Lose the walfare tag please

 

The key jewel in the NDIS reform was to increase the community participation rates of people living with disability and their families. The NDIS is not a welfare reform, nor is it linked to any welfare payment. True the mobility allowance and Taxi Subsidy Scheme are moving to NDIS umbrella, but the reason for this is it fits better under the objectives of the NDIS.  The key to this agenda is participation.

 

People who participate in the scheme may also receive some form of welfare, but the scheme is there to generate employment and long term prognosis of those born with disabilities.  Many of the participants are under the age of 16 and not entitled to welfare.  Thus any model that links NDIS to welfare reform is floored.

 

Accessible employment is a key agenda for NDIS reform so why it is linked or thought of as another handout is beyond me. People with disability need assistance to do things other take for granted. The NDIS is the new way people with disabilities access supports including attendant care, mobility aids, accommodation support, house modification, early intervention programs and therapies to increase a person's independence.

 

Many of the supports will enable some children to work. The NDIS was designed to create employment and reduce the dependence on the government. Rather than being welfare the NDIS is a scheme that will see less people with disabilities needing welfare in the late stages of their lives.

 

Some of the difficult in understanding how this all works and why it is not an drain on the system, is people with disabilities are seen as 'recipients of care'. People with disabilities are not sick and most do not need to be care for. 

 

It is our traditions that we now know were based on myths that lead to a medical care model.  Yes a small minority of people with disabilities are totally dependent on others. The rest of us are able to make contributions to the community.

 

 

 

It is not our disabilities that disable us, but the community attitudes towards us.  If the community were more embracive of disability, we wouldn't need to be constantly asking for access needs.  I may be unemployable but that it not the same as not being able to work.  I am quite happy to be self-employed, my uncontrollable seizures effect my profits not someone else's.

 

I should not be seen as inspirational for my choice to pursue a career as a artists.  It should be the norm. I do not need pretty I live a very rewarding life, I just need some help to lug my art supplies and work around.  This is not welfare, I create employment for support staff and other artists.  My help should never be seen as a handout.

 

Until we lose that welfare tag - poor person with a disability that needs help, then the NDIS reform is doomed. Not all welfare recipients have disabilities and not all people supported by the NDIS receive welfare.  The two are not linked.

 

Some people with disabilities do themselves a disservice by playing the poor me act. The NDIS only pays for costs incurred due to disability.  The money doesn't go into a bank account to spend how I like.  It pays for my physio, workers to help me shower and do house work and enable me to get to work and training on time.

 

We all have a responsibility to ensure the NDIS reform is successful.  To do that we need to remind the community and politicians that NDIS is not part of welfare reform.  The way we speak about something is just as important as the changes we seek to make.

 

Sorting through the facts

The NDIS and Great Expectations

 

 

 

 

What is the NDIS?

 

As the National Disability Insurance Scheme, known as the NDIS is the new way people with disabilities and their families are being supported to live a life reflective of their peers.

 

NDIS is not a Centerlink payment, entitlement or linked to any centrelink payment. It is a funding system to pay for the assistance that people with disabilities need to live a life that is reflective of their peers.

 

The scheme is for all Australians from birth to 65 years of age. With a permeate disability that requires life long assistance to reach their milestones and goals. You can check your eligibility here.

 

 

It is new and exciting

 

The NDIS is a revolutionary new way to support people with disabilities and their families to access funding to best allow them to achieve the lifestyle they desire. For many years Queensland families have wanted a greater say in the way they are assisted.

 

Thus the NDIS is a individualised approach to designing support packages for those needing assistance with their. The types of support and $ value, are determined by your individual goals and how you want to each those goals.

 

Like any thing that undergoes major reform there are teething problems and frustrations result.  If my advice is worth anything, then . . .

 

Keep, clam and eat chocolate, while we

attempt to sort fact from fiction.

 

Expectation # 1

 

Exercising Choice

 

Even if your choice is for nothing to change you still have a few things you need to prepare for the transition to the NDIS. Your `first plan' is about expressing those choices as goals. Goals are about how you want you life to look like.

 

You're plan will need to describe life now. With a statement about how you are feeling about, your life now.  If life is great, then put that in your participant statement.  The change has occurred because the majority of people were not happy and wanted a greater say in the way they are assisted to live life. 

