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60 SUNDAY DECEMBER 17 2017 THEMERCURY.COM.AU
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National disability insurance Scheme
YOUR GUIDE TO TASMANIA’S ROLLOUT FOR THE 29-34 AGE GROUP
AN AdvertiSiNg feAture
LI-VE Tasmania is a statewideorganisation supporting peopleliving with disability, regardless
of the service provider they choose.A key factor allowing people living
with disability to live their bestpossible lives is making sure theirsupport staff is both skilled andfulfilled.
The Li-Ve Fuller grant is boostingskills and feeding passions, oneworker at a time, across theTasmanian disability sector.
Li-Ve Tasmania chief executive,Paul Byrne said, “Research showsthat people living with disability havemore opportunities and better lifeexperiences if support staff share theirinterests and skills and are willing totry new activities, explore theircommunity and seek adventure.”
“At Li-Ve Tasmania, we’releveraging this principle via the Li-VeFuller grant,” he said.
Eleven workers have receivedgrants totalling more than $5000 in
the first year of funding, for projectsincluding a camera drone, bonsaicourse, Auslan classes and guitarlessons.
Funding recipient AmandaThompson will use her funding tocreate and nurture a citrus grove andblueberry patch. Amanda hopes thecitrus scented garden will be acalming addition to the yard.
“Gardening is a peaceful activityfor the household where I work,” shesaid.
“We’ll produce tasty, seasonal andpesticide-free food and the residentsare excited about tracing items likelemonade and jam from paddock toplate.
“Without the Li-Ve Fuller grant, Iwould not be able to buy plants andequipment, or pay for books so I’mexcited to receive funding to dosomething I have always wanted todo.”
Amanda urges anyone working indisability in Tasmania who has a
passion they would like to share withthe people they support, to check outLi-Ve Fuller and submit anapplication.
Support staff can apply for up to$2000 through the Li-Ve Fuller grant,which is offered by Jenny Fuller andPam Bretz in loving memory of theirsister, Margie Fuller.For more information or to apply email [email protected], or phone 6227 5400 or visit www.livefuller.gives
DEDICATED: Disability support worker Amanda Thompson has received funding from Li-Ve to create a citrus grove and blueberry patch at the household where she works.
Help to live a fuller life
For supportat any life stage,call us on 6227 5400.
www.facebook.com/LiVeTassie
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HelpishereAn advertising feature
ESKLEIGH FoundationInc. is a not-for-profitorganisation that has
been providing disability support services in Northern Tasmania for 70 years and now cares for NDIS and private clients on the North-West Coast and in Hobart.
Eskleigh is committed to providing quality, individual support through Group Home, Attendant Care and Community Access programs.
Chief executive Dale Luttrell said the introduction of the NDIS was reshaping the disability service sector and Eskleigh was meeting the challenge with new facilities and new services.
“We support people with varying levels of physical and intellectual disability including spinal injury, acquired brain injury, aneurysm and stroke,” Mr Luttrell said.
Mr Luttrell said Eskleigh has an energetic and caring
workforce that is professionally trained and dedicated to working collaboratively with clients and their families to achieve positive outcomes.
Maintaining social connections and social engagement is important and at Eskleigh’s Community Access Centres activities are designed around personal interests and needs.
Transport to social activities and other events can be provided and Community Access Centre programs are reviewed regularly.
Eskleigh Group Homes offer active and person-centred support 24 hours a day, seven days a week in four-six bedroom contemporary residential homes.
“Being part of a functioningand co-operative group of people can be extremely important in having a meaningful, active and
fulfilling lifestyle,” Mr Luttrell said.
Eskleigh Group Homes arelocated in Mornington, Montrose, Longford and Launceston.
For clients able to stay in their own home Eskleigh’s statewide Attendant Care program offers a wide range of in-home support services.
The type of care to be provided is determined after thorough consultation with relevant medical practitioners, the client and family.
Trained nurses and qualified support workers can provide in-home medical supervision and personal care and facilitate community integration.
Inquiries about all Eskleigh services can be obtained by phoning (03) 6398 7100, email to [email protected]. There is more information at www.eskleigh.com.au.
Committed to quality support
MEETING THE CHALLENGE: With new facilities and improved services, Eskleigh Foundation is achieving better outcomes for those with disabilities.
Supporting people to achieve their best
Life’s possibilities are endless with Lifestyle Solutions
Find out how Lifestyle Solutions can make a positive difference in your life or the life of someone in your care.
We offer a comprehensive range of supports and services:
We can also advise on funding options for one-on-one support.
Contact us for more information.
1800 NDIS 4 U (1800 634 748) [email protected]
Lifestyle Solutions is a registered NDIS service provider.
• Community Outreach Program• Disability Employment Service• Specialised Accommodation
Service
• In-home Support Service• Community Access Service• Beating the Odds Program
YEARS
CE
LEBRATIN
G
70
Celebrating 70 years of service, Eskleigh offers a state wide service for people with a disability with an all-new Bellerive centre
• Community Access and Community Attendant Care Service Programmes means personalised activity and support.
• Respite Care, Residential disability care in your home.
• NDIS registered provider and provides services to DHHS and private clients
www.eskleigh.com.au
A New Era in Disability Care
Tasmanian NDIS Provider
South: 2/120 Cambridge Road, Bellerive, 7018 (adjacent to Eastlands) Phone: 03 6244 6661
North: Eskleigh Home, 16087 Midlands Highway, Perth, 7300 Phone: 03 6398 7100
North-West: Unit 5, Columnar Court, 4-22 Wilmot Street, Burnie, 7320 Phone: 03 6432 1776
Make a difference to a loved ones quality of life.
Eskleigh Foundation now offering state wide service
A New Era in Disability Care for Hobart
Eskleigh centre now in Bellerive
Tasmania’s leading linen service
62 SUNDAY DECEMBER 17 2017 THEMERCURY.COM.AU
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HelpishereAn advertising feature
Offering solutions for a brighter futureHOBART resident Melissa
is well on her way to reaching her life-long goal of living independently, with the ongoing support she receives from Lifestyle Solutions and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Lifestyle Solutions has been providing the 24-year-old with ongoing respite care for a number of years, but since her transition to the new Scheme, Melissa now receives an increased level of
support and is determined to improve her cooking, literacy and numeracy skills.
In addition to her one-on-one, in-home support program, Lifestyle Solutions’ Support Workers are providing Melissa with functional skills-based training to prepare her to one day be able to live on her own.
Client Services Coordinatorat Lifestyle Solutions’ Tasmania Support Centre,
Fran Touber, said, “As part of Melissa’s suite of supports, she is currently undertaking a cooking program where she is learning how to prepare food, read recipes, measure ingredients, budget for and plan her meals.
“Her support workers arenoticing that Melissa is starting to become much more independent and wanting to take bigger steps.”
Melissa works at BluelineLaundry, an employment
provider for people with disabilities and highlighted that she would like to build on her literacy and numeracy skills.
She is now taking on a literacy and numeracy program in a bid to gain more opportunity and growth.
“Melissa is fast becomingmore confident, and in the new year plans to trial working in different areas of Blueline Laundry, to strengthen her skills and
knowledge,” Fran said.“Her current NDIS plan
reflects the opportunity and growth that she needs to work toward her lifetime goal of living independently.”
Melissa is now much morecomfortable, not only with undertaking tasks as a team, but on her own.
With the help and supportof her family, and Lifestyle Solutions, Melissa can get the most out of life and the possibilities available to her.SUPPORTED: Melissa now
enjoys more independence.
LAST week a group ofLangford participantsmet with adventurer
Paul Pritchard to talk about goals and how they can work toward them.
Paul said with a bit of helpeveryone can do what they want to. In his case it was climbing a rock called the Totem Pole on the Tasman Peninsula, 18 years after a climbing accident there left him with a catastrophic brain injury and hemiplegia.
He talked about keeping hold of his dream, working with what he has, breaking his goal down into manageable steps and getting the right support to climb “the most sensational piece of rock in the world” – even if it did take him 18 years to do it.
This year he teamed with agroup of adventurers known as L2H – to be the first people to ride from the lowest to the highest point in Australia – under human power.
The team, all of whom havedisabilities, rode from Lake Eyre in South Australia to Mt Kosciuszko, and it took them six weeks.
Paul stressed that people with disabilities are not unable, it is society which is disabled.
“With the right supports we
can do anything,” he said.“Disability is not the
barrier, believing in our own capacity to live the life we
want is the key”. Langford support teams
work with people to understand their goals and
then put the right supports in place to achieve them. Like Paul and the L2H team achieving a world first by
working together, having a plan and step by step achieving them.
Paul and the group talked
about sometimes things not working out as planned, he said “that’s not failing, that’s a work in progress”.
Help to get back on track
INSPIRATIONAL: Langford participant William Barnes tries out the bike adventurer Paul Pritchard, looking on in background, used in his epic L2H ride.
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AFTER 20 years on thedisability scene in Hobartworking from the same office
in Moonah, Nexus has had to find abigger office.
“The move has been driven by thegrowth in clients over the past fewyears – we have had over 100 newclients join us in the past couple ofyears,” Nexus chief executive MarkJessop said. Nexus has moved to amodern office development atTechnoPark in Dowsing Point.
Nexus started out predominantlyas a supported-living provider with 36clients across nine group homes butexpanded to Community Services in2014.
Since this time, they have helpedmany clients develop greater skills inareas including cooking, shoppingand using transport.
Earlier this year Nexus formed anew division called Nexus Complexand Individualised Supports (NCISfor short) to focus on people whoneed one-on-one support, have morecomplex behavioural needs or whohave higher abilities and desire moreflexible supports.
“These clients are a little morechallenging to support, soorganisations need to invest more instaff and systems,” Mr Jessop said.
