Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 12 Hansard (19 November) . . Page.. 3715 ..

MS REILLY (continuing):

to raise issues. There is no complaints mechanism that is known about within the group houses and within other community services. Yes, people can go to the Health Complaints Commissioner, but you have to be in the know almost to know that you can go there. There is no information provided.

There are suggestions that a number of the parents of the people in community group houses do not have complaints. A number of them are too scared to complain. A number of the people who are getting services are too scared to complain. The attitude is that if you put up a complaint you will be told, "You can take your son and daughter home, if you like". That is not always possible because of their level of care needs. So you cannot say, "There are no complaints", and then say that that shows satisfaction with the services. I am quite sure that no satisfaction survey has been done. People quite often are too scared or too concerned to make a complaint because they are concerned about what will happen to their son or daughter.

Another part of the services that are available for people in group houses and in community services is advocacy services. It is interesting to note that advocacy services are funded by the Commonwealth. Recognising the importance of these services, the importance of the rights of people in community houses, one hopes that this funding continues if the Commonwealth withdraws these moneys.

Mrs Carnell made mention of respite services. Yes, there has been a considerable increase in the amount of government funding, particularly Commonwealth funding, in this budget. But when you talk to people who are trying to access respite services, particularly residential respite services, there has been a change in people being able to access them; in some cases, say, from one week in four to one week in eight. (Extension of time granted) I was speaking about people being able to access residential respite services. Where previously they were able to access them one week in four, say, to meet the need of the person, it is now one week in eight. There has been a considerable reduction in the amount of respite services available for people to use.

As I am sure Mrs Carnell is fully aware, respite services can be absolutely essential for families with children with disabilities. They are also important for the children themselves, whether they are young people or older people with disabilities, because this is an opportunity to live in another environment. It is an opportunity for people to find out other ways of living. Accessing respite can be a precursor to moving into a Disability Services house if, of course, there is an opportunity for anyone to move into a Disability Services house. It seems to be a closed book. There is no waiting list even though there are a number of children living within the community who would welcome the opportunity, and their parents would also welcome the opportunity, to have an alternative permanent residential house to live in. But there has been no increase in Disability Services houses even though these houses at this stage are not fully meeting the needs within the community. Also, the respite care services that are available are of a very limited type. There is the opportunity for residential services, but there is very little else available.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .