Uniting Care Australia

Australia Fair is coordinating a National Housing Advocacy Day in Canberra with the support of National Shelter, the Australian Council of Social Service, the Community Housing Federation of Australia and Homelessness Australia. The Advocacy Day is to lobby Federal Members of Parliament and Senators on the need for major investment in public and community housing. Registrations close Monday 8 September

For more information or to register, click here

The Federal Government has approved a further $3 million to support the individual needs of the carers of people with dementia, announced Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, on 2 September 2008. Funding will be provided to Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres, to be used to provide skill enhancement activities that help carers.

For more information click here

The Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O'Connor, outlined how the Federal Government's new employment services would help job seekers off income support and into sustainable employment on 1 September 2008. In a Ministerial Statement to Parliament, Mr O'Connor said the Government believes the key to addressing barriers to securing employment for many Australians was to provide them with vocational skills and other support to find and keep a job.

"We recognise that this is critical, not only to the wellbeing of those Australians who are looking for work, but to improve the economic and social circumstances of their families and of their communities," Mr O'Connor said.

Mr O'Connor said the new employment services which begin on July 1, 2009 would have stronger links to training and education with 238,000 extra training places available for job seekers over the next five years under the Governments Productivity Places Program.

For more information click here

The Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O'Connor, released a discussion paper as part of the Federal Government's review of Disability Employment Network and the Vocational Rehabilitation Services on 3 September 2008. Disability Employment Network (DEN) and Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) offer job seekers specialist rehabilitation services, support and assistance in finding work and where needed, ongoing support in the workplace.

"This review is an opportunity to take a fresh look at DEN and VRS services, to build on their strengths and to identify new ways to improve services for job seekers and employers," said Minister O'Connor.

Minister O'Connor said the review would look at how to create more flexible employment services that better link a job seeker with the right service for them while reducing the burden of red tape for providers.

"Not everyone with a disability is the same and the current one-size-fits-all approach isn't effective," he said.

The discussion paper will form the basis for consultation with job seekers, service providers, peak bodies and other interested parties. The review will also be informed by the review of Universal Employment Services, the review of Job Capacity Assessments and the development of the National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy, said Minister O'Connor.

Written submissions close 1 October 2008.

One in four Australians will be 65 years or older by 2056, according to the latest population projections released 4 September 2008 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. By 2056 Australia's population is projected to increase to between 31 and 43 million people, with around 23% to 25% being 65 years or older. In 2007 Australia's population was 21 million people, with 13% being 65 years or older.

The number of people aged 85 years or over is likely to increase rapidly over the next 50 years, from 344,000 people in 2007 to between 1.7 million and 3.1 million people in 2056. By then, people aged 85 years or over will make up 5% to 7% of Australia's population, compared to only 1.6% in 2007.

For more information click here

Indexation will deliver an increase of $15.30 a fortnight in the maximum single pension and $12.70 in the maximum partnered rate for each member of a pensioner couple, announced Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, on 2 September 2008. The increase will come into action from 20 September. This year payments will rise in line with a 2.8 per cent increase in the CPI for the six months to June 2008, said the Minister.

The increase will assist two million Age Pensioners, and others receiving the Wife Pension, Carer Payment, Special Benefit, Disability Support Pension and Veterans Service Pension. A further one million people receiving payments such as Newstart Allowance, Parenting Payment (Partnered and Single), Sickness Allowance, Partner Allowance, Mature Age Allowance and Widow Allowance will also receive an increase. Other payments to increase in line with the CPI are the Maternity Immunisation Allowance, the maximum rates of Rent Assistance, Pension Bonus Scheme and certain Concessional Allowances, such as Utilities Allowance, Telephone Allowance and Seniors Concession Allowance.

For more information, including the pension increase rate table, click here

On an average day in 2006-07 around 6,000 young people in Australia were under juvenile justice supervision, with around 5,000 in community-based supervision and about 1,000 were in detention, according to a report released 27 August 2008 by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The report, Juvenile justice in Australia 2006-07, shows that during the four years from 2003-04 to 2006-07, the overall number and rate of young people in supervision remained relatively stable, but while the number and rate of those in community-based supervision reached a four-year low in 2006-07, the number and rate of young people in detention reached a high point in 2006-07. As in past reports, it also found that Indigenous young people continue to be over-represented in the juvenile justice system.

'Although only 5% of Australians aged 10-17 years are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, over a third (36%) of those who had supervision in 2006-07 were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, Ms Aalders said.

To view the report click here

Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes, called on Federal Government departments and agencies to improve their adherence to government standards and legislation that requires them to provide equal access to public information for people with disability on 24 August 2008.
"We've seen several important reports and papers published recently, all of them initially inaccessible to many people with disability - The Green Paper on Carbon Emissions Trading and the Grocery Watch website are two prominent examples", said the Commissioner.

"The Green Paper on Carbon Emissions Trading is over 500 pages long, but when I tried to read the PDF files with my synthetic speech software, it told me that there was one paragraph in those 500 pages - this made the document unusable because I couldn't move from section to section."

A new report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that the number of children with a disability attending school has more than tripled over the last 25 years but people with disability continue to have significantly higher levels of unemployment than people without disability. The report, Disability in Australia: trends in prevalence, education, employment and community living, gives insight into education, employment, and community living for people with a disability.

Key findings of the report include: The number of students with a disability attending school increased by 93 per cent between 1981 and 2003; the number of students with a severe or profound limitations rose by 260 per cent rising from 40,000 in 1981 to 150,000 in 2003; in 2003 the unemployment rate for people with disability was almost 9 per cent - significantly higher than people without disability at 5 per cent; in 2003 there were 21,200 fewer people with disability aged 15 to 64 with a severe or profound limitation in the workforce than in 1998 and between 1981 and 2003 there was a trend towards more people with severe disability living in the community, strongest in those aged 5 to 29.

