Annick Donat

⚠️LATEST NEWS - just released⚠️ ➡️ No changes to music / art therapy yet and no new Operational Guidelines release or pricing changes until they’ve completed the external review. Legislation FAQs page has also been updated. 🎶 🎨 🎶 🎨 🎶 🎨 🎶 “Independent review of NDIS funded music and art supports” 13 December 2024 “The NDIA is commissioning an independent review of appropriate NDIS pricing for music and art supports, based on available evidence. Dr Stephen Duckett AM will undertake the review ahead of the operation of the Expert Advisory Committee by July 2025. Dr Duckett is an experienced health economist who has occupied several leadership roles in health services, leading reform and evidence-based innovations in health care. The review will assess: • The review of evidence of effectiveness of art and music therapy for people with disability • Qualifications and registration of music and art practitioners • Pricing of art and music support The Agency has deferred the release of the operational guidance clarifying decision making on therapy supports, which is required under recent Government changes to the NDIS Act, and any associated price guide changes. The review will also seek from art and music practice associations any additional peer-reviewed evidence that the supports are effective and beneficial as a disability-related support for most participants and are current good practice. The independent review’s role and responsibility is to provide expert opinion on appropriate pricing for art and music therapy, on the basis of existing evidence as to whether the music and art therapy will be, or is likely to be, effective and beneficial for participants, having regard to current good practice. For evidence-based therapy to be funded through the Scheme, there needs to be evidence that the therapy helps participants improve or maintain their functional capacity in areas such as language and communication, personal care, mobility and movement, interpersonal interactions, functioning (including psychosocial functioning) and community living. Evidence based therapy currently allows providers to charge up to $193.99 per hour (with the exception of psychology). The NDIA will release the operational guidance in 2025. Any proposed changes will not come into force until the review is completed and the relevant findings are considered.” 🌐 https://lnkd.in/g6B7NcVJ Terms of reference doc: 🌐 https://lnkd.in/gxy-ZFfe

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Recidivism in youth crime and domestic violence is at an all-time high in Queensland, yet small businesses like Reconcile Life, focused on real change, have always struggled to get support from the State Government. Reconcile Life has developed a culturally relevant, inclusive behavioral change program to help break this cycle, but without backing from those in power, our community suffers. Thankfully, backing has always come from local passionate organizations like Daly Bay Coal Terminal, DBCT Infrastructure and funding from NIAA. Why aren’t community-based solutions and services like Reconcile Life not being prioritized? At this next state election, I ask that you question your candidates about how they're going to push for real change and support services at a grass roots level that make a difference. What do you think?" www.reconcilelife.com.au

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From SMSF reporting to NALI and indexation, stay informed on the latest superannuation changes with specialist insights. Whether you’re managing it yourself or with a fund, listen now to stay informed in 2024.

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"I couldn't believe it was real... it's rare for kids to have control of money, funding." 🌱 In February this year, we commissioned a report into the inaugural year of the Rangatahi-Led Fund, to gain perspective on how successful the fund had been. The 'Making a Difference' report has provided insights into the thoughts and feelings of those rangatahi involved - you can download the report from our website at the link below: https://lnkd.in/gf7J-Yfg

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Finally a news article that accurately represents the state of the SDA market and the impact channel agents have on the long success: https://lnkd.in/gVPGRXns I would love to hear others thoughts on this.

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Lights In The Darkness It is true that Iwi Māori Partnership Boards are doing good work co-ordinating and identifying health needs and opportunities in their various rohe. Their concept and establishment was never perfect but the hard work of creating them was done by Te Aka Whai Ora which the Coalition chopped. The IMPBs were not supposed to be simply advisory but to be conduits for health services working with Te Aka Whai Ora. They are not getting the funding or support they need to fulfill anything like their potential. Tautoko the people working so hard to make the best of it. They shine a light on health needs and service opportunities. But they are not, and should not be, viewed as window-dressing on a bad set off health policies.

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There's nothing quite like an election year to prompt all the big conversations, and it was good to sit down with Keane Bourke at Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) last week to share Orana House‘s take on recent FDV announcements (*link to video below) Of course, there’s only so much I can fit into a quick soundbite, but essentially, Orana welcomes the discussion around law reform, as well as WA Labour's commitment to refuge expansion, especially for the regions, such as Albany and Geraldton. 📢We still need to keep talking about the impacts of the housing crisis, though, and the fact that, even once we’ve supported women and their children to safety, we often have nowhere for them to move on to after refuge. We need to keep them safe and together and to continue supporting them through recovery and healing. (My own personal view: wouldn’t it be great if politics wasn’t always presented as a two-player duel? It’s not an either/or spend; investment and policy will need to simultaneously respond to *all* pillars in the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and their Children - as well as respond *specifically* to the recommendations in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan.) https://lnkd.in/g_C3TaBk

