New blog post from NSW Council for Intellectual Disability

Even less choice: the latest on the ADHC transfer of services 
NSW CID e-News, April 2017

People living in Ageing, Disability and Home Care group homes across the state and their families are dismayed at losing the small amount of influence they were promised in determining their new service provider.

They were originally told they would be presented with a shortlist and consulted about which provider they would prefer take over their group home.

Instead, they have been asked to choose from a shortlist of only one provider. As far as short lists go, that’s a very short list.

Read the full blog post here.

The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations joins calls for Royal Commission into abuse of people with disability

Following last night's harrowing episode of Four Corners, with its expose of abuse of people in care, Down Syndrome Australia once again reiterates its strong support for a Royal Commission into the abuse of people with disabilities.

• The 4 Corners episode Fighting the System is available on ABC iView until 26 April 2017

• Royal Commission Now petition

AFDO media release 28 March 2017:

The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) today joined calls from across the disability sector for a Royal Commission into the violence, abuse and neglect experienced by Australians with disability.

Last night’s Four Corners investigative report exposed harrowing tales of the abuse and assault of people with disability living in specialist disability accommodation. The episode highlighted not only individual cases of violence and assault but also the woefully inadequate system responses when incidents came to light.

The Chief Executive Officer of AFDO, Mr Ross Joyce, said that while last night’s stories were heartbreaking, they were sadly not shocking for anyone familiar with the disability system.

Disability Groups Call For Royal Commission Into Violence Against People With Disability

• The 4 Corners episode Fighting the System is available on ABC iView until 26 April 2017

• Royal Commission Now petition

Disabled People's Organisations Australia, 27 March 2017

Tonight’s ABC Four Corners report, ‘Fighting the System’ exposed more evidence of the appalling levels of violence and abuse against people with disability in Australia. This is only the tip of the iceberg. In light of the graphic and disturbing cases revealed this evening, Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPO Australia), calls on the Federal Government to reconsider its recent refusal to conduct a Royal Commission into violence and abuse of people with disability.

“Tonight, more evidence has come to light that supports the case for a Royal Commission. It is only a Royal Commission that has the weight, the investigative powers, the time and resources to open the doors to the many ‘closed’ institutions and residential environments, and expose Australia’s shameful secret,” said Therese Sands, Director, DPO Australia.

“People with disability are routinely denied access to justice, both at a civil and criminal level because of law, policy and practice barriers. A Royal Commission would give space and recognition to people with disability to tell their story, to be believed, and would enable some measure of accountability and justice,” said Ms Sands.

The 2015 Senate Committee Inquiry into violence and abuse against people with disability in institutional and residential settings found that violence and abuse was prolific and hidden. The central recommendation of the committee was the establishment of a Royal Commission.

The Federal Government ruled out a Royal Commission in its response to the Senate Inquiry earlier this month. The Government noted that it was addressing violence and abuse against people with disability by establishing the Quality and Safeguarding Framework for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

DS NSW: Older Parent Network Event

The overwhelming response to our recent survey on your needs as older parents of adults with Down syndrome identified the top two areas of interest as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and accommodation.

Older Parent Network Event - two events on separate days, at different locations. The topics on both days will be the same:

• The NDIS and how to prepare
• Accommodation options, experiences and models

There will be opportunity for Q and A, library resources on a range of topics, and Down Syndrome NSW staff will also be available.

9:30 - 12:30 Wednesday 19th August 

Parramatta Park Event Centre in Parramatta Park (MAP) 

or

9:30 - 12:30 Saturday 22nd August  

Mary Mckilliop Place 7-11 Mount St North Sydney (MAP) 

Please choose the time and location that suits you best.

RSVP: 10th August
Cost: Down Syndrome NSW Members $30 and $35 non-members, morning tea will be provided

Register: Register Here

If you have any questions regarding this event please contact the Down Syndrome NSW Office:

Jane Gilsenan | Community Networks E: jane.gilsenan@dsansw.org.au 

Housing, the NDIS and more

Image: Pixabay.com

Every Australian Counts campaign on housing  Every Australian Counts is currently encouraging people to speak about housing and the NDIS. There will be a meeting of disability ministers to discuss the matter in April.

The website describes existing housing options as:

• Independent housing
• Supported housing
• Modified accommodation
• Group home
• Family home

Visit the Take Action: how do you want to live? page of the Every Australian Counts website to find out more and express your concerns and ideas.

The NDIA housing response decoder

Every Australian Counts, 18th March 2015

Over the last few weeks thousands of our supporters emailed the National Disability Insurance Agency and asked them to release the plan for housing under the NDIS.

The response from the Agency on this vital issue was disappointing, bureaucratic and hard to read. We thought we’d have a go at de-coding it for you because on the question of housing, people with disability and the NDIS, we need it to be crystal-clear ...

