Cutting Edge Careers

Who cares ? what clothes should we be wearing?
Our politicains, like our people, are completely confused about what this skill set can be . Unwilling to ditch the destructive and depressing faith in progress idea that" it will all just happen" the people are more and more exposed to a mythical mix of determinism greed and old new clothes waste on the subject.
A wiser generation would unpick the childlike faith in technologically driven progress and decide what they wanted for their people ( invisible clothes merchants come and go)
A wiser generation would insist that our children do physics and chemistry and not assume one can do good science without them(Biologists are not coping with the complex eco challenges they find in trying to work with nature leading to a less scientific and practical approach to working with nature) .
We need to decide to train people to work together ( physics chemists,geol ,sociol,economists ) to really maintain and develop the boundaries of resilience protection that our forefathers established for us .  New technique fascination and short circuits must again come second to tough specific  training and skill development .
As a practical onground ecologist in Australia for over 3 decades,I have witnessed the politicization of my profession -clearly eroding its credibility.( groups like to grab the high moral ground without putting their feet down in places that work ;
Unlike engineering etc ,the conservation movement runs the risk of meaning all things to all men . To properly challenge mere convenience, conservation must maintain a hard edge in both mythos and logos; something that will attract young people to restudy the ways men can live well with nature http://designwithnature.blogspot.com/

Why do we make it easy for those who do not look after themselves ?

Let's put the seniors in jail, and the criminals in a nursing home. This way the seniors would have access to showers, hobbies, and walks, they'd receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment , wheel chairs etc. and they'd receive money instead of paying it out.
They would have constant video monitoring, so they could be helped instantly if they fell, or needed assistance. Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.
A guard would check on them every 20 minutes, and bring their meals and snacks to their cell. They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose. They would have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counseling, pool, and education.
Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, P.J.'s and legal aid would be free, on request. Private, secure rooms for all, with an exercise outdoor yard with gardens. Each senior could have a P.C. a T.V. radio, and daily phone calls.
There would be a board of directors to hear complaints, and the guards would have a code of conduct, that would be strictly adhered to.
The "criminals" would get cold food, be left all alone, and unsupervised. Lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week. Live in a tiny room, and pay $5000.00 per month and have no hope of ever getting out. Justice for all.

Is sometimes best communicated by love

No wonder our polys attempts are OFTEN so feeble. lol

Take this wonderful example (click on here) - an ad produced in England by someone who cares.
If this doesn't make you laugh , I cry with you because there is a fair bit of "government trying to do what the government can't do" .
The West always runs best when we all do what we are best at....... and don't try to do what we haven't committed to training for .
Anyone  listening eh ? Glad you did !

Gillards education revolution may be doing more harm than good

It may not be well known in our society , but those of who have worked with incentives KNOW it  is possible to make things worse when you throw money( even lots of money)  at a genuine problem .

Rudd's and Brumby's team are not alone,  but they might take the cake for best intentions gone wrong because they seem to be unaware of how dangerous it is to take advice from those you clone to closely and how difficult it is to get the HOW right when you employ people with no experience and competency at the care coalface.
Our state schools have problems ,but so has our society . Our kids need every mentor still at school to stay there . The good teachers in our State schools need all the help they can get , because they do an impossible job . ( Read H.L. Menken on "The educational process" for the glass fully empty version - he wrote this at more stable times . These aren't the best of times for teachers cause they are doing a great job trying to make up for deficiencies at home )
The solution is,  as often happens in the care professions - don't change the structure, build more buildings or offer us help anywhere else,  but right on the hard cutting edge .What can i do to help YOU ?
How many good teachers will have left the State system simply because the Change agents in state and federal areas think and practice quickfiz:
They wanna help but only in ways THEY think are most helpful - whats' new .
They wanna listen or they will be outta office sooner than they think possible.
At least 6 in out town have gone to private schools in the last few years.

Telling the truth - are we still up to it ?

