March 2016
From the EO
Ann-Maree Davis
Hi All
What a great start to 2016 we have had. Towards the end of
January we received confirmation that we were successful in
maintaining our accreditation under the DHHS standards and
ISO 9001:2008 following the audit that was undertaken in
December. We received a glowing report from the assessors
who have confirmed that not only is Amicus providing a high
quality of services but that the changes that we have been
making over the past few years will stand us in very good
stead to implement the NDIS.
At the end of January the Amicus Board participated in a
workshop facilitated by Disability Service Consulting to assess
the work that we need to undertake in preparation for the
NDIS to be implemented on 1 May 2017. Similarly this process
discovered that much of the work that has been completed
over the past few years particularly the change of service
provision to community based supports and implementing IT
systems like Gemba and MERP will be very beneficial in
ensuring a smooth transition to the NDIS. While we do have
some work that we still need to complete much of this relates
to getting you all ready for the change!
With the NDIS commencing in Bendigo in just 60 weeks it is
important that all of us start preparing for the NDIS so that
when it is time for funding and supports to transition that
nobody loses any of their current allocations or services.
Did you know if you currently receive HACC Services
including respite and personal care, funding from agencies
like Bendigo Case Management Services or Carer Support
Services, attend camps, receive mobility allowance, aids or
equipment including continence products just to name a few
… that these will all be impacted by the NDIS?
We are not meaning to scare anyone but it is important that
you understand what the NDIS means for the funding and
services that you currently receive and what you can do now
to make sure they transition to the NDIS.
We are planning to run NDIS information sessions and last
month sent out a survey to try and identify the most suitable
days and times for the majority of people. Unfortunately we
had a really low response so I encourage you to complete the
enclosed form or call us and Ange, Anne or Linda at reception
can record your preferences. We will then advertise our
schedule of information sessions in the next newsletter which
will cover topics like:
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Who is eligible for the NDIS
What do I need to do to get ready for the NDIS?
Completing a DSR application
Getting ready for an NDIS Plan
Understanding your funding and how you can use it
Choices for administering NDIS funding
We will also look at running some other more specialised
sessions on Housing which will include an update on our Cecil
St redevelopment. Please make sure that you let us know your
date and time preferences by Friday 18th March.
At the end of February I attended a meeting of the National
Disability Services National Accommodation Support and
Housing Committee in Canberra. This was a very valuable trip
and in addition to assisting to inform some of the future policy
developments of the NDIA, I was able to get an update on
other areas of development in the NDIS including planning
which will be really useful in putting together our information
sessions.
This year sees an early Easter so please make sure that you
take note of Amicus’ closure dates as March includes leave for
the Labour Day Public Holiday as well as Easter Public
Holidays. For Adult Services there will also be a week of leave
following Easter which is the first week of the school holidays.
Please note that due to the week of leave our next newsletter
will not be published until the second week of April. Have a
wonderful break over the Easter season.
Cheers!
Ann-Maree
Address: 100 Queen Street, Bendigo VIC 3550
Phone: (03)54412666
email: [email protected]
web: www.amicus.org
Amicus News and Events
Inside this issue
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From the EO................................1
Key Dates....................................1
Amicus 2016 Calendar
Amicus News and Events .............2
Allambee Carp ............................2
Coordinators Reports ..................3
Amicus News ..............................4
HACC News .................................5
Big Plan ......................................5
Community Inclusion .................6
Community Inclusion cont. .........7
NDIS ready session survey ...........8
An updated version of the Amicus
2016 Calendar is on the back cover.
Please discard any 2016 calendars
you may have already received.
Insert—Amicus revised Calendar 2016
Supported Holidays
Some people from Amicus attended Allambee Camp
which was held in South Gippsland late last year.
Coordinators Reports
G’Day Everybody,
Everyone in receipt of an Individualised Support Package (ISP) should have received a half yearly funding
statement from Amicus by now. These funding statements are aimed at keeping you informed on how
your funding is being spent, and will enable you to take greater control and plan how you wish to best utilise your funding to meet your personal goals and needs. A number of individuals have varying amounts of
unspent funding available. If you are one of these fortunate people, it is advisable to start planning now
how you would like to best use this funding before the end of the financial year (June 30). It is worth reminding everyone that only $1,500 of ISP funding can be carried forward into the new financial year. Any
funding amount in excess of $1,500 will must be refunded to DHHS. Some examples of how individuals are
using their unspent funding include: support to attend concerts / theatre / shows, support to sporting
events such as the cricket and AFL, overnight stays away from home, targeted support to work on specific
goals just to name a few. If you would like some help to understand your statement or would like to discuss further, please give me call.
