Page 2069 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 2 August 2016
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ACT’s gross state product and, thus, be added to our economy annually, because of the NDIS. This translates to practical outcomes for our community. It means real jobs for people with disability, real jobs for carers and also more work in the disability sector.
In terms of transitioning clients, we planned a gradual intake as people entered under the three streams—adults, children and people living in group homes—thus ensuring that the NDIS is sustainable and equitable for all people with disability in the ACT. In 2015, we transitioned all eligible school-age children, 49-year-olds to 62-year-olds and people living in group homes where the youngest resident is between 26 and 36 years old. In 2016, we have targeted our transitional supports to those people with disability aged 20 to 48 and people living in group homes.
The individualised care and support provisions that are provided through the NDIS have helped ensure and will continue to help ensure that people with long-term disability have access to appropriate services that they need in order to fully participate in all aspects of life. Disability ACT have worked one on one with their group home residents and their families to support them to make decisions about their future support arrangements as the ACT transitions individuals and group homes to non-government service providers.
The dedicated team at Disability ACT continues to prepare residents and their families for NDIS phasing and transition to the non-government sector. They have developed a model transition pathway and are providing one-on-one support to residents and their families to prepare an individual plan that outlines the residents’ goals and visions and future requirements for clients.
I am pleased to report that as at 30 June 2016, 44 households have already transitioned to non-government organisations. This represents 80 per cent of Disability ACT group homes. I was pleased to have members of the Disability ACT team tell me about the emails and cards they have received thanking the working together team for supporting the residents of Disability ACT’s group homes and their families to phase into the NDIS and transition to community-based accommodation services.
One particular client shared a house with two other people and received support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The working together team worked with the individual and the client’s family to explore alternative living arrangements. I am pleased to inform members that the client now lives independently, with targeted supports for about five hours a day. The client is building new skills and challenging perceptions about their ability. I would like to read a quotation from this client’s family in regard to his transition: “I and my parents would like to say a proper thank you very much for all the efforts you have given us to move my brother from the old system to the NDIS. We know it wouldn’t have been easy nor smooth if it weren’t for your help all along.”
Not only have we changed the lives of individuals; there has also been significant change for our providers. I would now like to take a moment to read a testimonial received from one of the providers that have taken on the support for some of the
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