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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-04-06 Daily Xml
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STRATHMONT CENTRE

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (14:41): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Disability questions regarding the Strathmont Centre.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: On Sunday 3 April this year the Sunday Mail reported that the Minister for Disability admitted she was unaware of the inappropriate living conditions at Strathmont, one of the government's only institutions for people with intellectual disability. In the same Sunday Mail report the minister said that she was unaware that people were being locked in their rooms at night, was also unaware that some rooms did not even have light switches and was unaware that people did not have appropriate toilet facilities. These comments were in stark contrast to those made by the minister less than a week earlier on radio 891 ABC, when she spoke about the high staff ratios at Strathmont and said that Strathmont had not been run down.

It is indeed a sorry state of affairs when we have a minister who is simply unaware of what is happening in her own institutions. It is not acceptable that the minister, who is responsible for the care and support of these people, had not, until last week, so much as visited the centre and, frankly, cannot keep a handle on her own institutions. If she cannot do this I am loath to think about what else is happening out there in the community.

In Victoria there exists a community visitor scheme, where community visitors are able to visit any premises where disability service providers are providing a residential service. These community visitors act as a watchdog of sorts, and report on the quality and standard of care and support that is being provided to residents with disabilities. My questions to the minister are:

1. How could the minister possibly believe that she is fulfilling her duties as Minister for Disability when she is unaware of the conditions in her own facilities?

2. If the minister concedes that she is not fulfilling her responsibilities, which she must, will she step down as Minister for Disability?

3. Does the minister acknowledge that a community visitor scheme could possibly have brought these issues to light in a much more expedient and acceptable manner? If so, will the minister then support my private member's bill to establish a community visitor scheme which is soon to be introduced into this parliament?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises) (14:43): I thank the honourable member for her important questions, and will refer those to the Minister for Disability in another place and bring back a response. However, I have received some advice from the agency in relation to Strathmont. I have been advised that Strathmont is institutionalised care, a model which was accepted in its day but which is now considered an inappropriate model of care. The government acknowledges that for some a different model of care will be needed, and that is not in dispute.

I am advised that as this matter progresses the Department for Families and Communities will work closely with families to deliver the best outcome for each individual. I have also been advised that the Department for Families and Communities is developing a business case to work out the most effective approach for accommodating the remaining residents in appropriate accommodation. I am advised that significant work has already been undertaken in assessing the support needs of the residents, compatibility, support infrastructure and housing solutions to develop capital and recurrent financial options. I am further advised that these options are being considered as part of the department's master planning process.

In terms of what has been done, I have been advised that in 2005 the Rann government commenced stage 1 of the Strathmont Centre Redevelopment and Community Living Project and it has relocated residents to purpose-built group homes in the community and also provided sustainment work on three of the five remaining villas. In addition, $6.7 million in recurrent funds and more than $20 million in capital funds was made available to assist people to move from Strathmont back into the community. I am advised that, so far, 146 residents have moved to purpose-built houses throughout Adelaide since the beginning of the project—that is, 146 residents. Thanks to these efforts, 66 people remain at Strathmont. As I said, in terms of detailed answers to the questions, I will refer those to the Minister for Disabilities in another place and bring back a response.

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