Disability Justice Centre Project Local Community Liaison Group Meeting Minutes
Date: Thursday, 24 July 2014 Time: 4.00 – 5.20 pm Venue: 130 Lord Street, Caversham
Attendees: Megan Barnett, Manager Disability Justice Service (Chair), DSC Wendy Cox, Executive Director Accommodation Services (Recorder), DSC Connie Drew Elizabeth Drew Jenny Waterhouse Deborah Spittle, A/Media and Public Affairs Coordinator, DSC
Apologies: Rev. Marc Dale
Guest: Fran Gresley, Behaviour Support Policy Officer, Specialist Services, Disability Services Commission
Absent: Cr Mick Wainwright, Deputy Mayor, City of Swan
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1. Introduction
2. Guest speaker: Fran Gresley provided: an overview of the roles she has undertaken within the Commission over the past 22 years explained the Commission’s approach to working with people with disability who have been in contact with the justice system noted the approach is based on the positive behaviour model, is person- centred and engages with the community discussed how behaviour is a form of communication described ‘non-violent crisis intervention training’.
3. Apologies and Attendance Action: Group email address list to be updated to exclude now non members.
4. Minutes (and actions) from previous minutes Minutes were acknowledged and adopted as the final version. Update on actions:
1 Agenda Action/Update Item 2 Names of the policies that are being produced with regards to the legislation were named as part of Maria’s session. Clarification re: releasing these to the LCLG to be attained. Draft Policies are not being released pending the legislation being passed.
Cr Mick Wainwright to attend MIARB meeting. To be confirmed by Mick. 3 A letter to be sent to those LCLG members who have not attended as outlined in the Terms of Reference. Completed 4 A copy of the Application Form, Revised TOR plus the revised advert to be forwarded to the LCLG, ahead of the advert being placed in the local newspaper. Completed Clarification was sought about who would assess the applications received in response to the advert. The new Executive Director Services, Mr Jon Peach, and others (to be confirmed) from the sector will be the decision makers. Meg to request the Boronia visit report (from Gail) to be tabled at the July LCLG meeting. Completed – outcome is that since no one else turned up for the scheduled visit, Gail used the time to privately meet the Boronia Superintendent Jan Allen about Commission business (in relation to gaining Jan Allen’s input about two policies Gail was drafting). 5 Meg to make contact around opportunities for residents to participate in the dog companion program.
To occur once it is known who the residents of the Disability Justice Centre will be. Research suggests that there are no significant restrictions around pets in similar settings (other than being mindful of any allergies or similar). 7 Fact Sheets to be uploaded onto the website Not completed as yet. These are now Facts and Myth Information Sheets and are still being developed. Follow up to occur by Deb Spittle. Meg to bring same example (of fence) to next LCLG meeting. Completed Answer to following questions to be provided: Confirmation of the fence heights. Outer fence is 3 m high and inner fence is 2.4m high. What plants will be used to assist with screening the centre’s activities from the road/neighbourhood? To be confirmed with Landscaper. Status of Feasibility Study. With the State Government’s withdrawal from Kiara as the site for the second Disability
2 Justice Centre, all matters related to that site are outside the scope of the LCLG. Outcome from visit to Queensland by Scholarship recipient. Meg to provide summary of outcomes from visit to Victoria and Queensland in early July, Meg met with a number of organisations/facility representatives who shared their learnings about programs and operational procedures. The link to the Budget Bulletin which provides detail to be forwarded . http://www.disability.wa.gov.au/about-us1/about- us/corporate-publications/#Budget Bulletins Completed Why did the Minister decide not to build a centre on the Altone Road site? Unable to be answered by anyone other than the Minister/ WA Government . Completed
5. Update from members Connie – reported that she has tried to get meetings with Ministers Hayden, Morton and Faragher but the MPs have postponed the meetings. She also commented that people in the community want ‘hard facts’ eg who will be living at the centre. Liz – Said she ‘hasn’t been available (due to school holidays) to talk to people. Jenny – has told two people about the call for members to the LCLG.
6. Update from Manager Disability Justice Services In addition to visits to Victoria and Queensland, Meg has met representatives from Council of Official Visitors, HADSCO, Teem Treasure and Cam Can (the latter being 2 non government providers of supports to people with an intellectual disability connected to the justice system). Meg has coordinated a meeting with City of Swan Councillors and is in the process of coordinating a meeting with Local Medical Centres. Along with Brian Ellis, Tarryn Harvey and Wendy Cox, Meg also attended the CCARP meeting on 3 July. Meg also attends weekly site meetings to receive an update on the progress of the build and the plans for the following week.
7. Any Other Business Guest Speaker for July Meeting – TBC. Action: Wendy to identify a Social Trainer who can provide insight into directly supporting people with an intellectual disability, and someone who is connected with the justice system. Agenda Items for future meetings: LCLG members to forward these to (xx) at least 5 working days ahead of the next meeting Wendy informed group that she was leaving the Commission on 31 July, 2014. She also stated that she had applied to be a member of the LCLG
3 as a local community representative and as someone who is passionate about supporting people with an intellectual disability. Members asked about officer roles and the governance structure of the DJS project – this was explained to members. This included introduction of Jon Peach and his role and responsibilities. Members asked that Jon attend a future meeting. Communications update – to be added to future agendas. Deb Spittle also noted she will be absent until the November meeting but another communications officer is likely to attend in her place.
8. Actions
Next Meeting Date: Thursday, 21 August 2014 Time: 4 or 4.30 pm (To be confirmed pending identification of Guest speaker) Venue: 130 Lord Street, Caversham
Guest Speaker: TBC
Contact: Meg Barnett, Manager Disability Justice Service, 9426 9211
Details of Future Meetings: Date Time Venue Guest Speaker 18 September, 2014 4pm 130 Lord St, TBC – Caversham representative from non government organisation involved in supporting people with an intellectual disability connected to the justice system 23 October, 2014 4pm 130 Lord St, Mr Jon Peach, Caversham Executive Director Services (TBC) 20 November, 2014 4pm TBC
30 July 2014
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