The NDIS is due to commence roll out in our region on 1 st May 2016. Amicus is planning to run a number of
NDIS sessions to assist individuals and families to prepare for this change. In addition to this, Amicus has
also commenced reviewing individual plans and will work with you to update your current plan into an
‘NDIS format’ so that you are well prepared.
Dare I say Easter is only a few weeks away also, so we will be commencing planning for programs in Term 2 shortly. If you would like any changes made to your current activities,
please let either myself, Janet or Caralyn know so that we can do our best in making these
changes for you.
Shayne Scott
Disability Service Co -ordinator
Hello all,
HACC & Children’s Services
Another busy term is almost completed in our HACC and Children Service Program. Our Planned Activities
in SRS’s have been running along with lots of outings and activities for all to enjoy. In the coming months,
Amicus will be working with DHHS to prepare for transition of services to Commonwealth for people over
the age of 65. We will be providing information to those effected by the changes as they become known.
Reminder that the Vacation Care/School Holiday period is coming up soon. Can participants wishing to enrol in the Vacation Care program or are seeking Respite support during the holiday period please contact
Tracey or Caralyn as soon as possible to arrange.
Reminder to read Peter’s fantastic article that highlights some of the achievements of the Teen Works participants. Over the coming months, Peter and Tracey will meet with participants of our Community Based
Respite and Teen Work programs to assist in planning for when this funding ends in June. Tracey and Peter
are also available to discuss any concerns you may have.
Welcome back to Di Parker, who has been on leave over February. Di is busy reconnecting
with Access & Support.
Regards
Caralyn Collins
Service Coordinator
Art Inspiration
Volunteering
Sharon Myers, Shona brown went to the Ben
Quilty exhibition in Castlemaine with the access
training group.
They were taking
photos of their
favourite works.
While looking for
inspiration for the
upcoming exhibition At Dudley
house in June.
Eddie Newman and Kimberley Flatman doing volunteer work at the star cinema in Eaglehawk, they
are working with a crew from Our shed to restore
couches for the cinema.
Volunteering
Simon volunteers at Weeroona College twice a
week with his supervisor Tom.
We support Simon in Travel Training going by
bus to Weeroona College.
Tom has given Simon many different tasks. One
of them was to replace the dilapidated tables &
benches around the school. Here's a few images
of Simon at various stages of making them, including the last one of them in place in the
school ground. Another skill Simon has learnt to
do is drive the tractor.
Community Support
Ron and I have 1:1 support once a week. We'd been to
the tram depot last year where I read him the recently
published (2015) book "Birney, the Cat Who Loved
Trams". We met key characters in the book Anita &
"Birney" on that day.
Following on from that, this year we went for a ride on
the "Talking Tram", stopping briefly at the Depot. We saw
Anita but Birney was nowhere to be seen, he must have
found the coolest spot to sleep - out of sight. Nonetheless we had a pleasant tram trip - looking at the sights of
Bendigo at a leisurely pace.
Diana Rajics
Cheers Diana.
Support Worker
HACC News
This is our first report for 2016. Programs have resumed at
Homebush (Junortoun), Princes Park Lodge (Maryborough),
Karinya (Lancefield) and Kyneton Lodge. We have been very
pleased to welcome a few new faces into our groups.
The hot weather has meant that we have been heading for
our favourite shady spots. We have seen lots of birds including peacocks, kookaburras, parrots, galahs, magpies, crows,
ducks and geese.
Lots of planning has been taking place for future activities including a trip to Bendigo for some Princes Park residents. The
HACC team are trying to offer some different programs to
meet the interests of the SRS residents for example Glenda
has taken Melissa swimming at the Maryborough pool.
An exciting event happened last week
out at Homebush and we celebrated
with Topsy when she was reconnected with her daughter Suzie who lives
in Queensland.
Glenda Duffy
Support Worker
Dorothy from Karinya enjoyed
feeding the ducks at Trentham
Dorothy and John
from Maryborough.
Would you believe
this shot was taken
on the 16th February!
The following week it
was too hot to take
Dot out.
