General information about the Disability Services Commission may be obtained on the website at www.dsc.wa.gov.au.
The Commission’s annual report for 2003-04 is located at www.dsc.wa.gov.au/dsc/content/2004annual_report/content/default.asp
Telephone: (08) 9426 9200 Country callers: 1800 998 214
Fax: (08) 9226 2306 TTY: (08) 9426 9315
5.6
South Australia
SETTING THE SCENE 2003-04 saw continuing development of services for people with disabilities, their families and carers.
In March 2004, the South Australian Government released South Australia’s Strategic Plan, a ten-year social, environmental and economic plan for improving the wellbeing of South Australians, building communities and extending opportunity to all. Within this context, a new three-year Disability Services Framework 2004-2007 was developed following an extensive consultation process. One of its goals is to extend access to community services and facilities, particularly in health, recreation and support.
Initiatives to improve access to services and strengthen supports for community living were supported, resulting in additional accommodation places in the community sector. The needs of Indigenous people with disabilities continued to be a high priority. Work continued on the development of prevention and early intervention strategies for families and carers to address issues before they reach crisis point. Partnerships were established with mainstream sectors in service provision and funding to offer wider support to people with disabilities.
PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENTS DURING 2003-04 Policy priority 1: Strengthening access to generic services
Commenced research for the implementation of the Companion Card Scheme to enable people with disabilities requiring a companion to participate in sport, recreation and leisure opportunities.
Worked with the housing sector and the South Australian Housing Trust on the supply and management of specialised disability housing.
Worked with mainstream hospital system to provide specialised allied care for people with disabilities.
Policy priority 2: Strengthening across government linkages
Commenced development of a Memorandum of Understanding between Metropolitan Domiciliary Care and Options Coordination to align service provision criteria.
Transfer of the Office of the Public Advocate and Guardianship Board from the Disability Services Office to the Auditor General’s Department.
Worked in partnership with Western Australia and the Northern Territory on the development of a Memorandum of Understanding and Tri-State Agreement for disability service planning and delivery for indigenous people on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands (APY).
Julia Farr Services worked, in partnership with the Department of Health, to develop a plan for providing long-term acute care places (including for people who are ventilator dependent) to alleviate pressures in the public hospital system and share resources.
Completed Stage 1 of the review of brokerage arrangements in Options Coordination.
Transfer of Adult Therapy Services from the Crippled Children’s Association to Independent Living Centre was completed.
Completed a strategic review of services to people with autism/asperger syndrome and their carers.
Developed a new accommodation service for eleven people with acquired brain injury and physical disability.
Planning commenced for the establishment of a disability service in the remote locations of Amata and Ernabella to meet the needs of Indigenous people.
Additional funding allocated to support older carers at risk of needing crisis intervention through the provision of respite services for parents who care for their adult children with disabilities.
Worked with regional and remote community groups to establish and manage Enhanced Community Living Plans.
Continued the movement of people from institutional places to community living options.
Significant progress was made in improving service quality across the sector through the Service Excellence Framework, with many approved service providers undertaking service excellence accreditation during 2003-04.
Implemented major Information Technology initiatives to enhance data collection arrangements across the disability services sector.
CASE STUDIES
Regional Planning for Disability Services within South Australia - (Policy Priority 4) Development of a Regional Plan for disability service providers and other key bodies involved in the delivery of services to people with a disability (e.g. transport, health and education) in the Riverland region was scheduled to start in February 2004. It is intended that this planning will result in a three-year local vision for the delivery of services to people with a disability within the Riverland region.
During this project, employees from the Disability Services Office will travel to the Riverland to facilitate discussions with local service providers and key stakeholders in areas of transport and health. These discussions are required to form the basis of a Riverland Regional Plan with the intention to publish this plan late in 2004. The aim of future discussion is:
the identification of service priorities for the region;
linking local actions with relevant identified strategic directions in the Disability Services Framework 2004-2007; and
working collaboratively with local sector agencies to implement strategies and service improvements for the region.
The workshops are being well received by local community groups and are seen as a collective commitment of stakeholders within the region to ensure people with a disability and their families and carers have access to a range of specialist and generic services, and initiatives that in turn, produce better services for people in the Riverland community.