To view the report click here

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has lodged a submission in response to the Federal Government's Green Paper on Homelessness, Which Way Home? A New Approach to Homelessness. The submission highlights the availability and quality of data about housing and homelessness in Australia

To view the submission click here

The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) issued its Pastoral Partnerships Project Discussion Paper on 27 August 2008. The paper is aimed at breaking down the barriers for the long-term unemployed, indigenous Australians, disabled people and women to enable them to take up jobs and careers in farming.

"We're seeking input from all individuals and groups with an in-depth understanding of the employment issues facing these groups," NFF President David Crombie said.

"The Government's trial of our Pacific Island seasonal worker scheme is very much welcomed, but only one part of the overall jobs jigsaw puzzle. The 22,000 vacant jobs in horticulture cannot be met just through Pacific Island labour. On the other hand, the Australian workforce can't resolve these shortages alone either."

The NFF's project calls for cooperation between interest groups, Government and industry - in particular, representative and professional organisations are invited participate.

For more information click here

The Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency has reduced the accreditation period of Brighton Aged Care in Adelaide as an outcome of a review audit conducted in early August, announced Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, on 26 August 2008. The Accreditation Agency has formally identified 17 areas of non-compliance out of 44 accreditation standards arising from the review audit. The Agency has reduced the home's accreditation by one month and it will now expire on 7 November 2008.

For more information click here

Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, detailed the Federal Government's unannounced visits program for nursing homes in Parliament on 27 August 2008. Minister Elliot called on the Federal Opposition to express its bipartisan support for unannounced visits. As of July 1, the Accreditation Agency began a program of 7,000 visits including 3,000 unannounced visits and 1,500 site audits. Currently three of the nine nursing homes in Australia under sanction were identified through unannounced visits by the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency. From July 1 to August 14, the Accreditation Agency and the Department of Health and Ageing have conducted 501 and 178 unannounced visits, respectively.

For more information click here

Home and community care services for the elderly and people with disabilities in Western Australia will receive an additional $1.4 million, announced Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, on 27 August 2008. WA Health Minister Jim McGinty welcomed the announcement and said the increase meant funding for HACC services in WA had reach a record of more than $166 million for the 2007-2008 calendar year. Minister Elliot said the extra funding would mean that more services would be made available across Western Australia for older people and younger people with a disability and their carers.

For more information click here

The Federal and Queensland Governments have reached an agreement to provide record funding to support services for vulnerable Queenslanders. Under the agreement, the two Governments will boost the budget for Home and Community Care (HACC) services to about $1.2 billion over three years. HACC program helps people remain in the community and help older Australians and people with a disability remain independent in their homes.

"The HACC program provides many services to assist with daily activities that most people take for granted, such as domestic chores, help with dressing and grooming and access to the community," said Federal Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot.

For more information click here

The Federal Government will provide $2.1 million to give carers of young people access to emergency, unplanned respite care, announced Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, on 19 August 2008. The funding will support a further 2,000 carers of young people with a severe or profound disability during 2008-09, said Minister Macklin. It will be provided through the Respite Support for Carers of Young People with a Severe or Profound Disability Program, which is delivered through Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres.

For more information click here

The Federal Government has appointed a specialist in child protection to investigate ways to improve information sharing within and between jurisdictions as part of its National Child Protection Framework, announced Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, on 19 August 2008.

Ms Mary Ann O'Loughlin, will work with the states and territories to identify existing barriers to information sharing and ways these barriers can be overcome, sad the Minister. Ms O'Loughlin will complete her work in the next few months. Her background in child protection includes working with governments to reform services. She is also a member of the Disability Investment Group and was recently appointed to the Commonwealth Government's National Health and Hospital Reform Commission.

For more information click here

The Federal Government will provide $320,000 to help people with disability attend 27 conferences throughout Australia, announced Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, Bill Shorten, on 19 August 2008.

"This funding helps maximise participation of people with disability, their families and carers in disability conferences held within Australia," said Mr Shorten.

"The program assists with the cost of conference fees, accommodation and travel, engaging Auslan interpreters and note-takers, providing hearing loops and material in alternative formats to their families and their carers at disability focused conferences."

National conferences will receive up to $10,000 in funding, while international conferences held in Australia will receive up to $20,000 in funding.

For more information click here

The Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O'Connor, announced an agreement between international eyewear firm Luxottica and Disability Works Australia to create more job opportunities for people with disabilities on 21 August 2008.

"This agreement between Luxottica and Disability Works Australia is an excellent example of how employers can take pro-active steps to give people with disabilities a fair go in the open labour market," Mr O'Connor said.

"People with a disability have a great deal to contribute to our workforce and I encourage more Australian employers to consider people with disabilities when they are recruiting new staff."

For more information click here

Organisations representing people with disability across Australia will receive an additional $1.1 million in funding, announced by Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, on 20 August 2008. $620,000 will go to disability advocacy agencies and over $527,000 to disability peak bodies.

"Advocacy agencies play a vital role in giving a voice to people with disability and ensuring their rights are protected. This funding will help build their capacity and improve advocacy support to people with disability," Mr Shorten said.

62 disability advocacy agencies also received one-off funding of $10,000 under the National Disability Advocacy Program to buy goods and services such as IT and communication equipment or staff and management training.

For more information click here

Arts Minister, Peter Garrett and Indigenous Affairs Minister, Jenny Macklin announced $37.5 million in funding for Indigenous arts, cultural, languages and broadcasting programs across Australia in 2008-09 on 14 August 2008.

The funding will support the activities of almost 250 organisations providing invaluable support, services and programs to Indigenous Australians.

