Page 163 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 15 February 2006
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Koomarri and has a large number of core services and businesses that benefit hundreds of Canberrans and their families in the wider community.
The ACT government—whatever the flavour of the government of the day—has always been a strong supporter of Koomarri. The Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services, through Disability ACT, currently provides funding of more than $2.1 million per annum to Koomarri. ACT Health also provides more than $175,000 per annum to Koomarri to provide a community links service which comprises social support and case planning. Through Disability ACT funding, Koomarri is able to offer a wide range of services to its clients and their families.
The Koomarri work to retirement program has been very successful in providing transitional support to people entering retirement or semi-retirement. It provides community access and support services, which facilitate meaningful and age-appropriate experiences. The mature carers program, for carers aged over 65 who care for a person with a disability, has been another successful service that enables people with a disability to remain in the family home. Planning and case management is conducted to ensure that future options are considered, and implemented if required, for when a carer is unable to continue in this role and the person with the disability requires alternative accommodation. The pathways program is a subprogram funded under the mature carers program and delivers respite and maintains and develops life skills for people with a disability.
Koomarri pathways program works with mature carers and their sons and daughters to develop and put in place the kind of supports needed to achieve and sustain their chosen lifestyle. There is a strong focus on assisting the person with a disability to remain within their home and community environments when the carer is no longer able to carry out their role.
Koomarri also runs a number of business services that provide paid employment for people with a disability. These services benefit not only Koomarri’s clients and their families but also the wider community and business sector. Fifteen per cent of Australians of working age have a disability. This represents over one million people, yet only half of these are working despite the fact that people with disabilities often make better employees. Research has found that 98 per cent of employees with disabilities rate average or better in work safety, 90 per cent of people with disabilities rate average or better on job performance, and 86 per cent of people with disabilities rate average or better on attendance. Staff retention rates for employees with disabilities have been found to be 72 per cent higher, saving businesses millions of dollars each year in recruitment and training costs.
Employing a person with a disability can have a very positive flow-on effect for businesses and it has been found that staff members with disabilities can improve the efficiency of a workplace. When making adjustments in the workplace for a person with a disability, businesses are most likely to make it safer and more comfortable for all staff, customers and the general community. For example, providing clear, simple signage for a staff member with an intellectual disability will also mean that the business is able to get its message across to customers and staff with low English literacy skills.
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