 

Thus to continue to be supported you need to:-

 

1. State the things you want to do.
2. How you want to do them.
3. What assistance you will require.

 

As your needs are now assessed on the things you want to do, the information required is different.  You will be ask to work on your first plan. Click here to download your participants pack to plan your future supported under the NDIS.

 

So if you had a expectation than their would be no work involve then I guess you feel disappointed.  With the power to chose comes some level of responsibility. The more choice and flexibility you want to build into your plan, the higher the commitment you will need to invest into the development and execution of your plan.

 

With the right to chose comes responsibility and accountability 

 

The Challenge

 

Self-directing the way you want to be supported, means you become and advocate for yourself or the person you are assisting, for example a family member.  In writing your plan you need to provide reasoning for the supports you are asking for.  The NDIA does not have a blank check and real life is not like sending Santa clause a wish list.

 

 

Making Your Choices

 

So what are some of the things you can make choices about?

 

• The services you want to access.
• When and how you access those services.
• How you want your funding to be administration

 

What are the choices involving administration of your package and what will that mean for you?

 

At base level there are three ways you funding can be managed:-

 

1. Ask the NDIA to do it on your behalf
2. Ask a funding host to manage your funds
3. Manage your funding yourself

 

With the second and third choice their is flexibility in how that looks like at grass level.

 

A perceived expectation I heard from others was gaining control of their own funding meant they could spend it more economically than the way service providers were.  The difficult is service provider were bound by rules and regulations, if you are intending to self-manage you need to be business like in this approach and will need to keep to the rules and regulation yourself.

 

The amount a support person is paid does not equal the service deliver cost.  Self-management will not reduce the price of your support or allow you to buy more hours.

 

To derive at the cost per hour you need to add:-

 

• Hourly rate of worker or workers delivering the service
• Administration costs
• Training of staff
• Coordination of staff
• Plenty rates, superannuation and ;eave loading
• Insurances and work cover

 

Add all these costs divided the sum by the no of service delivery hours and you derive at the service delivery price.

 

Costs divided by hours = unit pricing

 

 

Reality does not always meat our expectations, sometimes our expectations are not realistic.

 

 

What is meant by Control?

 

 

My understanding is control under the NDIS is about participants directing how they are assisted. 

 

• Their goals and activities
• Types of services
• Choosing the service providers
• Choosing how funds are administrated, 

 

The NDIA still have a duty of care and will not fund 'supports' that put the participant at risk of harm.  For some people self-management might put them at risk of finical harm so safety steps are put in place like a support coordinator to enable them to best self direct.

 

 

We have seen that NDIS is not a welfare payment that goes into your bank account.  It works a bit like medicare paying for your support needs.  For things like therapies and equipment you make a claim, that claim has to be approved.  The funds must be as set out in your agreement you will sign with your Local Area Coordinator.

 

The NDIS supports includes:

 

 

• Accommodation support
• Direct support hours
• Respite
• Day services\
• Therapies
• Equipment and aids
• Assist technology
• Administration supports

More people will be supported by the NDIA for a whole range of reasons.  Not everyone is needing what we traditionally referred to as supports. Some people will be accessing the NDIS just for support with the mobility such as a wheelchair and incontinences pads.

 

This is the main reason you are being requested to write a NDIS plan so your package can be correctly design for you needs.

 

No Disadvantage

 

The NDIA has promised  no one will be disadvantage under the NDIS. There are people who have being receiving support funding that goes unspent year after year.  This rule allows that funding to be redirected. You many not receive everything you receive now, because a more effective way to meet your supports needs can now be sourced under the NDIS. 

 

"Reasonable and Necessary Supports"

 

The NDIS funds supports:

 

1. That are linked directly to your NDIS goals.
2. Are related to your specific disability.
3. Are cost effective - deliver value for money.
4. Do not put the participant at risk.

The NDIS will not fund things your peers must pay for like rent, cars or textbooks. A peer is a non-disable person about you age. So if you go to the pool with your support work you still need to pay to get into the pool. A companion card can be one way you can meet the expenses of you support person.

 

Great expectations

 

Like everyone when the concept of the NDIS was being discussed, I formed expectations about what that may look like.  Most of my expectations will be meat but not all and that's life.  Some of these expectation is due to my misunderstanding what terms I have never heard before or poor examples being used.

