Charishma Kaliyanda

Do you know a young adult who has been in out-of-home care in NSW that might be interested in participating in the below? If you could pass this onto them, I would much appreciate it. Participants required: research about the participation of children and young people in care and protection proceedings in NSW We’re looking for adults who have previously been in out-of-home care to be involved in research about their participation in the legal proceedings about their care. This research will be conducted as part of an honours thesis examining whether children and young people are able to participate in legal proceedings in the care and protection jurisdiction of NSW. Participants may qualify for this research if they: • Are over the age of 18, • Were in out-of-home care as a child or young person, • Remember the legal proceedings about their care, • Were old enough to form a view about the outcomes of proceedings, • Had proceedings that occurred in the care and protection jurisdiction of NSW after 2007, and, • Are comfortable discussing their experiences of participation in proceedings. Participation will involve an online interview that will take about an hour to complete. Go to https://lnkd.in/gxSSKakp for a copy of the information sheet about this research. Anyone interested in participating in the research, or who have any questions or would like to discuss further, can contact Peta Waller-Bryant, Student Researcher, School of Law at the University of New England via [email protected]. This project has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of New England (Approval No. HE24-065, Valid to 21/05/2025).

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Watch this space for more offerings as I take the quantum leap into private practice after some after 22 years of social work practice in the community sector.

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A new Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) study has found that over a 10 year period, 12,525 people died within a year of seeking homelessness help. The median age of these deaths was just 49. It's important to remember also that this number does not capture all deaths connected to homelessness - just those occurring within the first year of someone seeking homelessness support. A Guardian Australia investigation earlier this year found people experiencing homelessness in Australia had an average life expectancy of just 44. It's an important reminder that Victorians' lives depend on the provision of adequate social housing and wraparound supports. “We have a responsibility as a society to value lives more highly than this," said CHP's Chief Executive Office Deborah Di Natale. “The Victorian Government must take decisive action to break this devastating cycle. As a starting point, all deaths of people experiencing homelessness should have to be referred to the coroner. The Attorney-General has the power to make this change with the stroke of a pen.” #endhomelessness #socialhousing #housingendshomelessness Read more: https://lnkd.in/gds-cMZC

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With a 10 year review of the NDIA/NDIS with multiple recommendations to be implemented presenting a very timely opportunity for reform of the NDIS, instead we see registered providers having to reconsider support to our most vulnerable participants (and their families) as some supports become inadequately funded (removing behaviour support from high intensity eligibility) or non indexed. We also continue to see providers significantly out of pocket for making so called robust SDA settings safe for our Participants and Staff when all we are endeavouring to do is to is to meet our own State WHS standards. I began my career as a community rehabilitation and support worker 25 years ago where keeping people with a disability out of hospitals and acute mental health units was the goal for all, yet whilst the NDIA has improved access for many people who were previously excluded from State funded supports now having access, the latest pricing guide fails to provide the funding needed for people with complex psychosocial disability. Our staff must be trained and supported to work with behaviours of concern and complex trauma safely. If the high intensity rate is not reinstated for people requiring complex behaviour support, more and more experienced providers will have no choice but to leave the sector. We’ve told Minister for the NDIS Bill Shorten and Shadow Minister Michael Sukkar that High Intensity Supports for challenging behaviours must be reinstated so the scheme does not fail those who are most vulnerable. We support the need for a viable and sustainable NDIS and whilst registered providers do everything to keep services available, but we can no longer subsidise costs. Does the National Disability Insurance Agency want registered providers to be forced to step away? It’s already happening. We MUST secure the future of the NDIS. #4abetterndis #ndisaustralia #ndisregisteredprovider #NDISreform #disabilitysupport #supportndisregisteredproviders #advocacy #auspol #psychosocialrecovery NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Star News Group Leader Community Newspapers The Disability Trust Government News The Conversation Australia + NZ

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"The (NDIS Support) lists are incoherent, heavy handed, and, worst of all, inconsistent with the purpose of the NDIS and with larger reforms the scheme needs to be sustainable. For the sake of public confidence in the NDIS, there may be good reason to create a shortlist of supports that are illegal or at odds with public expectations about the appropriate use of public funds. But trying to codify all supports that are ‘in’ or ‘out’ is a fruitless exercise. The government should ditch its 17-page list and focus reform efforts on bringing the NDIS back to its original design intent as a world-leading system of self-directed disability support." https://lnkd.in/g_9tMmDH

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Today I’m talking about defensible practice in support coordination, why it is important and areas to consider. It doesn’t happen often, but when the NDIS Commission or the Coronor’s Office are asking for a please explain, practicing and documenting defensibly is important. #ndis #supportcoordination #disability

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1000 people?! 😡 I am very interested to hear how this has come about and what supports are now in place to support this reduction of this number. Similar to the feedback we are getting regarding support coordination funding, we are seeing plans stripped of necessary funding without consultation, nor with an alternate means of support being put in place? In a market that is currently shrouded by instability and a lack of confidence, this removal of 10% of the funded participant pool is only going to result in poorer results for those driving much needed private investments in the space, and poor choices for those that require this form of specialised housing. Kurt Fearnley Bill Shorten can you please provide some context to these results?