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The Alannah & Madeline Foundation acknowledges the release of the Second Interim Report from the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society. While we're encouraged by some progress made, key recommendations around children’s online safety remain pending, and more needs to be done. The responsibility to uphold children's digital rights lies with the Government. However, it is tech companies that must ensure their products don't violate these rights. We will continue to advocate for greater progress on key issues, including the implementation of a Children's Online Privacy Code, which the report makes provision for. Children and young people must be consulted at every step to ensure their voices help shape the policies and frameworks that impact them directly. Learn more about the latest interim report here https://ow.ly/vQuu50TRkrJ

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NEWS ** International Fathers’ Mental Health Day** 17 June 2024 I am so thrilled that Gidget Foundation Australia has been enlisted to lead International Fathers’ Mental Health Day (17 June) on behalf of Global Founders Mark Williams BCAh FRSA, Dr Daniel B. Singley, Ph.D., and former campaign lead, Dr Bronwyn Leigh.    We were honoured to be approached by Mark, Daniel and Bron to lead this campaign into the future as it aligns seamlessly with our mission of driving advocacy, education and awareness of the importance of perinatal mental health for all expectant and new families.   With our partners, our collaborative strategy is to reach as many fathers as possible through a united voice, focusing on the causes of PNDA in fathers and fatherhood support in early parenting for 2024. We believe that by working together, we can make a significant impact on fathers' mental health! Gidget Foundation Australia is proud to be a Global Partner of International Fathers’ Mental Health Day, joining other key local and international organisations in raising awareness, influencing policy and changing attitudes including: Postpartum Support International  THE INTERNATIONAL MARCE SOCIETY  Fathers Reaching Out – UK  The Center for Men's Excellence – USA  Bournemouth University – UK  University College Cork – Ireland  Society for Pre and Post Natal Services (SPANS) – Zimbabwe  Gidget Foundation Australia PANDA - Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia Perinatal Wellbeing Centre – Australia   COPE: Centre of Perinatal Excellence – Australia  Centre for Perinatal Psychology – Australia   The Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI) Institute – Australia  Becoming Us – Australia  Australasian Birth Trauma Association (ABTA)   Peach Tree Perinatal Wellness – Australia  The Marcé Society - Australasian Chapter   Belmont Private Hospital   Karitane – Australia  Dads Group – Australia   Healthy Male – Australia  PADA - Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa – New Zealand  Little Shadow NZ – New Zealand  Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative  Maternal Mental Health Progress in Canada  Narendra Singh Thagunna PhD ( Cross Cultural Psychology) (Nepal) Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings CIC  DorPIP - Helping Families Flourish UK  ForWhen  Fathers Network Scotland  SMS4dads  Dads Matter UK Mellow Parenting Centre for Perinatal Psychology How’s Dad? Sut Mae Dad? The Radiance Network South West Inc West WA C-Section UK Neuronatal Action on Postpartum Psychosis   Helpu  PANDAS Foundation UK (Pre and Postnatal Depression Advice and Support) UK   Men Against Mountains   Fathers of Success If your organisation would also like to become a global partner of this great campaign then please do reach out! #DadsMHDAy

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Astounding statistics, Thankyou Brendon Grail for doing the work on this. I wonder why when the agency is purported to have more staff than during the previous government’s reign we have worse performance? Is the leadership of the agency failing? Is it poor training? Poor process or systems failure? Or is it a quiet directive from the top to delay plan reviews/new plans until the new Bill and support items are approved? Whatever the reason it is bordering on criminal! If providers or families neglect the needs of participants the consequences are dire, what are the consequences for the NDIA?? #NDIS #neglect #qualityandsafeguardscommission

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“Behind Closed Doors," a project aimed at empowering change in FDV prevention & response, has officially launched after months of hard work. This initiative bridges the gap between primary prevention and early intervention, thanks to a partnership between DART Institute Australia Inc and The Experience Lab forged together through the passion of Ashley McGrath from CEOs for Gender Equity The project has already garnered phenomenal feedback, with audience members eager to drive change in their workplaces. Through engaging sessions, participants interact with the script, engage in moving interviews, and work with an FDV specialist facilitator to enhance their learning journey. Key outcomes include increased confidence in recognising and responding to family violence, understanding various types of FDV, trauma awareness, and recognizing gendered drivers of FDV. This project emphasises the importance of partnerships and collaborations in allied sectors and corporate organisations to make a meaningful impact and close existing gaps. Thankyou to the full auditorium of attendees for showing your commitment to ending gendered violence against women and to Rio Tinto for hosting us in their auditorium. Network 10 for also joining us on the day. For more information or to bring this valuable initiative to your workplace, reach out to DART Group [email protected] Let's work together to create a safer and more informed community. #FDVprevention #EmpoweringChange #AlliesForChange #TrustedTrainingPernerByTheSectorForTheSector Video credit: Iraia Media