There was a great book in the early 70's - "The kindness that kills" .It was ahead of its time . We need someone to remind our leaders and wannabes ( you may not have this problem) that the truth can bring healing and prevent disaster.

If the Royal Commission into the Victorian Bushfires 2009 commission can't say that "we have a problem because we are not allowed to say to people "you are living in an impossible risk situation" we will still have the problem. More here

Those annoying itches

If the itch doesn't go away, we keep scratching. The best solution is often to leave the sore alone, but we are all tempted to keep scratching . Our leaders do the same - its really annoying to watch , especially when its our money or others care thats wasted in the quickfiz .

How do you stop youself from doing it ? - especially if the bigger issue is that you are unsettled and not at peace with yourself . We have all been there . The choice? Sores or self control ?

The solution to this enormous waste and frustration is simply to accept that we are not perfect and find a worldview that enables you to accept that. Deal with irritation anger and your faults as they come .

Not as easy as it looks from the outside . Remedies for scratching habits aren't curealls. But pretending there are such things makes a lot of people a lot of money . Governments even feel the need to apply balm which is quite Ok if they pay us to apply it; Provided they don't name the brand , the places and the signal to noise ratio that triggers a grant. Leave that to the professionals.
If you want a cure all, you may feel the need to watch more TV , rather than read the good book .One works the others just waste time and prevent you from exercising - excercising self control .

Managing bushfire risk- Focus on area of interest

Education is not easy, so you can't ALWAYS blame govt if people don't listen - People constantly facing high risk often ignore the risk - helps them sleep . see notes under What govt don't know here

but listening is more effective if people are interested -
Sometimes people up the top have lost sight of whose listening so they don't spot a faulty education campaign when they see one- A good education campaign is One that captivates interest (and is not distracted by trying to create more) A good education campaign for bushfire management should focus on people's interest in fire behaviuor -not clear that this is happening . Example " you have v high blood pressure - interest is high - you can manage it this way--- by understanding this about "the wolf" ; "


For example what % of those killed didn't even have the basic expectation that a fire would come at them first from the north and then possibly from the west.

The lack of experienced risk managers with real experience in DSE and the ongoing competetion over who knows how best to manage risk can ALSO be expected to continue to add fuel to the controversy over whether knowledge ( and its corallary) is being transferred down in ways which give ownership or take it away ?
ASh feb09 lots of Ads talked about " Your plan " many did not EXPECT the fire to come at them from the West after coming from the north - awareness is one thing ;
More on manageing the wolf here!
Knowledge of risk is another. What do you think ?

Great news for ailing health care systems- reform

Health care in the US costs nearly 17% of the GDP..... for those who partipate . Australian's pay less , but some us have to wait for 3 weeks to see a doctor .
Palfremans excellent reviewprovides hope by pointing out some of the boundaries for a more effective and efficient health care system . It should be compulsory viewing by every poly in the country .
Get your bearings boys - its not all about how good industry is or how bad government is. Get together and talk!

Labor might just be the party to pull it off

Human services aren't God - now that's not to say they don't try , but those who care for their own severely disabled children in Australia would have to have angels with them to do what they do to date going on ABC 4 corners - with the sort of " where are they? " kinds of relief that just aren't there .
Sure it takes more than a new building program - one that is more lateral than bureaucrats are normally into. Horses for courses? Bonuses got an honourable mention- it seems to me this is right esp for those who take on much more tahn average .
It was good to see Labor on 4 corners seeming to take this very seriuos matter seriuosly - to stopping the blame game. We live in hope .

Homelessness -more than boundaries with 4 walls!

