Hui, Freda C. Dr.

<p>A message arrived in our inbox from the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) almost five years after embarking on a collaborative research project with the NSW Legal Aid office in Wollongong.</p><p><em>In 2012 you made a submission through the ACTU to the Independent Inquiry Into Insecure Work. Now, after a long fight for change run by unions, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has ruled that casual workers who work for twelve months on a regular pattern of hours can request to convert to permanent employment and that request cannot be unreasonably refused. This makes a difference for the thousands of casuals who want permanent work.</em></p><p><em>Your support over the years has made a difference. Make no mistake, you helped pave the way for this decision by the Fair Work Commission and it has re-opened the debate in the wider community about the need to change the rules in order to get jobs you can count on.</em></p>Our report in 2011 examined the effects of unpredictable and fluctuating pay on the recipients of income at the employment/benefit nexus. The uncertainty of insecure work increases the risk of under-declaring income and, therefore, Centrelink recipients are vulnerable to criminal prosecution for social security fraud. Insecure work has implications beyond the individual worker to both government and community. Social Security debt overpayments are not confined to one jurisdiction: Centrelink is a Commonwealth agency; it is prosecuted by another Commonwealth agency, the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions;  defendants are represented by state legal aid bodies or private solicitors or defend themselves; the costs associated with the assigned court and magistrate are of the state; those found guilty can be incarcerated in a state or privatised prison; costs of enforcing bonds lie with the local jurisdiction; and costs of counsellors and other social support agencies are often born by the Third Sector of the economy. Some ‘knock-on’ costs such as disruptions to both the housing and schooling of children in affected families and the associated emotional trauma and social stigmatisation cannot be measured, but nonetheless consume resources in terms of ancillary services.<br /><br />The Report has been quoted in a number of academic journals, submitted to independent inquiries, used in organisations submissions to Government Committees and has received media attention.<br /><br /><p></p>

<p>The launch of the report (“<a href="display/publication131233" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hard to Reach: Examining the National Disability Scheme Experience – A case Study in Wollongong</a>” in 2018) generated interest from the media and the general public such as disability advocates, people with disabilities, and disability services to attend. The authors have conducted multiple interviews which appeared in newspapers, TV  and radio. For example, Illawarra Mercury, Channel Nine News, and ABC Radio National.</p><p>Our research directly led to improved awareness and participation of  people with disabilities from low socio-economic backgrounds in the NDIS. A key recommendation of our study was to include disability advocates particularly those associated with outreach services (e.g. Uniting Care, Salvos, SVDP) in the NDIS coordination process . Importantly, the SDVP acted on the research recommendation and is now an NDIS coordinator in the region : “<em>This work has ensured that more people from lower socio-economic backgrounds with disabilities in the Illawarra have awareness of, and access to, the NDIS</em>” (Deputy Executive Officer, SDVP). <br />Following the release of the report, our research team was invited to present the findings at a national conference titled: <em>National Conference: Fixing NDIS. </em>This conference was organised by <a href="https://civilsociety.org.au/NDISConference.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia's Peak Body for Civil Society </a>and supported by disability advocacy groups such as <a href="https://www.daru.org.au/event/national-conference-reforming-ndis-revolutionising-disability-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Disability advocates</a> and the <a href="https://www.healthpromotion.org.au/events/national/268-fixing-ndis-national-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Health Promotion Association.</a> Our inclusion in the program, was direct recognition of our expertise and alignment with the conference aims of  proposing improvements to the NDIS and building public support for fundamental changes. Our research was used by advocacy groups such as the  <a href="https://www.a4.org.au/node/1884" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia </a> to further their progress towards addressing the challenges and issues related to disability support services.<br />The long term impact of this research on national policy is evident in the Queensland Productivity Commission recommendations (2021) to improve the levels of community awareness of the NDIS. The Children and Young People with Disability Australia (national peak body) incorporated the findings of this study published in a research paper to help validate their recommendations directed to improve the National Disability Strategy. Based on our research, they recommended that the Government must provide timely and appropriate information about the NDIS to different cohorts within the disability community. Advocacy groups such as the Multicultural Disability Advocacy Organisation NSW also used this research to address the challenges and issues related to disability support services. This work has been used at the National Youth Disability Summit (2020) and been included in the Australian Human Rights Commission report 2021 “Keeping kids safe & well: Your voices”.<br />Our recent submission to the Disability Royal Commission has outlined the neglect of people with disabilities who experience socio-economical disadvantages under the NDIS and the need for better communication and support for them. </p><p></p>

According to Carers Australia (2020), one third of the 861,000 Australian primary carers – those who provide the most informal support to their loved ones with mental illness – provide 40 hours or more of unpaid care per week and are predominantly womens. Despite the significant role of carers in the support and recovery of people with mental health problems, their contribution is often not recognised by government programs (NSW Government, 2020). Since 2010 the NSW Ministry of Health has acknowledged the need to support mental health carers (NSW Carer (Recognition) Act, 2010), yet little has been done to achieve sustained and comprehensive support.<br /> Our project aimed to improve the wellbeing of mental health carers. We did this by firstly investigating the social needs of mental health carers, and then evaluating the social outcomes of current programs in the Illawarra region. Working in collaboration with one of five specialist community managed organisations, One Door Mental Health (One Door), we developed a framework to demonstrate the outcomes of current programs for mental health carers in the Illawarra region.<br /> Our research demonstrated that the use of technology could improve a mental health carer’s wellbeing. A smart-device application was developed in collaboration with UOW colleagues that provided essential real-time information for carers, crucial in times of crisis. The impact of this research on improving the lives of mental health carers is echoed by the One Door Regional Manager, who wrote: <em>“</em><em>The work that you delivered has been nothing but outstanding. You have created a resource that will go on to change carers lives.”</em><p></p>

