Business

What is NDIS? And How Does It Work?

The NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) is a national system put in place by the Australian government to provide appropriate help to citizens who have a disability.

But it differentiates itself from similar programs across the world with its intent of helping people to build some skills of their own and develop their independence. It’s not designed as a mere welfare system that hands out funds. Rather it pays for the services they choose and need.

Almost 4.4 million people with disabilities live in Australia. That’s one in every six Australians. This scheme aims to reduce the burden of expensive treatments, another challenge they face daily.

The origin:

The NDIS website states that it is a government-backed system to offer support to persons with disabilities of various kinds: physical, intellectual, sensory, psychosocial, and cognitive. It also targets to provide some form of early resistance for children with delayed development.

Also, NDIS doesn’t interfere with your Disability Support Pension. So, if you’re a recipient of some kind of support through Centrelink, you’ll continue to get them above and beyond the NDIS funding.

The trials first began in 2013. Since then, more than 518000 people have accessed NDIS (as of March 22).

First, it’s the responsibility of the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) to determine the eligibility of any applicant and the exact amount of funding they’ll get. Then, it’s the job of the LACs (Local Area Coordinators) or some special partners to help understand and navigate the NDIS process.

They’ll also make a personal plan for every participant and then implement and review it from time to time. Participants can get the address of the nearest NDIS office by simply making a visit to the NDIS website and using the search facility built inside.

You can alternatively seek help from professional NDIS plan managers like All Disability.

Types of paid support from NDIS:

The NDIS plan can be personalized to support an individual in how they want it to be. For example, it can include daily activities, transportation and basic mobility (wheelchairs, modified vehicles, etc.), education, household chores, therapies (like speech pathology), and meal deliveries.

According to the NDIA, there are three types of “support budgets” under NDIS:

Core support- It includes the consumables (medicines etc.), inexpensive equipment for better mobility (walking stick, etc.), assistance for daily activities (cleaning, maintenance, etc.), transportation, and participation in social gatherings.
Capacity building- This budget includes the support participants would need to fulfill their aspirations in specific areas. For example, helping them in employment (finding and keeping a job), in health (exercises and medical advice), in education (assessing and then providing proper training for higher education), in social skills (developing practical behavioral and interaction skills) and to find them a place to live in.
Capital support– This budget will provide individuals with technologies that would assist them in daily life like modifications to vehicles and homes, wheelchairs, handrail or ramp installation, etc.

Eligibility:

A NDIS provider in Cairns tells us that the NDIS can be accessed by any Australian citizen, permanent resident, or individuals with special-category visas living in Australia.

They must be between 7 and 65 years and have a permanent disability. The criteria also detail that you must either need specific support or equipment for daily life, support for reducing possible future needs, or assistance to educate and upskill your family to help you.

For more information and details, refer to the NDIS website.

Application Process:

According to the website, this is how your application will progress:

Call 1800-800-110 to contact the NDIA or put in an access request. You can visit the local NDIS office or fill out a form online. You’ll have to give some proof of identity and verify your residency address.
Then, you’ll need to provide proper evidence of the disability. You should include all the pertinent documents that reflect how your disability affects all aspects of your life, details of the past treatments and their results, the options for future treatment, and the expected results. You can get it done by the GP, pediatrician, psychologist, or any other medical professional that you’re under the care of.
Upon acceptance of your application, you’ll be called upon for a planning meeting. There all your needs and life goals will be taken into consideration. After this, your application will be processed by the NDIA and, in time, approved. You’ll be informed through mail or email.

Things outside NDIS coverage:

Some forms of assistance won’t be covered under the NDIS scheme, such as:

Ordinary expenditure for a living (food, entertainment, bills, rent). This scheme does not cover school fees like fees, stationery items, and books.
It won’t provide coverage for treatments or facilities already under Medicare (fully or partially funded) like blood tests and x-ray reports.
You get professional advice on proper diet and exercise. That doesn’t include gym memberships.
Any home modification that has no direct relation to your disability won’t be covered under this scheme.

CONCLUSION

The NDIS is designed to lift the burdens that any form of disability can produce. It is there to make individuals more independent, self-sufficient, and confident about their abilities and future.

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Business

PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.

This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.

Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.

Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.

The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.

Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.

Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.

The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.

Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.

Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.

Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.

Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.

Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”

Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.

The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.

Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.

The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.

Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”

Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.

The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.

Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.

The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:

SOURCE: CNBC

Business

Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.

This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.

For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.

This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.

Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”

This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.

This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.

Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.

Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.

Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.

This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.

It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.

Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”

This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.

We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.

Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.

SOURCE: THBL

Business

American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.

American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.

water

The corporation stated that it has alerted legal enforcement and is cooperating with them. It also stated that consumers will not be charged late fees while its systems are unavailable.

According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

SOURCE | AP