The 2020-2022 manual provides an overview of the CHSP including service types it funds and the requirements for delivering those services. It is for CHSP-funded service providers to use and forms part of the CHSP grant agreement. The latest download version can be accessed below.
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/commonwealth-home-support-programme-chsp-manual
Free downloads and up to date information can be accessed through Department of Health.
The Guide for Home Care workers offers information and guidance on how to stay safe from Coronavirus to those workers supporting older people living at home and people with disability living in the community. Further information can be found following the link below.
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guide-for-home-care-providers
Community sector leaders have reported a surge in unmet demand for services dealing with economic hardship, homelessness, mental health and domestic violence as a result of under-funding, in research conducted by the Social Policy Research Centre at UNSW Sydney.
The research was commissioned by the Australian Council of Social Service in partnership with the Councils of Social Service and with the support of Bendigo Bank. The qualitative study took place in February and March 2021.
Australian Council of Social Service CEO Cassandra Goldie said:
“Community services are doing all they can to help people reaching out in desperate need but sadly they can just not keep up with demand with the resources they have. They’re having to turn away women escaping domestic violence and people with nowhere to sleep that night.
“They’re reporting ‘queues out the door’, including of international students who’ve been left without access to income support during a global pandemic. When the research took place at the start of the year, service leaders said they were bracing for a ‘tsunami’ of need, with income support cuts already taking place and the end of JobKeeper about to occur. Many service providers are now telling us that these grim predictions are being borne out, with almost 3 million people, including about 1 million children having been plunged into deeper poverty at the end of March 2021.
“The reality is that we’re seeing a two-speed COVID recovery with millions being left behind in unemployment or underemployment, while those in well-paid jobs enjoy generous tax cuts.
“The report highlights the deep need for income support payments like JobSeeker to be lifted above the poverty line. We also need to see improvements to the domestic violence crisis payment and Rent Assistance, as well as investment in social housing.”
We must also adequately fund our vital community services (of which over 80% are female workers) and addressing the imminent funding cut for homelessness services created by the end of the equal remuneration supplementation. With many services struggling to meet the increasing demand, the upcoming Federal Budget must ensure that the community sector is properly equipped to do its crucial work helping others. The Government must invest in quality community services we can all rely on, generate decent jobs in the care sector and deliver on equal pay for all community sector workers. It must set us up to better meet the challenges of COVID and natural disasters by funding partnership approaches to health promotion and education, and local community resilience hubs.
“The Federal Government must address these urgent issues in the upcoming Federal Budget, not leave people behind in ongoing crisis,” Dr Goldie said.
The report was supported through a partnership with Bendigo Bank, whose commitment to strong communities has seen over $251 million invested in local communities since 1998.
Key quotes from sector leaders included:
“There is an epidemic (of family violence) but there’s also a failure of funding as well. So we have massive waitlists and we’re telling people who’ve finally arrived at the moment where they want to get support … that they may need to wait six to seven months.” – Large health service.
“Obviously, we’re all bracing ourselves for what’s going to happen when the moratorium (on evictions) is finished … it is a fairly scary time for people and not just the people we’re usually working with, but an increase in people that are at risk in higher income brackets… Unless social housing and different housing models can come on board, there’s not a lot a person can do if there’s nowhere to put someone.” – Housing and homelessness service.
“People are presenting as homeless, like doubling up with people, living in cars, staying in tents … a terrible thing to say to people in a very wealthy country, that you will be homeless and we don’t have an immediate resolution to your problem.” – Regional housing and homelessness service.
Read the report at: https://www.acoss.org.au/australian-community-sector-survey/
The alliance of ‘consumer’ groups, which includes Dementia Australia, Council Of The Ageing (COTA), the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) and National Seniors Australia, released a statement outlining the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care it wants adopted in the Budget.
The groups have worked together to put forward a list of key priorities for action.
https://nationalseniors.com.au/news/latest-in-health/seniors-budget-warning-to-government
How long will your saving last in Retirement?