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Remembering the Confidence We had in the NDIS… After reflecting on the many forums, meetings and discussions about the NDIS review and the now current bill before Parliament proposing many changes to the NDIS it prompted me to look back through the years leading up to the NDIS and the actual implementation of the NDIS. There was certainly a great energy and a willingness to look at how the scheme could create a better life for people with disability in Australia. The ideas were exciting and new and were central to creating an inclusive world and society for people with disability. Things were looked at from many angles and there really was a true vision. This was very exciting to be part of and when I looked back on different media and different discussions I felt a little sad to think that we had lost this. We really were engaging in codesign and we really did create an NDIS that has made amazing differences to people’s lives. I have been very glad to be part of this process. The networking and sharing and real desire to create change for people with disability has been felt and is evidence of how good the NDIS is. We may have needed to analyse and look at what changes might be necessary to overcome some of the issues that are happening on the ground now – but do we need this Bill and what it is proposing? Do we need the changes that are very drastic and will impact on many people’s lives and create major differences in how they live now. We definitely need to ensure the sustainability of the scheme but can we do it better way? We have been involved in so many think tanks, reform agenda discussions, and general brainstorming sessions linked to some amazing research by a variety of individuals. We need to garner this information and make sure that we are making changes for the good of people with disability in our society. Real inclusion should be at the centre of any decisions that are made. We need to take the politics out of this and make the correct decisions to ensure real supports and real inclusion is embedded in any change that happens. 

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"Changes to NDIS legislation – frequently asked questions Have the rules for Short Term Accommodation (STA) changed? Short Term Accommodation (STA), also known as respite, is still part of the NDIS under the category 'assistance with daily life tasks in a group or shared setting.' Participants can continue to access STA based on the current guidelines. STA provides participants who have informal supports, like families and carers, the chance to stay away from home for at least one night. We usually fund this to help informal supports sustain their caring role and give participants and their informal supports time apart. It can be funded for up to 14 days at a time, with a maximum of 28 days per year. Self-managers can use unregistered providers, but STA funding cannot be used for holidays. Participants can access their usual NDIS supports while on holiday if needed. These must be from the approved list of NDIS supports." This info is from the National Disability Insurance Agency Newsletter

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2024 Family Matters Report: A Call to Action 📢 The latest Family Matters Report, released by SNAICC today, highlights an alarming reality: more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are being removed from their families than ever before. This year, the report reveals a record 22,908 First Nations children in the child protection system—an increase of over 500 from last year. These numbers are a stark reminder of the inequities still faced by First Nations children and families in Australia. This is a national crisis, and we must do better. At OzChild, we stand firm in our commitment to advocating for culturally safe solutions that reduce these numbers. Transitioning children from out-of-home care into culturally grounded care and investing in First Nations organisations to lead this work are critical steps forward. We must ensure all children are safe, respected, nurtured, and can thrive within their culture and community. This issue affects us all, and it demands urgent, collective action. To read the full report and learn more, click the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/ga8Bmx_P

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Thanks Alison Croggon for sharing this. We need to hear the ways to find real living wages for artists and in the meantime while we look at big systems. We also have to look at the small structures in existing systems too. The grant making structures that think that a 9% funding rate is a thing that is supporting excellence- it’s a number demonstrating wasted effort, despair and in economic terms lost productivity. Also structures that count artists subsidising their own work as “investment” when we know the market doesn’t financially return on that investment so what we mean is underpayment. And that’s only where the work intersects with grant structures - then there’s all the other disruption and market concentration… but looking forward to hearing this information.

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Abolishing the Activity Test and funding a wage rise for early childhood educators this Federal Budget are two key reforms that would provide immediate cost-of-living relief for families, and support women’s economic security and safety. In our media release, The Parenthood CEO, Georgie Dent said that Australia is in the midst of a national crisis when it comes to accessing early childhood education and care – and this impacts children, parents, educators, employers and the economy. A national poll of 1200 parents with children under 6 in October 2023 showed that 85% agreed that most households need two parents working to meet the cost of living. Yet, new data reiterates that young families are increasingly priced out early learning and childcare. “The inaccessibility and unaffordability of early learning and childcare impacts children’s development and parents’ ability to work,” said Ms Dent.   “Addressing the workforce crisis in early childhood education and care is vital to making early learning more accessible for families. “We wholeheartedly support the United Workers Union’s call for a 25 per cent government funded wage rise for educators, who play an absolutely crucial role in shaping the development of future generations yet are among some of the lowest paid professions in the country. Nine out of ten educators are female and earn as little as $23 an hour, less than an apprentice-level bricklayer. The Government has announced that a wage rise for educators is expected, following last Monday's confirmation that those studying early childhood education would receive placement payments.  “We commend Anthony Albanese for demonstrating that his government values women’s’ work as well as the early years. The Parenthood is also calling on the Government to reform or remove the Activity Test, the childcare subsidy eligibility system which is estimated to trap 40,000 women out of work and 126,000 children out of early childhood education and care. “The Activity Test is proven to most negatively impact single mothers, low-income families and First Nations families. It was meant to incentivise work, but in reality, parents who don’t have a shift or a job cannot afford the out-of-pocket cost for early education and care because they don’t meet the requirements of the test. At the same time, if they don’t have suitable care lined up, they cannot take a shift or find work. “In light of the current epidemic of violence against women, the last thing mothers need are barriers to accessing care for their children." Read our full media release here: https://lnkd.in/geR6suq6 

