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People with disability remain trapped in Queensland hospitals while Canberra and Brisbane fight over who should get them out.

Queensland and Canberra have found a fight both think they can win. People with disability are trapped in the middle.

Queensland Health yesterday published statistics showing more than 1,400 people remain in public hospitals despite being ready to leave. About 300 of these are younger patients waiting for disability support.

Some have waited more than 700 days. One has waited more than 1,000.

Queensland insists aged care and the NDIS are Commonwealth responsibilities. Canberra blames Brisbane (and the other states) for rejecting a ring-fenced $2 billion response, choosing to put money into hospitals instead.

Both accounts are (partially) true, but neither gets anyone home. Politicians on both sides think they can ‘win’.

So who ‘loses’? People with Disability, without support or housing. Or a government prepared to accept responsibility.

“Bed block” turns real people into a hospital capacity problem.

[continued on the abilityNEWS website]

The Community and Public Sector Union is calling for a pause on automated decision-making across federal agencies until mandatory safeguards are in place. The Australian reports workers from Services Australia, Health and Disability, Veterans’ Affairs and the NDIA fear algorithms could determine access to support with little or no human intervention.

More than a third of members consulted did not know whether automation was being used in their workplace. An Information Commissioner review shows why that matters: agencies authorised to automate decisions often fail to explain when or how they use that power.

Data Watch: Four of 23 authorised agencies — 17 per cent — disclosed their use of automated decision-making in the required publication scheme.

Sources: The Australian — CPSU demands halt to automated decision-making in federal agencies; Office of the Australian Information Commissioner — Automated decision-making and public reporting

Inclusion fund: People with Disability Australia says the $200 million Inclusive Communities Fund must not replace disability supports. Its survey received 197 responses; among 140 people who answered a question about accessible activities, 81 per cent said they would still need support at least sometimes.

Source: People with Disability Australia — PWDA Submission to Consultation on the Inclusive Communities Fund

Planning survey: People with Disability Australia is seeking initial views from NDIS participants, its members and people with disability on proposed New Framework Planning and NDIS Rules. The short survey, which will shape PWDA’s government submission, is open until Sunday 27 September.

Source: People with Disability Australia — PWDA Survey on New Framework Planning and NDIS Rules

Paid focus group: People with Disability Australia is recruiting adults with disability to shape five online disability-capability modules for Australian Public Service employees. Selected participants will complete one hour of preparation and a two-hour online focus group on 22 or 29 September, with a $210 gift-card payment and access support available.

Source: People with Disability Australia — Help shape disability capability training package for Australian Public Service employees

CPSU demands halt to automated decision-making in federal agencies

The Australian reports the public-sector union wants the government to stop automated decisions until clear safeguards, transparency and human review are in place. The union points to Robodebt and a planned NDIS assessment tool; the Attorney-General’s office says a whole-of-government framework is being developed.

Source: The Australian | Paywall: Yes. Summary based on visible public preview only.

Nurses face 'near-daily' violence and assaults at Atherton hospital

The Cairns Post reports more than 10 people with dementia or NDIS support needs are in unsuitable beds at Atherton Hospital as staff face repeated assaults and faulty duress alarms. The health service says it averages 120 delayed-discharge patients, with shortages of aged-care places and supported accommodation holding up transfers.

Source: Cairns Post | Paywall: Yes. Summary based on visible public preview only.

Opinion: Selfless women’s invisible, unpaid $78bn carer economy

OPINION: In the Courier-Mail, psychologist and provider executive Kylie Henderson argues unpaid caregiving should be treated as social infrastructure. She cites Deloitte’s estimate that 2.2 billion hours of informal care are worth $77.9 billion a year, and calls for flexible work, better-integrated systems and formal recognition of carers’ economic contribution.

Source: Courier-Mail | Paywall: Yes. Summary based on visible public preview only.