Service users
Service User Data Item 3 – Indigenous status | Service User Data Item 5 – Interpreter services | Service User Data Item 12 – Carer arrangements (informal) | Service User Data Item 17f – Hours received (reference week) | Service User Data Item 17g – Hours received (typical week)
If after referring to the CSTDA NMDS Data Guide: Data Items and Definitions, you have any questions about data items that aren’t addressed on this page, please contact us on the CSTDA NMDS Helpline.
Service User Data Item 3 – Indigenous status
Why do you need to ask service users this question?
The answer to this question provides important information about the disability status of all Australians, which helps inform DSQ as to what services are needed to achieve better outcomes for everyone.
You should never assume that a person is or is not of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent based on their appearance. The only sure way to find out is to ask everyone.
Service User Data Item 5 – Interpreter services
Do you need to record 'Interpreter services required' if the service user is a child and doesn’t require an interpreter, but an interpreter is required to communicate with the child’s parents or legal guardians?
Yes.
Service User Data Item 12 – Carer arrangements (informal)
Where a person with a disability pays someone who is a friend, relative or neighbour to provide care, are they considered to be an informal carer for the purposes of the CSTDA NMDS?
No, for the purposes of the CSTDA NMDS, a carer has to be any unpaid carer i.e. a parent, sibling, or friend. Paid employees are not considered carers.
Do you count a foster parent of a service user as being a carer, even though the definition says not to include any paid carers or those organised by a service?
If a foster parent is not being paid to be a carer (note that Carer Allowance (Child) paid by the Australian Government to carers is not considered to be 'pay') then you should count them as being an informal carer.
If the foster parent is being paid by an agency to provide a service to the service user then the foster parent should not be counted as being an informal carer.
Is every parent of a service user who is a child considered to be a 'carer' according to the NMDS definition?
No, not in all cases. A parent should be counted as an informal carer where the parent provides the most significant care and assistance related to the service user’s capacity to remain living in their current environment.
If a service user lives in a group setting with others and an agency provides staffing support to all people in the setting, then can the service user have an informal carer?
Yes, in some cases. If a parent, relative or friend provides sustained support to the service user in the group setting then the service user can be considered to have an informal carer. This carer may manage their banking, take them to medical appointments or shopping etc. on a regular basis.
Service User Data Item 17f – Hours received (reference week)
If it takes me one hour to drive to and from a service user so that I can provide a service to him/her, should I include my travel time in the total hours received by the service user?
No. There are two separate ‘hours’ questions in the collection – one about ‘staff hours’ and one about ‘service user hours’. ‘Staff hours’ reports the hours put into providing a service by paid and unpaid staff. This information is reported against the service type outlet. ‘Service user hours’ are the hours actually received by the service user and are reported against the service user. These two ‘hour’ figures may differ. If a service wrongly includes their staff travel time in ‘service user hours’ it will give a false picture of service provision.
Remember, that you should only be collecting and reporting ‘staff hours’ and ‘service user hours’ for those service users that receive a CSTDA funded service.
Service User Data Item 17g – Hours received (typical week)
Can the hours received by a service user in a typical week be different to the hours received in the reference week?
Yes. The hours received in a typical week are the hours usually received per week throughout the reporting period. The hours received in the reference week are the actual hours received during that week. Typical and reference week hours received can thus be different or the same.
How do I calculate hours received in a typical week?
Typical hours are calculated by dividing the total hours received by the service users in the reporting period by the number of weeks in the reporting period (i.e. in a quarter there are 13 weeks).
A service user lives in a remote area and only receives services as follows: a 20 minute phone call each fortnight and a two hour visit once every two months. What should I record for hours received in a "typical week"?
Total the hours received over the 13 week reporting period (e.g. 20 minutes x 6.5 + 120 minutes x 1.5 = 310 minutes) and then divide the total by 13 (e.g. 310 minutes /13 = approximately 24 minutes).
Last updated November 2007