Richard from
Kyneton Lodge
enjoyed a BBQ
at Jubilee Lake,
Daylesford
Elaine Crowle
HACC Team Leader
The Big Plan Catch Up
Last year Adult Disability Service participants Philip, Gary, Norm, Pete, Sally and Sherly took
part in the Big Plan. The program was held over five sessions. The sessions focused on the
participants support teams, their dreams, their gifts and their community connections. By
the end of the program each participant came away with an action plan. We have had two
catch up sessions to share how everyone is progressing with their plans.
Sally has explored being involved at the Woodend Neighbourhood house.
Gary and Norm have been working as volunteers at the Whitehills Botanical Gardens. Norm
has also attended the ASID conference where he was able to talk about his expericence of
self advocacy with others. Norm also went to a very loud AC/DC concert.
Pete has been to a country music festival in Mildura. He also went to the Have a Say conference and is planning a trip to Perth in April.
Sherly has been doing some craft work and socialising with the animals at the RSPCA. She
has also made some blankets to keep them warm.
Matt came along to the Big Plan sessions to support his Amicus friends. Although he didn’t
do a plan he learnt a lot which he says has been very useful to support himself to live a
better life.
News from the Community Inclusion Facilitator
Hi there, another busy month for Community Inclusion at Amicus.
I have just spent an amazing week in the big smoke, with Melbourne
based organisation, Belonging Matters. Belonging Matters is driven by
the belief that, “All people should have the opportunity to pursue a
unique lifestyle that is personally meaningful, relevant and typically
intertwined in the community.” Sound familiar? It should, because
when I meet with individuals and families who choose our support at
Amicus, these are the issues, dreams and outcomes that are often the
centre of discussion.
The Belonging Matters team were amazingly generous in letting me pick
their brains about how they operate, let me tag along with them as
they go about their work with the families and individuals who seek
them out for advice, education and assistance to envision and access
the Good Life. Thank you all very much.
I’d love to tell you everything right now but there is just sooooo much to report. Over the next few issues
I’d like to share some of what I learnt from my visit to Belonging Matters and to the people who’ve made
the big move of living in their own home. I’ve changed the names of individuals to respect their privacy
but these scenarios are pretty much tell it like is. Thanks to all those people who let me into their homes
and lives so that we might learn from their journey and assist others to live the Good Life.
Day 1
I meet with Deb Rouget to talk about the week ahead and why I’m actually there. This is just a tad intimidating for me because Deb is the CEO and founder of Belonging Matters. She is a very inspiring speaker,
activist, advocate and wise person who’s been building capacity within families and individuals for about
25 years. Consequently, she knows a hell of a lot about services and service transformation and I’m acutely aware that I am there to pick her brains and stand on the shoulder of a giant. Oh well. Here goes nothing. Deb makes me very welcome and disarms with a smile and a mi casa es su casa kind of vibe. I realise
it’s all going to be ok. We share coffee and have a good chat about the history and origins of the organisation. (An incredible story in itself) We spend quite some time discussing the need for organisations like
theirs and ours (and others) to be very clear on the messages, values, and principles that have to be in
place and embedded in the working culture before anything like advocacy or support can happen. Without those key focal points, service delivery gets pretty hazy. You can lose sight of the edges and then find
yourself in odd territory without purpose or a map. I think about how hard we’ve worked on that, here at
Amicus and feel something akin to pride as I do little a little internal victory fist pump.
By mid-morning we head out to the ‘burbs to do some filming at Paul’s house. Owen, the Belonging
Matters cameraman is already there, setting up gear to capture part-three of a doco on how Paul and his
family have slowly, over nearly 10 years, developed their own vision, capacity and support networks to
empower him to live in his own home with a housemate. A goal he achieved about 3 years ago. He’s doing
really well. We meet Jean who is Paul’s mum; Ruth, who is Paul’s Key Support worker; Guy, his housemate
and Teresa, who is the facilitator for LDL, another consumer-governed organisation. (More about LDL later.)
Together, these people play a critical role in supporting Paul with his vision for, and access to, the Good
Life, though it is vital to acknowledge that this is only made fully possible because of the informal supports
and friendships that Paul has within his street, his bus route, his volunteer workplace, the supermarket
where he shops and sport club where he cheers on his team. Without these informal supports, the vision
and plan for Paul to live a unique lifestyle that is personally meaningful, relevant and typically intertwined
in the community would not be as rich and complete.