National Disability Services response to discussion paper on housing
National Disability Services (NDS) has released a paper, Changing the System, which is their response to the Social Housing in NSW discussion paper, published in November 2014

It recommends that the NSW Government establish a state-wide affordable housing levy to secure the revenue that is desperately required to create new stock.

NDS members also identified that careful and thorough planning between the NSW Government, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and non-government disability service providers is needed in the following areas:

• crisis services; 
• vacancy management and allocation; and 
• implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (New South Wales Enabling) Act 2013. 

The availability of accessible and affordable housing for people with disability will be critical to the success of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The NDIA estimates that there will be 122,000 NDIS participants without access to affordable housing once the NDIS is fully implemented due to a lack of affordable and appropriate housing supply.


In addition to discussion and calls for action in providing affordable housing in the context of the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in Australia, debate about types of affordable/social/supported housing/accommodation continues around the world, with a suggestion for 'modern institutions' drawing fire in the US recently:

Calling it Modern Doesn’t Make It Good – No “Modern Asylum” Will Benefit This Generation of People with Disabilities

The Arc, 6th March 2015

Recently, Dr. Christine Montross made what The Arc believes to be a deeply flawed argument in favor of institutionalization for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), or as she put it, “a modern asylum”. Dr. Montross failed to address a number of key factors in her piece, but what was most disturbing was the complete lack of reference to the desires of individuals with I/DD ...

Progress on devolution of Westmead and Rydalmere large residential centres

People with disability to move closer to their families
NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care (media release), 4th September 2014

Minister for Disability Services, John Ajaka and Local Member for Menai Melanie Gibbons today visited a new group home in Liverpool, which is scheduled to open next month as part of replacing Metro Residences in Westmead and Rydalmere.

In 2014/15 the NSW Government will spend more than $43 million to redevelop Metro Residences as part of the biggest decentralisation attempted in Australia to date.

"In the coming months more than 90 people will move from outdated facilities and into purpose-built new homes integrated into local neighbourhoods," Mr Ajaka said.

"Families and clients have chosen where their new homes are built and were closely involved in the design process during construction.

"The brilliantly designed homes will place residents closer to their families and provide opportunities for increased participation in their local communities."

Ms Gibbons said the properties will be protected with fire sprinkler systems and will provide every resident with their own bedroom, an accessible kitchen, two large living rooms and a landscaped backyard.

"Five residents will soon call this place their new home. It will be staffed by nurses so that residents can access the care they require.

"Providing the opportunity to exercise choice and control by residents and their families were the hallmark of this major project."

More than 300 people from the Westmead and Rydalmere Centres will be living in 64 brand new houses to be located in Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong by the end of 2015.

DS Australia queries reality TV series

Down Syndrome Australia has issued a statement about the ABC TV series 'The Dreamhouse', that debuts tomorrow night (Thursday 7th August):

The Dreamhouse; will it make a difference in real life?

Down Syndrome Australia (DSA) welcomes the focus on the daily lives of people with Down syndrome and the opportunity to discuss the issue of the significant unmet need for housing and support in the community for people with intellectual disability that ‘The Dreamhouse’, produced by Artemis International and broadcast nationally on ABC TV, provides.

Down Syndrome Australia acknowledges the good intentions of the The Dreamhouse, but regretfully finds the premise of the program quite discouraging. The ‘dream’ setting obscures the fact that the young people are living in a group home, a living arrangement we regard as outdated and paternalistic.

Review of the recent closure of three large residential centres in NSW

Specialist Supported Living Services – Post Implementation Review (PIR) Summary Report: The aim of the PIR is to ensure that lessons are identified to improve the process of the closure of Large Residential Centres (LRCs) and the development of new accommodation services for people with disability. The Large Residential Centre closures reported on here are Peat Island, Lachlan and Grosvenor.

• Read/download the full report here.

Source: NSW Council on Intellectual Disability e-news, November 2013

New from NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC)

Strengthening supports for children and families 0-8 years
Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) is changing the way it supports children with disability and their families.

Through a series of reforms, children with disability aged 0-8 years and their families will receive supports that address their needs in a stronger and more integrated way.

... details here 


Accommodation support options resource now available in Easy Read and translated versions
People with an intellectual disability will now find it easier to participate in discussions about their accommodation support needs with the publication of the Accommodation support options booklet in Easy Read format and six translated languages.
... details here

Library Thursday: new DVD presents accommodation options for people with disability living in NSW

NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) has released a set of communication resources to highlight the accommodation support options available to people with disability in NSW.

Page 5 of the new booklet

The Accommodation Support Options DVD is a collection of stories about people with disability who are accessing a range of accommodation funded by ADHC, and operated by both ADHC and the non-government sector.

The stories highlight the various support options that are available and how different individuals, with a range of ages, disability support needs and personal situations are currently using them.

