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Individual Client Support

DISABILITY

> Qualifications & Pathways • Traineeships • VET In Schools • Peak Bodies & Key Stakeholders • Resources

 

NSW Context In NSW the industry recognised entry level qualification for a disability worker is the Certificate III in Disability.    The Disability Council of NSW is the official advisory body to the State Government on disability matters. They also provide advice to the Commonwealth on the effect of national policy at a State level. Policy portfolios as they relate to people with disability in NSW include areas such as accommodation, education, ageing and disability, Indigenous people with disability, transport, health, children and young people and regional, rural and remote needs.   Legislation and policies relevant to disability work include: The Home and Community Care Act 1985 (HACC) This Federal legislation led to the development of the Home and Community Care program which was introduced to maximise the independence of people with disabilities and to reduce institutionalisation through the provision of a wide range of support services, such as respite care, home help, community nursing and transport services. The program is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and the State government. The Commonwealth Disability Services Act (1986) The Commonwealth Disability Services Act (1986) aims to ensure that people with disabilities receive the services necessary to maximise their full potential, and further, to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights as other members of the community. The Act is based upon a series of principles and objectives which define service quality and outcomes. These principles and objectives include such things as: the right for respect for an individual's human worth and dignity; the right to pursue grievances; the right to participate in the decisions that affect one's life; the right to appropriate support services; and, the right to the least restrictive alternative (the option which offers the greatest degree of personal freedom). The NSW Disability Services Act (DSA) (1993) Similar to the Commonwealth Act, the legislation supports equal rights of people with disabilities. The Act sets out a series of principles and applications of these principles for the provision of services for people with disabilities in NSW. The Disability Services Standards The Disability Service Standards were developed as a “working document” for both the Commonwealth Disability Services Act and the NSW Disability Services Act. The Standards for both Commonwealth and State Acts are based upon similar principles and philosophies and aim to empower people with disabilities by clearly defining their rights when accessing services. They also spell out the rights and responsibilities of service providers in terms of service outcomes. Community Services (Complaints Appeals and Monitoring) Act (CAMA) (1993) CAMA provides for an independent mechanism to investigate complaints in relation to the provision of community services in NSW. The Act provides for the establishment of the Community Services Commission, an independent tribunal which monitors and investigates complaints about services provided through the NSW Department of Community Services. The Community Services Commission is unique to NSW and provides an added mechanism to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are upheld. The Commission has a number of roles which include: the investigation and conciliation of complaints; the monitoring of standards and patterns of complaints; reviewing the situation of children and adults in care; providing education and community development; co-ordination of the Community Visitors Scheme; and to provide systemic advocacy. Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) (1992) The Disability Discrimination Act (1992) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. The Act aims to ensure that people with disabilities have a right to equal treatment before the law. It also aims to promote community understanding that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as the rest of the community.  The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 makes disability discrimination unlawful and aims to promote equal opportunity and access for people with disabilities. Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 In NSW, Department of Community Services (DoCS) is the main government department that puts into practice the laws on keeping children safe.  This Act mandates DoCS with the responsibility for the care and protection of children and young people in NSW where there are concerns about their safety, welfare and wellbeing. Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998.  The NSW Commission for Children and Young People administers this Act.   The Commission reports directly to the NSW Parliament, and the Committee on Children and Young People oversees their work. The Commission is responsible for administering the Working with Children Check for employees working directly with children and young people. The Working With Children Check consists of three elements: • Building Child-safe and Child-friendly organisations • Excluding people with convictions for serious sex and violence crimes against children • Background checking for preferred applicants for primary child-related employment. To find out more about the responsibilities covered by the Working With Children Check, please visit Working With Children Check Employer Guidelines at http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au     Immunisation: Health workers and learners undertaking work placement in NSW Health facilities must comply with the assessment, screening and vaccination requirements of Policy Directive PD 2007_006   Employment Screening Policy :  Health workers and learners undertaking work placement in NSW Health facilities must comply with the Employment Screening Policy. This Policy Directive sets out the mandatory requirements and procedures for the undertaking of Employment Screening of preferred applicants seeking employment for paid and unpaid positions, which includes the Working With Children Check, the Aged Care Check and the National Criminal Record Check. Further detail at Policy Directive PD2008_029   Changes to OH&S The Commonwealth and each state and territory government have agreed to harmonise their work health and safety laws, including Regulations and Codes of Practice, so that they are similar in each jurisdiction. The Commonwealth, states and territories are responsible for making and enforcing their own work health and safety laws. Although there are many similarities between the laws there are also some differences that can cause confusion. Australian workers should be entitled to the same work health and safety standards, regardless of the jurisdiction in which they operate. This regulatory inconsistency is being addressed through an intergovernmental agreement(IGA) where, for the first time, governments from each state and territory and the Commonwealth have formally committed to harmonise work health and safety laws by developing and adopting a model Work Health and Safety Act supported by model Regulations and model Codes of Practice. The intention is to deliver the same work health and safety protections to all Australians.  For more information click here

 

 

Qualifications and Pathways

CHC30408           Certificate III in Disability

CHC40312           Certificate IV in Disability

CHC50108           Diploma of Disability

CHC60112           Advanced Diploma of Disability

 

Recognition

             

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is a significant pathway for candidates to attain a national training package qualification.  There has been strong support from Commonwealth and NSW governments for RTOs to find innovative and accessible RPL strategies and approaches. 

