The Commonwealth Department of Social Services (DSS) has announced the release of the Commonwealth Home Support “Client Contribution Framework” and the “National Guide to the CHSP Client Contribution Framework”. The Framework will be consolidated in to the CHSP Manual. In the interim, the Framework and the Guide are being published as separate documents and can be found in the links below. CHSP Client Contribution Framework National Guide to the CHSP Client Contribution Framework

It has just been announced that NDIS will become available in the Western Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains districts from July 2016. The Western Sydney district covers the local government areas of Auburn, The Hills, Blacktown, Holroyd and Parramatta. Nepean Blue Mountains district covers Hawkesbury, Penrith, Blue Mountains and Lithgow LGAs. With so many people coming into the scheme in such a short time, it is important that there is a planned approach to how they access the NDIS. To find out more visit the new NDIS NSW website. For Western Sydney-specific Fact Sheet on NDIS, click here. For Nepean Blue Mountains-specific Fact Sheet, click here. For a very useful and detailed Service Provider Guide outlining the steps that providers need to take to get ready, click here.

What kind of services will these reforms effect? The scope of the TEIP reforms is broad, spanning across nine different funding streams. As a result a wide range of services will be effected. The nine funding streams under review as part of the reform are: Families NSW Aboriginal Child Youth and Family Strategy (ACYFS) Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) Child Youth and Family Support (CYFS) Youth Hope Getting it Together Community Builders Staying Home Leaving Violence Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Services What does FACS mean by Targeted Earlier Intervention? The sector consultation paper states that “For FACS services, early intervention is both intervening early in age and early in the course of an issue”. To deliver effective prevention and early intervention FACS acknowledge that services need to be provided along a continuum, on a Primary or Universal level by...

The changing landscape being experienced across all levels in the community services sector, was the focal point of discussion at the recent LCSA conference attended by WSCF staff. Maree Walk (Chief Executive of Community Services (FACS), presented a brief outline of the changes also occurring within the Department and referred to the new working frameworks being explored as potential models for public services delivery in the region. The four frameworks are: Social Investment or Social Benefit Bonds Collective Impact Co-design Behavioural Insights One of the challenges community service organisations often face during sector reforms, is the limited transition time between understanding new service delivery models and implementing them in a way that demonstrates community level outcomes. Here we provide you with a quick definition of these frameworks to help you familiarise yourself with them and be better prepared to engage...

On 1st July 2015, the Department of Social Services released the much anticipated final version of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme Manual, CHSP Guidelines and Living Well at Home: CHSP Good Practice Guide.  To accessthese documents click on the following links: The Commonwealth Home Support Programme Manual The Commonwealth Home Support Programme Guidelines Living well at home: CHSP Good Practice Guide For a summary from the Department of some of the main changes effective from 1st July across the Aged Care Sector, please also click here.This information sheet includes reference to transition funding that CHSP Providers and Home Care Package providers will be receiving shortly.

The Commonwealth Department of Social Services (DSS) updated its website on 18 December 2014. The update announced the extension of current funding for HACC services, with time variations for certain service types. This is much-awaited and welcome news, as the HACC sector prepares to transition to the new Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) by June 2015. Majority of current (HACC) providers will receive two years of continued funding until 30 June 2017, including an initial period of transition. Services that are funded under Sector Support and Development (or “non-output”) services will have contracts extended until 31 October 2015, while arrangements for CHSP sector support and development are being reviewed and settled. Current funding under Counselling, Support, Information and Advocacy for care recipients will be extended until 31 October 2015, while activities are being reviewed. Current funding for assessment, case management or client care coordination services will...

With the 2015 federal budget officially announced today, Minister of Social Services Scott Morrison and Assistant Minister Mitch Fifield issued media releases that give us a more or less clearer glimpse of government’s additional (broad) plans for the future. The two separate media releases outline the breakdown of budget and plans for three key community care programs: Home Care Packages (HCP), Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The full text of the media releases can be found below (click on the links): Supporting Greater Choice for Older Australians  2015 Budget to Support NDIS Roll-out, Disability Employment and Carers  Items/plans for CHSP/HCP that are worth noting: Older Australians receiving Home Care Packages will have control over their funds, similar to NDIS, from 1 February 2017. (Currently, HCP funding goes straight to service provider and the...

Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association (MDAA) Forum recently  held  a transport forum on Wednesday 15 October 2014 in Granville.  This informative  transport forum was  attended by approximately 20 people from a range of cultural backgrounds. Several issues were raised during the forum.  These issues were being taken back to Transport NSW for further consideration.  Western Sydney Community Forum presented information on our ‘What a difference a ride makes ‘ campaign. Transport for NSW presented on a number of topics including transport and accessibility. Following and throughout the presentations transport issues and questions raised and solutions proposed by the audience included: Bus Travel A difficulty for vision-impaired people catching buses is not being able to read the bus number in advance of hailing the bus to stop. Suggested solutions put forward include voice-assisted apps which provide real-time information on next bus. Another suggestion...