Along with the DVD, an updated Accommodation Support Options booklet has been published, which reflects the contemporary models in an easy to read, and visually engaging format. It is available to read and/or download from here.

Fact sheets that explore some of the more specific elements of each model, including eligibility and suitability are also available.

• Find out more about Accommodation Support Options.
• Drop-in Support Fact Sheet, August 2012

Source: ADHC News page, 25th October 2012

• Copies of the DVD will be available for loan to Down Syndrome NSW members from our library

Families accommodation action group: $3M NSW Government funding

Minister for Disability Services, Andrew Constance, has announced $3 million in capital funding to St George Community Housing for the innovative Sutherland Shire Disability Accommodation Action Group (SSDAAG) pilot project.

"This project is an excellent example of how families, non-government organisations and government can all work together to get the best outcomes for people with disability," Mr Constance said.

"This capital funding grant will go towards providing accommodation options for people with disability in the Sutherland Shire."

Since June 2011, the NSW Government has been working with representatives from SSDAAG and non-government providers in the Sutherland Shire to trial person-centred approaches to planning and budgeting for 18 identified families. Under the project, individualised packages can be pooled to establish a sustainable accommodation setting of families' choosing.

... full text of the Minister's press release.

News releases from NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care

Recent NSW Government media releases about services for people with disabilities:

31 August 2012 - Easing the pressure on families and carers: $3 million investment in flexible respite

• Breakdown of the distribution of places and funding increases by ADHC regions

29 August 2012 - Supporting people with disability to live independently

29 August 2012 - Construction begins on new housing project for young people living in aged care

• All ADHC media releases

Recent news on funded services in NSW

NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care has recently announced : 

• the official opening of a new home to build independence for people with a disability in Goulburn
• significantly increased funding for Monaro Early Intervention Service (MEIS)
• the official opening of new accommodation in Sydney's south for young people leaving care
• over $1 million in the 2012-13 NSW Budget to expand and improve supported accommodation in Albury

Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund: successful applicants announced

Last year, the Australian Government established the Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund to will help address a shortfall in supported accommodation and respite for people with disability.

The twenty-one organisations across Australia that will share $60 million to help build community-based accommodation for adults with severe or profound disability, were announced yesterday by the Prime Minister.

The Fund is designed to encourage innovation and drive change in the way supported accommodation services are provided.

Negotiations for funding agreements are in progress with the successful 21 organisations, which will be responsible for 27 projects, providing 169 new supported accommodation and respite places across the country (19 more places than were initially promised).

Some of the places will be provided for people with ageing carers or people in rural and remote communities, and there are specific projects that will be provided for Indigenous communities.

The new innovative accommodation includes a vertical village with an accessible gym, and homes designed with leading edge technologies based on world’s best practice in sustainable housing, including home automation with motion detected lighting, and electronic devices to enhance hearing and speech difficulties.

This initiative will also help reduce the number of young people with disability who are cared for in nursing homes, or those at risk of placement in residential aged care.

The projects will be completed by June 2014.

A list of all of the projects is included in the Prime Minister's press release - nine will be located in metropolitan and regional NSW.  We know that some people with Down syndrome are amongst those who will be accommodated.

Image: dreamstime.com

ILSI information sessions: 7 - 16 December

INDEPENDENT LIVING SUPPORT INITIATIVE (ILSI)

Is this the program for you, or someone you support?

An exciting new funding option from ADHC for older parents/carers

COME & HEAR ALL ABOUT IT AT AN INFORMATION SESSION

presented by Sunnyfield Independence

1.00 pm to 3.00 pm Wednesday 7th December 2011

WEST PENNANT HILLS VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTRE, Main Hall

(42a Hill Road, West Pennant Hills NSW 2120)

RSVP to Rebecca Jones on (02) 9412 8632 by Monday, 5 December

or email:  r.jones@sunnyfield.org.au

If you would like any further information, please contact Angela Tomassetti on (02) 9412 8632

______________________________________

Independent Living Support Initiative

UnitingCare Disability will be holding an information session about ILSI, and we would like to invite you to attend.

5pm-7pm13th December 2011

UnitingCare Disability, 

9 Brighton Avenue Croydon Park

Parking: UnitingCare Disability has a car park that is available for use, with street parking also available.

There will be light refreshments served on the night.

PLEASE RSVP BY 9TH DECEMBER TO:

Emma Coghlan, Phone: 9818 9814, Email: ecoghlan@unitingcaredisability.org.au 

______________________________________

INDEPENDENT LIVING SUPPORT INITIATIVE

Do you have a disability with low – moderate support needs?

Do you have ageing parents/carers?

The NSW Government, through Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) has recog-nized a need to provide a more flexible approach to accommodation support options.

If you are a person with a disability who wishes to live more independently, and you live with ageing parents or carers, then the “Independent Living Support Initiative” could be for you.

