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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 11 Hansard (26 September) . . Page.. 3682 ..

Previously, we had closed hostels for people with disabilities where up to forty people lived together and the ability to provide individual service and support was extremely limited.

These people are now supported to live in more appropriate settings in the community.

Back in 1993, accommodation support services were provided to 132 clients.

A total of 47 people lived in two hostels while the remaining 85 people lived in 21 group houses.

Today, 142 people receive accommodation support services.

There are 12 people with high support needs who live in Chapman Hostel and 130 people are accommodated in 37 group houses spread across the ACT.

The move of clients from John Knight Hostel to more home-like accommodation is a major achievement. In these new arrangements people have much better opportunities to live full lives as valued members of the community.

I want to spend a little time talking in detail about the many changes and reforms that have taken place in these group houses.

I spoke earlier about the formation of a regionalised structure of locally-based multi-disciplinary disability support teams which has moved management closer to the client.

This ensures that decision-makers have a good knowledge of practical circumstances and individual situations and needs.

Regional teams are able to provide clients with improved access to a range of professional services, as well as more integrated provision of the traditional support and training services, in the home and in the community, which are provided by accommodation support services.

Managers are now responsible for a cluster of houses, with one manager in each region on call 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, to deal quickly with any urgent matters which may arise.

Each group house now has a team leader who is responsible for implementation of individual support programs and the achievement of outcomes for these programs.

This person knows all the house residents well and is able to ensure that support focuses on specific individual needs and has continuity.

A placement committee now meets regularly and procedures for placing clients are more clear and transparent. This committee consults with consumers, families and advocates to help make sure that people are offered places in houses where they will be compatible with other residents.

Policy and procedures manuals have been placed in each house to inform and guide staff in their work. Clients can now expect more consistency in their support.

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