"All Australians will enjoy the cultural benefits which will flow from the projects that receive these funds; the dance, festivals, music, television and radio productions, the art and crafts, and the revival and strengthening of our Indigenous languages, said Minister Garrett.

For full details on the projects click here

Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, made further comment on the Brighton nursing home on 20 August 2008. Minister Elliot said her Department has taken further action, serving the home with an official notice. The nursing home has been given a timetable by which it must fix those areas identified, ranging from immediate action to address falls management to up to 14 days to fix issues like appropriate equipment and assessments.

On 1 August 2008, the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency conducted a full review audit at the nursing home. The Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency's assessors identified 14 possible areas of non-compliance out of 44. A final decision will be made on 25 August 2008.

For the Minister's full statement click here

Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, announced another 66 transition care places in NSW and Victoria on 20 August 2008. The Federal Government will create 228 fully funded places under its $293.2 million transition care plan.

The increase brings the capacity of the Transition Care Program to 4,000 places by the end of the 2011-12 financial year. When all places are fully operational, up to 30,000 older people may benefit from transition care each year, said Minister Elliot.

For more information click here

A new report by Australia Institute Research Fellow Gemma Edgar, Agreeing to Disagree: Maintaining dissent in the voluntary sector, argues that community groups should be cautious in signing a National Compact with the Federal Government.

"The idea that the Government and the community sector can agree on how they will work together constructively sounds good in theory, but experience shows it is the sincerity of both parties, not the words of a formal agreement, that is the key to a positive relationship," said Ms Edgar.

To view the report click here

The address will be televised live on ABC1 from 12.30pm, and the report will also be available here

Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, defended the Federal Government's support for community care on 15 August 2008. The move comes after ABC Radio reported comments by Torbay Retirement Village CEO, Phillip Parry, who suggested Commonwealth-funded community care reduced people going into nursing homes.

The comments made by Mr Parry came an Australian Institute of Health Welfare annual report, Aged Care Packages in the community 2006-07 released August 14 2008. To view the report click here.

The report found that nearly 56,000 people received help at home through community care packages nationally. Mr Parry said the trend means many nursing homes were losing money to community care because they were remaining in their homes.

For more information click here

The Indigenous Cabin Crew Training Scholarship Program was launched by Minister for Human Services, Joe Ludwig, on 11 August 2008. The program is an initiative of Aviation Australia and Career Employment Australia and aims to get more workers into the aviation industry and close the gap in employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians.

"The training program will be based at Aviation Australia's world-class training centre at Brisbane Airport and will provide Indigenous Australians with fully accredited and nationally recognised qualifications, while also helping to meet the growing need for skilled workers in the industry" said Minister Ludwig.

For more information click here

The process to select the 2009 Senior Australian of the Year is underway with Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, issuing a call for community nominations on 11 August 2008. The Senior Australian of the Year award recognises that older Australians make important contributions to the community on a daily basis and in many different ways. Nominations for the Senior Australian of the Year close at the end of this month, with the State and Territory finalists to be announced at the end of the year.

For nomination information click here

The National Homelessness Information Clearinghouse was launched by Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek, on 11 August 2008. The Homelessness Information Clearinghouse is an online tool designed to help tackle homelessness in Australia through sharing information and good practice solutions for the homelessness service sector in Australia. The site also facilitates discussions, research and interaction among those in the sector.

"Sharing research through this new facility will help government, researchers, service providers and the community to determine if our responses to homelessness are working," said Minister Plibersek.

To go to the National Homelessness Information Clearinghouse click here

ACOSS has responded to the Pension Review Background Paper released by the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs on 11 August 2008.

"Pensioners, sole parents, people with disabilities and unemployed people are caught between low social security payments and rising rents, food and fuel prices. The Government's review of taxes and transfers should develop proposals to reform the social security system so that it does its most important job - to prevent poverty in the midst of prosperity," ACOSS President Lin Hatfield Dodds said today.

For more information click here

The Pension Review Background Paper was released by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and the Department's Secretary, Dr Jeff Harmer, on 11 August 2008. The Background Paper looks at the economic and social context of the pension system and is designed to generate debate and discussion on issues surrounding pension payments, said Minister Macklin.

The Pension Review will investigate levels of income support and allowances, frequency of payments and the structure and payment of concessions or other entitlements for Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment recipients.

Through the Review, the Federal Government will investigate measures to strengthen financial security for seniors, carers and people with disability. Information from responses to the Background Paper, written submissions and national consultations will feed into the final Review report, due February 2009.

To view the Pension Review Background Paper and for information about the public consultations click here

The Federal Government announced the Partnership Facilitators to assist organisations to make applications under the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) on 7 August 2008. The Partnership Facilitators will work with the Australian, State and Territory Governments to support the implementation of NRAS by coordinating potential partnership arrangements between interested organisations such as investors, builders and developers, local councils and tenancy managers. An Interest Register has been established to direct organisations to an appropriate Partnership Facilitator.

Upcoming sessions will be held in Brisbane (August 11), Cairns (August 12), Darwin (August 13), Adelaide (August 14) Newcastle (August 14) and Perth (August 15).

Organisations can register their interest by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For more information, including a full list of Partnership Facilitators click here

'This was a substantial increase in the reported number of people receiving help from SAAP,' said Felicity Murdoch of the Institute's Supported Accommodation and Crisis Services Unit.

Most SAAP clients were born in Australia and did not identify as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, but Indigenous clients were significantly overrepresented in SAAP, said Ms Murdoch.

'Indigenous Australians make up 2% of the general population, but 18% of SAAP clients,' she said.

