WAiS E-Bulletin Welcome to June 2016 edition of our WAiS E Bulletin. As the National Disability Insurance Scheme rolls out across Australia and our National NDIS (NDIA), together with our State WA NDIS (DSC) expand their trial sites, we continue to support people, families, and service providers in regard to self-direction and individualised services. Now, more than ever, people want, and are encouraged to take control of their supports and services, whilst service providers are challenged to find ways to genuinely respond to people in the new system. All parties are seeking information, taking up opportunities to understand and learn more about self-direction, Individualised Services, choice and control, and how this looks in real life. Bringing people together to think about, learn, connect and support each other is part of our important WAiS work. Our WAiS ‘Whose life is it anyway?’ conference in May was one of those times of joining together, and having a bit of fun along the way. The themes were ‘Life is better with friends and family’, ‘Life is better with options’ and ‘Life is better with meaning and purpose’. We think this sums up the things that are important to all of us in having a good life. We look forward to continuing to bring people together, and to promote self-directed, individualised services. Leanne Pearman IN THIS ISSUE Committees with WAiS representation; KPMG Tax update; Engaging your own supports resource; People and Families update; WAiS Membership; Save the Date – AGM; A Word from Jo; Whose Life is it Anyway; Exploring WA; A Word from Liz ; Doing Our Best Work Committees with WAiS represententation: Disability Coalition Group; Safer Services Committee; Disability Sector Procurement Reform Committee; CEO Roundtable; Abuse and Neglect taskforce KPMG - TAX UPDATE, Co-residency ATO Ruling In late 2014, WAiS together with a family who have established a co-residency arrangement and BaptistCare (with whom the family have a share management arrangement), submitted an application for a private binding ruling to the ATO to clarify whether payments received by the support person constitutes assessable income. This situation is where the support person resides in the person with disability home. A final ruling is imminently pending. WAiS and KPMG have sighted the draft ruling and indicated to the ATO we will accept the ruling without further change. Broadly, the ruling indicates that payments made to the support person, who lives in the persons home are “taxable irrespective of the relationship between you [support person] and the person being cared for” and “assessable as they are paid for services provided”. WAiS is available to discuss this in further detail with members. Please contact Su-Hsien Lee on 94851997 or email s.lee@waindividualisedservices.org.au Engaging Your Own Supports – Resource Available Now!!!! The wait is finally over!!! WAiS is proud to announce that our guide to assist you in considering your legal obligations when engaging your own supports, is now available from WAiS. Please contact WAiS on 9485 1997 or email admin@waindividualisedservices.org.au for further information. PEOPLE AND FAMILIES - WAiS Individuals and Families update It’s been a busy period for WAiS working with people and their families, especially as more people become aware of individualised supports and being able to manage their own funding. The number of requests for information about different models of support are continuing to increase. WAiS has been offering a wide range of learning opportunities to individuals and their supporters, covering a variety of topics. In March we met with families and service providers in beautiful Kununurra who attended our workshops on Understanding the NDIS. We followed this with four days of workshops in Broome on Preparing to Plan, Innovative Support Arrangements, Engaging Your Own Supports and a workshop on Understanding Behaviour presented in partnership with the Disability Services Commission and DDWA. It was rewarding to spend time with some of the Broome families who are very passionate about good lives for their sons and daughters. We are enjoying some ongoing relationships with schools who have invited us back to talk with parents about planning for a good life after school. Schools and families are saying that the Preparing to Plan cards and support from WAiS are extremely helpful in preparing for this transition. We have also been presenting workshops in partnership with LAC and My Way co-ordinators to offer a two part series of workshops on Engaging Your Own Supports which includes both legal and technical aspects of being an employer and the recruitment and planning processes. These workshops are co-presented by individuals and families with lived experience in all of these areas. We have also been fortunate to receive a number of requests for support from families about different living arrangements including for people interested in transitioning out of group homes which have been exciting to explore. If you would like to know more about planning, communication, shared living, individualised support, self- direction and supported decision making or would like to become a member of WAiS please contact us on 9485 1997 or email us. We would love to hear from you! Bron Pike b.pike@waindivualisedservices.org.au Jaquie Mills j.mills@waindividalisedservices.org.au WAIS MEMBERSHIP In the next few weeks you will be given the option to renew your WAiS membership for 2016-17 or join as a new member. Renewing your membership is as simple as I, 2, 3 1) Complete the renewal form (updating your details) and send back to WAiS 2) Pay the membership invoice (sent to you) 3) Once received, we will send you a NEW unique username and password for this year to continue to access our member portal on the WAiS website. Member benefits include (but not limited to): Expert Advisory Services (including up to date information on the legislative, statutory and contractual framework affecting its members); Discounted member presentations, seminars and conferences; Targeted Advice and mentoring; Access to WAiS member only portal on WAiS website; Representation on specialist membership groups. SAVE THE DATE - WAIS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Please make sure to put the date of our AGM in your diary Date: 26th October 2016 Time: 12.30pm – 3:00pm Location: 99 