In this issue of Don’t Be Left Out of NDIS we focus on the importance of networking and connecting with stakeholders in the disability sector to work towards achieving your goals.
WHATS HAPPENING AT FACILITRADE NDIS
Interagency Connect for Networking
Facilitrade NDIS attended the February 2022 Interagency Connect, a very effective networking event organised by PursueAbility. It was an interactive session with presentations and discussions and attended by around 60 business representatives.
This is a monthly event and an excellent initiative taken to connect disability service providers, support coordinators, case managers, people with disabilities, and carers of people with disabilities.
They share attendee lists and marketing collaterals of the attendees with all participants after each meeting. PursueAbility also provides the opportunity to promote your logo in their email communications. Its a worthy even for you to pursue!
You can contact Team Pursue on marketing@pursueability.com
Reframe Mental Health Around the People Connection
Reframing the mental health system in Australia around people-centric strategies, was the focus of an interview the Governance Institute of Australia had with Georgie Harman, an advocate for mental health reform and the chief executive officer of Beyond Blue. 
She is passionate about helping to alleviate the deep structural and systemic issues that are preventing people from receiving support and living their full potential.
Georgie reflects that clinical treatment is “just one thread of the tapestry of things people need, that will help them to get meaningful recovery”. Another important thread is the human connection. Being connected with family, friendship groups, and the community, stable housing, education and meaningful employment are equally important, and often more important, than treatment and services to people’s wellbeing.
Often people with disability don’t feel comfortable seeking support as there is still a lot of stigma at a structural level, societal level and at an individual level. She says “there is still a feeling that the service system is only there for those who are very sick, when the focus should also be on prevention and early intervention. The earlier we can guide people towards strategies that can help improve their mental well-being, the less likely they are going to need the service system.”
To this end the disability sector, governments and governance must collaborate to get policies and the governance setting right, if we need to get our outcomes right, as the demand for mental health services and the urgency for better service and support grows.
NDIS NEWS
How to Choose the Right Provider?
Many NDIS participants struggle with finding and choosing a suitable provider after their plan has been approved. I came across this article recently which you may find useful whether you are a new NDIS participant or not.
“Participants may have previous or existing contact with service providers before they join the NDIS and may choose to work with them again. When considering a new service provider however, participants are encouraged to talk to them about their plan and to discuss how they may be able to help them achieve their goals.
Here is a summary of some useful tips:
Where there are not many service providers available, particularly in rural or remote towns, participants may consider other people or businesses in their area that might be able to support them. If you are a Plan Managed or Self-Managed participant, you can use providers who are not registered with the NDIS Commission.
The National Disability Insurance Agency values the role of providers and sees them as a critical part of the NDIS. Ultimately, they would like to see “a market with a diverse range of providers giving participants more choice and control and enabling strong links with mainstream services as well as family and community support.”
Source: https://australianoverfifties.com.au/ndis-how-do-i-choose-a-provider/
Diligence in Maintaining OHS Standards in the Disability Sector Leads to an Award
Tanya Cunningham a safety, wellbeing and risk specialist of Directions Disability Support Services, won the Health and Safety Professional of the Year Award in late 2021.
Its heartening to know that this winner was from a sector where there are several challenges in implementing effective OHS standards, as we deal with people caring for people. Tanya discusses the steps she took for all in her organisation to understand the risks involved and provides useful tips for OHS standards.
Go to https://issuu.com/safetyinstitute/docs/ohsprodec2021single for the full article in pages 26 to 29 of the OHS Professional December 2021 publication of the Australian Institute of Health and Safety.
FREQUENTLY RAISED ISSUE
How Do I Pursue My Goals Amidst Problems?
You may have seen this snippet circulating in WhatsApp recently about how Google navigates you to achieve your goal despite the mistakes you may make enroute:
“Have you ever noticed how Google Maps never yells, condemns or castigates you if you take the wrong turn? It never raises its voice and says, “You were supposed to go LEFT at the last crossing, you idiot! Now you’re going to have to go the LONG way around and it’s going to take you SO much more time, and you’re going to be late for your meeting! Learn to pay attention and listen to my instructions, OK???”
If it did that, chances are, a lot of us might stop using it. But Google simply Re-Routes and shows you the next best way to get there.
Its primary interest is in getting you to reach your goal, not in making you feel bad for having made a mistake. The wisest choice is in fixing the problem.”
Well, if you are a NDIS provider experiencing similar frustrations and problems in manoeuvring your way around NDIS registration, audits, rules and standards, Facilitrade NDIS is here to help you.
Warm Regards,
Janaki