ABC TV PROGRAM ON OASIS

Family breakdown IS THE KEY ISSUE .
So lets talk about it . The parents themselves have tried and failed . In many cases both parents and children have given up on each other. Why shouldn"t society?. Tough job for tanya .
Its not easy for any parent to admit defeat . But as Noni hazelhurst said so well on 774 - we all give up on each other from time to time . Failure is no reason to give up on providing down to earth parental support on the street or THE BIG RISK ( NOTE YOU POLYS AND MEDIA WANNABES) to keep changing direction is how that service is provided ( The stupid technological fix syndrome of the wannabes) . Fact is we all fail every day in the boundary setting job , so noone need give up .
CONCLUSION
SO Lets not pretend to find some new way to do one of the toughest jobs in the world - lets just make sure someone is there WHO HAS THE ENERGY TO REALLY CARE LIKE THEIR OWN PARENTS - PREPARED TO PUSH BOUNDARIES AND not JUST BE PUSHED AROUND !

SO WHAT"S WRONG WITH NOW? ---the inadequacy and mutual irresponsibility of the merry go round of 9-5 weekday care. One or 2 persons needs to act as parent, not 10! ( MAYBE MORE THAN 2 -JUST HOW MANY AND WHERE WHAT ROLES IS A key QUESTION BUT AUTHORITY TO AcT LIKE GUARDIAN - ALSO -PUSHING EM BACK TO tHEIR OWN PAReNTS ---DAVE COULD HELP WITH)
The govt are like the worst step family you could think of - and kids know it . Too many can still get "what they want" ( as opposed to what they need") from our defacto and dysfunctional families (nature of bureaucacry to be so - just give the right jobs to the right people) Rememember current govt case workers jobs ( which you can't and won't fill) is impossible if it doesn't have a cutting edge care angle ) giving them what they need - not always what they want!)
The risk with half baked measures (where the waste is now)is ALSO that these children do not get any helpful modelling on anger, resistance , respect and confrontation management ( they keep pushing people around) with merrygo round of "so called servicing" that is currently the go .


Many of the old merrigo round service centres operate as if the children were in charge . What the community wants and the children need is for the parents ( or someone seriuos enough about authority - NOW I HAVE DONE IT ! --that role) to stay in charge -Avoid the woosy LEAVE TO NOONE handout merrigo round of the present !

Bad labelleing of the problem of homelessness isn't the end --provided the label doesn't keep distracting us from dealing with the core motivating factors . Sure beds are needed but not neccesarily "secure ones" .
Other boundaries of care and love and discipline need to be reset - thats the hard bit - where you need tough people with tough action at their disposal . Street living does some of that discipline ( so its not all bad ) but without hope and stability of stable adults who aren't hooked on the universal drug of " doing what you feel like " it is indeed hopeless.( those wonderful Salvo people can't be beat with the help of specialists and other needed bureaucrats BUT PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE and GIVE the HORSE A BETTER DRINKING HOLE ! )

The opportunity to direct and set new bounadries for young people was nearly missed.

In a post moden age the ABC could lead the way beyond mere quickfiz by moving beyond the " how do you feel" focus to really help provide objective answers for children who find themselves without parental influence. THE OBJECTIVE VIEW

TOWARDS BETTER FUNDING DECISIONS
The audience want answers and the polys want answers that accord with that ( so they can stay in power) - so make it happen ABC . Dave gave the hint ( somewhere in the system 0 but Tony didn't take it .( where in the system?)

DAVE might have said " The state is reluctant to give its power of playing parent to the right people, but really in a crisis who best can play the role ? -Surely those near the street who are almost as equally powerless people-- who have the guts to act as defacto parents' .Who can with adequate support stay there to pick up pieces and keep hoping . Self praise may not be the easiest thing to do,
but it doesn't change the fact that like the NT the church has a critical and important role to play ( one which has been given a hard time over for too long) Salvos don't intervene without review , so don't worry .
Anyone who has ever worked at that boundary knows just how difficult any case workers job is ( secular or non secular) ( none less than Plibersek,,, who did well ) The point is it like so many PS jobs, it is the person without the pay, the influence and the predictabliity that is most vulnerbale tpo the poly project mentality ( polys love to keep changing the way things are done - what kids need is stable mentors who hang around )

Got news for you powerbrokers
Parenting has not changed. therefore keep the people who have the guts and strength to stay there and be there to stay there ( the poys know casework filling is a big problem at the moment so deal with it) - maybe plibersek might have said to the OASIS audience – “how about I give just one of you gets a job helping others like yourlseves through this period - wow what an outcome .

