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AASW North Queensland Branch

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25.01.2022 Culturally diverse Australians living with dementia 'face extra challenges' Three in four Australians living with dementia say people don't keep in touch like they used to with those from non-English speaking backgrounds facing "extra" challenges around access to information and services. She said the number of Australians living with dementia who do not speak English at home is estimated to be about one in eight, and as high as one in six in states such as Victoria that hav...e a larger migrant population. Almost two in three say people they know have been avoiding or excluding them, according to the survey released on Monday by Dementia Australia. Close to half a million Australians live with dementia - a collection of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain - and that number is expected to double in the next 25 years.

23.01.2022 Labor lashes 'cowardly' uni bosses agreeing to government's fee hikes Labor education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek says university chiefs backing the Morrison government's major funding reforms are cowardly and they have betrayed students by accepting fee hikes. Ms Plibersek said some university bosses had "allowed themselves to be bullied by the government" into accepting the reforms, which she said would make it harder and more expensive for many Australians to attend university.

23.01.2022 AASW - INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS In a show of global solidarity, the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is endorsing the United Nations call for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls. AASW National Vice President Linda Ford said the 2020 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls (25 November) marks 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence that concludes on the ...Continue reading

23.01.2022 Unemployment support will be slashed by $300 this week. This wont help people find work. This week, support to unemployed Australians will be dramatically reduced. In April, the new Coronavirus Supplement roughly doubled the level of benefits for unemployed people on the JobSeeker payment and a range of other working-age payments.... The supplement will drop from $550 to $250 a fortnight from Friday. This is before it is dropped entirely at the end of 2020. While there has been increasing pressure from welfare groups to maintain a higher level of JobSeeker supplement, there have also been calls from within the government to remove extra supports, amid claims people are not looking for work.

22.01.2022 Experts want climate risks in health plan. A national preventive health strategy is useless if it doesn't address the risks of climate change, experts have told the responsible minister. More than 30 health groups from across the country have signed a joint statement to Health Minister Greg Hunt calling for climate change to be a key part of the national preventive health strategy.... The strategy is currently being developed, with public feedback on its consultation paper open until the end of the month. Climate change isn't mentioned in the paper despite health groups telling the government about the risks it poses to health. This is the result of AASW advocacy work and input into a joint statement to Health Minister Greg Hunt.

20.01.2022 Indigenous children with hearing loss are getting help thanks to a new screening tool Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have some of the highest rates of ear infection in the world, and it can often lead to hearing loss. But a new screening program is helping identify the problem much earlier, before it becomes permanent. Hearing Australia's national assessment program, which rolled out last year, found almost 500 Indigenous children suffered hearing loss across 76 communities, with studies showing they are five times more likely to be diagnosed than non-Indigenous children. In Northern Territory communities, almost 90 per cent of children suffered from the infection, accounting for some of the highest rates in the world.

20.01.2022 Cuts to JobSeeker could lead to loss of 145,000 full-time jobs, new report finds A report by Deloitte commissioned by ACOSS, has found that cuts to income support payments could result in economic loss of $31.3 and 140, 000 job losses. The cuts are scheduled for 25th September and would see JobSeeker return to the rate of Newstart by the end of the year. ACOSS are advocating that these cuts do not proceed and that a permanent JobSeeker rate that allows people to cover the basics be legislated. AASW has continuously advocated for a permanent increase, as recently as our COVID 19 submission.

20.01.2022 Medical groups are urging Greg Hunt to include climate change in 10-year health strategy The joint statement is signed by groups also including the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and the Australian Association of Social Workers.

19.01.2022 Social workers welcome extension of telehealth The AASW has welcomed the announcement by Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt of a six month extension to the temporary COVID-19 Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) telehealth items. AASW National President Christine Craik said the telehealth scheme has been a lifeline for people needing to continue seeing their mental health social worker, while impacted by restrictions or needing to self-isolate.... As the pandemic continues, it is encouraging that the Federal Government has granted an extension to the subsidised telehealth sessions for an extra six months. The telehealth measures have been instrumental in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting vulnerable people, as they continue to access support in a safe and timely manner. While we understand that the sudden move to telehealth has been difficult for both practitioners and clients, its uptake has proven how beneficial continued mental health support has been during these challenging times. Social workers are particularly adept at adjusting to change and the AASW has been proud to see how quickly and well the profession has adapted to this new way of working. Ms Craik said the AASW has been continuously advocating for numerous changes to the MBS, including increased recognition for Accredited Mental Health Social Workers (AMHSW), increases to the number of sessions available under mental health care plans, and general expansion of telehealth. The Federal government has been sitting on the MBS Review report and recommendations for some time now and we call on them to release these as a matter of urgency. Post bushfires and the pandemic, an increase to mental health supports will be more vital than ever in the coming months. Accredited Mental Health Social Workers (AMHSW) do a great job with the resources they have, but now is the time to increase these resources to help Australians recover mentally from the hardships they have faced this year. This is a good start and the AASW looks forward to continuing to work with the government to ensure these measures continue post-COVID-19 as another option for receiving mental health support. People should have options in how they access support and for those who have thrived using telehealth we will continue to advocate that this is available for them, Ms Craik said.

