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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2007-11-13 Daily Xml
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SUPPORTED ACCOMMODATION STRATEGY

189 Mrs REDMOND (Heysen) (31 July 2007). Does the Supported Accommodation Strategy aim to remove or separate people with intellectual disabilities into separate facilities from those with mental illness and how does it contemplate single gender facilities?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability, Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management): The Supported Accommodation Strategy aims to help people across a range of all disability types as a result of intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, neurological, sensory or physical impairments. The Strategy's focus is on meeting people's needs as a result of functional incapacity, regardless of disability type, under a single system so that all needs can be considered on a more equitable and equal footing.

Although some supported accommodation services for psychiatric disability fall within the scope of disability services provided by the Department for Families and Communities, primary responsibility for supported accommodation for people with mental illness sits with Mental Health Services through the Department of Health. As part of a 'stepped system of care', mental health will provide a range of supported accommodation options that will include psychiatric disability support within one's own home through to more intensive models of care, such as clustered housing with 24 hour staff support for residents.

Supported accommodation services are designed to best meet the individual needs of clients across both the mental health and disability systems. Decisions regarding the arrangements for individuals living together in congregate care facilities are determined by a range of factors including the nature of services to be provided on-site, e.g., whether they be clinical/therapeutic, transitional or longer term accommodation and the levels of support required to meet personal care, behavioural and supervisory needs. Compatibility, personal safety and capacity for independent living are also key factors in deciding the suitability of facilities for individuals.

The Supported Accommodation Strategy is not prescriptive in determining the living arrangements for individuals requiring supported accommodation nor does it dictate what models should or should not be available. It assumes that a range of service models are required. Within that range, there is a place in the service system for accommodation facilities to support groups of individuals with similar support needs that are gender or diagnosis specific. This type of option will be considered where this best meets the needs of the individual and in consideration of other factors as mentioned above.

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