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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-06-02 Daily Xml
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RESPITE HOUSING

Ms SIMMONS (Morialta) (14:53): My question is to the Minister for Housing. Can she inform the house of exciting new initiatives which will deliver respite housing for people with a disability?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Northern Suburbs, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (14:53): I thank the member for Morialta for her question. Today I would like to inform the house of a project at Park Holme which highlights how cooperative partnerships deliver good outcomes for our community.

As members would know, the Community Accommodation Respite Agency (CARA) is the largest provider of respite services in South Australia. The South Australian government provides something like $13 million annually for the provision of respite services through CARA, and they do a great job in helping to alleviate the pressures families feel from time to time when a member of their family has a disability.

A third and important partner has joined with CARA and Housing SA in providing another respite opportunity. I recently visited a Housing SA property at Park Holme that will be converted into a six bedroom disability-friendly respite house, and I spoke with Westfield regional manager, Malcolm Creswell and CARA chief executive, Greg Box.

Mr Cresswell told me how Westfield had become interested in the project when staff were considering how Westfield could more effectively contribute to our community and how staff could support community initiatives. Westfield has joined the increasing number of business organisations that allow staff to volunteer. It also wanted the company to become more involved than simply making a monetary donation with no further involvement. As part of a normal conversation, mention was made by a staff member that he and his wife had some free time for a social activity because their child, who had a disability, was accessing respite. This simple exchange has resulted in Westfield partnering with Housing SA and CARA in this most recent development.

The construction work in refurbishing this Housing SA property is being undertaken and managed by Westfield, and staff are being involved in the upgrade and development of the outdoor recreation areas. We know that it is vitally important that families have the opportunity for a break from the demands of full-time care of their child with a disability. The provision of the Weroona Avenue property means that young people with a disability will have more opportunities to socialise with people their own age and enjoy a short-term stay out of their normal environment. Respite will be available at the house from Friday through to Tuesday morning, including school and public holidays.

I would like to congratulate everyone involved in this project and remind members about the wonderful contribution that Housing SA makes on a continual basis in making properties available for people with disabilities. I would like to thank Westfield for its major contribution, and CARA for its ongoing care and support for people with disabilities and their families.

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