19.01.2022 ‘Call for disaster payments for workers hit by lockdown’ ACOSS has called on the federal government to fund a $3,000 disaster recovery payment for workers forced to stand down during pandemic lockdowns. AASW supports ACOSS’s call. Our federal budget submission recommended the government increase income support payments.... https://www.theage.com.au//call-for-disaster-payments-for-

18.01.2022 Fears a wave of evictions will see a spike in homelessness as property boom rolls on Renters are increasingly finding themselves facing eviction as landlords look to get top-dollar for their investment properties. While some will be able to find another place to rent, there are big fears a wave of renters are now facing homelessness. AASW’s federal budget submission made several recommendations to improve housing (including rental) affordability.... https://www.abc.net.au//fears-a-wave-of-evictions/13368848

18.01.2022 New approach needed to prevent human rights violations for people with disability. A report from the University of NSW Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) said Australia has not made adequate progress achieving rights for people with disability since the early days of the disability rights movement in the 1960s. Researchers focused on Australias implementation of the CRPD, which they said was critical to fulfilling the right of people with disability to be free from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

18.01.2022 Cutting teleheatlh will 'drop defences' against coronavirus pandemic, mental health advocates warn. With subsidised telehealth sessions due to expire in two weeks, mental health experts have urged the Federal Government to extend the service, arguing they have been a critical defence against the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, the Government set aside $669 million to expand Medicare subsidies for telehealth services, allowing health professionals like GPs and ...psychologists to consult with patients over video conferencing sites rather than face to face. The scheme is due to end on September 30, but a spokesman for the Health Minister Greg Hunt said discussions were underway with peak groups to keep it going. See more

18.01.2022 Australian Government refuses to release 'starving' immigration detainee despite UN appeal. A man who is barely able to eat because of a medical condition after being detained by Immigration for the past seven years is being denied release into the community, despite a United Nations recommendation. However, detainees who refused food or fluids received psychological consultations, along with medical assessments every 24 hours or more.... "Detainees are made aware that engaging in food and/or fluid refusal will not affect the detainee's immigration decision-making processes or outcome in any way," the spokesperson said.

18.01.2022 Fears for immigration detainees as new figures reveal hundreds of self-harm incidents in 2020. Data indicates that self-harm incidents in immigration detention facilities during the first 7 months of 2020 have exceeded averages during the whole 2016-2019 period. Advocates, medical professionals and immigration lawyers argue that the increase is due to the compounding stress of the Covid-19 pandemic and a lack of mental health resourcing. We have advocated strenuously on the human rights of people seeking asylum and will continue to do so.

17.01.2022 An Indigenous woman has died in custody at a Brisbane watchhouse. The circumstances surrounding the death of an Aboriginal woman in police custody are being investigated by the Ethical Standards Command under supervision by the Coroner and Queensland's Corruption and Crime Commission. We are saddened by the death of the woman and have been advocating for the strong implementation of justice agreement in our ACT and NT election statements.

17.01.2022 Royal Commission: Improvements, safeguards and under monitored home care The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety held three days of hearings, running from 31 August to 2 September, examining key design issues for a new home care system and how the sector would transition to a new home care system. Topics covered during the hearings included employment and engagement arrangements plus qualifications and training for home care workers, safeguards for older people receiving care in their home, and regulation of services in individual's homes and the community.

16.01.2022 Australia has sleepwalked into a society where profit trumps quality care. Government investment in care work would improve circumstances for care workers, improve the economy, boost social cohesion and improve wellbeing. The royal commission into aged care has demonstrated how a for-profit system is at odds with providing quality care. Similarly, the for-profit model of early childhood education saw the sector on the brink of collapse during the pandemic. Government investment in caring industries is desperately needed as is a new business model. The royal commission into aged care released its interim report last year, in which it touched on the damage done by having a competitive market place for private providers and the lack of value placed on womens caring work, as have many of our submissions.

