Reminder: Are you a CEO, senior manager, executive, or decision maker for an NDIS registered organisation? You must have a Disability Worker Screening clearance.

Nationally consistent disability worker screening was introduced in Queensland to improve the safety and quality of services and supports delivered to people living with disability.  

Why do I as a senior manager, executive or decision maker of an NDIS Registered organisation require a clearance?

All workers in risk-assessed roles in an NDIS organisation must have a disability worker screening clearance. A risk-assessed role is one that involves the direct delivery of supports or services to people with disability, and is likely to have more than incidental contact with people with disability as a normal part of regular duties.

This definition includes key personnel. If you have authority, responsibility for or significant influence over planning, directing or controlling the activities of participants or the entity – you are considered key personnel and must hold a clearance. This definition includes executives, senior management, members of the board or any other decision-making position of an NDIS registered organisation.

The ‘no card, no start’ approach means that if you are key personnel at an NDIS registered organisation who does not hold a clearance, you must immediately cease working until you are issued a clearance. Penalties may apply for non-compliance.

The quickest and easiest way to apply for a disability worker screening clearance is through the worker screening portal. Further information is also available in our resources section on the website.  You can find the definition of key personnel in section 11A of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013.

Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund Now Open

Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) has recently opened the latest round of the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund (QRRRF) for applications. The application period is open between 18 September 2023 to 20 December 2023.

The QRRRF objective is to deliver projects that make Queensland communities and infrastructure more resilient to disaster by:

1. reducing the risk and limiting the impact of disasters associated with natural hazards

2. improving understanding of disaster risk and disaster risk planning.

The funding is open to all local government authorities, state government agencies and non-government/not for profit organisations. In total, $13.1 million will be made available in 2023-24 comprising a combination of Commonwealth and Queensland Government funding to actively reduce the risk of natural hazards and strengthen disaster resilience across all of Queensland.

Eligible applicants are encouraged to review the funding guidelines and application form, which are now available from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority website.

$1.7 million on offer to support and enhance Queensland’s multiculturalism

The Queensland Government is calling for applications for the latest round of the Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program’s project funding.

Community groups, not-for-profit organisations, sporting clubs, youth groups, P&C associations and multicultural organisations from across Queensland are encouraged to apply for their share in $1.7 million in funding as the latest round of the Celebrating Multicultural Queensland (CMQ) program’s project funding round opens.

Grants can be used for a range of projects to be delivered from 1 July 2024 that will build social connection and cohesion in communities across Queensland.

Two categories of funding are available:

• up to $50,000 for projects which focus on supporting economic and social participation of Queenslanders from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
• up to $120,000 for projects which break down barriers for young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds aged 12 to 25.

Past CMQ funding recipients have helped to give people skills for future employment, assisted in starting up small businesses, and supported young people to lead and deliver activities to build confidence and networks and improve their sense of belonging in the community.

Applications can be submitted online at https://maq.smartygrants.com.au/ until midnight, 12 November 2023 (AEST).

For more information, please visit www.des.qld.gov.au/cmq-program.

Accessible Tourism Elevate Fund now open

The $5 million Accessible Tourism Elevate Fund is an initiative under of the 2023 Year of Accessible Tourism, which aims to support Queensland’s tourism industry to enhance accessible tourism experiences.

The Fund provides two grants for eligible applicants to apply for what they need, depending on where they are in their accessibility journey.

Eligible Queensland tourism and events businesses and not-for-profit organisations, local governments and regional and local tourism organisations will have the opportunity to apply.

The Access Starter Grants may provide $5,000 in funding to eligible applicants at the start of their journey to get the basics right through improvements like access audits and development of accessibility plans and statements.

The Access Project Grants may provide funding of between $50,000 and $250,000 to eligible applicants who have already identified accessibility improvements and are ready to implement best practice accessibility projects. These projects will need to be co-designed with people with disability and deliver tangible, high-impact accessibility improvements.

Projects should also align with Queensland’s Disability Plan and Towards Tourism 2032.

Eligible applicants may apply for both the Access Project Grant and the Access Starter Grant, however it must be for different projects.

Key dates

Guidelines available - 12 October 2023

Applications open - 26 October 2023

Please note these dates are indicative only and may be subject to change.

For more information (including application end dates), email the Tourism Division team at GrowingTI@dtis.qld.gov.au or visit the DTIS website to learn more about the Accessible Tourism Toolkit.

National Autism Strategy Community Engagement Toolkit

The Australian Government Department of Social Services has developed a toolkit for stakeholders and government departments to promote community engagement that will shape the National Autism Strategy.

Stakeholders are encouraged to:

• tell members and communities you work with about the consultation process - they can use the key messages to help with this
• feature the consultation process in their next newsletter or on their website
• share posts and animations on social media
• download and share or print and display factsheets and community flyers
• spread the word about community forums in locations where events are being held.

The toolkit can be used from now until October 2023.

Anyone can call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) for health advice and information, or you can visit the QLD Government health and wellbeing COVID-19 website.

If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, immediately call 000 and ask for an ambulance.

If you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450.

To read about COVID-19 symptoms compared to cold or flu symptoms visit Queensland Health’s website.