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Like many others, I wholeheartedly support the childcare announcements and have completed interviews on Channel 10 news and the 7:30 Report. While unsure what will be aired, I wanted to share our media release below. Congratulations to everyone who has worked hard to make this change happen! Media Release: Single Mother Families Australia welcomes childcare announcement, in particular the abolition of the activity test. CEO of Single Mother Families Australia, Terese Edwards said: “Single Mother Families Australia strongly welcomes the childcare reforms announced by the Prime Minister today. Ensuring quality early years education and care is available to all families should be a high priority for all governments. Yet we know the activity test acts as a disincentive to undertake study or paid work and makes early years education unaffordable. We have long campaigned for the abolition of this test so that single mother families, including those led by First Nations women, can access care for their children. Giving children from low income families access to quality early years education will also help ensure they are ready to succeed at school. We congratulate the Prime Minister on this commitment. “It marks a significant step toward achieving a childcare guarantee, ensuring that all children across Australia have equitable access to childcare services. Currently, 40,000 families and 124,000 children are locked out of affordable childcare options. By providing accessible childcare, we not only offer peace of mind to mothers but also support their hopes for their children to thrive in a secure environment where they can build friendships, learn new skills, and flourish. The benefits of accessible childcare extend far beyond immediate family needs; they contribute to the long-term development of our society. “This announcement is particularly crucial for single mothers, who often juggle multiple responsibilities in their busy lives. Guaranteeing childcare options will help these mothers accommodate their study schedules and better align with casual, part-time, and on-call employment. Without access to childcare, women have often been forced to turn down last-minute work shifts, which can be especially distressing. Co-locating childcare centres with primary schools could help alleviate the challenge of double drop-offs for parents. Single mothers who live in regional and rural areas, where there is a lack of childcare services, will be relieved that this issue is a priority for the government, and steps to reduce childcare deserts are underway. “This announcement builds upon the Government's commitment to valuing, supporting, and assisting those who provide care. It reflects the recommendations of the Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce and serves to unlock women's talents and enhance their engagement in the workforce.”

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🌟 Navigating Financial Challenges: Insights for New Zealanders As we continue through economic headwinds, it’s crucial to equip ourselves with financial resilience. I'm looking at insights from two reports: the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Financial Services Council (FSC): 📚 Storytelling for Financial Literacy: A Global Initiative 11 - Global Shapers from 50 hubs worldwide are using illustrated children’s books to teach financial literacy. - The book “Mary and the Secret of Savings” has been adapted in 20 languages, reaching over 3,200 children in Portugal. - Let’s empower the next generation with financial knowledge! 💡 📊 Key Findings from FSC’s 2023 Financial Resilience Index 223445 Emergency Access to Funds: - 39% of Kiwis couldn’t access $5,000 within a week without going into debt. - Over 1.5 million New Zealanders lack adequate financial preparedness. - This figure increased from 34% in 2022. Interest Rate Changes and Mortgage Preparedness: - If you’re on a fixed-rate mortgage, and coming off those rates in the coming months, get professional advice from a mortgage broker - Balancing short-term and long-term needs is crucial. KiwiSaver and Long-Term Planning: - Review your KiwiSaver settings; don’t neglect long-term financial security. Seek Guidance: - Reach out to trusted sources for advice. MoneyTalks (0800 345 123) offers free assistance for managing day-to-day money matters. 🌟 Take Action: - Stress test your rainy day fund. - Prepare for mortgage interest rate changes. - Review your KiwiSaver. - Talk to someone—seek advice and support. Remember, resilience isn’t just about money; it’s about well-being too. Let’s weather the storm together! 💪 Sources: https://lnkd.in/gSBc_VqF https://lnkd.in/gWXbfjfV Feel free to share this vital information with your network! 😊 #financialresilience #FinancialServices #FinancialAdvice #FinancialLiteracy

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