Edition 10

We have amalgamated our newsletters into one to keep you up to date without additional mailbox clutter.

COTAlife, will continue to include articles to assist you  to enhance your quality of life, news about upcoming events and how COTA is advancing the rights, needs and interests of people as they age in Queensland. The COTAAGENDA  section will provide information about Queensland Government programs, policies and priorities for older people, analysis of issues and current trends relating to ageing and older people's issues.

Maryborough: Tuesday 14 April from 9 am - 1 pm

Join us at the Maryborough Senior Citizens Centre 333 Alice Street Maryborough for the first of our regional forums for 2015 and let us know about the issues that are impacting upon Seniors in your region.

We are seeking your views on:
• The issues that are impacting on seniors in your region for example patient travel, health concerns, cost of living.
• How can we better safeguard seniors during and after natural disasters?

You will also:
• Receive an update on the Aged Care Reform being introduced on 1 July 2015
• Gain a better understanding of Consumer Directed Care

To register contact Ann-Maree Hasselback on (07) 4123 1554 or by email secretary@madcota.org.au.

Toowoomba:  Wednesday 20 May 1 pm - 2:30 pm

Join us at the City Golf Club, 254 South Street Toowoomba for the second of our regional forums for 2015 and let us know about the issues that are impacting upon Seniors in your region. This forum will follow on from the Darling Downs South West Forum  which runs form 8:30 am - 12:30 pm.

We are seeking your views on:
• The issues that are impacting on seniors in your region for example patient travel, health concerns, cost of living.
• How can we better safeguard seniors during and after natural disasters?

RSVP by Friday 15 May
To register click here

It is National Youth Week!

Join the largest celebration of young people in Australia, for National Youth Week, from 10-19 April 2015. Whether you’re into music,art or culture, there’s an event happening near you. 

Visit the PCYC webiste for a listing of the events in Queensland.  

International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHOT)  May 17.

What is May 17th

In short:
It was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTI people internationally.

In under a decade, May 17 has established itself as the single most important date for LGBTI communities to mobilise on a worldwide scale.

The Day represents an annual landmark to draw to  attention the alarming situation faced by lesbian, gay, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people and all those who do not conform to majority sexual and gender norms.

May 17 is now celebrated in more than 130 countries, including 37 where same-sex acts are illegal, with 1600 events reported from 1280 organizations in 2014. These mobilisations unite millions of people in support of the recognition of human rights for all, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

Source: dayagainsthomophobia.org/what-is-may-17th/

Come out and show your support in Brisbane at the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHOT) event. 

The 5th Positive Ageing Journey Event and Exhibition will build on the success of the 2014 event and will be held on Monday 18 May 2015 at Kedron Wavell Services Club, Chermside from 9am until 3:15pm.

Cost is only $20 and this includes morning tea, lunch and a snack.

The 2015 Positive Ageing Journey Event will provide an interactive and fun educational event for baby boomers and beyond. 

Read more

Consumer Directed Care Peer Education Sessions

How you access Aged Care will change from 1 July 2015.

COTA Queensland is able to help you understand these changes.

We are continuing to deliver Peer Education sessions to help people understand Consumer Directed Care in Home Care Packages.

If you would like to access a Peer Education session or for more information  please contact Marianne on (07) 3316 2905 or email bookings@cotaqld.org.au

Peer Educators Needed in South East Queensland

COTA Queensland is currently seeking Volunteer Peer Educators to deliver its free education topic on “Consumer Directed Care”  in south east Queensland (from the Sunshine Coast down to the Gold Coast and out to Toowoomba)

Are you:                                         
• Looking for an interesting volunteer position that can fit in with your lifestyle and commitments? Are you 50 years+ yourself, and a good communicator with older people?

Peer educators give talks to seniors groups on a range of topics related to ageing well.

Skills required for this opportunity:
• Good interpersonal and clear communication skills, with a sense of humour.
• Ability to learn and present information accurately.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of session participants and discretion when responding to questions at talks.

Read more 

Brain Activation during Walking in Healthy People and People with Parkinson’s Disease

Luisa Roeder, a PhD candidate in the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) is seeking volunteers to participate in a study that aims to investigate how the brain controls walking in healthy adults and people with Parkinson’s disease. The outcome of this research will further develop our understanding of brain activation patterns during walking in healthy people and in people with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, which will in turn, improve future treatment options.

Read more 

Department of Human Services:  Complaints and feedback – tell them what you think

The Department of Human Services is improving the way customers can provide feedback or lodge a complaint. They now have one number to make a complaint or provide feedback about Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support services.

To make a complaint or provide feedback customers can call the feedback and complaints line on 1800 132 468.

If your complaint or feedback is not urgent you can send an online message humanservices.gov.au/feedback.

Read more

Make a Connection: Share Your Story

What does Seniors Week mean to you? 

"For me it is a time to connect with seniors and elders in my community.  I lost my mother's parents in my teens and my father being from England meant that time spent with his side of the family was limited at best. 

On my mother's side my fondest memories are of sitting at an oval melamine table with sparkles on the top (my Nana always enjoyed her embellishes), the smell of coffee in the background and settling in for stories about their lives.  

Stories of the challenges during the great depression, as a "kid" today I could only imagine what that would have been like.  Stories of what it was like to serve their country during World War II, their first colour television and where they were for the moon landing and how the world of changing technology was something straight out of science fiction. - Lisa Hodgkinson, Seniors Week Coordinator

Read more 

Policy Officer Mark Young finishes at COTA after 4 Years

I take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of Mark Young who has been one of our Policy Officers over the past four years. Mark was responsible for writing many of our submissions to the State Government including our annual State Budget submission. Mark also supported our contribution to the COTA National Policy Council.

The Commonwealth Home Support Program commences on 1 July, 2015

The Draft Programme Manual and the Draft National Fees Policy have been released for comment.

COTA Queensland will be providing feedback to the Department of Social Services on a number of fronts.

There is still time to  provide your feedback to chsp@dss.gov.au. The consultation period on these documents will close on 15 April.

Additional information is available on the DSS CHSP webpage.

Aged Care Reform Information Sessions

There are significant changes taking place in the Aged Care System, particularly around service delivery and fees.

How you access Aged Care will change from 1 July 2015.

COTA Queensland is able to help you understand these changes.

Service Providers may use a general Aged Care Reform Information Session to assist their consumers to understand the changes, or Community Groups may wish to hold a session to find out what the changes are. Sessions can be tailored to run between 30 – 60 minutes.

If you would like to organise an information session for a group please contact Matilda Marsh on (07) 3316 2912 or email engage@cotaqld.org.au

Marketing Webinar

Introduction to Marketing for Consumer Directed Care for small providers Tuesday, April 28, 2015 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm. 

Register Here

This session is free and available to the first 50 interested participants who can guarantee attendance. We aim to provide further sessions on marketing so be assured that you will not miss out.

The new competitive environment holds many unknowns for home care providers, and poses specific challenges for small scale providers of care.

Read more

Service Providers - Getting ready for your Quality Audit?

After 1 July 2015 all review audits will be looking for your organisation’s incorporation of CDC. All three standards: effective management; appropriate access; and service delivery and service user rights and responsibilities need to reflect the changes that you have made with CDC.

The reviewers will be looking for evidence on how you have gone about this. Many organisations have used Home Care Today’s Organisational Self Assessment for introducing CDC. This self assessment is built on the Home Care Standards helping you to identify gaps and build a plan as well as provide evidence of a thorough approach to introducing CDC.

To see the Organisational Self Assessment Click Here.

Queensland Mental Health Awareness, Prevention and Early Intervention

COTA will contribute to the strategic planning process to inform the development of the Mental Health Awareness, Prevention and Early Intervention Plan for Queensland.

The Plan is an initiative of the Queensland Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2014-2019.

The Plan will outline actions to be taken by government departments, non government organisations and other partner agencies to improve mental health and wellbeing and reduce the incidence, severity and duration of mental illness and mental health difficulties.

The Plan will acknowledge the importance of a life-course approach and actions that enable all Queenslanders to Start Well, Learn Well, Live Well, Work Well and Age Well.

Children’s Hospital concerns to be investigated - COTA Q Chief Exective Mark Tucker-Evans joins the review panel 

Following months of serious allegations about the commissioning of the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, the Queensland Government announced a comprehensive review into the substantial concerns raised by parents, staff and the community.

The review will examine the building and operational commissioning processes carried out in late 2014.

Health Minister Cameron Dick said the review would focus on identifying lessons for future major projects.

“Families, hospital staff, unions and members of the public have all approached me raising concerns about the lack of nursing staff and trained cleaning staff the operation of outsourced services like porterage and cleaning and the lack of a functioning café,” Mr Dick said.

Read more 

Safer Roads, Safer Queensland Forum

COTA Queensland Chief Executive Mark Tucker-Evans joined police and road safety experts at a meeting with the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Minister for Corrective Services and the Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy and Water Supply for top level talks on road safety following the tragic loss of lives on Queensland over the Easter period.

The forum is the first step in a concerted campaign to maintain safety of Queensland's road network.

Support Our Work and Get Involved

Our aim is to help create a more just, equitable and caring community in which older people are actively involved and have access to appropriate support, services and care. You can help us to continue to fight for an Age-friendly Queensland by:

• Leaving a bequest in your Will to COTA Queensland
• Donating today through PayPal or by shopping online with Shopnate
• Joining as an individual and receiving a wide range of  benefits through the COTA Rewards and Savings program
• Joining as an organisational member and contribute to our information exchange, policy development and service development
• Joining over 500 Queenslander in our Consumer Reference Network to enable you to contribute your knowledge and experiences to the development of our submissions in response to those issues impacting on people age they age in Queensland