For more information click here

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) was commissioned by the Australian Health Ministers' this year to develop performance indicators of the health and aged care system. The indicators were to allow for reciprocal public performance reporting and to cover the entire health and aged care system.

To view the AIHW performance indicators click here

The Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) will receive a $3 million Federal Government funding boost over the next three years, announced Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, on 4 August 2008.

"SNAICC is an important initiative that provides the evidence-base for expanding Indigenous children's life chances," Minister Macklin said.

The funding will also help SNAICC share information between the Government and the community on social issues, and represent the rights and views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and provide information about relevant government policies and programs, said Minister Macklin.

SNAICC is a member of the Coalition of Organisations Committed to the Safety and Wellbeing of Australia's Children, which is helping the Government to develop the National Child Protection Framework.

For more information click here

17 new classrooms and 19 additional teachers will be delivered to remote communities in the Northern Territory, announced Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, on 5 August 2008. The 19 teachers are the first of 50 new teachers to have taken up their postings in remote NT schools. A total of 25 classrooms are expected to be ready by the end of next year.

For more information click here

New quality standards and a new five category quality rating system is being developed for improvement in the quality of child care and early learning and give parents more information about their child's care centre or preschool, announced Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Maxine McKew, on 6 August 2008.

Forums will take place in all states and territories in capital cities and regional centres, to address new national quality standards, a quality ratings system, regulatory arrangements and a new National Early Years Learning Framework.

To access a copy of the discussion paper and the schedule of public forums click here

$2.6 million to fund 278 new supported employment places for people with a disability, was announced by Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, Bill Shorten, on 5 August 2008. Mr Shorten said the new places would provide job opportunities for people with disability across Australia in a variety of businesses.

"These new supported employment places will target regions where demand is greatest, giving people with disability access to meaningful employment opportunities that also create opportunities to build skills and enter open employment," he said.

For more information click here

The Federal Government's new employment services will help job seekers address significant barriers to employment including homelessness, said Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O'Connor, on 7 August 2008.

"The Rudd Government has identified homelessness as a key priority to address," Mr O'Connor said.

"Each year 40,000 18 to 35 year olds become homeless and unemployed. Most are early school leavers, who without help, will struggle to hold down permanent housing."

Minister O'Connor said the Government's new employment services would focus on providing assistance to disadvantaged job seekers and help them address barriers to employment. He said the further work will be undertaken on social outcomes for homeless job seekers as part of the Federal Government's Homelessness White Paper due to be released in September.

For more information click here

Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O'Connor, released the Exposure Draft of Purchasing Arrangements for the new Employment Services on 1 August 2008. The development of the range of services outlined within this Exposure Draft was guided by the feedback received from all stakeholders in response to the review of employment services undertaken in January 2008, and the release of The Future of Employment Services in Australia: A Discussion Paper in May 2008. Minister O'Connor said the purpose of the Exposure Draft is to gain further feedback on the proposed purchasing arrangements and the Draft Contract before the Request for Tender is issued, anticipated for release in September 2008.

The Federal Government is proposing all successful tenders will be required to develop a strategy for employing and retaining Indigenous Australians in their own organisations. A series of public consultation sessions on the Draft will be held nationally from 6 - 12 August 2008.

For further information, including consultation sessions, click here

"The Centre will help job seekers in this region increase their skills and employability and will help local industry to find a suitably skilled workforce," Minister O'Connor said.

For more information click here

Forty former Mitsubishi employees are undertaking training to help address skilled labour shortages in South Australia's transport and distribution industry, announced Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O'Connor on 29 July 2008.

"This initiative will help address a shortage of skilled labour that is affecting both South Australia's and the nation's transport and distribution industry," Mr O'Connor said.

"The training should also lead to ongoing employment for workers that were affected by the closure of Mitsubishi plant earlier this year."

For more information click here

The Federal Government's Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) project is providing literacy and numeracy training for apprentices for the first time in South Australia, said Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O'Connor on 29 July 2008. Minister O'Connor said the program combines English language literacy and numeracy training including information and communication technology with vocational education and training.

"This training will help these apprentices to gain confidence, complete their Certificate III qualification and increase their skill levels," Mr O'Connor said.

"Improved skill levels will also ensure employers retain skilled workers which are in demand in many industries."

The WELL Program is part of the Australian Government's Skilling Australia for the Future initiative.

For more information click here

The National Rental Affordability Scheme was launched by Treasurer Wayne Swan and Minister for Housing Tanya Plibersek on 24 July 2008.Under the scheme, the Federal Government has combined with State and Territory Governments to offer incentives to institutional investors and housing providers to build 50,000 new rental properties, which will be rented out at 20 per cent below market rate. The Scheme will offer investors a Commonwealth incentive of $6,000 per dwelling per year refundable tax offset or payment and a State or Territory incentive of $2,000 per dwelling per year in direct or in kind financial support.

Information sessions on the National Rental Affordability Scheme will be held across the country from August 1 - 15. For details of the sessions click here

"It's time that facilitating access to medical care by elderly residents becomes a part of the routine assessment of residential aged care facilities," said Dr Capolingua.

"In addition, to ensure all residents have access to high quality health care, the Federal Government should introduce proper patient rebates that recognise the comprehensive management and medical care undertaken by doctors."

For more information click here

The Department of Health and Ageing has imposed sanctions on Kirralee Residential Aged Care Facility in East Ballarat following the identification of serious risk to residents. Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot described the measures as "among the strongest ever taken against a care provider" by this Government.

The risks were identified as a result of one of the more than 3,000 unannounced visits by the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency. The increased visits were announced by the Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot earlier this year .

Disciplinary measures taken by the Department include: Progressive revocation of bed licences, meaning the Department will take away beds as residents leave the facility; the centre will not be eligible to receive Commonwealth subsidies for new residents for the six month period; prohibit the further allocation of places for a period of 12 months; and requiring the approved provider to provide, at its expense, training for its staff, officers, employees and agents.