16.01.2022 Upcoming coronavirus welfare cuts will force 80 per cent of recipients to skip meals, survey finds. The Morrison government intends to slash the coronavirus supplement by $300 in less than 2 weeks time. A survey by ACOSS found that 4/5 respondents will be forced to skip meals if the federal government proceeds with the cut. ACOSS continues to advocate that the supplement remains. The AASW is monitoring the impact of reduction of coronavirus supplement and will be working with ACOSS closely.

15.01.2022 Cuts to JobSeeker could lead to loss of 145,000 full-time jobs, new report finds. The Morrison government is cutting the coronavirus supplement on 25 September, reducing the JobSeeker payment by $300 per fortnight. The supplement will be removed entirely by the end of the year, leaving people on JobSeeker on the old Newstart rate of just $40 per day. If the cuts proceed as scheduled the economy would lose $31.3 billion, an average of 145,000 full-time equivalent jobs would ...be lost in 2020/21 and 2021/22 and regional communities would be hit the hardest, the report found. SPA Branch are preparing a campaign around the budget and income support will feature in our campaign.

15.01.2022 The new JobSeeker rate is coming here's what's changing at the end of the week On Friday, the Government will cut back the coronavirus supplement for JobSeeker recipients and others on some government payments. The $550 coronavirus supplement, which effectively doubles JobSeeker to $1,100 a fortnight, will be slashed and other changes are on the way too.

15.01.2022 ‘What is Mabo Day and why is it significant’ Article talking through the legal concept, known as "terra nullius", which stripped Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of their traditional rights to their lands and attempted to sever connections to cultures dating back 65,000 years. June 3 marks the momentous victory to overturn that precedent in the High Court and honours the legacy of the man behind it Eddie Mabo. https://www.abc.net.au//what-is-mabo-day-eddie-h/100180516

14.01.2022 Australians must wait beyond October for decision on COVID-19 supplement payment. Whether the coronavirus supplement will be extended is to be announced when the Federal Budget is released next month. From next week the coronavirus supplement will reduce from $550 a fortnight to $250. ACOSS are calling on the Federal Government to legislate a permanent increase to JobSeeker (previously Newstart). We support ACOSSs campaign to raise the level of income support and we will be doing our own work around the federal budget.

14.01.2022 Scaling up efforts to tackle male self-harm Men and boys account for 75 per cent of deaths from suicide, making them a key group for interventions, but an expanded national effort to prevent suicide demands that we have evidence of what actually works. If we are to make significant reductions in suicide rates we need to address whats happening among men and boys, says Professor Jane Pirkis, Director of the Centre for Mental Health at the University of Melbourne.

13.01.2022 ‘More Stolen Generations survivors are coming forward, as report calls for strategy to address disadvantage’ New data out of AIHW has shown that in the past three years the number of Stolen Generations survivors who have come forward has almost doubled, this has renewed calls for a national redress scheme. The majority of Stolen Generations survivors are now aged over 50 and are experiencing poorer health and financial outcomes compared with other Aboriginal/Torres Strait Isl...ander people. The AASW issued an apology for social work’s involvement in the Stolen Generations in 2004 and continues to work towards Reconciliation. https://www.abc.net.au//more-stolen-generations-/100183436

13.01.2022 Our submission to the Inquiry into NDIS market in QLD has been released. https://qpc.blob.core.windows.net//NDISIP029-AASW-Inquiry-

13.01.2022 Life in Mind jointly launches new Zero Suicide Healthcare Training directory to support staff in mental health services Life in Mind has collaborated with the Zero Suicide Institute of Australasia (ZSIA) to launch a national directory of training programs that aim to empower healthcare workers to feel confident and competent to provide compassionate care to people experiencing suicidal behaviours. The Zero Suicide Healthcare Training directory aligns with the Zero Suicide Healthcare Framework and showcases programs that provide relevant training to support healthcare staff.

12.01.2022 ‘Why a fully funded NDIS is good for everyone’ Opinion piece by a woman with disability who was supported by the NDIS to improve her physical and mental health and start working full-time. Discusses the improvements in quality of life pre and post-NDIS. https://www.abc.net.au//why-a-fully-funded-ndis-/100156310

11.01.2022 Welfare groups say cuts to coronavirus supplements are having ‘corrosive’ impact on mental health At a senate hearing on the coronavirus income support supplement, welfare groups have raised concerns that further cuts to supplement rates slated for December and March will significantly impact the mental health of people receiving income support and push more people into poverty. AASW supports ACOSS’ Raise the Rate for Good campaign and will continue to advocate for income support payment levels that keep people out of poverty.

