Queensland Government
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

Table of contents:

Compliance update - 2004-05

As at 1 September 2005, 100% of all DSQ outlets and 98.3% of all non-DSQ outlets had lodged DS NMDS data for at least one quarter of the 2004-05 collection period. Of the total 1510 outlets participating in the 2004-05 collection, 98.8% (1492) met minimum NMDS reporting requirements. The DS NMDS Team thanks all participants in the collection for their assistance and cooperation in achieving a very high level of compliance.

A focus on quality data

Subcontracting - how to report subcontracted services

Subcontracting is a process whereby an agency contracts a third party to provide services that are in reality considered to be an extension of the original agency. The original agency retains responsibility and control by specifying the terms and conditions of service delivery. An example of subcontracting could be where an agency uses contract staff to cover a shift.

If your agency subcontracts CSTDA funded services, it is then responsible for reporting all information related to the provision of the subcontracted services, including information about the service type outlet (STO), the service users and services received by the users. Your agency may need to obtain these details from the subcontracted agency.

If your agency provides subcontracted services, you should not report these services to the DS NMDS to avoid double counting of the service users and the services they receive.

Next newsletter: Missing data

HelpLine call statistics

Requests for Help 2004-2005

July 2004 to June 2005

  • Phone: 1962
  • E-mail: 329
  • Total: 2291

Monthly average

  • Phone: 164
  • E-mail: 27
  • Total: 191

Changes to agency or service type outlet details

The DS NMDS Team has developed a new process to record changes to agency and service type outlet details. This process is designed to improve information sharing between agencies, Community Resource Officers (CROs) and the DS NMDS Team. Changes now need to be recorded on a Change of Service Outlet Details Form, which needs to be endorsed by DSQ CROs.

If there have been changes to your agency or service type outlet details, please discuss these with your CRO and make arrangements for the completion of the Change of Service Outlet Details Form.

DS NMDS data profiles - 2004

DSQ has released an informative series of DS NMDS regional profiles and a DS NMDS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queensland Service User Profile for 2003-04 that cover the data topics of service outlets, service users and services received. The data profiles are available on the DSQ website at http://www.disability.qld.gov.au/ds-nmds/data-profiles/

Diary dates

September 2005

  • Reference week: 24-30 September

October 2005

  • Deadline for first quarter data lodgement: 30 October

DS NMDS collection documentation

For the 2005-06 collection period a number of Queensland specific variations have been made to the Data Guide, Service Outlet and Service User Forms and the Data Transmission and Technical Guide. The Queensland specific collection materials are now available on the DSQ Web Site at http://www.disability.qld.gov.au/ds-nmds/publications/

The main Queensland-specific changes to collection materials include:

  • the requirement for service type 3.02 to report services received items 17a-c
  • the reporting of averages in relation to staff hours (typical week) and hours received (typical week)
  • inclusion of a Queensland specific privacy statement
  • additional subdivisions of service type codes for DSQ Regional and Area Offices
  • a qualifying statement that ADD/ADHD is not recognised as a primary disability by DSQ but the service user may receive services for this disability type as a coexisting disability
  • information about the DS NMDS Helpline, quarterly reporting periods and lodgement of data.

ODC - 2005-06

The 2005-06 collection year is in full swing. Agencies that use ODC should now be gathering data and entering it into ODC. When entering data, you need to perform the following tasks for each quarter:

  • enter your Service Type Outlet details for the quarter for all service type outlets you work with
  • enter services received for your service users. If you have existing service users, you only need to add services received, but if you have new service users, you must enter their details as well as their services received
  • have your Authorising Officer, authorise the data for the quarter. Note that service type outlet details are not authorised. The Authorising Officer only authorises services received data.

By following this procedure, your agency will have met its reporting requirements for the quarter.

No reported service users in a quarter

Sometimes your agency/outlet may not provide any CSTDA funded services to your service users during a reportable quarter. ODC has been modified to allow you to record this fact, however you will need to call the DS NMDS HelpLine to discuss this issue as it can impact on several areas of the collection.

DSQ DS NMDS help available

If you have a query and cannot find the answer after checking the DS NMDS Resource Kit, either call the HelpLine or send an e-mail to us.

Remember, your call is important, so if the HelpLine is busy, leave a message on the voicemail and we will respond at the first opportunity.