For more information click here

Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, launched a new Carebus service for the South Brisbane Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre on 31 July 2008. The service will act as a mobile one-stop shop for providing information on home and community care. It will go where people live and assist by providing information on government and community services to older Australians within South Brisbane.

"This is providing information so that people can remain independent and in their homes as long as they wish and increasing support for their carers," Minister Elliot said.

The service includes free information relating to respite care, health and wellbeing issues, disabilities, mental health, medical conditions, falls prevention, dementia, home assistance and support, seniors and veteran's information, as well as federal, state and local government services.

For more information click here

$4.5 million for the delivery of 150 Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Playgroups across Australia was announced by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, Bill Shorten, on 28 July 2008. The funding is part of the $190 million Helping Children with Autism package to help address the need for support and services for children with ASDs. As part of the package, 150 playgroups for children with ASD or ASD-like symptoms and their families and carers will be established across Australia over the next four years. The national provider, Playgroup Australia, will commence rollout of the playgroups from October 2008 with 50 groups up and running by June 2009.

For more information about the HCWA package click here

The Senate Inquiry into the provisions of Special Disability Trusts heard on 29 July 2008 that the trusts were a good idea which had not been taken up because the provisions in the legislation were too restrictive. Greens Senator Rachel Siewert says it is very clear that with some sensible amendments Special Disability Trusts can be fixed up to make a major difference to the lives of people living with a disability. The Inquiry was considering why only 26 Special Disability Trusts have been set up since they were first introduced in 2006.

"Amendments to broaden the eligibility criteria, to improve the range of support a trust funds can contribute to, and fixing the tax arrangements for Special Disabilities Trusts would make Special Disability Trusts more accessible," said Senator Siewert.

"People living with a disability do not have the opportunity to build up a superannuation investment and get the benefit of government co-contributions, what they need is some sort of savings and investment plan that provides for the future."

For more information click here

Non-government disability services could be jeopardised by the Federal Government tax reforms that may see billions stripped from church groups and charities, Shadow Spokesperson for Disability Services, Senator Cory Bernardi said on 29 July 2008.

"Many Australians with a disability and their carers access disability services run by church and charity organisations. Those services must be protected," said Senator Bernardi.

"I am urging the Rudd Government and Parliamentary Secretary for Disability Services Bill Shorten to protect non-government services to people with a disability. Australians have been fortunate to benefit from tax cuts over the past ten years as a result of the Coalition Government. The Rudd Government must provide those who are amongst the most vulnerable in our society with the services that are essential in maintaining a certain quality of life," he said.

For more information click here

The Close the Gap Coalition presented the Federal Government and Opposition with a set of National Indigenous Health Equality Targets to address the 17-year life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians on 28 July 2008. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma said the targets are the blueprint to achieve the Prime Minister's goal of closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous life expectancy in a generation.

"The targets are specific, time-bound commitments that will keep us on track to achieve the Close the Gap goals," Commissioner Calma said.

"We look forward to working in partnership with the government to refine the targets, to ensure they are embedded in future policies and to use them to develop evidence-based health programmes targeted to those most in need."

For a copy of the of the National Indigenous Health Equality Targets click here

Older workers had lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and arthritis than their non working peers, according to a recent analysis of the 2004-05 National Health Survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The report found that mature age workers (between 45-74 years) were slightly healthier than their non-working counterparts, with 8 in 10 workers having a chronic health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or obesity, compared with 9 in 10 of the non-working population.

Other findings include:
• Mature age workers in capital cities (77%) were less likely to have a chronic condition than those outside of the capitals (83%).
• Mature age workers living in disadvantaged areas have higher rates of nearly all chronic diseases (81%) compared with the most affluent areas (78%).
• Tradespeople aged 45-74 years were more likely to have a chronic health condition (84%) than professionals (75%).
• Even with a major health condition, 56% of mature age workers still assessed their health as very good or excellent, compared with 31% of those who were not working.

For more information click here

The House Family and Community Committee has so far received 1,200 submissions to its inquiry into better support for carers. Committee Chair, Annette Ellis, said the majority of the submissions had come from carers themselves, and said this is an excellent and timely opportunity for carers to have their say.

"The fact that so many carers have taken scarce spare time to contribute to the inquiry indicates their levels of concern" said Annette Ellis.

The committee will inquire into and report on:
• the role and contribution of carers in society and how this should be recognised;
• the barriers to social and economic participation for carers, with a particular focus on helping carers to find and/or retain employment;
• the practical measures required to better support carers, including key priorities for action; and
• strategies to assist carers to access the same range of opportunities and choices as the wider community, including strategies to increase the capacity for carers to make choices within their caring roles, transition into and out of caring, and effectively plan for the future.

The Pension Review Reference Group met for the first time on 29 July 2008 as part of the Federal Government's review into retirement incomes, including the age pension. This review will form part of the inquiry into Australia's Future Tax System. The goup will provide input into the Pension Review, which the Secretary of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Dr Jeff Harmer, is undertaking.A key component of the inquiry will be to look at the adequacy of existing support for seniors and carers, and investigate measures which could strengthen their financial security in the long term.

The review will investigate a number of issues affecting seniors, carers and people with disability, including the appropriate levels of income support and allowances, the frequency of payments, and the structure and payment of concessions or other entitlements.

Dr Harmer will consult with representatives from seniors, carers, disability and community groups, as well as other experts, to ensure the review reflects the views and aspirations of those most affected by any reforms. The Government will be calling for public submissions following the release of a Pension Review background paper this month.Dr Harmer will report back to the Government on these issues by February 2009.