The Boulevard, Floreat (lower level of Cambridge Library) Invites will be sent out in the next few weeks to our members. Hope to see you all there A word from Jo…….. I’ve had a really enjoyable year joining with the team at WAIS. Although I’m in Mandurah the team make accommodations thinking about where I’m best placed and find the right fit for where my strengths are. I’ve been anywhere from meeting with mums and a dad to supporting presentations on recruitment. I especially love the conversations with families, sitting in peoples gardens, at their kitchen table, meeting in a cafe or talking on the phone. I know it’s considered work but I feel I learn so much more and always have something to take away with me. I used to think when people would say that to me they were being kind but now I understand how precious these very often intimate two way conversations are for all of us. Co-presenting and sharing a little of my experiences with my son on recruitment and supported decision making has made me aware I have learnt some stuff over the years. Although speaking in front of people isn’t my first preference it feels good to know I can share in a safe space with others who are excellent at presenting. I also like to take photo’s at these events too. I was asked to take photos at The Whose Life is it Anyway Conference in May where I thoroughly enjoyed watching the interactions of strangers, old and new friends, families and providers and well just everyone. We were all being in the space together. Some were sharing deep conversations, some making and doing fun things together like making a drum or colouring in on the large tablecloth with bright coloured textas making the invite so easy to sit and colour and chat. The paintings were a hit and I was able to take photos of people admiring them. Through my lense I could tell people were deeply thinking too. There was a story by Sean Nannup and people gathered closely around him to listen and at times dance. I also had the pleasure of speaking with so many people too. Thank you to everyone who always make me feel so welcome and part of the community of hard workers @ WAIS. WAIS has been hosting our Merger of Minds on Mondays where we have the space to support Eli, George Dylan and Daniel to learn literacy and writing. The location is fabulous and the WAiS welcoming of ‘us’ while sometimes our curiosity means we walk through your workspace or our need to express something is a little louder than you’d hear in most office workplaces is unique and makes us feel so very welcome Joanne Nunn Whose Life Is It Anyway Conference – May 2016 The conference was a success and people told us they thoroughly enjoyed the space to get creative, inspired and think about what really matters! Thanks to all of our presenters, volunteers, friends, families and colleagues who attended, helped or participated on the day! Please enjoy some of the photos from our exciting two day conference. Please see our Facebook page for more photos of the event! Thank you! From the WAiS Conference Team. To everyone who came along, joined in the experience and contributed in your unique ways to our great time together. Big shout out to Dave and Belinda from the Bendat Centre, Danni Stefanetti for her beautiful music, Dean and Kutch from Alucinor Film Production and Natalie for her super tasty food. Exploring WA – Sharing with our International Friends Not only did we take the opportunity to share Peter and Stephen with our WAiS friends at the Whose Life is it Anyway conference. We took the opportunity to help Peter and Stephen fall head over heels in love with WA!!! Alongside an action packed itinerary presenting in regional WA including Broome, Kununurra and Margaret River our guests managed to squeeze in taking in our breath taking beaches, interesting wildlife and fabulous culture! After presenting at the WAiS conference, Peter Leidy finished his visit with a uniquely Australian experience of workshops with the Kimberley Individual and Family Support Association (KIFSA) teams in Broome and Kununurra, attending the Kimberley Moon festival and a boat ride up the Ord River with local people. KIFSA folks said “Peter was FABULOUS and our staff are still talking about learnings from the day.” Peter said “Thank you, WAiS, for organising my first visit to Australia! WA is beautiful (as you know.) And thank you, KIFSA, for the opportunity to spend time with your wonderful selves in Broome and Kununurra. What welcoming, kind, thoughtful, passionate people you are. And Cable Beach...and the Ord River....and your red dirt...and... I simply need to come back some day! From the bottom of my heart, thank you.” Both Peter and Stephen enjoyed the opportunities presented and being hosted by DDWA, Red Cross Lady Lawley, My Place, Enable South West and KIFSA. A word from Liz………….. Ahoy! I’m Liz, I’m an Aries and like long walks on the beach.. I also make wheely bad jokes.. A self-confessed, well-educated bogan, in 2006 at thirty years of age, I sustained an injury causing a catastrophic brainstem stroke which resulted in ‘locked-in’ syndrome. I use a wheelchair, have re-learned to speak, use my arm functionally and now live a relatively independent life (I manage my own supports with admin help from my organisation– a shared management agreement), in my own home with my daughter, Willow, who is now 4 years old. I started working with WAiS in January and have been working on translating a resource for providers to everyday language for individuals and families, assist facilitating our Young Self Managers peer support group, curated a small art exhibition for the ‘Whose Life is it Anyway’ conference and am sitting (pun intended!) with Leanne on the ‘neglect and abuse taskforce’. And that is how I roll…..punny Doing Our Best Work Through real experiences and stories, Peter Leidy shared conversations examining 10 important ingredients of excellent direct support, with WA Support workers during his time in Perth. Attendee’s said “Peter is inspirational and he demonstrated a very calm and relaxing nature, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to his stories.” “Captivating, truthful and inspirational”, “Love the songs, so good!” The training in May was thoroughly enjoyed by those who attended and participants were fortunate enough to receive a copy of Peter’s training DVD! Thanks Peter for sharing your wisdom!