News from the Community Inclusion Facilitator
Paul is in his mid 30s. He works really hard at the Police Museum where he volunteers and hangs out with
heaps of mates. Paul has an intellectual disability and a great sense of humour. He gets home whilst we
are busy invading his lounge room but apparently he was expecting us. He arrives bearing groceries, a
freshly painted woodwork project and a handful of post from the mail box. He sticks his head into the
lounge where we’ve kind of taken over. He gives us all a sheepish grin and welcomes people with familiar
hugs and jokes. He doesn’t want to stay though and soon clears out to the kitchen, much more interested
in sharing lunch with his housemate and flicking on the TV than listening to interviews with his mum. Paul
has a great house. It contains his stuff though he shares it with Guy. Guy is usually around to hang out or
give Paul a bit of a hand with the trickier jobs that he struggles with. They have a great rapport and a natural connection that is very different to that which is often seen in formal support worker / participant
roles. They are equals here and they share the space accordingly.
Jean, Paul’s mum, tells me that it was only through meeting other families (via LDL and Belonging
Matters,) and being encouraged to see the importance of the family maintaining a significant role in the
creation of the vision for his life, that she and Paul and their extended family were able to see what was
possible and how this could actually happen outside of the existing congregate care living arrangements
and service options. She tells me that it wasn’t easy, quick, or painless, but it is definitely worth it because
of the quality of life that Paul (and she) now have. Jean knows that I’m from a service that provides support. She’s slightly amused by this and raises an eyebrow; wags a friendly finger at me and then tells me
“You can’t just DO Support.” You have to have a vision first which can take time and patience and even
then, you can’t do to, or do for; you have to do with.” I want to tell her that she’s preaching to the converted but we have to be quiet because the filming has started.
When the filming is over I ask Deb and Teresa how all this came to be possible for Paul. About 13 years
ago, Deb worked with one family who dreamed it might be possible to support their disabled daughter to
live in her own home. At the time, and given the families experience with the service system and prevailing congregate care arrangements, this idea was almost unthinkable. Just the logistics alone seemed impossible to fathom; but together, over several years, they made it happen. Out of this experience grew
the germ of an idea that has now blossomed into LDL; Living Distinctive Lives is a consumer-governed initiative consisting of 8 families who agreed to work together to share advice, support, information and pool
funding to ensure that a disabled person in each of their families would be able to live in their own home
with one or more housemate who was not disabled. Jean is one of the members of the LDL family group.
The LDL family group use Melba Support Services to manage their pooled ISP funding. Melba takes a
small percentage to cover the cost of being an employment agency but outside of this, they have little
else to do with the lives of the individuals who are looking to live in their own home. The LDL family Group
selected a facilitator (Teresa) who for administrative ease, is also employed by Melba. Likewise for support staff; Melba employ and provide the staff but before support begins, Jean, Teresa and Paul interview
them to make sure he is happy and the staff are a good match for his needs and interests. In this way, all
the planning, research and decision making remains with the family. Teresa or a similar key worker like
Ruth, helps the family to create vision, plan ongoing supports and find suitable housemates.
I speak to Teresa about her role at LDL. She talks about supporting the families to “build the bridge of
possibility,” and stresses the importance of walking side by side with families to educate them about the
alternatives.” I ask her what support she thinks families need most. She says they need the practical resources / information at their fingertips; the knowledge to be able to use it and a willingness to trust and
continue to hope that there are alternatives to congregate care or life in the parental home. She also tells
me about the importance of housemates, how they are matched, where they are found, what rent they
pay and what expectations there are on them as a housemate as opposed to those on
a support worker. But that’s a story for another time.
Peter Fountain.
Community Inclusion Facilitator
Please complete this survey and return to Amicus
or ring Amicus office 5441 2666 with your answers
NDIS Ready Sessions
Amicus will be conducting a series of sessions over 2016 to assist you to get
ready for the NDIS. Please help us to plan these by completing the following
short survey and returning it to reception.
Name: ………………………………………………………………...
Please circle your preference.
The best days of the week to hold information sessions are:
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday
Thursday Friday
The best times of the day to hold information sessions are:
9.30-12 noon,
12 noon to 2.30pm, 3.30-6pm,
7-9.30pm
My preferred length of session is:
1 hour
2 hours
3 hours
Would you prefer to attend an event that included light refreshments:
Yes
/
No
For parents and carers –
I need support for my family member with a disability to attend:
Yes
/
No
Thanks for helping us to plan our NDIS Ready sessions.