How will the “Independent Living Support Initiative” work?

Lifestyle Solutions will provide up to 35hours/week support to assist you move towards independent living arrangements through person centred planning, intensive living skills development and the development of effective support networks, including a circle of sup-port

.

Lifestyle Solutions are holding information sessions on:

Thursday 15th December 2011

Rooty Hill RSL

55 Sherbrooke St, Rooty Hill

Commencing at 6:00pm

and

Friday 16th December 2011

Merrylands Bowling Club

Cnr Newman Rd & Oxford St, Merrylands

Commencing at 1:00pm

You will receive an Information kit together with an Expression of Interest form. This will need to be completed and returned to Lifestyle Solutions, we will then assist you to complete an Application Form. The program is available for people living in the Cumberland/Prospect areas (e.g. Blacktown, Hills District, Auburn, Merrylands, Parramatta).

RSVP: Linda Simeon — (02) 8801 3200 or email linda.simeon@lls.org.au by 

Wednesday 14th December 2011.

We look forward to meeting you!


Click here for links to flyers for each of these sessions.

______________________________________

Independent Living Support Initiative, a program being developed by Down Syndrome NSW  in conjunction with the NSW Government and service providers.

Stronger Together 2: Supported Accommodation Fact Sheet

This NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) publication provides an update on the 1750 places as promised in the Stronger Together 2 initiative. Click here to check it out.

Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund (SAIF)

Eligible organisations, can now apply for a capital grant to build innovative supported accommodation for people with disability through the Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund (SAIF). Applications for SAIF opened on 5 September 2011 and will remain open until 20 January 2012.

This $60 million Australian Government initiative, spanning three years, will help build innovative, community-based supported accommodation places for people with disability.

Image:  www.dreamstime.com

This funding presents an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of up to 150 people with disability, their families and carers. Projects could include renovations to existing homes, pooled resources to build contemporary accommodation services close to community and health services or the modification of existing accommodation within the community.

For information about SAIF, including how to apply, please see the SAIF website. Application documents are available on the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) website.

Completed applications are to be submitted to saif@fahcsia.gov.au by 2pm, 20 January 2012.

Have your say about the new (Australian Government) Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund

Individuals and community groups now have the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft Program Guidelines for the Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund initiative.

This $60 million initiative, spanning three years will help build innovative, community-based supported accommodation places for people with disability.

This funding will be used to create 150 new places to help address the need for accommodation and respite places for people with severe or profound disability, their carers and families. Projects could include renovations to existing homes, pooled resources to build contemporary accommodation services close to community and health services or the modification of existing accommodation within the community.

The draft Program Guidelines are now available on the FaHCSIA website, along with details about how you can make a submission. Your feedback will help shape the final Program Guidelines to be released later in 2011.

Comments will be accepted by email only, and submissions close on 25th July 2011.

Source:  FaHCSIA

NSW needs an NDIS: delayed report on services released

The NSW Government has released a report by Pricewaterhouse Coopers into disability services that they say argues the case for a National Disability Insurance Scheme. Alexamandra Smith, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald today reports that Report reveals burden on carers to hit crisis point:

... The Disability Minister, Andrew Constance, said the report demonstrated the ''enormity of the challenge'' ahead. ''What we are seeing is families being put in crisis situations … some 70 families last year had to make the heart-wrenching decision to take the support for their loved ones out of their family unit,'' he said.

Mr Constance said he would ''campaign aggressively'' for a national overhaul of disability insurance, which would cover the cost of care and medical treatment for people with a disability.

The Productivity Commission in February released a draft report proposing the overhaul of disability insurance in Australia.

''We have to be honest about this. The state system is broken. It isn't meeting the needs of families, carers and people with disability across this state,'' Mr Constance said." ... read the full report online here

Disabled find their home is no longer safe: Daily Telegraph

Gemma Jones reports in today's Daily Telegraph (Sydney) about dilemmas arising from devolution of a large residential centre in Sydney, redevelopment of the site and relocation of residents.

Disabled residents of a historic Sydney home are to be moved on, with a not-for-profit organisation planning to develop a complex of seven-storey unit blocks on the site.

Some of the residents have lived at Crowle House at Ryde for almost 50 years - and families signed bonds believing their relatives would have a haven for life.

The historic home on 2ha was donated to people with a disability by the family of a philanthropist who had allowed disadvantaged children to live there.

Two years ago it was taken over by Achieve Australia, a private service provider for the disabled which boasts Olympian Duncan Armstrong as ambassador.

A spokeswoman confirmed Achieve would move 31 residents into supported housing and there were plans with council for seven-storey buildings with hundreds of units.

She claimed some residents might be able to move back after the development but she said other units would be sold to fund Achieve programs and to protect Crowle House from debt ..... read on here for the full article