AnglicareSA

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (14:47): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Human Services.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS: Earlier this week, AnglicareSA was forced to sack over 40 skilled workers, with some being made permanently redundant and others offered alternative work on an allegedly significantly reduced salary. Of these 43 jobs, 25 per cent are mental health support staff and 75 per cent are special needs staff under the exceptional needs program. These special needs staff support clients to maintain their home, develop independent living skills and increase their community participation, as well as providing ongoing support and care based on each individual's needs.

AnglicareSA CEO, Rev. Peter Sandeman, labelled these job losses necessary given the shortfall in block funding for the sector as the transition to the NDIS continues to roll out. My questions to the minister are:

1. How many clients are currently in the exceptional needs program?

2. Across how many sites are these services provided?

3. When was the minister aware of these job losses?

4. Finally, what work has the minister or her department undertaken to support those workers affected, and has she been in contact with the ASU in relation to the job losses?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:49): I thank the honourable member for her questions. I have responded to some of these previously. What I was in the midst of trying to say, while I was being rudely interrupted by the individuals across the chamber, is that the federal government is responsible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Anglicare is responsible for the way it manages the exceptional needs program going forward.

I have not been in touch with the Australian Services Union because I am not the minister who is responsible for their funding arrangements. This is going to increasingly take place as we transition to the full funding of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which I would remind members—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter, we don't need a running commentary of your inner thoughts.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I would remind members that it is a system that everybody has signed up to through the bilateral agreements. If they would like me to retrieve—I will not actually go and retrieve former premier Jay Weatherill's signature on the bilateral agreement, which is how this scheme was agreed to: that all block funding that was previously provided by the states as a funding arrangement to non-government organisations like Anglicare is transitioning into the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and Anglicare is responsible for the decisions that it makes.

In relation to the Exceptional Needs Unit, I can advise that it continues to have funding of some $6 million. I am now talking about the South Australian Exceptional Needs Unit, which has three particular programs through mainstream or multiagency arrangements. It has a management assessment service which supports assessment, support planning, specialised service development and service coordination for people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, whose exceptional needs and complexity exceed the ability or service capacities of agencies.

Secondly, there is the homelessness support program, which is funding to non-government organisations to deliver assertive outreach case management and other support services to address chronic homelessness; and the supported residential facilities intake and support service, which is assessment at entry level into SRFs, and works to reduce vulnerabilities and risks for people with high levels of need.