WeCare Major Announcement: Successful Accreditation as an NDIS Provider – Understanding NDIS and Its Benefits

We are thrilled to announce that on Monday, April 8th, WeCare successfully registered as a service provider with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)! 

This milestone allows us to operate as a government-approved entity, providing comprehensive home care services for clients starting from age 1. Our offerings include advanced and complex care such as tracheostomy and ventilator care, subcutaneous injection training and care, complex wound dressing, severe dysphagia care, various catheter care, and complex bowel care. As a licensed home care service provider in Australia, WeCare is dedicated to delivering professional, comprehensive, and well-managed care services. 

By gaining NDIS accreditation, we now have the opportunity to serve a broader age range and more people in need. This not only recognizes WeCare’s capability to deliver high-quality services but also affirms our commitment to social responsibility. 

Becoming an NDIS provider marks WeCare’s step onto a larger platform in the care service industry. This not only provides us with more service opportunities but also enables us to support and assist those facing various challenges in life more effectively. We look forward to bringing more convenience and support to those in need, helping them enjoy a higher quality of life. 

WeCare will continue to uphold our mission and values, enhancing service quality and expanding our offerings to give back to the community and bring hope and change to many more lives. We believe that through our collective efforts and unwavering dedication, we can create more happiness and satisfaction for Australia’s disabled population and their families. 

 

Introduction – What is NDIS? 

 

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), launched by the Australian government in 2013, is a crucial social welfare program designed to provide personalized and ongoing support for Australians with disabilities. This scheme represents a fundamental shift in support for the disabled, moving from a funding provision model to one that offers continual support, ensuring they receive the necessary services. 

NDIS emphasizes individual needs and promotes the social and valuable roles of disabled persons, aiming to provide a dignified way of life. Managed by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), the scheme aids disabled persons in achieving a better quality of life and greater independence. 

The Australian government’s investment in NDIS highlights its commitment to this initiative. For example, in the fiscal year 2021-2022, the federal government allocated over AUD 22 billion to the NDIS, with expected increases in the coming years. This substantial investment ensures the scheme can meet growing service demands and reflects the government’s resolve to improve the living conditions of the disabled. 

NDIS aims to provide more equitable, accessible, and efficient support services to all disabled persons, enabling them to participate equally in society, realize their potential, and lead dignified, meaningful lives. 

 

How NDIS Helps 

 

NDIS provides support and services to Australian residents under 65 who experience permanent or significant disability, aiming to enhance their daily living and quality of life. This includes speech therapy, assistance with purchasing necessary and reasonable equipment, and fostering independent living skills. For children aged 0-6 with developmental delays or disabilities, NDIS offers early childhood early intervention services to support their development. 

NDIS tailors funding to meet the specific needs of eligible individuals, ensuring those with permanent and significant disabilities receive necessary support. Each participant receives a personalized plan detailing their goals and funding, which they can use to purchase services that help achieve their objectives. 

Participants have complete control over the assistance they receive, including when, where, and by whom it is provided. It is important to note that NDIS does not cover services that fall under other government or community service responsibilities or services unrelated to personal disabilities. Each service plan is customized to help participants achieve their personal goals, including daily living, accommodation, personal hygiene, social activities, and community involvement. The funding may also cover equipment, nutritional support, medical services, physiotherapy, and personal health promotion. 

 

NDIS Application Requirements 

To receive NDIS support, applicants must meet the following four criteria: 

  1. Lifetime Disability: Applicants must have a severe disability that significantly impacts their daily activities. This disability must be permanent and significantly affect their lives.
  2. Residency Status: Applicants must be Australian citizens, hold a permanent resident visa, or be protected special category visa holders. This ensures that NDIS resources are allocated to legitimate residents of Australia.
  3. Age Requirement: Applicants must be under 65 at the time of application, focusing NDIS support on the working-age disabled population.
  4. Disability or Early Intervention Requirements: Applicants must meet specific severity and permanence standards for disabilities or require timely early intervention for developmental delays to enhance their capabilities or reduce future needs for broader support.

For any questions about NDIS or for free consultation and application assistance, please call WeCare at: 02 72522330. 

 

WeCare—Taking Another Step Forward 

Similar to home care packages, NDIS provides funds based on individual needs, without set levels, ranging from thousands to millions of Australian dollars. As Sydney’s most caring Chinese home care company, WeCare has amassed extensive resources and experience in the industry. We have our own caregiver training system and employment guidance, ensuring that every caregiver can provide professional, high-quality services. Our experience extends beyond elderly clients to include those disabled individuals who are ineligible for NDIS funding due to age. This experience allows us to deeply understand and precisely meet our clients’ needs. 

With WeCare now registered as an NDIS service provider, we are confident in applying our high-quality caregiving services and extensive case experience to the NDIS sector. Our goal is to deliver the ultimate service experience to NDIS participants, whether they need daily living support or specialized nursing services. WeCare is committed to meeting their needs and enhancing their quality of life. 