For more information click here

The first summit of experts from the Child Support Agency was opened by Minister for Human Services, Senator Joe Ludwig, on 29 July 2008. The summit will look for new ways of tackling the growing level of child support debt owed to the agency from international customers.

"I am very concerned that international debt now stands at $235 million and is the fastest growing proportion of the $1 billion total child support debt," Senator Ludwig said.

Senator Ludwig said International cases reflect 24 per cent of the Child Support Agency's total child support debt, but are only 4 per cent of the active caseload.

"Collecting child support across various jurisdictions is difficult and complex, but this first ever summit makes the aim of reining in international debt a top priority," he said.

For more information click here

A study released by Baptcare on 24 July 2008 has provided insight into some of the most critical issues affecting the delivery of aged care today including depression and social isolation. The Predictors Influencing the Change in Health Status of Elderly in Community Care (PITCH) study looks at the impact of community care programs on carers and care recipients. It was conducted by Monash University's Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine and examined the changing health status and wellbeing of clients receiving Commonwealth funded community care packages through Baptcare over a 12 month period.

To view the report click here

The Federal Government is calling for tenders to develop new workforce training resources to help improve home and community care for frail and older indigenous Australians. Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, made the announcement at Australia's Ageing Population Summit 2008 on 24 July 2008. The new plan aims to train people to help older indigenous Australians remain independent in their own homes rather than entering nursing homes.

For more information click here

Ten Australian businesses were honoured for their commitment to employees with disability at the first Business Services Excellence Awards in Brisbane on 21 July 2008. The award recognised the role of business services in providing employment to people with disability, as well as the achievements of support staff and employees with disability who work in these organisations.

For more information click here

The Federal Government will make amendments to the Disability Discrimination Act in the next sittings of Parliament, announced Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten on 18 July 2008. Key amendments will clarify the obligation of employers, service providers and others to remove discriminatory barriers for people with disabilities. The amendments will implement recommendations made by the Productivity Commission in its 2004 review of the Act.

For more information click here

The Federal Government introduced the new income management card on 22 July 2008.
The "BasicsCard" will make it easier for people on income management to put food on the table for children and reduce red-tape for business, said Minister for Families, Jenny Macklin.

"The BasicsCard will provide a simpler system of income management for both customers and shops," Said Minister for Human Services, Joe Ludwig.

The BasicsCard is a PIN-protected card for buying essential goods and services through the existing EFTPOS network. It cannot be used to buy alcohol, tobacco, pornography or gambling products or to withdraw cash.

For more information click here

Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens, addressed the First Consultation on a National Compact on 22 July 2008. Senator Stephens spoke of a "new era" between the Not-For-Profit Sector and Government, drawn from international experience which will look at how the Government can best develop their relationship with the sector. The Senator called for submissions on the Compact through the social inclusion website, socialinclusion.gov.au. A draft outline of a National Compact is expected to be developed by mid-2009.

For a full transcript of Senator Stephen's speech click here

Australia officially ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 18 July 2008. Australia now joins 29 other countries around the world in a move that aims to promote a global community in which all people with disability are equal and active citizens.

"Ratifying the Convention clearly demonstrates the Rudd Government's international commitment to ensuring people with disability are treated equally and not as second-class citizens," Attorney General Robert McClelland said.

"This significant achievement is the result of substantial collaboration by Government and Non-Government stakeholders," Mr McClelland said.

"I applaud the co-operation of these bodies who have successfully worked together to promote this historic international instrument," Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith said.

The announcement means Australia can now participate in the first election of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which will oversee the implementation of the Convention.

For more information click here

Minister for Human Services, Senator Joe Ludiwg says separated parents who do not lodge their tax returns may find themselves paying too much or receiving too little child support, following the start of the new Child Support Scheme on July 1 2008. Under the scheme, if a customer has not lodged a tax return for two years, and the Child Support Agency (CSA) has no information about their earnings, a default income will be used to assess how much child support they should pay or receive.

For more information click here

The Federal Government will provide $5 million to help establish a 24-hour toll-free national helpline to support breastfeeding mothers and their families, and to support research into breastfeeding, announced Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, on 11 July 2008. The research to support breastfeeding includes looking into the barriers and enablers to breastfeeding, consistent indicators to monitor breastfeeding rates and the development of dietary guidelines for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

For more information click here

Minister for Climate Change and Water, Penny Wong, released the Federal Government's Green Paper on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme on 16 July 2008.

"At the heart of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is emissions trading, in which the Government sets a limit on how much carbon pollution industry can produce, and then the Government sells permits up to that limit, creating an incentive to look for cleaner energy options," said Senator Wong.

She said the Federal Government will increase payments to people in receipt of
pensioner, carer, senior and allowance benefits and to provide other assistance to meet the overall increase in the cost of living flowing from the scheme

"We will also increase assistance to other low-income households through the tax and payment system to meet the overall increase in the cost of living flowing from the scheme. Middle-income households will also get assistance to help them meet any overall increase in the cost of living flowing from the scheme," said the Senator.

To view the Green Paper click here

"This investment - $6 million from the Iemma Government and $5 million from the Rudd Government - will eliminate the current waiting list for disability aids and equipment," Ms Meagher said.

For more information click here

In response to recent gastroenteritis outbreaks in nursing homes, the Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot, announced a new gastroenteritis plan on 15 July 2008. The plan involves:
A review of the accreditation standards on infection control; development of a gastroenteritis awareness and prevention education kit; and development of new national guidelines specifically on norovirus, a common and highly infectious cause of gastroenteritis in nursing homes.