11.01.2022 We cant ignore mental illness prevention in a COVID-19 world Theres good evidence we can prevent many cases of depression, anxiety and substance abuse. But Australia doesnt have a mental health prevention plan or policy, and government funding for prevention is just 1% of the total mental health budget..

11.01.2022 Warnings over second wave of domestic violence as financial coronavirus support winds down. Women's legal experts have forecast a surge in demand for domestic violence services when financial coronavirus support is wound down. A Senate inquiry into the federal pandemic support has heard grave warnings about the impending reduction in wage subsidies and unemployment payments. Women's Legal Services Australia's Helen Matthews raised concerns about capacity to meet needs in coming months and years.

09.01.2022 After COVID, well need a rethink to repair Australias housing system and the economy. The NSW productivity commission has released a report which found that [higher] housing costs [] impose broader economic costs. The economic experiment of winding back JobKeeper and JobSeeker will have implications on housing security. Policymakers must be responsive to the need for more social housing and a more affordable housing market. The AASW has put in a submission to the COVID-19 inquiry and will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on our members and vulnerable people in Australia.

09.01.2022 Sri Lankan refugee detained by Australia for 11 years despite government ruling hes owed protection A refugee who fled a brutal civil war in his homeland and who Australia has agreed it must protect, has been held in immigration detention for more than 11 years, caught in an arcane legal limbo and potentially facing a limitless incarceration. Alex a pseudonym has no criminal convictions and faces no charges. But he is one of the longest detained people in Australias immigration detention system. He has not seen his family in more than a decade and has never met his son, who is now 10 years old.

09.01.2022 A mentally healthy workforce - the key to coping with COVID-19 The National Mental Health Commission is encouraging businesses and workplaces across Australia to adopt new Mentally Healthy Workplace guides to support the mental health and wellbeing of Australian workers and businesses during, and after, COVID-19. The Commission is a founding member of the Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance, a group of 15 organisations from business, union, community, government and mental h...ealth sectors who have worked together along with Ahead for Business to produce national evidence-based and easy-to-use information for employers. Making workplaces mentally safe is equal to making workplaces physically safe. All workplaces can take simple steps to look after their people’s mental health during COVID-19, Lucy Brogden AM, Chair of the Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance said.

09.01.2022 Three-quarters of temporary migrants reporting domestic violence during coronavirus lockdown fear for their lives. Three-quarters of temporary migrants seeking support for domestic and family violence during the coronavirus pandemic have said they feared for their lives, service provider case files reveal, as advocates warn of an influx of calls for help. It comes amid ongoing concerns temporary migrants are particularly vulnerable to violence during this time due to an inabi...lity to access the governments JobKeeper and JobSeeker financial support programs. People need to feel safe to get help for family violence regardless of their visa status and the AASW calls on government to include temporary migrants in COVID income measures, and provide certainty that if they report violence that their immigration status does not need to be taken into account.

09.01.2022 Winding back JobKeeper and JobSeeker will push 740,000 Australians into poverty. ANU calculations have found that JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments have prevented 2.2 million Australians from entering poverty. However, from the end of September both payments will be cut. Estimates indicate that this cut will push approximately 740,000 Australians into poverty. A permanent increase of the JobSeeker rate would be an essential part of the solution. The AASW has emphasised the harm of winding back JobKeeper and Seekers in our submission to COVID-19. We continuously work with ACOSS in this matter.

09.01.2022 Youre just in a world of pain: Meet the people tackling mens mental health in the bush. Recent studies have shown that the rate of suicide in regional and rural areas is 55% higher than it is in capital cities. Young men between the ages of 15 and 24 are particularly at risk. Hazel Dalton, a researcher at the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health (CRRMH) in Orange, NSW, said that many contributors come together to put someone in a position where they would contemplate it.

