For people who are self-managing, we recommend:
Optimising your workforce
The individualised NDIS pricing system is bringing new challenges to how disability work is organised and managed.
Participants want flexibility and responsiveness in service providers, and a highly engaged and capable workforce. These features must all be sustained within the constraints of NDIS pricing.
Additional challenges exist in rural and remote locations, where workers are scarce and demand is scattered. In short, the NDIS is demanding that we aim for something transformative; the way we will do business will be significantly different in the future.
Tools featured here focus on job design, workplace culture and managementEmploying a Flexible Workforce in a Person-Centred Environment is a guide to flexible working practices that comply with the Australian workplace relations framework, and improve employee engagement and workforce utilisation. For managers responsible for people, capability and culture and workforce strategy and planning.
The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 is the main industry award covering the disability sector. In 2010 clauses were added to the classifications to make it clear how disability roles fitted into the SACS (Social and Community Services) Schedule of the award.
Details about the SCHCADS Modern Award are available through the Fair Work Commission (FWC) website here. As awards are subject to change it is recommended that organisations refer to the most up-to-date online version of the award and register for update notifications.
As well as general wage rises, the Equal Remuneration Order for providers employing workers under the SACS (Social and Community Services) Schedule is being progressively phased in. This process commenced in December 2012 and will be completed in 2020.
Modern Award Review
Since 2014 the FWC has been reviewing all awards. The 4 yearly Modern Award Review has considered a range of ‘common matters’ across all awards as well as updates and changes to each individual award.
NDS provides information about the award review through NDS Modern Award Updates.
Submissions to the current review are listed on the Fair Work site here:
Purpose driven approaches using self-organising teams are those that maximise the scope for workers to use their skills and creativity within strongly values-oriented organisations.
More information can be found in this Information Sheet [PDF] | [Accessible]
The report, Evaluation of the NDS Innovation for High Performance Project 2016 is a report that synthesises the learnings by a group of disability providers convened by NDS in 2016.
You can download the report below:
NDS coordinates a network of organisations around Australia trialling purpose driven approaches. Webinars and face-to-face events are held throughout the year.
Contact us to get involved
submit enquiry/feedback" target="_blank" class="btn">Connect here
Award classifications in relation to self-organising support work - Jobs Australia advice
If you want to know more
Justin O’Meara Smith,CEO Interchange WA, Interchange WA, Interchange WA, video, October 2018
Ann-Marie Davis, CEO Amicus, Amicus, video, October 2018
Rosie Lawn, CEO Avivo, Working Locally: Developing Avivo, video, October 2017
Kathy Wonderley, CEO ACES, Local, Self-directed Teams, video, October 2017
Robyn Kaczmarek, CEO and Co-founder, The Co-Operative Life, High performance in social care in Australia, video, NDS Forum 2015
Jos de Blok presentation, Humanity above bureaucracy, Nov 2014.
Public World, Learning from Buurtzorg, How ZorgAccent and Amstelring Wijkzorg improved their services, jobs and finances, Dec 2016.
Unison, Applying the Buurtzorg care model in Scotland, Jan 2016.
Astrid Vermeer and Ben Wenting, Self-management: How it does work, 2016. This is an Amazon Link to allow to purchase this highly recommended book. Please note that some of the language is a translation from Dutch.
Helen Sanderson, Podcasts about self-management, Conversations with Yumi Stamet, NDS, 2016.
Yumi Stamet, High Performance teams, NDP Webinar, Feb 2018.
Harri Kaloudis, A systematic overview of Buurtzorg Nederland, Part A, 2016.
Harri Kaloudis, A systematic overview of Buurtzorg Nederland, Part B, 2016.
Helen Sanderson, Introducing Wellbeing Teams (accessible transcript), Part A, 2019.
Helen Sanderson, Self-Management in Wellbeing Teams (accessible transcript), Part B, 2019.
Helen Sanderson, Wholeness in Wellbeing Teams (accessible transcript), Part C, 2019.
your FAQs on high performance work answered, prepared by NDS, March 2018:
Like other areas of management, the NDIS creates new challenges and issues for work Health and Safety.
NDS has recently published a new report and guide ‘The Psychosocial Health and Safety of Home Care Workers – Risks and Solutions’ which explores the stress-related risks experienced by home care workers, including disability workers. It describes:
- the emotional challenges of the work
- financial insecurity
- low trust work relationships
- compromised quality of care
- being undervalued.
It also documents employer practices that can mitigate these risks, including the role of managers, office staff, technology and a supportive work environment.
Recommendations for Reducing Workers’ Compensation Premiums in the Disability Sector is a practical and comprehensive guide for employers developed in NSW; it has relevance nationally.
NDS offers NDS Organisational Members and Associates discounted access to enableHR which provides a comprehensive safety management system and makes it easy to plan, manage, track and report your health and safety data.
This framework for job design defines the skills, knowledge and capabilities required by all major job roles across the disability sector. It is a robust, consistent and transparent framework that can be used to underpin people management strategies and enhance organisational culture.
Position descriptions and an Implementation Guide are also available.
Natalie Green and Kate Fulton, Avivo, Communications though change, video, Part 1 2019
Natalie Green and Kate Fulton, Avivo, Communications though change - Overview and Digital Engagement, video, Part 2 2019
Natalie Green and Kate Fulton, Avivo, Communications though change - Events and material, video, Part 3 2019
Natalie Green and Kate Fulton, Avivo, Communications though change - Being Brave, video, Part 4 2019