QDN e-News Video January 2023 Week 4

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Welcome back to another edition of the QDN e-News.  

The Digital Inclusion program is up and running again, with a series of online workshops and masterclasses scheduled in the next couple of months. Keep an eye out on our social media, and visit the Digital Inclusion page on the website for more information.

The Building Inclusive and Disaster Resilient Communities (BIDRC) project is also kicking off in the next few weeks. Our team has been working with local government and communities to get ready to host a series of community forums and workshops. Visit the BIDRC page on the website for more information.

Coming up next week on February 2 is an online Q&A with the Queensland Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Lynne McKinlay. During the session attendees will watch a new Queensland Health video, where QDN member Alison MacLean interviews Dr McKinlay. This is an opportunity for people with disability, their families and carers, to have their questions about COVID-19 answered.

Applications for the 2023 QDN Emerging Leaders program have opened. The QDN Emerging Leaders program will run for ten months from March to November and will be delivered in a variety of ways including face-to-face workshops, online learning, and local, community-based projects. Applications close 17 February and are open to people with disability aged 18 and over who live in Queensland.

Policy Update 5th December 2022 – 18th January 2023 

Policy Update, there is a image of a tick in a box with an arrow coming out the side of the box and circling around back to point at the box.

Support for people impacted by Disability Royal Commission   

The Blue Knot Foundation continues to provide a free, specialist counselling support and referral service for people with disability, their families and carers, and anyone affected by the Disability Royal Commission. You can access their services by contacting them on 1800 421 468. Their opening hours are 9am-6pm AEDT Monday to Friday; 9am-5pm AEDT Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.   

The next public hearing will be occurring in Brisbane from the 13th - 17th February 2023 and will revisit the topic of service providers. More information is available here and here.   

Report on early need for housing assistance   

AHURI has released a report that details critical life events that can lead to housing stress as well as how critical life events can predict the likelihood of entering housing including:   

  • Birth/adoption of a child (34%)  
  • Providing care to a family member (15%)  
  • Getting separated (30%) or married (15%)  
  • Employment terminated or made redundant (14%)   

Read more here and access the report here.  

Disability employment pilot  

A Memorandum of Understanding with the Business Council of Australia (BCA) has been signed by the Albanese Government to create and implement a new disability employment pilot with a $3.3 million investment. This decision comes directly from the national Jobs and Skills Summit held in September 2022. The aim of this pilot will be to find solutions that expand opportunities and make it easier for people with disability to get into the workforce. It will also centre around career advancement and support people with disability to reach their full potential within employment. The pilot also aims to tear down structural barriers for people with disability entering the workforce and creating more inclusive workplaces. Through this pilot the Australian Government and BCA have made a commitment to working closely with people living with disability. Business councils have already started to create more inclusive workforces. An example of this was detailed in the Disability Support Guide, outlining a Melbourne café that has hired 25 people with disability. More information about the announcement is available here. Read the story about the Melbourne café here.  

Services Australia Mobile Services Centres in rural and regional NSW, QLD and WA  

Starting January 17 2023, there will be mobile centres in rural and regional NSW, QLD and WA with NDIS and partner organisations discussing the following topics:  

  • Understanding the NDIS including early childhood and local area coordination services  
  • Applying to access the NDIS for funded supports  
  • Understanding the options of managing your funding  
  • Requesting services with an approved plan.  

Attendees will be able to meet with representatives face-to-face or virtually. Find an event near you. More information is available here. 

Information for tenants affected by Queensland floods and storms   

Tenants Queensland has released a factsheet for residential tenancies which is useful for anyone being inundated with water or suffering damage from storms or cyclones. You can access the factsheet here. This will also apply to rooming accommodation such as boarding houses. Tenants Queensland has included a letter template that you can use to write to your landlord requesting decreased rent due to flooding. You can access Word document version here or a PDF version here. Tenants Queensland has also produced a factsheet on dealing with mould that you can access here and here. More information is available here.  

COVID-19 update: Eligibility for oral COVID-19 treatments  

Most cases of COVID-19 are mild and can be managed at home. Some people who are at higher risk may need specific antiviral treatments prescribed by their healthcare provider. Eligibility for oral COVID-19 treatments has expanded to include patients with any significantly immunocompromising condition where in the last 12 months, the patient has received anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody treatment, and patients who have been previously hospitalised with COVID-19 if subsequently re-infected. The latest recommendations from the PBAC commenced on 1  January 2023.  

Learn more about eligibility here.  

Public Advocate release recommendations around Adult Safeguarding   

In November 2022 The Public Advocate released a report titled Adult Safeguarding in Queensland, Volume 2: Reform recommendations. The report details 17 recommendations which you can access here. 

Disability Employment Services Quality Framework  

QDN is currently working on a submission regarding draft changes to the Disability Employment Services Quality Framework which are outlines in this discussion paper. The Australian Government has stated that its aim is “to work with the sector and other stakeholders towards mutual quality aims, without creating undue burdens on providers, employers or participants.“ The submission is open to stakeholders and individuals. More information is available here. 

Disability Services Act 1986 Submission (Cth)    

QDN will be writing a submission on the proposed legislation to replace the Disability Services Act (1986). The public is also invited to share their opinions about who it should support, the types of services that should receive funding, the language used to define disability, quality and safeguarding standards and the alignment of the Act to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Anyone can make a submission. The closing date for submissions is 6 February 2023. More information is available here.   

Water bill discount Southeast Queensland  

The Queensland Government has provided a one-off discount of $55 for properties billed by:  

  • Urban Utilities, serving the local government areas of 
    • Brisbane City Council 
    • Ipswich City Council 
    • Lockyer Valley Regional Council 
    • Somerset Regional Council 
    • Scenic Rim Regional Council 
  • Unitywater, serving the local government areas of 
    • Moreton Bay Regional Council 
    • Sunshine Coast Regional Council 
    • Noosa Shire Council 
  • Redland City Council 
  • Logan City Council 
  • City of Gold Coast 

The discount will be applied to eligible SEQ household water bills by their water service provider before March 2023. More information is available here.  

Disability Employment Services Webinar  

National Disability Services is hosting a webinar to discuss the results of their analysis of the November DES performance, caseload reduction and outcomes for the 2022-23 financial year. This event is suitable for Disability Employment Service Providers, CEOs and managers. The free online webinar is on Tuesday 24 January from 1pm-1.30pm AEST.   

More information is available here. Register here.   

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