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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (26 November) . . Page.. 3170 ..

APPENDIX 3: Incorporated in Hansard on 26 November 1998 at page 3080

MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND COMMUNITY CARE

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION TAKEN ON NOTICE

24 NOVEMBER 1998

Mr Rugendyke asked the Minister for Health:

During question time last week the Member answered questions relating to Annabelles' care for 4-13 mental health patients under the Workers Resource Centre (WRC). Is this the same Annabelles in the Yellow Pages which provides a pet grooming and wheelie bin service. How much of the grant to the WRC went to Annabelles. How was the money acquitted by the Government. Is it appropriate that a business which walks your dog and services wheelie bins should have responsibility to care for mentally ill patients in the ACT?

My answer is as follows:

Annabelle's is the same business as listed in the Yellow Pages. My understanding is that this aspect of Annabelle's business activities has recently been sold off and the new owner is still trading under the Annabelle's name. The original Annabelle's service, which is currently contracted with WRC has reduced its activities to the provision of home and respite care.

The Department's contract for services is with the WRC. WRC has chosen to broker these services with Annabelle's rather than employing staff to provide the services itself. This is not an unusual arrangement.

Payment to Annabelle's by WRC depends on the number of clients WRC is supporting at the time, and the type of support care required. Support staff are employed on a casual basis to match specific needs of individual clients. WRC budgets for $9860 for client services each month. This is based on an average of 10 hours per week and $18 per hour with penalty rates for weekends and nights. In the first quarter of the current WRC contract provision, a total of 10 clients received an average of 10 hours per week of supported services ranging from, help with daily living activities, assisted contact with social and recreational activities, development of links with health, welfare and other services and transport needs. This equates to the purchase of $13,111.00 of direct support services for the 3 month period. In terms of operating costs WRC charges the program $1,083 per month to cover:

. payment of accounts;

. budget preparation and monitoring, report generating;

. program management ie liaison with the Department and Mental Health Service, housing negotiation etc;

. financial and written reports to the Department; and

. individual client plan monitoring.

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