Supported Accommodation

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:01): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Human Services on the topic of supported accommodation.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: The public sector currently takes care of some of the most vulnerable people with disabilities who require significant support, often because no NGO can provide that adequate support because of the costs involved. In fact, I understand that currently there are some 500 residents and 1,400 staff involved in this. That is why the Weatherill government and former minister Katrine Hildyard announced in February last year that the state government supported community accommodations to become a commercial trading entity to be able to operate under the NDIS to give certainty through that public corporation that the residential supported accommodation of these particular people would remain part of the state government's responsibilities and be part of the public sector system.

The then minister went on to appoint a board to produce regulations, and since that time these residents, their families and the staff have operated under the belief that that proposal for supported community accommodation would not be outsourced to the NGO sector. However, on 14 June, in a missive from the CE from the new state government, it is now the case that the plan has completely changed. Indeed, at this stage there is great uncertainty of this new policy position. There was a meeting of staff affected—some 1,400—last week on 14 June and a follow-up meeting today at noon at the Strathmont centre.

Questions remain as to how this new NGO accommodation plan will be rolled out, not just for those who are currently employed in the public sector but also for residents and their families. My questions are:

1. Can the minister confirm that this will affect 500 residents and 1,400 staff?

2. How have the residents been informed?

3. When will the staff know their futures?

4. In what way will this plan be rolled out?

5. In what time frames will it take effect?

6. What is the communications plan to ensure that people are given certainty into their futures?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:04): I thank the honourable member for her question. During the election campaign, the then Liberal opposition committed to establishing a timetable to transfer all state disability services to the non-government sector, including group homes. That was in our 100-day plan, so it was quite clear. Group homes are often also referred to as supported community accommodation.

The transfer of supported community accommodation to the non-government sector is in line with the approach that has been taken under the previous government for other disability services and, as the service was ultimately to transfer, as envisaged by the NDIS and the state and commonwealth approach to the NDIS, it was the intention that these services would ultimately transfer to the non-government sector.

It has been deemed by the current government that the public corporation was not required as part of this transition, so the board and the chief executive of the corporation have been informed of this decision and thanked for their outstanding strategic leadership and vision over the period in which they were engaged. I have also written to both the unions involved to inform them that there have been a range of meetings organised, as the honourable member referred to in her question.

It is intended that it be business as usual. It is the intention of this government to consult very widely, both with the people employed within group homes and with the people with disabilities and their families as well, and that will shape how this process goes forward. We are guided by several principles, and those include continuity of quality client services and retention of skilled and experienced employees in the disability sector. We are also mindful of the capacity of the local non-government sector.

Those will be the principles that will guide us at this stage. It is business as usual, and it is our intention to consult very closely with all the relevant stakeholders, including the union, as this process goes forward.