 

In the early days in my neck of the woods, going on holiday was a regularly used example of a choice we could make under the NDIS. The use of universal example concern me because some people through the world get to go on holiday for free.  Just like everyone else whether we camping at the lake or flying to Pairs the cost of a holiday is your personal expense.

 

Regardless of your goals the NDIA will only pay for the expense of your disability. If you want to play basketball. you need to pay you fees, memberships, uniforms and travel costs.  The NDIS ,ay pay for a sports wheelchair. Due to the individual design of the NDIS.

 

 

Much of our frustrations and confusion is due to our personal expectations not being realised, The NDIA has no blank checks and it can not possibly fund every dream.  This is one reason we are asked to prioritise our goals to ensure what is most important to us is funded. 

 

For some these expectations were the result of not knowing how the rules and regulations of the current system would operate in the new world of the NDIS.  We assumed the auditing process would not occur in a market driven industry.  Not-for-profit are still not making a profit, safe checks are still needed and your funding still needs to be acquitted. 

 

 

 

 The NDIA Ipswich office are already calling clients and requesting plans and documentation.  July 1 is not a flick of a switch.  You need to get up to speed or risk a gap in service. You need to know what you want; how you want your life to look like; how you intend to achieve your goals and the support you have now.  These are the determines in what you package will include.

 

To avoid major disappointment ask someone like a current provider to ensure you not left anything out. If you not got something call My First Plan you are now behind the game.  You need to pull that finger out and start asking for help to get up to speed.

 

Time to leave La La Land and head to the website download the documents or contact you current provider for a template and start writing.

 

You can message me for a free information booklet.

 



For Facts the website is your first port of call.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NDIS Facts or Fiction

 

 

As the National Disability Insurance Scheme, known as the NDIS rolls out, many people set to benefit from the scheme are frustrated and confused. Like any new operational system their are hitches in the system and technology is not keeping up as more participates come online.

 

My advice eat some chocolate

and read on . . .

 

I have always been concerned about some of the preamble leading up to the roll out of the NDIS . . .and it would lead to disappointment for many. Sorting fact from fiction is proving difficult as the NDIA staff and its website struggles to unite all Australians living with disability into one commonwealth system.

 

Disappoint # 1

 

So people through if they were currently supported under state systems they would automatically switch over to the NDIS. This was never going to be the case.  As we move towards a system that takes a more individual approach and is based on the things people with disabilities want their lives to look like.

 

This is what the NDIS refers to when they are discussing participant goals. Initially, some of the discussion around setting goals use examples we know now are not being covered by NDIS like overseas holidays.  It appears the NDIA is not covering the expenses of a support worker traveling with participants.

 

The NDIA talks about funding supports that are 'reasonable' and 'necessary' to allowing those living with disability to achieve their goals.

 

  

Disappointment # 2

Here lies the conflict of what I see as 'reasonable' is different too the terms stated on the NDIS website.  I thought travel expense for a support person interstate while working was 'reasonable'.  Turns out the NDIA see travel as a 'luxury'. That it assumes people with disability can't afford.

 

Here lies an assumption of what our lives look like and propels the welfare model of disability, something we fought hard to stamp out.

 

Disappointment # 3

 

The NDIS was to hand people with disability and their families choice and control of their futures.  This is proving not to be the case and some people needing to hire support coordinators due to the NDIA planners perception' of the families ability.

 

I have always question whether we as a society were ready to allow people with disabilities to self-direct the own supports and where duty of care starts and finishes.

 

Disappointment # 4

 

The definition of 'support' has changed.  The NDIS covers a border range of 'supports'. It now include therapies, transport, supported accommodation, equipment and modifications.  As well as a whole range of costs that was previously unseen but still paid for under the states care.

 

Costs like administration, coordination of supports, staff recruitment and staff training. Now that the funding is given directly to participants in the NDIS and not service providers, organisations still need to charge these costs to your package.  Until now many people did not know the dollar value of their package. Largely in Queensland we were told the hours or no of days in day respite we could access.  We had no idea of what that looked like in terms of dollar amounts.

 

We seem upset about paying for things that our funding has always paid for.   What a support worker is paid per hour is not the costs of actual service delivery.  Those using providers for services are going to pay more per hour than those who directly employ their support staff, because they are doing their own administration, need to pay for police checks, superannuation, work cover, public liability and equipment insurance.