WeCare will continue to leverage our expertise in home care services, providing personalized, meticulous services to create a better and more dignified life for more NDIS participants and others in need. We believe that through our efforts, WeCare Care Group can bring tangible changes and assistance to the lives of Australia’s disabled and elderly populations. 

NSW Seniors Festival Kicks Off with a Host of Celebratory Activities by WeCare

WeCare Event: NSW Seniors Festival Kicks Off with a Host of Celebratory Activities by WeCare 

 

Introduction 

Australia, known worldwide for its high welfare standards, provides a wealth of activities and festivals for various groups, especially seniors. The Australian government understands that “caring for the elderly and children is fundamental to assessing a nation’s welfare level.” Therefore, they have established generous elderly care policies and provide multiple care options and benefits to ensure every citizen receives the care and support they deserve. 

In addition to government efforts, organizations and societies across Australia actively engage in numerous activities aimed at enriching the spiritual lives of the elderly, helping them integrate into local society, learn about Australian culture, and make new friends. Among these activities, the NSW Seniors Festival, led by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, stands out as one of the most grandiose and significant elderly events held annually in the Southern Hemisphere. 

 

NSW Seniors Festival 

The NSW Seniors Festival is designed to express gratitude for the contributions seniors make to the community and is a large-scale event tailored for them. Attracting nearly half a million participants each year, the festival hosts hundreds of activities, including art classes, fitness activities, live music festivals, and exhibitions. These events are mostly free or low-cost and offer both face-to-face interactions and convenient online options, ensuring even those living in care facilities or at home can participate in this grand celebration and enjoy a joyful and warm time. 

 

2024 NSW Seniors Festival 

The festival not only offers a platform to enjoy star performances, music, and comedy but also serves as an excellent opportunity to learn new skills, promote health, and discover new products and services for elderly care, enhancing the quality of life for seniors. Additionally, it is the perfect occasion for making new friends, allowing seniors to meet like-minded peers during the festivities and enjoy a rich array of entertainment provided by the government. 

 

The 2024 NSW Seniors Festival is set to commence on March 11th and will continue until March 24th. This 14-day event promises endless fun and is anticipated to be highlighted by music festivals, expos, and comedy shows. These major events will not only provide spectacular performances for the seniors but also offer perfect opportunities to relax and enjoy, ensuring every participant finds joy and satisfaction during this special festival. 

 

Beyond the Major Events 

Apart from the three main attractions, the NSW Seniors Festival has prepared many creative projects. These include tours of produce wholesale markets to increase understanding of healthy eating, Tai Chi classes that offer both physical exercise and wellness benefits, nature trips to Hunter Wetlands to breathe fresh air and enjoy the tranquility of nature, and gatherings in North Sydney that strengthen family bonds and promote intergenerational communication. 

 

WeCare’s Participation 

As a government-recognized home care provider and a valuable partner in community-beneficial initiatives, WeCare has organized a series of activities, including safety knowledge seminars and caregiver benefits workshops, aimed at providing more experiential benefits for our seniors and increasing their face-to-face interactions with the government. 

 

In anticipation of the upcoming Seniors Festival, WeCare has specially planned the “Power of a Positive Mindset” theme event for the festival. This activity is designed to help seniors adjust their attitudes through gratitude exercises and self-dialogue techniques, guiding them out of loneliness and actively embracing social life, thus significantly improving their quality of life. Our instructors will lead seniors in soul-searching and growth, helping them release stress and engage in deep self-reflection. 

 

To ensure participants feel welcomed and cared for, the event will offer morning tea in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, along with surprise gifts distributed through a raffle. After the seminar, we will provide a sumptuous lunch and other entertainment activities, ensuring a memorable and pleasant experience for every attendee. 

 

Conclusion 

WeCare is committed to providing more meaningful and enjoyable activities to enrich the golden years of seniors in Australia. Through these events, we hope to maximize their understanding and enjoyment of their entitled benefits, making their lives more colorful and fulfilling. Moving forward, WeCare will continue to explore and innovate, bringing more exciting activities and services to the elderly, enhancing their quality of life during their later years. 

From 1st July ,Aged Care worker 15% pay increase

According to Budget 2023–⁠24: Delivering the largest ever pay rise to aged care workers across Australia.

The Government recognizes the complex and previously undervalued work of the aged care workforce which is why the government are investing $11.3 billion to fund the Fair Work Commission’s interim decision for a 15% pay increase.

This is the largest ever pay increase for aged care workers. It signifies real progress towards genuinely valuing their dedication and skill and will help aged care providers attract and retain staff.

This is a key part of our plan to create more opportunities for more Australians by investing in health and aged care.

Registered nurses, enrolled nurses, assistants in nursing, personal care workers, head chefs and cooks, recreational activities officers (lifestyle workers) and home care workers will see a an historic increase to their award wages.