We missed it - Does the ABC prefer control and leaving the stated objective of “answers” --up in the air ? . Hate to dictate - to intervene?. T be held responsible . Give responsibility tothose who take it I say ! The absolute right to freewill thing was checked well by david burbidge . If all sides of goverenment’s natural tenedency to "changechange change programs" ( see note about "not working" in relation to all families below)isn't checked by media , the growth of parentless potentail on the streets will increase .

POLYS WATCHING? The job for plibersek- sit on any techno fix and get consensus for ongoing support for caseworkers on the streets and in the schools ( another area where quiet early intervention is working )
Avoid the merrygo round syndrome . What the community wants and the children need is for the parents ( or someone serious enough about tough but listening roles) to stay in charge -Avoid the woosyy handout merrigo round of the present. Put people on the street where it really means they can make a difference and help cut cleanly with care.

Like in real parenting You can't always see the good that’s coming from cutting , caring and specific discipline (all children are different ) the stress of contininiug to set boundaries All the good that is going on - best not to focus too much on the ever present and unexorzisable bad OR you will miss the pointy end of really doing good !


----and miss the point of giving our children all the parental and real world boundary setting help they can get at such a difficult time in their/ all our lives .

Tanya will do well even to insist in a discussion of taking roles of authority seriously –The best balance is probably a mix - as long as it’s a strong mix with little duplication and real leadership responsibilities .

More Care - less Change

Rudd maybe getting a little carried away with his own power to change things he cannot change . Not a good look
If he not more careful in pressing the fear missile on water ( you will get less rain --he said to the Chinese this week )he could himself become subject of a missile attack .

ALSO People in charge of glass houses should not throw stones -Australias commitment to c02 reductions is as much hot air as any countries at the moment -diplomacy mate !.

Those of us who want Kevin for more than 07 want him to stay. That means not always taking advice from the panic merchants in his midst .

Messing around with children

Great that Mr Howard is prepared to fund parents with autistic children. Even better if he reviewed the way money goes so easily to carers of more political clout than the diversity of the 24/7 carers too stressed out to organise meetings, let alone write briefing notes for ministers about the millions they need to cope with ever expanding "motherload " need .

Mr Howard finally ackwoledges he is looking for a new age type of nightingale to care for people . Pity his blinkered bookkeeping mates pushed so many out of the public service a few years ago eh!.

Reduce the empire building and duck shoving

Dependancy Rich or Dependancy responsible? Background-Federal takeover of aboriginal affairs NT last weeks
Translated ( Agency rich or Agent responsible?)

Another question : Does the patient have one problem or a range of related needs that needs a medaitor who knows them . (Scott Peck and more recently Jerry Maguire tell the story that we MUST limit our interests and focus our care on whole persons!)

This blog was inspired by noel dodgsons pointed reference last week to the ongoing confusion by the reactionary left about what makes for real self determination. Not resources, but responsibility.
We could , no doubt, all say a lot about "helping another" , but i want to limit it here to one simple principle that must be adopted by austrailians ( and particularly the govt because they are not personal in the way care must be ) if WE don't want health care funds to be the enemy of the people .

1. Insist on dependancy responsible and ditch dependancy rich - current plethora of agents ( personal NOT project evaluation must be the key balance criteria inside bureaus funding!) Current the range of services allows lots of people to offer services so we have duplication and irresponsiblity ( the cared go door to door and thus are never poor ; the carers listen well and give to close the door so they are never poor , the atxpayer opend the door but he is the only one paying - the sytem is NOT RESPONSIBLE
Simply put this means get rid of all arms of goverenmneta and services that do not operate clearly and well through local and regional services ( govt or private) .