 

 

 

 

Many people I talk to think support workers are over paid and services over change.  Having worked in the industry I know services need to fundraise and apply for additional funding to cover services delivery costs.  The fact is the packages of individuals combined never paid for all service delivery costs. 

 

This is easily proven by requesting a copy of the organisations annual report.  It is easy to judge what we do not understand. Unless you are self-managing your supports cost more than what the worker is paid, all costs are calculated into your package amount.

 

I have no doubt that some providers may be over price by in the main given the level of accountability in the sector overprice is very difficult to maintain when a service is audited.

Disappointment # 5

 

Is cause by our own interpuration of what is fair and what we think we are entitled too. Sometimes our own judgements are tainted.

 

I think some people thought privation meat we as participants would not be bound by awards and employee obligations.  People would be happy with 30 p/h ..., This is not the case if you are self-managing you are trading as a business and bound by industry, small business and taxation laws.

 

With choice and flexibility come responsibility and an investment of time.  Even for those who allow the NDIA to administration their package need to work out the goals and write a plan to receive funding.

 

 

Are you ready?

 

The NDIA Ipswich office are already calling clients and requesting plans and documentation.  July 1 is not a flick of a switch.  You need to get up to speed or risk a gap in service. You need to know what you want; how you want your life to look like; how you intend to achieve your goals and the support you have now.  These are the determines in what you package will include.

 

To avoid major disappointment ask someone like a current provider to ensure you not left anything out. If you not got something call My First Plan you are now behind the game.  You need to pull that finger out and start asking for help to get up to speed.

 

Time to leave La La Land and head to the website download the documents or contact you current provider for a template and start writing.

 

You can message me for a free information booklet.

 



For Facts the website is your first port of call.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

 

25th March 2017

 

 

 

 

Twilight Markets

Ipswich City Mall

4 pm to 8 pm

 

 

 

 

Some of my current cards on sale!

 

$4 each

 

 

Profession Practise

The Art of Selling Yourself Short

As artists you need to think in terms of yourself as running a small business. Business seek to make a profit.  For many artists that is very small. However their is every chance you are paying people to take your work home.

I often see works with prices less than the price it costs to put on the wall, for the sake of making a sale.  Even if you don't value your efforts, you don't need customers to follow suit. We have enough friends trying to get their hands on our work for next to nothing.

As professionals its time to stop selling yourselves short. How do you know you can't get more for your work if you don't ask?

Here's something based on an article I read recentlyL


Pricing artwork is difficult for all artists, for most of us it’s a blind guess and none of us knows for sure if we’re meeting our costs letting alone making any money. Here is a formula I found online.  Step one is knowing — what it cost you to put it on a gallery wall, online or market stall.

Costs include: Art supplies, framing, gallery hire or market fees, galleries commissions; advertising and marketing costs, packaging and postage, online fees and admin costs like phone calls.

Labour: Something for your time and effort for first times or emerging artists this will not be an hourly rate, but you want something for your time and effort. I increase this cost with each exhibition I host or take part in.  It work is unsold I may reduce the price at the end of each year.

In other words you should be charging something for your experience and skills even if for now that’s five dollars so if you’re happy with $10 in your pocket. The price is:-

Costs plus $5 = sale price

This is your bottom line – the minim amount you’re willing to bank.

I should never see $10 to $15 on an original piece hanging in a commercial gallery or even a market. (Even if you are sharing the gallery with others).  It’s time to start valuing ourselves as artists even if others do not. Carolyn Edlund recommends you bottom line is actually twice the costs plus profit amount. You can read her article online.

Canvas and frames often start at $10 so I know local artists are currently selling their work to low.

Ignite calling for expression of interest

The Road Ahead

 

As you know we have changed our name to better reflect our goals for 2017. Our goal is to build a inclusive artist network in the Ipswich region, through mentorships for emerging artists.  As manger I am currently working on two submissions for funding for our new look program. A number of informal mentorships are already taking place, as we join FOCAL Community Living and Ipswich Square in there Friday Night Markets give the community  a contact point to come and chat about the development of our network.