For more information click here

Dr Chicka Dixon, Joseph Elu AO and Archie Roach were jointly awarded the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Ball on 12 July 2008. The Ball marked an end of NAIDOC Week, which ran from 6-13 July. The week celebrates the history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

For more information including other award winners click here

These NT communities were the first four to be placed on income management on 17 September 2007.

For more information click here

An issues paper on the Federal Government's intended new National Indigenous Representative Body was released by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma on 12 July 2008. Issues addressed in the paper include the history of National Indigenous Representative Bodies in Australia, the lessons learnt from these and current mechanisms for representing Indigenous people at national, State/ Territory and regional levels.

To view the issues paper click here

The Federal Government has announced that it will conduct national consultations with Indigenous communities on the new National Indigenous Representative Body.

Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon, announced the launch of the National Indigenous Health Equality Council on 10 July 2008. The Council will advise the Federal Government on the development of health-related goals and look at new ways to help close the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Minister Roxon said that boosting the Indigenous health workforce is critical to closing the gap.

Professor Ian Anderson will be Chair of the Council. Professor Anderson is a leading researcher in Indigenous health with wide ranging experience of the health sector.

For more information click here

The Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O'Connor, announced 59 Green Corps projects across the country on 7 July 2008. Green Corps is an Australian Government-funded program providing young people aged between 17 and 20 with an opportunity to participate in projects that conserve and restore Australia's environment and cultural heritage. During the course of each 26-week project, participants work towards a minimum of a Certificate I qualification in horticulture, conservation and land management.

For more information click here

The Australian Fair Pay Commission (AFPC) announced an increase of $21.66 per week to the Federal Minimum Wage (FMW) on 8 July 2008. The AFPC's decision increases the FMW to $543.78 per week ($14.31 per hour) up from $522.12 per week ($13.74 per hour).

This is a 4.15 per cent increase and will come into effect from the first pay period on or after 1 October 2008, 12 months after the previous annualised increase of 2.4 per cent.

The Federal Government has committed to retaining the AFPC until 2010. From that date, minimum wages will be set by the Government's new industrial arrangement, Fair Work Australia.

For more information click here

The National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week will be celebrated from the 6-13 July this year, with the National Awards Ceremony on 12 July at the NAIDOC ball in Canberra. NAIDOC Week activities celebrate the history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, announced funding of $1.5 million for the Week on 6 July 2008.

"I encourage all Australians to participate in this year's NAIDOC Week activities and I congratulate the NAIDOC committee and local event organisers for their commitment to NAIDOC Week," said the Minister.

For more information on NAIDOC Week click here

The Federal Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot and the NSW Government Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, Kristina Keneally, announced an extra $5.1 million in funding for Home and Community Care (HACC) services in the State on 4 July 2008. The HACC Program is a joint Commonwealth, State and Territory initiative, and funds basic maintenance and support services to help frail older people and younger people with disabilities to continue living in their community.

Minister Elliot said the funding will be used for vehicles to provide transport for social support, upgrades of kitchen and bathroom equipment and training for carers.

For more information click here

"I am pleased to announce that all 15 Family Relationship Centres are performing well and that eight have been awarded a performance payment for achieving high quality outcomes for their clients," Mr McClelland said.

The Centres to receive bonuses are:

Darwin Family Relationship Centre, $145,390
Hobart Family Relationship Centre, $86,172
Joondalup Family Relationship Centre, $110,676
Salisbury Family Relationship Centre, $108,532
Sutherland Family Relationship Centre, $110,165
Lismore Family Relationship Centre, $74,813
Mildura Family Relationship Centre, $58,120
Townsville Family Relationship Centre, $94,305

For more information click here

Professor Ross Garnaut released his Draft Report on 4 July 2008 on the economic impacts of climate change for Australia.

UnitingCare Australia made a submission to the Garnaut inquiry in April this year. To view the submission click here

To view Professor Garnaut's Draft Report click here

The Federal Government's new Participation Taskforce met in Melbourne for the first time on 2 July 2008. The Taskforce will provide advice to Government on the barriers to greater participation in the work force, particularly for parents and mature-age job seekers. Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O'Connor also announced that Ms Patricia Faulkner, Chair of the Australian Social Inclusion Board, will chair the Participation Taskforce.

Ms Faulkner will be joined by representatives from key welfare, business and employee organisations including the Australian Council of Social Service, the National Welfare Rights Network, the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Business Council of Australia. The Taskforce will examine submissions to the Employment Services Review related to participation and meet with key stakeholders and provide its recommendations to Government before the end of August 2008.

The Federal Government has received more than 300 submissions into the National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy, said Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O'Connor on 2 July 2008.

"There was a clear recognition of the enormous contribution people with disability and/or mental illness make to a workplace and we need to dispel the myths that some employers have about difficulties or costs associated with employing a person with a disability," said Minister O'Connor.

Submissions to the strategy closed this week. The National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy is due to be released by the end of the year. UnitingCare Australia's submission will be up on our website next week. Thanks to all who participated in its development.

For more information click here

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) released a technical paper on 30 June 2008 which specifies the operational definitions and primary data sources for the key national indicators of children's health, development and wellbeing. It identifies the best currently available data sources for the key national indicators as identified by the AIHW, in conjunction with the National Child Information Advisory Group.

For more information click here

24 new family relationship centres across the country opened on 1 July 2008. The Centres provide a 'front door' into the Family Law system, giving families going through separation expert advice and family dispute resolution services. The 24 new Centres bring the total number of Centres operating in major capital cities and in regional and rural areas of Australia to 64.

For more information click here

As announced in the 2008-09 Budget, families will be able to claim a 50 per cent Education Tax Refund from 1 July 2008.

