Question Time

Supported Accommodation

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:17): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Human Services on the topic of supported community accommodation services.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Labor's approach to the transition to the NDIS in this area was to establish a statutory authority, while the Liberal government's approach has been a wholesale privatisation of the supported community accommodation area. My questions to the minister are:

1. Did the minister, her staff or her department undertake any consultation with people who access supported accommodation, support workers, next of kin or advocates prior to deciding to implement their privatisation policy?

2. Since announcing the privatisation, what work has the minister, her office or her department undertaken, and what communication has been provided to the people affected?

3. Has any company or organisation been appointed or selected to carry out consultation in relation to this matter?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:19): I thank the honourable member for his question. These matters have been canvassed a range of times in this place, and very similar, if not identical, questions have been asked of me previously.

In relation to the public corporation, that decision was made by cabinet in either May or June of this year and subsequently publicly announced. It was consistent with what our election commitment had been, which was to provide a timetable for the transition of all government disability services to the non-government sector. I have provided details about the previous government's program, which was consistent with this policy in terms of Domiciliary Care, and other therapy services as well.

I think I previously outlined some of the communications that have gone to stakeholders, in terms of the workers, the unions, people in the homes and families, after that decision had been made. We are in the midst of a much more detailed range of consultations where we have three goals: continuity and quality client services and supporting client choice; retention of skilled and experienced employees in the disability sector; and growth in the South Australian non-government sector. My advice is that consultation on this particular phase commenced in the week beginning 10 September.

As part of the initial information sessions with staff, the Department of Human Services has supported United Voice to meet with its members following the meeting in paid time so that they could independently listen to its members and provide written feedback to the Department of Human Services. The Department of Human Services is committed to consulting with staff and unions on how it can retain skilled and experienced staff in the disability sector and is continuing to work closely with United Voice.

In relation to the clients and their families, they have been informed of the decision by phone call and a letter. A number of clients are under the guardianship of the Office of the Public Advocate, who has liaised with them about the decision and what it means for them. Through consultation with staff and employee associations this will be an important part of developing the plan for implementing the withdrawal of services. All stakeholders will have opportunities to ask questions, provide feedback and contribute.

In relation to the honourable member's final question, OzTrain has been engaged to perform consultation with staff, which, as I said, commenced in the week beginning 10 September. The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI) has been engaged to perform client consultation, and that commenced in the week beginning 8 October, and KPMG has been engaged to perform sector consultation, and that commenced in the week beginning 15 October.