Sector Development Plan Upper South West Quick Read
Quick read profile—Upper South West area consultation document
Map based on information provided by and with the permission of the Western Australian Land Information Authority (Landgate), and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
About the Upper South West profileWest profile area
The Upper South West area profile covers about 6,147 square kilometres (ABS 2012a) and includes six local government authorities (LGAs): the City of Bunbury and the Shires of Capel, Collie, Dardanup, Donnybrook-Balingup, and Harvey.
There are an estimated 96,073 people living in the Upper South West areaWest area (ABS 2012a). This area represents about four per cent of the West Australian population.
Information about the Sector Development Plan and the area profile consultation documents
The Disability Services Commission’s (the Commission) vision is that all people live in welcoming communities that support citizenship, friendship, mutual support and a fair go for everyone. The Commission is working together with key stakeholders to create a Sector Development Plan (the Plan). The Plan will provide the disability sector with direction and will identify opportunities for development.
The Commission has written fifteen area profile consultation documents which cover all areas of WA as well as this summary document for each area—the quick read. Each area profile consultation document presents information about supports and services available in each profile area. We want to hear from people who live and work in each profile area to help us understand more about the disability supports and services people receive. The Commission will then use this information to develop local plans for each profile area along with an overall state-wide plan.
How to have your say
We are seeking feedback from interested stakeholders and have developed a list of questions covering a number of topics for your consideration. A feedback form template has also been provided which may assist you in consolidating your comments. Should you wish to use the template provided you can either complete it electronically or print it and hand write your comments.
Forms can be returned to the Commission by email or post.
· email the template to
· post the template to:
Disability Services Commission
Sector Development Plan Feedback
PO Box 441
West Perth WA6872
The template has been supplied as a helpful tool but it is not compulsory that you use it or answer every question to provide your feedback. Any general comments can be provided to the Commission via email or post using the details above, or they can be provided verbally or by attending a focus group.
To provide feedback another way you can:
· provide verbal feedback by phoning Sector Development on 9426 9309
· attend a focus group that will be hosted in local areas (these will be advertised on the www.dsc.wa.gov.au web site).
If you have any questions or require further assistance, please email or phone 9426 9309.
Contents
Population characteristics 4
Networks and support groups 5–6
People using Commission-funded supports and services
· Local Area Coordination 6
· Shared management 6
· Supported living 7
· Shared supported accommodation (group homes) 7
· Individualised community living 7
· Support to pursue meaningful occupation and lifestyle— 7–8
Alternatives to Employment (ATE), Post School Options
(PSO) and recreation
· Support to families—includes Intensive Family Support 8–9
and Family Living Initiative, and breaks for families
and carers
· Support to optimise independence and wellbeing— 9
disability professional services
Other community services
· Employment support 9
· Home and Community Care (HACC) 9
Demand for supports and services 10
Sector development issues 10–11
Tell us what you think—consultation questions 12–13
References 14
Appendix A 15–17
· Information about organisations providing support in the area
Upper South West area
Population characteristics
· It is estimated that 3.7 per cent of the population in this area have a severe or profound core activity limitation—across the state it is estimated that 3.1 per cent of the population have a severe or profound core activity limitation (ABS 2012b).
· 18.89 per cent of the population in this area was born overseas, which is below the WA average of 31 per cent (ABS 2012a).
· 5.90 per cent of the Upper South West population speaks a language other than English at home—this is significantly below the WA average of 21 per cent (ABS 2012a).
· People who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in the 2011 Census
(ABS 2012a) represent 2.49 per cent of the population in the central north metropolitan area. This is consistent with the state-wide figure of three per cent.
· For all LGAs in this profile area, nearly eight per cent of the population provided unpaid assistance to a person with disability (ABS 2012a). This is consistent with the percentage recorded for the State (ABS 2012a).
Other observations
· Median household weekly incomes across the area range from $990 to $1,628. The state figure is $1,415 (ABS 2012a).
· Weekly rental costs for a three-bedroom house in a sample of towns in the area isWeekly rental costs for a three-bedroom house in a sample of towns in the area are between $250 to $300. The Perth metropolitan median weekly rent for a three -bedroom house is $385 (REIWA 2012).
· Median house prices for a sample of towns in this area range from $250,000 to $532,750. The Perth metropolitan median house price is $470,000 (REIWA 2012).
Networks and support groups
People get practical and moral support from their wider family, friends, neighbours and other families, this support is important. Informal and structured community groups also play a valuable role in supporting and strengthening people and families. People might find support through local church groups, sports and recreation activities, community networks, mothers’ groups, playgroups, self-help and peer support programs, disability-specific support groups, cultural groups and education and counselling services.
You can also find information about local support groups through Local Area Coordinators (LACs), information services provided by Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres (CRCC), Carers WA or your LGA.
Some support groups in the Upper South West profile area include:
Bunbury Housing Association: Provides long-term housing for low income disadvantaged people.
Phone: 9791 5438
Collie Family Centre: Provides support to individuals, families and support groups in the community to enhance their quality of life. A counselling service is also available.
Open on weekdays from 9am–2.30pm.
Phone: 9734 5343
Web: www.colliefamilycentre.org.au .
Family Support Programme—Harvey Health and Community Services: Provides crisis information, family support, referral, advocacy and general information to families within the Shire of Harvey excluding Australind. Open Monday to Wednesday 8.30am–4.30pm.
Phone: 9782 4000
Milligan—Bunbury: Provides a family support service through adult education classes, referral centre, resources, playgroups and children's programs, social activities and community development.
Phone: 9271 8944
Web: www.milligan.org.au .
