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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-11-19 Daily Xml
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Adjournment Debate

ACH Group

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (15:38): I would like to speak today about the wonderful organisation ACH but, in particular, their facility called ViTA, an Italian-Latin word meaning 'life'. It was my pleasure to attend the opening ceremony of this particular facility on Wednesday 20 August at which the Minister for Health, the Hon. Jack Snelling, officiated. Also in attendance was the member for Taylor.

This facility is a state-of-the-art centre supporting the rehabilitation of older people. 'Living better' is the new and exciting platform with which this service and facility offers the approach through a fresh, progressive and innovative focus.

It is based on a partnership between four well-known organisations, being ACH, ViTA, Flinders University and SA Health. ACH, as members are probably all aware, is an experienced not-for-profit organisation which has been supporting older South Australians since 1982. On offer from the ACH services are such things as domestic personal nursing care support, as well as retirement and residential accommodation. At the heart of the ACH mandate is provision of good lives created through opportunities for older people.

ACH is responsive to community sentiment and endeavours to meet the needs of our important older South Australians through flexible and innovative care in the quest for them to be their best and live the best life they can. With hundreds of volunteers, the ACH Group has about 1,700 specialist staff. All who work with the ACH Group hold the belief that their older clientele should be valued and respected and connected to their communities, all the while facilitating empowerment of them to take control of their own lives to the best of their possible abilities.

With the opening of the ViTA complex was a tour of the facility and we saw that it was a progressive, light and bright building with a welcoming ambience. So that we know where it is, it is co-located next to the Repatriation General Hospital, in the same ground. It is an impressive facility which offers the latest technology and clinical and social practices aiming at outcomes that enhance recovery and rehabilitation from illness, particularly supporting the ageing.

Each person who enters and progresses through these services has their individual needs catered for to facilitate maximum health outcomes. The approach is that of 'reablement', meaning that those who access ViTA have the physical capability and confidence on a daily basis to carry out living activities. Therefore, they are supported to remain in their own homes and continue their programs.

Those staying in ViTA see residential-style care in a hospital-like setting. There are light-filled rooms, garden views, smart TVs, private ensuites and the latest interior designs. I must say, on the day we were there it was extremely warm but, as the carers explained to us, it needs to be warm to cater for the older people who do not move around much. All these factors in the environment are set to optimise a speedy recovery. There is also a concierge service to assist each person's needs in an effort to support their independence. This concierge will help plan their transport and meals, for instance.

ViTA also looks to support and is a dynamic environment for students and researchers in developing progressive health. It is also a teaching and research centre and uses new approaches to rehabilitation and restoration. This is achieved through training and development and looking at the future of the aged-care workforce in areas such as general practitioners, nurses, allied health workers, support workers, clerical staff and hotel services.

This approach will be facilitated by way of taking an interprofessional learning approach which will see students in various disciplines working side by side to improve the quality of care through collaboration. We witnessed this on the day we visited this particular facility, as we saw nurses working alongside other allied health professionals as they were case working particular individual cases. We also witnessed the videoconferencing technique that was taking place as well, so those in more rural and remote areas were receiving these services. For anyone who is interested in visiting the ViTA facility, I highly recommend you arrange a tour. They will be only too pleased to facilitate this.

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