The one stop shop idea is a basically good, BUT RARE IN EXISTENCE in critical areas ---one good intention which has been ruined by the way canberra allows itself to "project" everything ( bureaucrats and acountancy and bookeeping freaks retain control) and the way in which funding driven that way creates ongoing obfsucation( you can disgaree but the lonegre it goes on in austraila, the worse the problem amongst govt advisors along the jericho or should i say uluru road will get )

Here' s a idea get rid of the experts mr brough . Take all the money cuurently flowing into Darwin and Alice on the countries behalf; divide it in half , Give one half to the people on the ground and let the other half support the absentees and advisers . Make the ongrounders accountable locally (first )for what they spend and see what improved services would flow - you have lot less number cruncehrs in canberra and on the tree ; no need to monitor the pens and paper in so much detail mal and clare - but will it happen????? you heard it first on blogger .

"merry go round” dependant rich system wastage now so very common across many areas. Dependant responsible is possible – you just have to advocate it consistently !

A more responsible means of health care and self determination ( Dodgson this week ) would reduce the numbers of agenciesand the entour efforts , make more clear their role and thus diminish the agency growth of those who currently claim to be responsible ( care and carer)

Give a stronger lever to the true samaritans Let the wasteful ever willing commentators passing by talk but lets not pay them to just talk !!!( luke 10:30-37) .In other words… reduce the empire building and duck shoving effects of challenging work !Take a lesson from the great physician .

Cutting the crap

Avoiding the merry go round

There are some simple , but very effective ways to improve health care services in Australia- the point of this blog----- but they have to be implemented and not be stiffled by the obfsucation inherent amongst the powerbrokers and particilalry the bureaubrats .
Here are two examples and both relate to dealing with incompetence in governemnet advisory services
1. Resist innovative talk - note not theory just acreless innovative talk by those who get their brilliance 2nd hand esp (Empires get started on the backs of innovation).
THE POINT
The point is that caring is OFTEN not rocket science its more about dedication and application and they are the very things the toyboys talk destroys . Get used to it -- governemnets are not meant to be efficient - at best only mildy efective !( see Chruchill below)
2. Encourage innovative practice within institutions . No .....before you think this is more music to the CEO's ears, let me remind you about swift kicks to those who carelessly offer "innovation" as bait or whatever - wastemakers in the CEO branch are a dime a dozen . innovators are a dime a dozen and waste taxpayers time - both inside and outside the house (ask the shipowners off newcastle TODAY)

If you are going to run performance pay the only one that works is the one where you recognise commitment to care ( years in the job - seniority - see,, even its not new !!!)To paraphrase a winners style . " we have found ........ to the worst form of governance excepting all others that have been tried" ( after churchill) .

Self determination- not just another handout

Noel dodgson this weeek has told us something we whites can't even tell ourseleves
- that we are sometimes incompetent meddlers patronising and misguided - unwilling to recognise what true self determination is !!!.
--That the greatest evil is often done in the name of the best intention.( and is most dangerous when the intentions are carried around by those who live in conveniently located comfort zones )
--That we often allow the incompetent to keep going/spending in goverenance .
--that we can accuse others of ahandout mentality but be guilty of it ourseleves

Everyone in Australia should at least think about the grinding povrety of the publi c servants who continue to use out taxes to experiment whith old reactionary and ( most importantly) incomplete ideas of how to help people .
Look at the money the Pservice soak up and clare martin ( lateline last week ) had the gall to call for more -- for them !



What a great testimony Noel

Patronising kills the Culture of independance

There is a election coming and the polys are out in the bush offering us money for the drought -to fix up the environment whatever ; help us survive
We were once proud and independant but we seem to be losing both; maybe all these handouts are not good for us. Maybe talking a bit of common sense on the environment would be better for us in the longterm . Friends not freebies .

