Edition 5

Safeguarding Vulnerable Seniors During Natural Disasters forum

PICTURED: COTA Queensland Chair, Peter Howells, Minister for Communities Tracy Davis, and COTA Queensland Chief Executive, Mark Tucker-Evans

The Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services Hon Tracy Davis aunched Seniors Week at COTA Queensland's Safeguarding Vulnerable Seniors During Natural Disasters Forum on Monday 18 August.

The Forum was sponsored by Ergon Energy and drew upon experiences of past events to identify specific challenges encountered when supporting vulnerable seniors during times of natural disasters.

A Report on the Forum, as well as copies of the Presentations, is now available on our website www.cotaqld.org.au.

Hands Off the Pension 

Older Australians launch campaign to protect the pension

COTA Australia has launched a campaign against proposed changes to the age pension. COTA Australia Chief Executive Ian Yates AM said the campaign, Hands Off the Pension, was in response to the unprecedented level of feedback COTA is receiving from older people deeply worried about how they will manage if the changes announced by Treasurer Hockey in the May Budget come into effect.

We encourage you to contact Queensland senators to express your concerns.

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The Entitlement of Age

Emily Millane from think-tank Per Capita has written an excellent paper on the Entitlement of Age. Her paper argues that Australia's current retirement income system is inadequate for meeting the longevity challenge, does not allow people to sufficiently manage longevity risk, and promotes financial inequality.

You can read the article here  www.percapita.org.au

Accessibility of TransLink bus stations and busways - your feedback wanted

The University of Queensland, on behalf of the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TransLink Division), is undertaking research to understand the problems and challenges for people with a disability using bus services in South East Queensland, especially in accessing bus stations or busways in Brisbane.

To assist this research, COTA Queensland would like to hear from seniors or people with a disability who use or would like to use public transport in south east Queensland (especially buses).

If you would like to complete a brief survey or take part in a focus group on this topic, please contact COTA Queensland Policy Officer Mark Young at policy@cotaqld.org.au or telephone 3316 2912 by Thursday 2 October.

New Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Bill public consultation open until 3 October 2014

The Department of Health has released a draft of the proposed new Medicines Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Bill intended to provide a modern framework to regulate how medicines and poisons are used in our community.

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COTA in Partnerships

COTA Queensland is working with Logan City Council to identify Community Care Service Providers who are interested in attending a discussion about planning for, responding to and recovering from a disaster event in order to achieve the best outcome for their clients during a disaster event.

If you provide Community Care services to residents of the City of Logan and would like to receive information about an impending breakfast event where disaster event planning and Emergency Partnership Agreements will be discussed please email:

Rhonda Nelson
Project Officer
Disaster Management and Specialist Engineering Support Branch
Logan City Council
rhondanelson@logan.qld.gov.au

It's time to act: Shaping your culture and practices to be CDC ready

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
 

This workshop will help you to shape your organisation's culture and practices to be Consumer Directed Care (CDC) ready by:
• identifying how CDC is different from current approaches to service delivery and how it goes beyond person centred care
• learning about positive, practical and proven approaches to culture change that will encourage everyone to come on board with CDC
• understanding  consumer perspectives and requirements for CDC
• finding out if your current organisational culture and practice is CDC ready
• planning with your team the practical steps for your organisation to become CDC ready.

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Consumer Booklet: Your Guide to New Choices in Home Care

COTA homecaretoday  is in the process of ordering a reprint of these booklets, and the new online versions contain some minor wording changes.

We are  pleased to announce that the booklets have been translated into eleven community languages and are now available on their website.

Carers Week
Sunday 12 October to Saturday 18 October

‘Take a break for carers’ provides an opportunity for the broader community to take time out and learn about carers and the issues they face.

Carers Week is a time for celebration, education, reflection and action

Unpaid family carers make an extraordinary contribution to our society. 

Carers Week is about recognising and celebrating what carers do
Anyone at any time can become a carer for a family member or a friend.

Carers Week is about being care aware
There are many services and supports available for carers in every state and territory.

Carers Week is about highlighting the support available for carers

Click on the link to find events in your area.   www.carersqld.asn.au