WeCare Wellness will increase our aged care workers wage according to government’s rate . 

More details please check on : https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-anika-wells-mp/media/albanese-governments-second-budget-to-deliver-fairer-wages-for-aged-care-workers

Important changes to HCP budget from 1st July 2023

From 1 July, the Australian Government subsidy will increase by 11.9%. The following table shows you the dollar impact of the 11.9% increase on the current daily government subsidy rates.

Package Level

Daily government subsidy rate before 1st July 2023

Daily government subsidy rate from 1st July 2023

Annual government subsidy rate before 1st July 2023

Annual government subsidy rate from 1 July 2023

Level 1 $25.15 $28.14 $9,179.75 $10,271.10
Level 2 $44.24 $49.49 $16,147.60 $18,063.85 
Level 3 $96.27 $107.70 $35,138.55 $39,310.50
Level 4 $145.94 $163.27 $53,268.10 $59,593.55

More details on https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/news-and-updates/important-changes-your-home-care-package-budget#what-are-the-changes

WeCare New Office is grantly opened in Hurstville !

WeCare Wellness’s new office is located in Hurstville is grandly opened on 12th March 2023. Welcome to visit us!  WeCare is aiming to provide customers with integrity, professional, quality service. We sincerely thank all the cooperative organizations for their understanding, communication, cooperation and support during the past year. We would like to thank every member of WeCare for their hard work, dedication and professionalism. It is you who accompany the company to grow all the way. The WeCare family, which has a large team of friendly people, has become a success. With the development of the company’s business, we hope that we can send this sincere care to all the elders in need of care. WeCare Wellness, WeCare ,We Care ! We welcome more partners and professionals to join our WeCare family.

 

The Australian Government have made changes to the NDIS Act

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Participant Service Guarantee and other measures) Act 2022 is here to help make the NDIS process easier for participants and their families.

What will these changes mean for my NDIS plan?

The changes to the NDIS Act should reduce the red tape, increase flexibility and set clear decision timeframes for participants.

When do these changes start?

From Friday, 1 July 2022.

Here is a summary of the changes:

  • Changes to what we call plan reviews. They will now be called “plan reassessments.”
  • In some situations, when a participant asks for a change to their plan, the NDIA may make the changes without replacing the plan with a new one. This will be called a plan variation. Hopefully this makes the process of changing a plan easier, especially when a participant’s situation changes.
  • The Participant Service Guarantee will set timeframes for the NDIA to make decisions- for example the NDIA have 21 days to respond to a request for plan variation or reassessment.
  • Updates to the Act to make sure conditions (like psychosocial disability) are recognised as episodic or fluctuating while considering permanent disabilities when first accessing the NDIS.
  • To maintain participant’s rights to make decisions the NDIA can remove plan nominees if they are no longer legal guardians or no longer have the power to make decisions on the participant’s behalf.
  • Greater representation of disability at the NDIA by considering people with disability or lived experience of disability as NDIA board members and appointing a Principle Member to the Independent Advisory Council.  
  • More transparency about the operations of the NDIA Board.

Remember, the NDIA cannot change your plan without talking with you first. The changes to the NDIA Act have been put in place to make the NDIS a smoother, more transparent and participant focused scheme.

The NDIA have released information about the changes to the NDIS laws here: https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/7975-2022-ndis-legislation-amendments-july-update#summary

Reforming in-home aged care

The Australian Government is returning to the timeframe put forward by the Royal Commission to deliver a reformed and improved in-home aged care program by 1 July 2024.  This represents an extension from July 2023.

No one will lose any in-home aged care services they currently have in place through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme or the Home Care Packages Program.

We will develop a better in-home aged care system in consultation with older Australians and community stakeholders.

Where we’re up to

We recognise the importance of listening to aged care stakeholders. Feedback from older Australians and service providers on the previous government’s Support at Home proposal indicated that the model was too inflexible for the needs of older Australians. People told us that they need a greater ability to adjust services when their circumstances change. A number of service providers also raised concerns the proposed funding model could have unintended consequences, particularly for group-based aged care services, like community transport and social support.  

The Department will use the extra time now available to work with older Australians, their families and carers, workers, advocates and providers to ensure reforms achieve a better in-home aged care system.  Older Australians will be central to this consultation and the Department will release more information in the near future on how older Australians can participate.

The Government will also be making improvements to in-home aged care for older Australians while the design of a new program progresses. This includes capping administration and management charges under the Home Care Packages Program and improving access to Goods, Equipment and Assistive Technology.

More details on

https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/aged-care/aged-care-reforms-and-reviews/reforming-in-home-aged-care

Information for older Australians on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Older people are at greater risk of more serious illness if they get COVID-19. If you – or someone you care for – need help, there is support available. The COVID-19 page on this website lists a range of important resources to guide you through this difficult time.

More details on

https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/news-and-updates/information-older-australians-coronavirus-covid-19