NSW Department of Education and Training is actively assisting this quest for improved RPL pathways and has worked in partnership across many industry sectors to pilot best practice models of recognition and develop supporting resources.   Some of the innovation recognition pathways trialled included group, project and workplace based models.   

Resources and further details are available at State Training Services

 

Traineeships

The Vocational Training Board establishes traineeships in NSW.  Through a consultative process between peak industry groups, employers and unions, facilitated by the ITAB, qualifications are identified that meet industry requirements and have appropriate award arrangements.  This information is submitted to the Board for the declaration of a vocational training order in accordance with NSW legislation.

As qualifications have a vocational training order established, they are posted on the NSW DET Commissioner’s Bulletin.  Further advice is available from NSW DET www.training.nsw.gov.au    

 

Current disability work traineeships in NSW are:

 

 

CHC30408           Certificate III in Disability

(including school based traineeship, see Commissioners Information Bulletin 561 for requirement details)

CHC40312           Certificate IV in Disability

 

 

VET in Schools

The CHC30408 Certificate III in Disability in the CHC08 Community Services Training Package has been identified as suitable for VET in Schools pathways.

For more information about VET in Schools in NSW visit: https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/vetinschools/

The NSW Board of Studies is responsible for the inclusion of training package qualifications in the HSC studies. Further information is available at www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au .

 

 

Peak Bodies and Key Stakeholders

National Disability Services (NSW)

Industry peak body representing the specific interests of the non government organisations that play the major role in disability service provision in NSW

NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC)

The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care is one of the largest human services organisations in NSW. They provide support and services to more than 1 million older people, people with disabilities and their carers in NSW.

Aboriginal Disability Network

Brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability. 

Action for People with Disabilities
Offers information, support and individual advocacy to people with disabilities, their families and carers, in which aims to promote the needs, rights and lifestyle.

Association Of Blind Citizens NSW

Focuses on the concerns of blind and vision-impaired people.

Association of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill (ARAFMI)

Support group for families and friends of the mentally ill which offers telephone counselling and home visits. Practical assistance is given to families to obtain the best services available for the patient as quickly as possible.

Association of Women Educators

An association committed to the full participation of women and girls in education.

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect)

Peak organisation formerly known as Autism Association of NSW

Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO)
The Federation has recently been established as: the primary national voice to government that fully represents the interests of all people with disability across Australia.

Better Hearing Australia (BHA)
Australian wide non-profit organisation in which provides support and services of rehabilitation for the hearing impaired.

Brain Injury Association

A peak non-government organisation in NSW for people with an acquired brain injury. The Association works to ensure service providers, governments and communities are aware and commonly informed of the needs and issues affecting people who have a brain injury.

Carers NSW

The peak body for relative and friends who provide care for a person with a disability, mental health problem, chronic condition or who are frail aged. 

Central Coast Disability Network
Offers personal support, education and training to carers and families of people with a disability.

Centre for Developmental Disability Studies

A not for profit organisation that creates and disseminates knowledge that can improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities. They design and develop research, teaching and clinical practice to inform policy and practice which have an impact on people who have developmental disabilities.

Cerebral Palsy Alliance

The peak organisation for people with cerebral palsy and their families.

Citizen Advocacy Eastside
A volunteer program for people in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney which involves linking a volunteer member (an advocate) from the community with a person with an intellectual disability, acquired brain injury or autism spectrum disorder (a partner) so that a freely given relationship can be formed in support of the partner’s unmet needs. 

Citizen Advocacy Western Sydney (CAWS)

An independent community organisation offering individual and citizen advocacy support for people with an intellectual disability. Service Areas: Parramatta, Blacktown and Baulkham Hills council areas.

Deaf Society of NSW

A peak organisation that works within the community to ensure Deaf people achieve their full rights and fulfil their responsibilities as Australian citizens.

Disability Advocacy and Information Service (DAIS) – Albury

An independent organisation that promotes positive changes in the lives of people with a disability and their carers.

Disability Advocacy Service (DAS) – Hunter
Offers information and services aiming to ensure that people with disabilities obtain the same rights and qualities as other people within their local community.

Disability Discrimination Legal Centre (Inc.)
An NSW informational resource designed to assist people with disabilities, their friends, family, carers and associates, in understanding disability discrimination legislation

Disability Trust

Provides an information and referral service, as well as some individual advocacy for people with disabilities, their friends and carers in the Illawarra region. 

Down Syndrome Association of NSW (DSANSW)
An independent registered charity organisation, established and administered by parents of children whom have Down Syndrome.

Easy Access Australia

Easy Access Australia is a travel guide for people with a disability or mobility difficulty.

Epilepsy Association NSW
Non-profit organisation that is committed to enhancing the quality of life of people having seizures and to improving community attitudes toward seizure disorders.

Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre
Established in 1995 to advocate for and empower people with a disability from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Family Advocacy, NSW
An independent, community based social advocacy organisation which works across New South Wales, Australia. Our work is directed towards enabling and supporting families to speak up for opportunities for people with a disability to enjoy the same environment, lifestyle and living conditions that are available to the majority of Australians.

Guardianship Tribunal

A legal tribunal, located in Sydney (Australia). The Tribunal conducts hearings throughout New South Wales. Its primary role is to make guardianship and financial management orders for people aged 16 years and over with decision-making disabilities. It may make a range of other orders as well.

Information on Disablity - Equipment Access Services Inc. (IDEAS)

The IDEAS' website provides a high quality accessible web portal for people with disability and people with age related disability, their families, carers and other supporters to access and search for information that promotes their independence.

Intellectual Disability Rights Service, (IDRS) NSW
A NSW state and community legal support and guidance centre for the intellectually disabled. Including a Criminal Justice Support Program for people with an intellectual disability.

Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC)

The Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC) is the peak body for non-government organisations (NGOs) working for mental health throughout New South Wales (NSW). MHCC's membership includes NGOs, both specialist and mainstream, and other bodies interested in mental health.

Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association (MDAA)
A peak body for organisations that offer support and services for people from a non-English speaking background (NESB) with disability in NSW.

Muscular Dystrophy Association of Autralia

Peak organisation for advocacy, support and hope for people with muscular dystrophy.

 National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA)
The National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) is the national peak organisation representing the rights and interests of people from non-English speaking background (NESB) with disability, their families and carers throughout Australia.

Nepean Area Disabilities Organisation (NADO)
A non-profit community-based charitable organisation in Penrith serving the western areas of Sydney by providing and promoting projects for people with disabilities.

NSW Council for Intellectual Disability (NSW CID)

The peak organisation in NSW representing the interests of people with intellectual disability

NSW Council of Social Services (NCOSS)

The peak body for the social and community services sector in NSW working toward achieving social justice.

 NSW Disability Discrimination Legal Centre (DDLC)
The NSW DDLC was set up in 1994 to help people with disability to use disability discrimination laws. Our role is to provide accurate and easy to comprehend advice to people with disability in NSW who want to make a complaint of disability discrimination.

NSW Network of Women with Disability
A network for woman with disability in NSW.

Northcott Society

Provides support and services to individuals and families across NSW and ACT.

ParaQuad NSW

ParaQuad NSW is a not-for-profit member-based association striving to empower people with spinal cord injury to achieve their potential. 

Penrith Disabilities Resource Centre Inc. (PDRC)
A non-profit government organisation, based in Penrith, NSW. PDRC provides an advocacy, information and referral service for people with disabilities, their family, carers, friends and service providers who live, work or visit the greater Nepean area.

People with Disabilities (PWD), Australia
A national peak disability rights and advocacy organisation. Membership is made up of people with disability and organisations primarily constituted by people with disability.

Physical Disability Council of NSW The peak body in NSW representing people with physical disability across the state.

Royal Blind Society

The key blindness agency in NSW and the ACT. Works in partnership with people who are blind or vision impaired and their families.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA)
SCI offers advocacy services to assist people with quadriplegia and similar physical disabilities in solving individual problematic issues within their local areas.

Wheelchair Sports NSW

Based out of Ryde, NSW, Wheelchair Sports supports and conducts a wide range of wheelchair sporting events and programs for athletes of all ages and skill levels, in Sydney and across most of the state.

Working Carers Support Gateway

A website resource to help people who are working AND caring.

 

 

Resources

NSW Community Services and Health ITAB and NSW DET resources include:

 

Policy@MyPlace This free online short course is for those who need to develop or review policy.  It will provide learning to develop the necessary skills to research and consult policy needs, draft policy content, test the draft policy, implement policy and review policy for quality assurance.  This learning is designed to assist in the development of policies for NGO workplaces.  While it focuses on child protection policy development and incorporates objectives and requirements detailed in the NSW Keep Them Safe initiative the learning may be applied to any area of policy development in community services work.   There is no time limit to this resource so you are able to work through the learning at your own pace and select topics as many times as you like. The resource contains activities that you may complete as an e-portfolio for assessment by a registered training organisation to achieve the national unit of competency CHCPOL504B Develop and implement a policy. Available now at  www.workplaceskills.com.au

 

 

Recognition Model and Resources

For Certificate IV Disability available from Skills on Line

 

NSW Community Services and Health ITAB resources include:

 

Child Protection Vignettes This DVD contains various scenarios that are used as triggers in the training to assist participants to identify the short and long term impact of child abuse and neglect.   Details and order form available at: www.csh-itab.com.au

 

 

Other resources include:

  

The Keep Them Safe website provides information for mandatory reporters in government agencies and non-government organisations about the new child protection system, including resources, training materials, and an email newsletter. www.keepthemsafe.nsw.gov.au

 

 

Please contact NSW Community Services and Health ITAB regarding training and assessment resource needs for the qualifications or skills sets in this industry sector.

   

Other resources may be available from industry peaks, Registered Training Organisations and Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council.

 

 

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