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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-11-11 Daily Xml
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Supported Accommodation

The Hon. C. BONAROS (15:20): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Human Services a question about the planned trial of CCTV in state-run disability support accommodation facilities.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: Just last week, the government announced it would be commencing a three-month surveillance trial in two supported accommodation homes housing up to five clients each. My question to the minister is:

1. Has a preferred supplier been selected to operate the trial?

2. If so, who is that supplier?

3. Will it be the same company, Sturdie, which has been given the contract for CCTV cameras in state-run residential care facilities?

4. Can the minister provide information about when the trial will commence and how long it will operate for?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:21): I thank the honourable member for her question, and I appreciate the interest of the SA-Best party in these particular types of cameras.

The camera trial is part of the suite of improvements that the Department of Human Services has been undertaking within state-run supported accommodation for people with disabilities, which numbers about 500 people across the state. There has been a range of things that have been implemented which I think are very effectively improving the services for people with disabilities. We have been receiving positive feedback from both people with disabilities and their families in relation to this, and indeed staff, who feel much more supported than they have in the past.

We have implemented a zero tolerance to abuse and neglect, improved reporting through anonymous complaints, improved training and development for staff, the recruitment of more quality safeguarding practice staff to monitor and improve practice, placement of team supervisors into homes, and an audit by external providers against the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission requirements.

The CCTV is part of improving those services. I appreciate that not all people with disabilities would wish to have CCTV in their particular site, and therefore it is one that we are implementing quite carefully. It's a three-month trial at this stage. The technology provider hasn't been determined at this stage, but if it suits the honourable member, to assist her and her colleague, I will ask my department to seek advice from the Department for Health and Wellbeing about the learnings of their particular trial, which I am sure they are well aware of, but I will just ask them to confirm that they have consulted with them in relation to the aged-care program. The pilot is estimated to cost approximately $30,000 and begin once we have consulted appropriately with people with disabilities.

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