08.01.2022 Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87992474506

07.01.2022 Linda Reynolds concedes Coalition’s proposed NDIS changes don’t have parliamentary support The Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Linda Reynolds) has conceded the government does not have parliamentary support for its controversial plan to introduce independent assessments to the national disability insurance scheme. AASW continues to advocate for the government to withdraw its Independent Assessment proposal.... https://www.theguardian.com//linda-reynolds-concedes-coali

06.01.2022 Australia's migrant support services buckling under pressure during coronavirus A survey by the UNSW Social Policy Research Centre found that 90% of migrant/multicultural services are experiencing an increase in people seeking support due to covid-19. It also found that of those working with First peoples and in social/legal advocacy also experienced an increase in service demand. ACOSS are calling for a continuation of Jobkeeper for staff retention as community organisations are under increasing financial pressure. They also advocate for the renewal of the Equal Remuneration Order supplementation, to promote equal pay in the sector. The AASW submissions to both the federal & QLD government highlight the need to strengthen supports for migrants in this pandemic. We will continue to work with ACOSS and QCOSS.

05.01.2022 Girringun Aboriginal rangers conduct first women-only controlled burn to protect mahogany glider The Girringun Aboriginal Corporation recently conducted its first ever controlled burn with only female rangers. It was to give the women the opportunity to lead in the traditionally male-dominated field of fire management. The burns are helping manage woodlands that are home to the endangered mahogany glider which is only found in north Queensland.

05.01.2022 As their families bear the brunt of global warming, these students have joined the fight for climate action. A new generation of students is joining the fight against global warming after witnessing how family members in far-flung corners of the globe have been impacted by the ravages of climate change. Across Australia, tens of thousands of students have taken part in protests and strikes for climate action over the past 18 months. While the pandemic may have seen climate ac...tion fall away from the public view, the students believe the economic recovery from the virus gives a great opportunity to invest in a sustainable future. The AASW attended last years School Strike for Climate and supports Fridays day of action against climate change inaction.

04.01.2022 The Aboriginal flag is slowly dying': stoush over use is harming communities, inquiry told. Aboriginal health organisations have told a senate inquiry that not being able to use the Aboriginal flag symbol in their health materials has affected the wellbeing of communities and caused great anger and distress. The chief executive of the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS), Michael Graham, said the ongoing furore over the flag was dividing the community, with some sayi...ng the flag has lost its meaning and should be replaced, while others want to keep it. VAHS decided to stop using the Aboriginal flag design rather than pay a fee to the non-Indigenous-owned company that holds the exclusive licence to reproduce the flag image on clothing, physical and digital media.

03.01.2022 What to do when someone talks about suicide. When someone tells you they are contemplating suicide, it's a critical moment, says Sara Bartlett. She's the acting program manager at Everymind, a national institute dedicated to reducing mental-ill-health and suicide. "We need to take that moment really seriously. Any person's expression of intent is a serious statement that we need to act on."

03.01.2022 Defunding the police and abolishing prisons in Australia are not a radical ideas Prison abolition is about primary prevention, addressing inequalities that lead to imprisonment such as housing and health. in 2016, we knew that approximately 46% of people in Australians prisons were incarcerated for non-violent offences. Defunding the police is urgent due to high rates of racially motivated police brutality that occurs without officers facing repercussions. Racist legislation such as public drunkenness also needs to be abolished. AASW submission to the NT Department of Attorney General and Justice highlights the need for the department to invest in primary prevention programs.

02.01.2022 AASW Renews call for Social Work Registration - National Child Protection Week 2020 During National Child Protection Week, the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is calling on all Australian governments to commit to the formal registration of qualified social workers in order to protect some of the most vulnerable members of society. AASW National President Christine Craik said while the 30th year anniversary of Child Protection Week was the perfect opportunity t...Continue reading

02.01.2022 Lack of flexible work is keeping Australian women at home Women have been hardest hit by the covid-19 recession, with employment for women falling 5.3 per cent, compared to 3.9 per cent for men. Women are also performing most of the domestic labour/ home schooling. Advocates are calling for long-term change and more flexible working arrangements, so women dont have to choose between paid work or caring.

01.01.2022 New research finds your people in regional Australia as stressed about the future as their city counterparts but less likely to seek support. New research has found that over 50 per cent of young people living in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia are worried about their future, however when compared to their city counterparts they are less likely to seek support.* In the nationally representative survey of 1000 young people by youth mental health organisation Reac...hOut , 73 per cent of young people living in metro areas indicated they would talk to someone about their stress about the future, compared to just over 62 per cent of young people in regional, rural and remote areas. Almost half of young people living in metro areas said they would go online for support, compared to 40 per cent of young people living in regional, rural and remote areas.

01.01.2022 Women with disability are being turned away by family violence services in Australia Despite women with disability being more likely to experience family violence, victim survivors with disability say they are being turned away from family violence services as they are unable to meet intersecting needs.