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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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The ANPA have put together a step-by-step plain english guide on how to respond to receiving an NDIS reassessment letter. It explains the process you need to go through to exercise your review rights. It also explains in clear, accessible terms, how to lodge a case with the ART. We are just finishing the visuals and audio, and in the next few days will send this out to members. It will be publicly available before Xmas. We will also run a webinar in the first week of January on this topic.

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The National Mental Health Consumer Alliance (the Alliance) wants to hear from people with lived experience who have a disability not arising from a mental health condition who have accessed/tried to access/want to access general supports. As part of the NDIS Review, two types of Foundational Supports, General and Psychosocial, will be funded and will be available to people with, or without, NDIS support. General Foundational Supports are defined as essential supports for ALL people with disability not arising from a mental health condition. General foundational supports would include programs and activities for people with disabilities (other than psychosocial disabilities), including information and advice, individual and family capacity building, peer support, self-advocacy, and disability employment supports. More info here: General supports. The Alliance will base their submission to the Government on how Foundational Supports – General Supports could work on the survey results. The survey will be open from Wednesday, 30 October 2024, until 11 p.m. Wednesday, 20 November 2024. Please contact Jen Nixon, [email protected], if you have any questions. Alliance survey: LINK:

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🌟 How to do Intake and Assessment as an NDIS Provider 🌟 Have you lost clients at the intake stage because you weren't confident in your step by step procedure? At Whole Warrior Network, we're committed to empowering NDIS providers with the tools and knowledge needed to conduct trauma-informed intake and assessments. Understanding the unique needs and backgrounds of new NDIS participants is crucial for delivering compassionate and effective support. 🔹 Create a narrative-driven enquiry stage. This involves actively listening to the participants, allowing them to share their stories freely, which is essential for building trust and ensuring a good fit between the participant's needs and the services offered. 🔹 Offer an intake/assessment appointment. This step is vital for gathering detailed information about the participant, which should be done through a carefully designed intake form. This process not only helps in understanding the participant's needs but also in tailoring services. 🔹 Ensuring privacy and creating a supportive environment during the intake process is paramount. Offer a support person, maintain confidentiality and offer breaks during the assessment, especially if the participant feels triggered. 🔹 Recognising when a service might not be the best fit for a participant's needs is also crucial. We prepare NDIS providers to offer referrals to other services when necessary, prioritising the participant's well-being above all. NDIS providers who excel at the enquiry and intake stage of the sales process will onboard more aligned customers confidently and professionally. Tania Gorry has over 24 years experience in trauma-informed and professional intake assessments and was an L&D trainer for caseworkers. Book a session with our business consultant Tania Gorry at https://lnkd.in/g2SngUfA [email protected] Follow us @wholewarriornetwork ❤️ #TraumaInformedCare #NDISProviders #ClientAssessment #BusinessConsulting #ActiveListening #ServiceExcellence #L&D #WholeWarriorNetwork #Empowerment #NDIS #TraumaInformedApproach

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🌟 How to do Intake and Assessment as an NDIS Provider 🌟 Have you lost clients at the intake stage because you weren't confident in your step by step procedure? At Whole Warrior Network, we're committed to empowering NDIS providers with the tools and knowledge needed to conduct trauma-informed intake and assessments. Understanding the unique needs and backgrounds of new NDIS participants is crucial for delivering compassionate and effective support. 🔹 Create a narrative-driven enquiry stage. This involves actively listening to the participants, allowing them to share their stories freely, which is essential for building trust and ensuring a good fit between the participant's needs and the services offered. 🔹 Offer an intake/assessment appointment. This step is vital for gathering detailed information about the participant, which should be done through a carefully designed intake form. This process not only helps in understanding the participant's needs but also in tailoring services. 🔹 Ensuring privacy and creating a supportive environment during the intake process is paramount. Offer a support person, maintain confidentiality and offer breaks during the assessment, especially if the participant feels triggered. 🔹 Recognising when a service might not be the best fit for a participant's needs is also crucial. We prepare NDIS providers to offer referrals to other services when necessary, prioritising the participant's well-being above all. NDIS providers who excel at the enquiry and intake stage of the sales process will onboard more aligned customers confidently and professionally. Tania Gorry has over 24 years experience in trauma-informed and professional intake assessments and was an L&D trainer for caseworkers. Book a session with our business consultant Tania Gorry at https://lnkd.in/g2SngUfA [email protected] Follow us @wholewarriornetwork ❤️ #TraumaInformedCare #NDISProviders #ClientAssessment #BusinessConsulting #ActiveListening #ServiceExcellence #L&D #WholeWarriorNetwork #Empowerment #NDIS #TraumaInformedApproach

