LEVEDA ACCOMMODATION AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICE

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:38): Today I wish to speak about Leveda Accommodation and Community Support Service. Leveda is an important accommodation and community support service for people with disabilities and complex support needs in the north and north-east of Adelaide. Leveda was formed in late 1988 by a group of parents whose sons and daughters were moving from the state-operated Ru Rua Nursing Home and wanted their children to have greater involvement and choice in services. From the outset, it was founded on the values of choice and inclusion, values that are still relevant today to this sector of our society and the community in general.

Over the last two decades, Leveda has grown from an organisation supporting 20 people with severe and multiple disabilities to providing high-quality accommodation, respite and community support to more than 140 people living with severe and multiple disability, development disability, acquired brain injury, complex health needs and challenging behaviours. In the past five years, it has expanded its support to include children and adolescents in the north and north-east of Adelaide.

Supported by nearly 300 staff, who work mostly as disability support workers and who have attained or are in the process of obtaining Certificate III or IV in Disability Studies, these homes make a huge difference to people in the north. I recently visited a home of four Leveda clients in Salisbury North, and it was one of the first ones Leveda began operating in its early years. Joining me on this occasion were the CEO of Leveda, Wendy Wake-Dyster, the marketing coordinator, Donna Sullivan, and the home coordinator, Heather Hookham.

The home, which is owned by Disability SA, is maintained by Leveda and has received considerable modification over the years to better meet clients' needs. This visit, and my attendance at the volunteers program launch last year in their new premises on Park Terrace at Salisbury, has provided me with a valuable insight into the challenges and achievements of this wonderful organisation. This program and the volunteer program have been supported by Northern Volunteering SA Incorporated and their work there.

Leveda now has around 26 volunteers assisting the service as a result of the volunteer program. Volunteers in the program have the opportunity to learn about Leveda, the clients, and also extend their own skill set. Some of the volunteer roles Leveda is searching for and has already secured include: beauty therapist, disco assistant, driver, community visitor, gardener, house party co-ordinator, caterer, interior decorator, IT support, minibus driver and a disco DJ. These roles will enhance the activities that the paid staff can provide clients, broaden the range of people and relationships developed with their clients and give a richer and fuller life to many of their families as well.

In conclusion, I would like to place on the record my praise and admiration for the people at Leveda and its dedicated team of workers and volunteers, who every hour of each day are making a valuable contribution to the lives of people with complex needs and disabilities in the northern suburbs. I look forward to supporting Leveda in the coming years as it reaches 25 years of selfless service.