<p>A message arrived in our inbox from the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) almost five years after embarking on a collaborative research project with the NSW Legal Aid office in Wollongong.</p><p><em>In 2012 you made a submission through the ACTU to the Independent Inquiry Into Insecure Work. Now, after a long fight for change run by unions, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has ruled that casual workers who work for twelve months on a regular pattern of hours can request to convert to permanent employment and that request cannot be unreasonably refused. This makes a difference for the thousands of casuals who want permanent work.</em></p><p><em>Your support over the years has made a difference. Make no mistake, you helped pave the way for this decision by the Fair Work Commission and it has re-opened the debate in the wider community about the need to change the rules in order to get jobs you can count on.</em></p>Our report in 2011 examined the effects of unpredictable and fluctuating pay on the recipients of income at the employment/benefit nexus. The uncertainty of insecure work increases the risk of under-declaring income and, therefore, Centrelink recipients are vulnerable to criminal prosecution for social security fraud. Insecure work has implications beyond the individual worker to both government and community. Social Security debt overpayments are not confined to one jurisdiction: Centrelink is a Commonwealth agency; it is prosecuted by another Commonwealth agency, the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions;  defendants are represented by state legal aid bodies or private solicitors or defend themselves; the costs associated with the assigned court and magistrate are of the state; those found guilty can be incarcerated in a state or privatised prison; costs of enforcing bonds lie with the local jurisdiction; and costs of counsellors and other social support agencies are often born by the Third Sector of the economy. Some ‘knock-on’ costs such as disruptions to both the housing and schooling of children in affected families and the associated emotional trauma and social stigmatisation cannot be measured, but nonetheless consume resources in terms of ancillary services.<br /><br />The Report has been quoted in a number of academic journals, submitted to independent inquiries, used in organisations submissions to Government Committees and has received media attention.<br /><br /><p></p>

<p>The launch of the report (“<a href="display/publication131233" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hard to Reach: Examining the National Disability Scheme Experience – A case Study in Wollongong</a>” in 2018) generated interest from the media and the general public such as disability advocates, people with disabilities, and disability services to attend. The authors have conducted multiple interviews which appeared in newspapers, TV  and radio. For example, Illawarra Mercury, Channel Nine News, and ABC Radio National.</p><p>Our research directly led to improved awareness and participation of  people with disabilities from low socio-economic backgrounds in the NDIS. A key recommendation of our study was to include disability advocates particularly those associated with outreach services (e.g. Uniting Care, Salvos, SVDP) in the NDIS coordination process . Importantly, the SDVP acted on the research recommendation and is now an NDIS coordinator in the region : “<em>This work has ensured that more people from lower socio-economic backgrounds with disabilities in the Illawarra have awareness of, and access to, the NDIS</em>” (Deputy Executive Officer, SDVP). <br />Following the release of the report, our research team was invited to present the findings at a national conference titled: <em>National Conference: Fixing NDIS. </em>This conference was organised by <a href="https://civilsociety.org.au/NDISConference.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia's Peak Body for Civil Society </a>and supported by disability advocacy groups such as <a href="https://www.daru.org.au/event/national-conference-reforming-ndis-revolutionising-disability-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Disability advocates</a> and the <a href="https://www.healthpromotion.org.au/events/national/268-fixing-ndis-national-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Health Promotion Association.</a> Our inclusion in the program, was direct recognition of our expertise and alignment with the conference aims of  proposing improvements to the NDIS and building public support for fundamental changes. Our research was used by advocacy groups such as the  <a href="https://www.a4.org.au/node/1884" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia </a> to further their progress towards addressing the challenges and issues related to disability support services.<br />The long term impact of this research on national policy is evident in the Queensland Productivity Commission recommendations (2021) to improve the levels of community awareness of the NDIS. The Children and Young People with Disability Australia (national peak body) incorporated the findings of this study published in a research paper to help validate their recommendations directed to improve the National Disability Strategy. Based on our research, they recommended that the Government must provide timely and appropriate information about the NDIS to different cohorts within the disability community. Advocacy groups such as the Multicultural Disability Advocacy Organisation NSW also used this research to address the challenges and issues related to disability support services. This work has been used at the National Youth Disability Summit (2020) and been included in the Australian Human Rights Commission report 2021 “Keeping kids safe & well: Your voices”.<br />Our recent submission to the Disability Royal Commission has outlined the neglect of people with disabilities who experience socio-economical disadvantages under the NDIS and the need for better communication and support for them. </p><p></p>

According to Carers Australia (2020), one third of the 861,000 Australian primary carers – those who provide the most informal support to their loved ones with mental illness – provide 40 hours or more of unpaid care per week and are predominantly womens. Despite the significant role of carers in the support and recovery of people with mental health problems, their contribution is often not recognised by government programs (NSW Government, 2020). Since 2010 the NSW Ministry of Health has acknowledged the need to support mental health carers (NSW Carer (Recognition) Act, 2010), yet little has been done to achieve sustained and comprehensive support.<br /> Our project aimed to improve the wellbeing of mental health carers. We did this by firstly investigating the social needs of mental health carers, and then evaluating the social outcomes of current programs in the Illawarra region. Working in collaboration with one of five specialist community managed organisations, One Door Mental Health (One Door), we developed a framework to demonstrate the outcomes of current programs for mental health carers in the Illawarra region.<br /> Our research demonstrated that the use of technology could improve a mental health carer’s wellbeing. A smart-device application was developed in collaboration with UOW colleagues that provided essential real-time information for carers, crucial in times of crisis. The impact of this research on improving the lives of mental health carers is echoed by the One Door Regional Manager, who wrote: <em>“</em><em>The work that you delivered has been nothing but outstanding. You have created a resource that will go on to change carers lives.”</em><p></p>