Australian Academy of Management & Science International student introduction to disability
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CHC30408 Certificate III in Disability and/or CHC50108 Diploma of Disability
What can expect to learn when I enrol?
Once enrolled in one of the above courses student engage in studies and practical experiences that
will qualify them to join and work effectively in the disability industry and community service
sector in Australia.
The Australian government in cooperation with Disability support providers has developed a
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). NDIS is a new way of providing individualised
support for eligible people with permanent or significant disability, their families and carers and
involves reasonable and necessary supports, information, referral, and connecting with mainstream
services and community based activities. The NDIS was introduced on the 01 July 2013 and is
introduced across the Australian states and territories in stages. For more information on the NDIS
please go to www.ndis.gov.au.
Ten-point Plan for implementation of National Disability Insurance Scheme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seKGBCY89a4
Disability in Australia
Disability is part of human diversity. One in five Australians has one or more disabilities. This
proportion is increasing with the ageing of the population.
In Australia, the rights of people with disability are protected within the legal system and are
legislated in a number of legislations, laws and national standards that protect them. For example:
The National Standards for Disability Services 2013:
Standard 1: Service Access
Standard 2: Individual Needs
Standard 3: Decision making and choice
Standard 4: Privacy, Dignity and Confidentiality
Standard 5: Participation and Integration
Standard 6: Valued Status
Standard 7: Complaints and Disputes
Standard 8: Service Management
Standard 9: Employment Conditions
Standard 10: Training and Support
Standard 11: Staff Recruitment, Employment and Training
Standard 12: Protection Human Rights and Freedom from Abuse
The Disability Discrimination Act (1992) defines disability as:
Total or partial loss of a person’s bodily or mental functions
Total or partial loss of a part of the body
The presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness
The malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of a person’s body
A disorder or malfunction that results in a person learning differently from a person without
the disorder or malfunction
A disorder, illness or disease that affects a persons’ thought processes, perception of reality,
emotions or judgement, or that results in disturbed behaviour.
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Other legislations that are relevant to working in the disability and community service industry
and you will learn more about during your studies are:
Community Services (Complaints, Reviews and Monitoring) Act 1993 No 2
Community Welfare Act 1987 No 52
Child Protection (Offenders Prohibition Orders) Act 2004 No 46
Child Protection (Offenders Registration) Amendment Act 2007 No 87
Child Welfare (Commonwealth Agreement Ratification) Act 1962 No 28
Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 No 157
Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Amendment (Permanency Planning) Act
2001 No 91
Children and Young Persons Legislation (Repeal and Amendment) Act 1998 No 158
Children (Care and Protection) Act 1987 No 54
Children (Community Service Orders) Act 1987 No 56
Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 No 55
Children (Detention Centres) Act 1987 No 57
Children (Interstate Transfer of Offenders) Act 1988 No 85
Children (Protection and Parental Responsibility) Act 1997 No 78
Children’s Court Act 1987 No 53
Disability Services Act 1993 No 3
Aboriginal Housing Act 1998 No 47
Housing Amendment (Community Housing Providers) Act 2007 No 48
Young Offenders Act 1997 No 54
Youth and Community Services Act 1973 No 90
Out of the many people who currently have a disability some were born with disability. Others may
have spent much of their lives without disability and acquired their disability through for example a
workplace incident or a car accident, or may have acquired a disability as they age.
83.9% Physical Disability
11.3% Mental illness
4.8% Intellectual/Developmental Disability
A disability may be:
Visible OR Hidden
Permanent OR Temporary
Minimal impact OR Substantial impact
on a person’s abilities, and affect:
Mobility
Ability to learn
Ability to communicate
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There are many different types of disability. A disability can be the result of an accident, a genetic
condition, an illness or an accident, and includes:
Acquired brain injury (ABI), i.e. Impaired Cognition, Impaired Speech
Developmental disability, i.e. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Auditory Processing
Difficulty
Dual disability, i.e. Impaired Cognition and Behaviours of Concern
Intellectual disability, i.e. Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy
Mental illness/problem, i.e. Eating Disorder, Schizophrenia
Neurological impairment, i.e. Alzheimer’s Disease, Tourette Syndrome
Physical disability, i.e. Amputation, Arthritis
Sensory disability, i.e. Vision Impairment, Hearing Impairment
Any combination of these
Who are people with disability?
You will find people with disability in every part or section of our community:
Men
Women
Children
Employers
Employees
Students
Teachers
Indigenous
Non-Indigenous
Customers
Citizens
What distinguishes a person with disability from those without disability is that they may be unable
to do certain things in the same way people without disability do them without some form of
adaptation or alteration that will assist and support them to overcome the effects of disability.
No two people with the same disability experience disability in the same way.
How to work with people with disability
Therefore, treatment, assistance and support vary from person to person. Some disabilities can be
effectively treated others will affect a persons’ life permanently.
Despite increased community awareness many myths, misunderstandings, negative stereotypes
and attitudes continue to surround people living with a disability. These prejudices and sigma
discriminate and isolate people living with a disability, their families and carers, despite
legislations implemented to change public attitudes and misconceptions. The changes brought
about by the implementation of the NDIS, will encourage greater inclusion and access to
mainstream services, community activities and other government initiatives and allow those
working to support and assist people with disability to work with greater effectiveness.
Working With Disability
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GptdXjYnFOQ
Supporting People With Disabilities
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSpkJNPtdys
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Where can I expect to be employed?
Students once deemed qualified may work in a range of disability services in a range of settings,
under direct supervision or responsible for the coordination, management and management of
agencies delivering services to people with disability.
Work carried out within the disability and community service industry includes activities of the
following nature:
Maintain personal care and/or activities of living
Activities related to individualised plans
Working with local communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI)
groups
Engaging and maintaining networks with relevant stakeholders
Coordinating and managing agencies delivering services to people with disability
Supervise staff and/or volunteers
Possible vocational outcomes depending on the qualification you aim to achieve are:
Accommodation support worker In-home respite care worker
Assessor Local area coordinator
Care assistant Local support coordinator
Case coordinator Manager
Case manager Nursing assistant
Client assistant Program/service coordinator
Client service assessor Personal care assistant
Community access coordinator Personal care giver
Community care worker Personal care worker
Community house worker Residential aide
Community support worker Residential care officer
Coordinator Residential care support worker
Disability support officer Senior disability worker
Disability support worker Support facilitator
Disability service office Support worker
Family support worker School support officer (working with
children with disabilities) Home care assistant
Disability Services Australia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew10n2SYj30
Introduction to Disability Care Australia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwGGso24PyM
References:
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2003, Disability, Ageing and Carers: Summary of Findings,
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.
https://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/sp/quality/standards_in_action
http://www.dfc.sa.gov.au/pub/tabId/265/itemId/636/moduleId/986/AZ-disability-resources.aspx
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-pubs-w-whatmen-
toc~mental-pubs-w-whatmen-help
http://www.ndis.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Handout_Disability_Service_Standard
s_2013.pdf