Eligible families will be able to claim a 50 per cent refund every year for eligible education expenses up to:

• $750 for each child undertaking primary studies (maximum refundable tax offset of $375 per child, per year); and
• $1,500 for each child undertaking secondary studies (maximum refundable tax offset of $750 per child, per year).
• Parents entitled to Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A in respect of children undertaking primary or secondary school studies for the relevant financial year are eligible to the Education Tax Refund.

For the Federal Government's fact sheet on the changes click here

Aged and Community Services Australia, The Council on the Ageing and the Brotherhood of St Laurence formed the Housing Affordability for Seniors Alliance (the Alliance) to highlight the scale of the problem facing growing numbers of older Australians. The Alliance has warned the Federal Government that more attention must be paid to housing for older Australians to prevent a crisis in availability and affordability. The Alliance has called on the Government to develop a National Older Persons Housing Strategy that would focus on enabling older people to make housing adjustments and choices that enhance ageing in place, wellbeing and lifestyle.

For more information click here

The Aged Care Nursing Scholarship Scheme is a Federal Government initiative aimed at encouraging ore people to enter aged care nursing and increasing the skills on nurses working in the aged care sector. Preference is given to applicants living and working in regional, rural and remote areas but applicants living in metropolitan areas with aged care backgrounds will also be considered. The program offers both undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships. Applications close 22 August 2008 for undergraduate scholarships and 18 September 2008 for postgraduate.

For more information click here

From July 1, Commonwealth Nursing Officers will conduct a 5,000 reviews under the Resident Classification Scale in all States and Territories. The Officers will visit facilities and examine all relevant information about a resident's care needs and consider the comprehensive care plans that detail how those needs are being met. If documentation does not support the claim, review officers are required, under the Aged Care Act 1997 to substitute the appropriate classification for that resident. This may be to increase, confirm or downgrade the funding level claimed.

For more information click here

From 1 July 2008, the Federal Government‘s Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency will undertake a record 7,00 visits to 2,870 nursing homes during 2008-2009, announced Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, on 30 June 2008.

The Minister said more than 3000 of the visits will be unannounced, however the Agency's policy is that, unless there is an important reason for visiting a home, they will not schedule unannounced visits on days that they know relevant key personnel will not be available.

For more information click here

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan launched the newly established Westpac Community Treasurer's Awards on 2 July 2008. The awards aim to support the work of their local community groups and community treasurers. Nominations close on 10 September 2008.

For more information click here

Attorney-General Robert McClelland appointed Graeme Innes as Disability Discrimination Commissioner and Tom Calma as Race Discrimination Commissioner within the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission on 2 July 2008. Mr Innes is the current Human Rights Commissioner and has acted as Disability Discrimination Commissioner since December 2005. Mr Calma is the current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and has acted as the Race Discrimination Commissioner since July 2004.

For more information click here

From 1 July 2008, the annual indexation for residential care, community care and flexible care comes into effect. Payments for residential aged care subsidies and supplements will increase by $152 million and community care subsidies by $11 million. The indexation will increase aged care subsidies by 2.3 per cent over the coming year. This indexation is in addition to the Conditional Adjustment Payment funded in the budget which was increased to 8.75 per cent.

For more information click here

All children aged six and under who are diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and are not yet at school will have access to up to $12,000 over two years in essential early intervention support, the Federal Government announced 25 June 2008. Under the four year package to be rolled out from next month, an estimated 9,000 children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder will be eligible to receive up to $6,000 per year for two years before they go to primary school.

For more information click here

New services to support Indigenous families across Australia were launched on 24 June 2008 by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin. Over the next four years, 50 services will be rolled out based on Indigenous population numbers and needs, and the proportion of children.

Indigenous Parenting Support Services will target families with children aged up to eight years old with a focus on children under the age of two. The services will be integrated into existing child care centres, preschools, Aboriginal health centres and other related services providing Indigenous families with access to parenting support.

For more information click here

Major recommendations of the report include:

• Health checks for all children on an annual basis which requires adequate resourcing of the primary health care system;
• Additional investment to alleviate overcrowding in remote communities in the Northern Territory, while ensuring that the design and location of new housing is economically viable as well as culturally and environmentally appropriate;
• Government funded mediators to work with communities to find resolutions for internal issues;
• The creation of 'real jobs' in communities;
• A community store in each viable community; and
• Increasing the number of police in communities so that every community is adequately serviced.

To view the report click here

The Federal Government has committed to a greater focus on positive ageing as part of its social inclusion and reducing social isolation agenda, said Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot said 23 June 2008. The Minister convened a meeting with Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity's Sex Discrimination Commissioner and Commissioner responsible for Age Discrimination, Elizabeth Broderick, Aged Care Commissioner, Rhonda Parker and Australia's first Ambassador for Ageing, Noeline Brown to draw on their ideas and experience in this area and to expand the Federal Government's agenda for ageing in Australia.

"This is about social inclusion and valuing the knowledge and experience of older Australians and tapping into their wisdom," Mrs Elliot said.

For more information click here

The Department of Health and Ageing has received 115 applications to it's Zero Real Interest Loans program, Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot announced 20 June 2008. The Department will now assess whether there will be sufficient applications to allocate to fill the 1250 places. The Minister said based on the number of applications received and the complexity, the Department expects to have completed the assessment phase by late July 2008. Announcements are scheduled to be made in August.

For more information click here

Australia is one of the healthiest nations in the world, but Indigenous health still lags behind, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's latest national health report. The report, Australia's Health 2008, shows falling death rates for cancer, heart disease, strokes, and injury, however the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous life expectancy is widening.

For a copy of the report click here

The Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs has released its Interim report. The report, Mental Health Services in Australia, looks at the COAG National Action Plan on Mental Health and gives an overview of the Committee's work to date.

To view the report click here