 

Going forward we see the development of a social enterprise and user pays services as possible solutions to create a funding base.  In 2017 we will be researching possible models to apply for seed funding to kick off in 2018 with a more stable future. We are using the markets to form part of our research base.  The question is What type of revenue could markets provide. These markets are to raise funds for Focal Community Living and we extend a warm thanks for allowing us to participate free of charge.

 

 

Stage one is being supported by local artists Kate Den Otter. She and I am currently being support by Nancy Brown through my arts business development mentorship.  I deeply value each partnership and their generosity to support my vision.

 

The Network is for emerging artists: Emerging artists be begun their professional life as visual artists and have been selling their work for less than five years. If this is you than we are now seeking expression of interest for mentorships to commence in 2017. Feedback from previous applications was they were to complex and off putting to even well qualified art practioners. Thus we are encouraging all artists to attempt to complete our expressions of interest form, with no pressure to answer all questions, just do your best.  Or video tape your current art practise, as this is evidence to include in our funding submissions. Expression of interest forms give more info on this format of applications.  Simply email us for a form.

 

There is one form to use regardless of how you hope to become involved.  If you are seeking paid employment are simply ask to attach additional information.  There are no closing dates as we many need to make several submissions before we are successful.  We have a submission to loge be 5 February and our two candidates for 2016 will form part of this submission.

 

We are also applying for RADF funding to run one off workshops, you can also email us for these EOI forms.

 

 

So what is a mentorship and why should you apply?

 

Firstly I think anyone wanting to grow in their artistic and professional practise such apply.  A mentor can assist you:-

 

• To develop your artistic skills
• To develop your artistic practise
• To promote your wrote and write a business plan
• To develop and plan an exhibition

 

We will develop the format of your mentorship if you are successful.  If you are able to pay for your own mentorship than we can immediately begin to set this up for you.

 

Artists who are socially disadvantage

 

Artists Living with disability can use the same for to apply for a 8 week professional development mentorship being offered in partnership with Access Arts (there is only one place) and this application closes Feb 28th @ 5pm.

 

If you are eligible for the NDIS you might want to visit us at the Twilight Markets for info on writing your ndis are goals.

 

Hope to receive your expression of interest form soon.

 

Deb Chilton

Manager

Welcome to 2017

2017 Let's Go!

 

 

2016 was an amazing year for me as I surrounded myself with amazing talented artists in the Ipswich community.  I enjoyed putting my hand to traditional water colour at BIA; took part in the Ipswich Festival parade, sold my first piece of artwork through Brisbane Rotary Art Exhibition, flew to Sydney to se my artwork display on a graffiti wall.  Attended conferences and workshops on the NDIS; had my first solo exhibition at Drawing Point Gallery,  my art began selling alongside others artists, began designing my own fabric, made my own patchwork quilt, took part in five collaborative art exhibitions and made new friends along the way . . .

 

 

Arts Connect in the Ipswich Festival Parade

 

 

 

Fresh Futures Market 2016

 



The buzz in the disability sector is the arrival of the NDIS and the roll out that commences in July this year. It is a time of anticipation for some and a nervous wait for others. The National Disability Insurance Scheme is not the latest funding reform in disability care.  It is a revolutarily way to empower people living with disability and their families to participate in the life of their communities. Offering them choice and control over the way they are supported to life their best lives. 

 

 

Accessing and participating in the community

 

 

Choices can be made about the types of activities people want to participate in (known as goals); the way the wish to be assisted to participate (know as pathway steps); the types of support, equipment and services the want to be able to reach their goals (known as resources) and who will be responsible for ensuring funding is spent correctly. (known as administration of funding).

 

 

Pathways to choice

 

 

The key agenda in this reform is participation.  The government no longer wants to see people  with disability sitting at home.  The National Disability Insurance Agency wants to see people with disabilities out and about in the community.  This could include employment, self-employment, community work, study, training, life skills development, sports and leisure, art and craft and so much more.

 

 

Part of my NDIS plan is to grow my small business and mentor other artists through Ignite Artists. I am currently writing a number of submissions to enable me to get my venues off the ground, hopefully including some market research to lay a firm foundation for 2018.  Hey!  Rome wasn't built in a day.

In the mean time you can find me or one of the Ignite Artist Team in the Ipswich Mall at the Twilight Markets on Friday's between 4 pm and 8 pm.