BONO inspires US ,but lets make emotion work

Dear BONO My question: What stands in the road of a better future for semiarid Africans?
The glass is certainly more than half full, but if we are going to keep the momentum going ---lets be realistics the glass does have some leaks .
What stands in the road of the future? Sometimes the audience themselves. That means aid agencies and the media don’t even know what they do wrong . I know many many caring people in the system who do not know or see the dangers of misplaced interest in the rural poor in particular. Its their particular economic and environmental homes we should know about ---to care about

Guilt, tokenism , projection, empire building, wannabe well known and racism infiltrate what should be a professional and team effort to tackle something which you rightly and wonderfully say is “Africa----- up to us !” Please do not encourage the Political correct , but the increasingly absent medium of expertise on environmental planning – despite appearances there is a lot of quick fix force talk in the agencies talk --that will hurt real people on the ground .

POINT : poorer countries need professional planning advocates who care closely – EVEN more than they need money

Really caring about committing suicide

The wrong road travelled --looks ok and sounds ok but is it what people need ?

Someone I know quite well was sent a counsellor at maybe $1000 a day because he was on the risk list - he cared about the profession he was being sacked from . He was one of those public servants who should be quietly reminding the medai that all is not well financailly with the house of Bracks .He had to go as he didn't repeat the cuurent logic and wasn't part of the pack.
The point was that real caring is not always bought ; the cool commitment to listen ( only one part of caring, the other being prepared to act for the powerless maybe) made this bloke even more depressed.He enjoyed the fact that this guy really listened but later realised that for all that time he could have done something more - made a few pnone calls; coached him in communication , held a joint meeting ; not just tested his mood. the same thing is true of too many ads and media calls on the subject - OK but only to a point .
Is Bracks funding ads, DHS or Lifeline to do the work ? we must have more secular counsellors? - you mean more contracted caring or just more a confused mix Persoanl means one person responsible as Scott peck insisted d not this grab bag where real people fall through the cracks in the name of secular 9-5 professionalism ?

The deep reality, not yet faced by our bungling brackians, is that mere talk of caring can drive people to "do it" Impersonal or mere talk care can make matters worse .
Bracks is quietly sacking people to fund his meddling . If DHS really cared it would support families and institutions to do ther own caring and not parm it off as they NOW do to an expensive range of 9-5 professionals .

It is no cooincendence that Mr Kennett is leading beyond blue . He didn't care for people who cared ( the nightingale factor) . I wonder if the Bracks governmnet has done anything to restore the nightingale factor or has been dulled by interanl ideology and Political correctness in the public service that kill off the personal and connected rather than contracted ( turn up and talk ) type of care we used to know .Tell me i am wrong; tell the truth....... care!

Origins of dependancy come from attitudes of dependancy ?

Sally does a good job of reminding our overloaded health care system that we may be overloading the system with misplaced concerns and compassion. Why should DHS woory? They get more jobs and more care - but its TOO OFTEN not working for the people they say they care about!
Careless talkers are using the ideas to get funding to perpetuate powerlessness amongst the people they say they are protecting.
I mean, this is no time to be clever - the next generation of taxpayers may well dismiss the misadventures of the current crop of intellectually impoversished ( and yesmen driven )bureaubrats............and then noone will care?
As Sally says perhaps predicting the dark mood (of those who do not insist on facing the critical debate she is calling for to help resolve the issues of care0?
"Do we blithely dismiss the child "-

for whom we once exhibited concern and compassion - as irresponsible or undeserving if they experience difficulties as an adolescent or adult?

In the public dialogue on poverty, we have not paid sufficient attention to understanding a complex problem and creating a forward-looking agenda. We have been concerned with counting, passing judgement and apportioning blame. These are choices and responses which impoverish all of us.

The full reports discussed in this article can be found at www.ucareqld.com.au/ and www.qcoss.org.au

IDEAS ARE EVERYTHING
Grahame morris made the point very well on LATELINE last night , but is anyone in the major parties really listening .


Take the public expenditure on environmental and health care mangement. ITs all over the place like a dogs breakfast and just as appetizing .


ONe man with one idea could stake a election win on substance over superficial . but will they consult those who know?