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🌟 How to do Intake and Assessment as an NDIS Provider 🌟 Have you lost clients at the intake stage because you weren't confident in your step by step procedure? At Whole Warrior Network, we're committed to empowering NDIS providers with the tools and knowledge needed to conduct trauma-informed intake and assessments. Understanding the unique needs and backgrounds of new NDIS participants is crucial for delivering compassionate and effective support. 🔹 Create a narrative-driven enquiry stage. This involves actively listening to the participants, allowing them to share their stories freely, which is essential for building trust and ensuring a good fit between the participant's needs and the services offered. 🔹 Offer an intake/assessment appointment. This step is vital for gathering detailed information about the participant, which should be done through a carefully designed intake form. This process not only helps in understanding the participant's needs but also in tailoring services. 🔹 Ensuring privacy and creating a supportive environment during the intake process is paramount. Offer a support person, maintain confidentiality and offer breaks during the assessment, especially if the participant feels triggered. 🔹 Recognising when a service might not be the best fit for a participant's needs is also crucial. We prepare NDIS providers to offer referrals to other services when necessary, prioritising the participant's well-being above all. NDIS providers who excel at the enquiry and intake stage of the sales process will onboard more aligned customers confidently and professionally. Tania Gorry has over 24 years experience in trauma-informed and professional intake assessments and was an L&D trainer for caseworkers. Book a session with our business consultant Tania Gorry at https://lnkd.in/g2SngUfA [email protected] Follow us @wholewarriornetwork ❤️ #TraumaInformedCare #NDISProviders #ClientAssessment #BusinessConsulting #ActiveListening #ServiceExcellence #L&D #WholeWarriorNetwork #Empowerment #NDIS #TraumaInformedApproach

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Data needs for improving infant, child and youth mental health and substance-related harms in Aotearoa NZ New paper from Dr Lovely Dizon Vartika Sharma, Terryann Clark Jude Ball, Karen Isherwood, Dr Helen Lockett (she/her) and me. It says 'subscribe' but this is just entering an email for free access. Link: https://lnkd.in/gy2GSJyg Abstract: Aim: To evaluate the available data on mental health and substance-related harm among infants, children and young people (ICY) in Aotearoa New Zealand. Methods: A scoping review was undertaken to take stock of current data and identify gaps. Results: Although there are quality studies, there is a lack of comprehensive, contemporary population-based data to monitor the prevalence and magnitude of mental health conditions and substance use–related harm for children and young people. Existing data are inconsistently measured and are not centrally located or available for all age groups, particularly infants and children. Whānau/ family units are seldom considered or prioritised. Conclusions: Aotearoa New Zealand lacks accurate, up-to-date, comprehensive ICY mental health and substance use data to inform investment, service delivery and evidence-based policy. We advocate for enhanced surveillance and monitoring through population- based mental health and addiction studies with Indigenous and other locally designed measures, and propose key design and ethical considerations for future research. Future research must prioritise Māori and other priority groups, with non-stigmatising, strengthsbased approaches. Addressing these data gaps presents a critical opportunity to improve outcomes for children, young people and their whānau.

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This report favours a model called 'fundholding' where Navigator organisations would hold our plan funding in a 'pool.' They would use the money in this pool to procure services for us according to their ideas of quality and value. They wouldn't have to spend our plan value on us. They could spend it on someone else, or not at all. If they underspent our plans, they could keep the change. This is literally the definition of extractive abandonment. How easy do you think it would be to convince your Navigator at NIB that you actually needed the $15,000 wheelchair from a different company than the one they usually work with, or that you actually do need the number of support hours in your plan, not slightly less, when their yearly bonus was riding on you underspending enough that there was some left over for them. I can only hope that this has been drafted solely for titilation, and the government has no intention of indulging these purile fantasies.

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