Third Party Verification 2015-2018 Your Questions Answered

Meeting Name: Macarthur Transport Working Group

Date: 9/2/16 Start Time: 10.00 am

Location: Sector Connect End Time: 12.00 pm

Chair Jeanne Duffy

Attendees: Peter Hickey – Ability Links, Dana Rosinski – WSCF, Lyn Bright – SWCT, Lyn Ifedioranma – Campbelltown City Council, Carly Davis – TfNSW, Kim Landouw – Sector Connect Volunteering Macarthur, Renica Adam, Emma-Jayne Gardiner – Wollondilly Shire Council, Tara Klokstad – Sector Connect Student, Jeanne Duffy – Sector Connect Apologies:

1. Acknowledgement I acknowledge Aboriginal nations as the first people of Australia and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. I honour their cultural, spiritual and emotional connection to their traditional Country.

2. Welcome/Apologies

3. Previous Minutes

4. Matters Arising -Request for Orbiter 9 Map (North South component) for next meeting, discussion of the advertisement of the new railway at Wollondilly events. Emma to send a copy of the map and provide information on upcoming events and details. Jeanne to invite representative to attend next meeting.

-Issues identified for service users since implementation of MAC.

-Barriers for services/individuals using opal cards.

-Update on information from TfNSW.

-Introduction and explanation of LR MR Diver project 5. Human Service Information shared highlighted some of the issues present while using MAC- Reform – Transport related social issues -Currently 160 referrals waiting to be returned and services for 3 clients were ceased recently due to restrictions on lifting of clients and workers were unable to link to other services.

-The eligibility criteria that is advertised by MAC encourages anyone over 65 to apply but doesn’t focus on those with limited mobility or living with a disability.

-Over 10,000 clients under MAC, there are increasing issues around the risk of overseeing low need clients.

-MAC aimed to reduce funding spent on staff duties and output these finances into the services instead, an evaluation showed a 2% increase in costs since MAC. There are barriers present between the IT role and the gateway system software, requiring a worker to manually input data.

-No communication between software, unable to share referrals electronically and services have been asked to only fax one referral every five minutes, tends to be very time consuming and unpractical.

-Consultants are able to come in randomly and observe your actions at any time.

-CTO is lobbying for bulk funding, pushing in order for transport to retain bulk funding and at this point communication seems to be improving with the national body (NDIS). -Appears to be mixed messages and a lot of confusion around the NDIS, request made for Jeanne to contact Patrick in regards to a member from NDIS to attend meetings.

-Discriminatory issues in the past with Uber drivers (an alternative for taxis) choosing not to transport people living with a disability, communication to possibly do a deal with Uber for concession.

-Barriers for youth/elderly clients using opal cards; makes day trips difficult as each person attending must use an opal card each (services unable to use the one card for all members attending to simplify transport process), a proposal to remove the $2.50 concession for pensioners has also been made.

-Due to limited knowledge and accessibility around opal cards and the topping up process approximately 200 clients are being excluded from activities and utilising public transport. 6. LR MR Diver project There are 15 new drivers in training under the LR Drivers Program, there are 5 newly qualified drivers – Kim Landouw with another 2 close to the completion of the course. All drivers of the program are driving at least once a month, the aim of this program is to have drivers on call, if an organisation wishes to have the driver more frequently the volunteer driver will then be signed over to the organisation and will be covered under their insurance and policies. The program is funded until June and there is hope to enhance the promotion of the drivers. A link with more information about the program will be sent via email for those interested. 7. TfNSW update – Carly -Centralised Trip Allocation Booking System is currently delayed, this system will implement automatic Davis allocation of clients and is aimed to remove the manual roles around the old software. Pre-discovery Survey Demand Solutions

8. Emerging Issues – Case None Study

9. Other business Opal Card Issues A letter was addressed to the Minister of Transport regarding the barriers of using opal cards for disadvantaged groups and will be shared amongst committee members.

Project Development Camden Camden (2570) was selected as the target area for potential project development, data is going to be gathered on this area by two different organisations and will be compared to identify whether a project can be developed to improve the gaps in service delivery. SWSCT will provide some information as will TfNSW

TfNSW info- http://bts-au.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html? id=156c2e23a961499a9dbcf50de6a7d27e

User name: bts_guest Password: Awes0me1 (‘0’ is zero).

For other purposes the link below shows the revised PTAL application only that is it does not include Census data - This tool is quicker to load!

http://bts-au.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html? id=dcbd5cd9a7774a278abc53f2564a1c5a

User name: bts_guest Password: Awes0me1 (‘0’ is zero)

Camden community map from SWSCT Third Party Verification 2015-2018 – your questions answered

All Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) funded service providers are required to undertake third party verification (TPV) during the term of the current (2015-18) funding agreement (FA). Details of this requirement can be found in the terms and conditions of your organisation's ADHC FA. Third party verification is more than simply meeting compliance obligations. By going through this process, you'll be able to better support your employees and give your current and potential clients confidence in your organisation's ability to meet their needs. It will also give you a chance to revise your existing systems and processes and hone your approach to customer service so that your organisation can thrive under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Still unsure how it works? Here are some frequently asked questions regarding third party verification for 2015-2018: Q: Our organisation achieved third party verification prior to 30 June 2015. Do we have to go through this process again? A: Yes, third party verification (TPV) must be completed once during the term of each funding agreement. Q: Our organisation is transitioning to the NDIS. Do we need to go through this process? A: Yes, organisations operating under the NDIS are required to meet requirements detailed in the ADHC quality policy until the National Disability Insurance Agency releases the National Quality and Safeguards Framework. Q: How can NDS help us with this process? A: NDS members are eligible to receive a discount for the NDS Quality Portal - the online self- assessment tool. In addition, quality resources are available on our webpage, and advice and guidance can be provided by a NDS Sector Support Consultant. Q: Does NDS have funding available to assist with this process? A: There are no subsidies available for organisations receiving Disability Support program funding in 2015-2018. Organisations receiving Community Care Support program funding are eligible to receive a one-off subsidy, if you have not already accessed it. You can check your eligibility by contacting [email protected] . Q: Our organisation has completed third party verification since July 2015. How do we notify ADHC? A: Organisations can report their TPV progress and upload a TPV certificate at any time through the Quality Framework Reporting (QFR) platform. For information about reporting requirements under the ADHC 2015-18 FA and the NSW Disability Services Standards, please contact the ADHC Quality team by email at: [email protected] Q: Our organisation scheduled our TPV after the QFR close date of 26th July 2016, is this ok? A: Yes, but you must identify this in your progress reporting on the QFR and ensure that your TPV is achieved within the 2015-18 FA. Contact information: Angela Hartingdon, Senior Projects Coordinator, 02 9256 3194, [email protected] © This publication is copyright (Word 79KB)

Next meeting 12 April 2016 10am – 12 noon Sector Connect 351 Welling Drive Mount Annan