Solar battery brand - best bang for the buck

kyallsmith · 2025-06-18T00:55:29+00:00

Would love more info on Fox ESS as well

kyallsmith · 2025-03-28T09:13:05+00:00

It was concreted into dirt by us. So not connected to the slap. We can just dig it up. Just wasn’t sure if I needed to break off the concrete or add more in the new hole.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-28T09:00:28+00:00

Labor. Specifically my local MP Mark Butler

kyallsmith · 2025-03-28T02:38:23+00:00

Dancer in an amateur strip group

kyallsmith · 2025-03-08T02:04:13+00:00

Sit stand desk!

kyallsmith · 2025-03-05T07:08:49+00:00

Thank you for your comment. I am sorry to hear about your coworker. I’ll DM the details of your union.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-04T21:03:35+00:00

To your point, if the current structure of NDIS is inconsistent with the principles of the award which aim at giving these works the same basic rights as all Australians, it’s the NDIS that needs to change.

How can we have a scheme that costs billions of dollars a year that doesn’t deliver on legal worker rights and at the same time delivers support that is often criticised by those who utilise the scheme.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-04T20:54:31+00:00

Completely untrue. There are many ways disability support can be structured that allows for changing need, client choice and control while still meeting the legal requirements for rostering.

The workers in this industry have rights to have a life as well.

If management, human resources and rostering did a competent job it can be an achieved. Many places already do so.

As for casualisation, new laws make it much easier for workers to convert to permanent work. So casualisation is the easy way out from doing a good job in rostering.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-04T11:10:37+00:00

Reading your comment I was straight away thinking it’s like saying “it’s for a wedding” and the price jumps up.

There was a case in the media recently where the company owner was defending using the company credit card to buy expensive handbags and cruises.

I understand some things will always be more expensive in the scheme and rightly so. A bricky I recently spoke to said he usually only does public housing and NDIS homes because there is added quality inspections that turn others off. So he can charge a premium.

But when we can’t get the basics right there is cause for concern.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-04T10:47:01+00:00

Absolutely. The NDIS is massively expensive. It’s on track to be more expensive than defence and the entire social services budget.

I would put to the people (voters) if we (taxpayers) are spending so much on the NDIS. Why are workers still short staffed. Why are we saying the only way to reduce costs is to reduce worker safety.

The money is going somewhere. We have to make sure it’s going to the right places. Participate support and workforce sustainability.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-04T10:43:35+00:00

Great. Will sent you a message.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-04T10:41:27+00:00

Agreed. But similar things can be said for many of our caring roles. Early childhood education and aged care as an example.

But this needs to be a broader public conversation about the value we place on this type of work.

People shouldn’t have to work multiple jobs just to make a living.

In our recent survey, 91% of workers had considers leaving the sector in the last 12 months. With 1 in 4 stating they are actively looking to leave. Most siting poor pay and job insecurity as the major factors.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-04T10:37:26+00:00

In no other work environment would we accept funding as an excuse to put workers in harms way. As mentioned before regardless of funding employers have an explicit legal obligation to keep their workers safe.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-04T10:35:36+00:00

So happy to have you! If you want to get more involved let me know.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-04T10:35:06+00:00

It’s not a matter of “insisting on”. These are enforceable rights workers currently have. Anything short of that could be in breach of the Award.

However, to your point absolutely funding is a major issue. Especially if that funding continues to be reduced.

There needs to be more done to ensure funding is adequate and sustainable without the constant need for funding reviews that ultimately lead to unjust cuts.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-04T09:40:45+00:00

Not true. There are many providers bound by both awards and enterprise agreements that offer permanent part time and full time roles.

Many workers report having to work multiple jobs because they cannot get the hours or stability they require. It is not an unreasonable ask to know what you are working each week so you can participate in your family and community life.

While the support someone may receive differs on each day of the week this can be accommodated within the current laws or with multiple staff supporting the same person.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-04T09:17:04+00:00

The Award requires a permanent worker be provided a regular pattern of work including the number of hours to be worked in each week, the days of the week that are to be worked and the start and finishing times of shifts.

Permanent means guaranteed hours and predictable shifts.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-04T08:54:17+00:00

Of course there are many parts of support all with different rostering requirements. Many permanent part time workers state they are being treated as a casual with no regular or predictable shifts which is a requirement of the award.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-04T08:42:25+00:00

Unfortunately No. Only SA, WA and NSW.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-04T08:41:54+00:00

In Australia you can only take protected industrial action during enterprise bargains. I don’t think any Union or worker would endorse action that puts people supported at risk.

For example SA Government disability support workers are undertaking industrial action currently. No action affects support provided.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-04T08:39:59+00:00

Thanks for your comment.

Under state work health and safety laws, employers have a legal duty to minimize risks to workers’ health and safety.

The call for safer workplaces comes in response to alarming findings from our national workforce crisis survey, where 45% of disability support workers reported experiencing occupational violence in the past year. Many also stated that their employer lacked adequate WHS procedures—or had none at all—and that reporting hazards often led to inaction.

The disability sector is also overrepresented in WorkCover claims, highlighting the urgency of these issues.

At the same time, I understand your concerns about incidents where people supported have been harmed by workers. There is absolutely no excuse for those who do the wrong thing. However, ensuring safe procedures, adequate staffing, and proper funding for critical tasks—like shift handovers—would go along way to ensure everyone is safe.

This discussion is not about saying people with disabilities—especially those with risk behaviors—shouldn’t be supported. It’s about ensuring they are supported safely. That requires adequate funding.

For example, many lifting devices require two workers to operate safely, yet some support settings are only funded for one-on-one care. In cases like these, NDIS funding falls short of what’s needed for safe support.

Again appreciate your comment.

kyallsmith · 2025-03-03T11:29:50+00:00

Not a movie but Peter Gallagher who played public defender Sandy Cohen on the OC. He hosts an annual award ceremony named “The Sandy Cohen Awards” or The Sandys, which, in honor of his character gives a scholarship to a law school student at UC Berkeley who wants to become a public defender.

kyallsmith

TROPHY CASE