Waroona Community Centre Inc and Waroona Telecentre: Links members of the community with appropriate support services, including crisis support, information and advocacy, referrals to other support networks, employment services, family and youth support services, activity programs and a toy library. Open Monday to Thursday 9am–4pm and Fridays 9am–3pm.
Phone: 9733 2545
Web: www.waroonacommunitycentre.org.au .
WA Special Families: A state-wide Facebook support group than can be accessed by invitation-only. People able to access the group must be a parent of, or someone caring for, a person with disability.
Access through Facebook only.
People using Commission-funded and provided services
This section describes how people in this area used Commission-funded and provided supports and services in 2011−2012—it does not provide detail about how well services are working.
Local information and support for individuals and families—
Local Area Coordination (LAC)
Many people with disability access Commission’s Local Area Coordination (LAC) support across the state. LACs support children and adults with physical, sensory, neurological, cognitive and/or intellectual disability who are under 65 at the time they first apply for support. LACs work with individuals and communities to provide direct and personalised support to people with disability, their families and carers to live a fulfilled life.
· 604 people in this area were registered with LAC in 2011–2012 (Disability Services Commission (DSC) 2012).
· More than 56 per cent of these people were aged between five and 24 years (this trend is common across WA).
· Most people lived in Bunbury (324), followed by Harvey (101) and Collie (76).
Directing supports and services—shared management
Most people with an individualised funding package from the Commission have their support managed and provided by a disability service organisation. Some people with Community Living or Family Living manage their funding through their LAC.
Organisations are encouraged to offer shared management. A shared management approach gives people greater control over their supports and funding. To make sure expectations and responsibilities are met by each party, an agreement is developed. (See Appendix A for a list of organisations that offer shared management).
Supported living
Supported living describes the support provided to people with disability so they can live in their home and community. Supported living relies on individual funding allocation—which people apply for through the Combined Application Process (CAP) or Community Living Program.
· 123 people in this area were supported in shared supported accommodation or an individualised accommodation arrangement in 2011–2012 (DSC 2012).
Shared supported accommodation (group homes)
61 people in this area lived in one of 15 shared support accommodation arrangements (group homes) in 2011–2012 (DSC 2012). Observations include:
· More than 54 per cent of these people were older than 60 years.
· Most people were living in Bunbury (48), followed by Harvey (8).
· Activ provided most of the shared supported accommodation in this profile area (see Appendix A for a full list of providers).
· About four per cent of the State’s group homes are in the Upper South West profile area.
Individualised community living
62 people in this area used individual community living support and services and were assisted to live independently in the community in 2011–2012 (DSC 2012).
· Most of these people live in Bunbury (45).
· 14 people in this area have a community living package.
Support to pursue meaningful occupation/lifestyle
Post School Options (PSO) and Alternatives to Employment (ATE) are Commission-funded programs that support people in meaningful activities during their week. These programs rely on individual funding allocation. People of school-leaving age can apply for PSO and is allocated based on eligibility and support needs. Adults with disability can apply for ATE funding through CAP, which is allocated based on eligibility, support needs and priority
of need.
· 121 people in this area received an ATE or PSO allocation in 2011−2012
(DSC 2012).
· More than 69 per cent of these people were aged between 15 and 34 years.
· Most people lived in Bunbury (70), followed by Harvey (16).
· There are nine organisations providing ATE/PSO support (see Appendix A for a full list of providers).
Recreation
Eligible people with disability may access support from Commission-funded organisations to pursue recreational activities. People may contact organisations directly to find out how to access services.
· 90 people in this area used recreation support services in 2011–2012 (DSC 2012).
· Most of these people live in Collie (39) and Bunbury (34).
· Riding for the Disabled Association of WA provided support to the largest number of people (see Appendix A for a full list of providers).
Support to families
Some services and supports aim to improve family wellbeing—in some cases these services are individually funded through the Family Living Initiative (FLI) or Intensive Family Support (IFS).
FLI has a strong emphasis on planning. Families can apply for funding based on a plan that complements informal supports provided by families, carers, friends and the community.
When families are under stress or at risk of breakdown people can apply for IFS funding through CAP. Funding is allocated based on eligibility, support needs and priority of need.
· 36 people and their families in this area received IFS funding in 2011–2012
(DSC 2012).
· Most of these people lived in Bunbury (21).
· Nine people have a plan and funding package through the FLI (DSC 2012).
Breaks for families and carers
To give themselves a break, families and carers can sometimes access respite services from Commission-funded organisations or Commonwealth funded programs. Individuals and families apply for respite opportunities directly with organisations that provide services based on a person’s need and vacancies. These services can be flexible, for example they can be provided in the person’s home and/or community, provided out-of-home in respite houses, and during school holidays.
Commonwealth Respite and Care Link can provide information about organisations that provide respite, and can fund short-term or one-off respite. LACs can also help people to have a break or access supports.
In this profile area in 2011–2012:
· 62 people received some form of family support funding from the Commission in which was managed through LAC.
· 113 people accessed Commission-funded respite support (DSC 2012).
Developing independence and wellbeing
Disability professional services
Many people with disability access professional services, including therapy, to improve wellbeing, support their independence, and develop skills.
In regional Western Australia comprehensive disability professional services are provided through the WA Country Health Service (WACHS). Services can also be accessed privately, or in some cases using Commonwealth funding.
Comprehensive services are services that respond flexibly to the needs and goals of people with disability and their family. These services include speech and occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology support.
In this profile area comprehensive disability professional services areprovidedare provided by WACHS.
Other community services
Employment supports and services for people with disability
Some people with disability access employment services to support them to find and keep a job. People choose (or are assessed and directed by Centrelink) to access Australian Disability Enterprises (ADE) or Disability Employment Services (DES), depending on their support needs. Information about ADEs and DESs operating in this area can be found at the following websites: