordinators and supervisors who want to develop strategies to assist employees when critical incidents occur.
You will learn:
- Understand the personal, emotional, financial and legal implications in the management of a critical incident
- Understand the types of critical incidents and their impact on people and organisations
- Develop protocols and skills in critical incident management
Wednesday 5 May, 1–4 pm, Cultural Diversity and Awareness – a SA perspective
Who should attend? All staff in residential and community care
By 2011, 20% of older South Australians will be from a culturally and linguistically diverse background. All staff, whatever their role, will benefit from a greater understanding of how to provide appropriate care and meet the special needs of older people from a CALD background.
You will learn:
- Four contexts of culture
- Terminology of cultural awareness
- Relationship between culture, behaviours and perceptions
- Cultural reflection skills
- Cultural self-awareness
- Why we have diversity
- The difference between recognising and respecting diversity
- The challenges of developing respect for diversity
Friday 7 May, 9.30 am–3.30 pm, ACFI Uncovered
Who should attend? Site managers, Directors of Care, Clinical Nurse Consultants, Clinical Nurses and other staff who work with ACFI
You will learn:
- How it works
- What it means for you
- Validation—what you need to know
- How to prepare for an ACFI claim
- How current clinical documentation fits in with ACFI and Accreditation
- Taking a deeper look at the 12 ACFI questions
Industry Education & Training
Better Oral Health in residential aged care
Click here for the up-to-date list of Better Oral Health session dates. There have been a significant number of changes.
Workshop Notice Fit and Fall Free
Date: Saturday 8th May 2010
Time: 9 am–5 pm
Cost: FREE
Venue: Centre for Physical Activity in Ageing, Administration Building, Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre, 207-255 Hampstead Rd, Northfield SA 5085
Presented by Dr Anne Tiedemann and Dr Daina Sturnieks, this course is available to Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists. More information
Please complete a registration form and return to Lisa Michelmore Fax 8463 5540 or email .
“World of Creativity” – Montessori Methods for the Person with Dementia Workshop, 12 May
Presenting activities for people with dementia, focusing on using remaining strengths and abilities, engaging the person with meaningful interaction; to enhance wellbeing.
Date: Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Time: 1.30 pm–4.30 pm
Venue: Alzheimer’s Australia SA Inc, 27 Conyngham Street Glenside SA
Cost: Registrations essential $40
Building on the Basics – 5 & 6 June
Active Ageing Australia® is excited to announce that Sally Castell (Physiotherapist) will come to Adelaide to deliver some workshops. A series of 4 x 3 hour workshops for allied health and fitness professionals who have experience working with older adults and wish to acquire further knowledge and skills to undertake appropriate and varied exercise programs for their clients is offered.
Date: Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th June, 2010
Venue: Office for Recreation & Sport, Kidman Park
Cost: $100 per workshop, but if you book more than one workshop the following prices apply: $190 for 2 workshops $275 for 3 workshops $360 for all 4 workshops.
The booking form and further information is available here
Industry Supporters
NASANSB working with McGuinness McDermott Foundation
NASANSB has always believed its role in providing support to health and aged care facilities is a vital one. Acting on that belief NASANSB formed an alliance with the McGuinness McDermott Foundation and since October last year has been donating funds from each shift worked by our staff across all facilities in Adelaide.
In the current financial climate we believe our endeavor to dig deep and become part of something special embodies our philosophy of supporting health care and being able to give back to the community.
Click here to listen to a radio announcement about the alliance.
Member Services
ACS SA&NT has entered into arrangements with a range of businesses to provide cost effective and quality services to its members. Please be advised that ACS SA&NT has entered into these arrangements with a financial benefit for the Association. Currently arrangements have been made with:
Access OCAR – Employment Assistance
Program
EMA Consulting – Industrial
Advice Service
Do you have an Employee Assistance Program?
As part of our ongoing commitment to strengthen services and opportunities for Members, ACS SA&NT is pleased to be able to provide members with access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). ACS SA&NT has entered into an agreement with Access OCAR Workplace Consulting to provide an EAP to members at a substantially reduced rate. (Payment is made on a quartlery basis)
An EAP is a confidential counselling service designed to offer an effective means of assisting employees with problems that may eventually affect job performance and personal well-being. Employees have access to qualified counsellors who are located outside of their workplace and are trained to help people identify and resolve their problems. It has been advised that the Unions are in favour of EAP in businesses and often quality and standards accreditation also favour EA programs.
Access
OCAR Workplace Consulting will provide the services of the EAP to members
who join this service.
Click
here to download an expression of interest form. Upon completion of this
form Access OCAR will contact you to commence
the service.
Since 1 July 2006 EMA Consulting has been providing ACS Members with Industrial Relations Assistance. EMA consultants are highly qualified, trained, experienced and are contemporary leaders in their profession. As an ACS Member, you have access to EMA for the following services:
Telephone Advisory Service
- Unlimited access to discuss any Industrial Relations topic
- Deal with IR Consultants
- No charge per call ~ generally limited to 15 minutes per issue. If it does take longer than this, it generally means the issue is complex and you need to get specific advice.
Wage Rate Summary
- Nurses (ANF ~ SA Private Sector)
- Nurses SA
- Clerks SA
- Health Service Employees
EMA will provide consulting services for all ACS Members at a discounted hourly rate of $230 per hour, which is a saving of $50 per hour. This includes access to a full range of user pays services such as AWAs, training, workers compensation, disputes and collective agreements.
Telephone (VIP toll free number) 1800
632 812
Advisory Service (08) 8221
6565
Telephone (08) 8221 6665
Facsimile (08 8221 6660
Website www.emaconsulting.com.au