National seniors continue to share articles on retirement planning. The key points of this article include:
The full story can be found in the following link:
The screening advice for aged care, disability and home care facilities has been updated for 13 April 2021 on the following web pages:
The key messages for this update are:
The restriction for staff and visitors who have been to Queensland close or casual contact venues in the last 14 days has been removed.
Residential aged care, disability and home care services are now able to receive visitors from Ballina LGA, Byron Bay LGA, Lismore LGA and Tweed LGA, however there are locations of concern in New Zealand
COVID-19 Vaccination Factsheet for Aged Care Workers.pdf 222 KB • Download
COVID-19 Vaccination Factsheet for Residents and Families.pdf 400 KB • Download
On 8 April 2021, the Australian Government adjusted its approach to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout following advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI). In a statement released last week, ATAGI now recommends the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine is preferred over the AstraZeneca vaccine for adults aged under 50 years.
RiverTracks Tweed Valley is organising an in-house training event for people working with kids with complex trauma.
This will be an important training for the development the RiverTracks team to be prepared to work with youth at risk but it is also event in which community members and industry workers will be warmly welcomed to join in.
Cost: $210 (includes a $15 RiverTracks donation)
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/149634913053/
The training will be held at a venue TBA in Murwillumbah. Billets are available if needed with RiverTracks start up volunteers.
If the cost is a barrier to you participating please reach out to RiverTracks by contacting Ahri as we are applying for grants that may be able to assist. [email protected]
Please invite interested friends and networks.
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Information about the training: http://www.youthflourish.org/basic-complex-trauma-focused-advent
This 2 day course provides an opportunity to explore the specific needs related to refugee women’s experience of domestic violence and how service delivery to against women in refugee communities can be enhanced.
See flyer for details
Education Centre Against Violence (ECAV) is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for practitioners working with victim-survivors of domestic & family violence to attend this excellent, in-depth, reflective and affordable training from the Education Centre Against Violence (ECAV) – in LISMORE!
Course Details
Course: Advanced frameworks for domestic violence counselling
Workshop Number: DV611-83036
Date: 23/06/2021 – 24/06/2021
Trainers: Greg Yee
Location: Lismore
Applications Close: 26/05/2021
For workers who have training and work experience in providing counselling or support services to people who experience domestic violence and who are looking for additional insights and skills.
Course Description: Where does a skilled domestic violence counsellor or support worker go to discuss advanced practice questions and gain more insight?
This 2-day course is an opportunity for those experienced in addressing domestic violence issues to explore some of the complex practice and theoretical challenges that arise from working with this important client group. The facilitator will provide input and hopes to create a safe environment for participants to raise and reflect on issues and challenging cases, as well as to share discoveries and strategies they have found effective.
Learning Outcomes
– Examine a foundational framework for working with people experiencing domestic violence
– Demonstrate enhanced insight into the mindsets and behaviour of different perpetrator ‘types’, including perpetrator tactics that keep some women ‘stuck’
– Explore a deeper understanding of how children experience domestic violence, the impact on them and the impact of the perpetrator on the relationship between mothers and children
– Consider how cultural contexts can impact on the experience of domestic violence
– Demonstrate knowledge of how to work effectively with women and children experiencing domestic violence whilst keeping safety in the forefront.
Participants should have experience of working with victims of domestic violence.
Costs: NSW Health participants – $80
Interagency workers (government & non-government) – $140
Private practitioners & interstate participants – $200
Notes: Morning & afternoon tea is provided. Lunch is not provided
The registration is online by following the link included at the bottom of the attached flyer.
However, recently ECAV has experienced some difficulties with the Portal; it can have an impact on online registrations.
Please find the attached Website course application forms (one for health workers and one for staff members engaged by other government and non-government organisations) just in case the online enrolment site is not accessible. The form needs to be filled in (all details) and send back as an attachment to our Operational Team [email protected] for processing.
We would appreciate your assistance with publicising the above workshops by circulating the flyers and the Application Forms among your networks. The closing date for this course is 26th May 2021.