“Sadly under the NDIS someservices have withdrawn from theseareas. “As a rights-based organisationthe Nexus Board believed it is
essential that service continue tosupport these clients.”
The Nexus Independent LivingProgram (NILP) which is part of this
new division was recently recognisedas an innovative support program bythe Summer Foundation, a nationallyregarded disability think tank. NILP
helps young people with a disabilitymove into their own single units andthen supports and trains them in howto live as independently as they can.The model uses a lot of one-on-onetraining and has people learning themany skills required to live in thecommunity.
An evaluation of the programshowed that people were trained inmore than 50 separate tasks aroundthe house.
The greatest skill increases were incooking, cleaning, using transport,personal care, family involvementand grocery shopping.
The next age cohort aging into theNDIS will give many families anopportunity to consider newaccommodation options.
Nexus has been doing a great dealof planning around the types ofaccommodation the people will wantand need and believe there are someexciting new options.
Nexus Accommodation Servicescurrently has a vacancy in asupported living home in Berriedaleand is also creating an expression ofinterest list for a new independentliving program it is designing.Anyone interested in being supported by Nexus please contact Mark Jessop or Alison Hodges on 6278 1771.
Opening the doors of hope
LIVING WELL: Rowbottoms’ clients enjoy their new vegie garden, made possible by the Nexus community service program.
SUPPORTINGINDEPENDENCE AND
PARTICIPATIONIN YOUR HOME, SCHOOL,WORK AND COMMUNITY
THROUGH
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
and SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Offi ce location275 Wellington St,South LauncestonContact1300 452 [email protected]
• Alternative methods to access your computers, iPads and mobile devices
• Control your appliances and environment• Communication aids, software and apps• Mobility devices (wheelchairs and scooters) • Aids and programmes to help you prepare meals
and other activities• Home modifi cations and future proofi ng
TA52
3365
3
DD
mputers
An NDIS providerSupporting people with a disability• Individual and group support• Life skills development• Recreation and Leisure• Supported holidays• School holiday and after-school
programs• Respite – evening and overnight
weekend• Coordination of supports –
improving life choices
Local and Tasmanian.Large enough to support you,Small enough to care.
For further informationPhone 03 6243 6044
Email [email protected]
The Parkside Foundation
Interested in a service
that is interested in you?Nexus provides customised services to people
who need support to achieve their goals.
Our NDIS services include supported
accommodation (shared housing), independent
living, and in-home support; learning and life skills
development; accessing the community;
supporting you to make transitions;
and helping you to coordinate your supports.
Nexus is a registered NDIS provider.
Nexus Inc – NDIS ready | 03 62781771 | www.nexusinc.org.au | 40 Innovation Drive, Dowsing Point | [email protected]
64 SUNDAY DECEMBER 17 2017 THEMERCURY.COM.AU
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HelpishereAn advertising feature
CARER Solutions Australia was founded in2011 by an ambitious 31-
year-old tired of working in the sector where the real needs of families and individuals seem to come secondary to what traditional care agencies provide.
Baffled by this approach, CSA was born and for the past six years has proudly offered people with disability the option to exercise real choice and control over their own care arrangements.
Founder and chief executive Jane Morrell says the service was formed in response to a need from families and individuals who wanted to try an alternative to care agencies.
CSA now operates statewide throughout Tasmania and Victoria,
proudly enabling families and individuals the opportunity to select their own support workers negotiate rates of pay, coordinate their own rosters, and setting of the duties, all without having to assume the administrative responsibilities associated with employing staff.
Many of CSA’s Tasmanianclients are in rural or remote arears of the state. And as such, they cannot access care providers or due to previous experiences are looking for flexible and innovative alternatives.
This is where CSA can offerchoice and control without the burden of managing the administration obligations.
CSA also identified that within Tasmania there has been growing need to offer an additional service – this is that
of plan management provider – Financial Intermediary.
CSA offer families and individuals their service, as Financial Intermediary to help them manage their supplier payments and communications on their behalf.
Carer Solutions Australiahas been one of Tasmania’s leading plan management providers for NDIS participants since 2013.
CSA is an experienced FIprovider who can assist people who are currently receiving NDIS funding or transitioning to the NDIS.
Their team has more than30 years combined financial management experience, and can sit down with families and individuals to set up the most effective and seamless way of using funding and ensure the
supports are paid on behalf of families and individuals on time - every time.
CSA has established a dedicated resource to look after their new and existing partners.
In addition, the role of relationship manager for the state is occupied by a Tasmanian, for Tasmanians.
CSA works with people who are using their own funds, Department of Health, and Human Services funding (individual support packages, short-term and recurrent) and more recently - NDIS funding.If you are looking at either or both of these services to give you more choice and control, contact Carer Solutions Australia’s state Relationship Manager, Amanda Williams, on phone 0488 772 260 or email [email protected]
BETTER OPTIONS: Carer Solutions Australia offers clients an alternative to traditional care agencies.
PROJECT ReachABLEis an initiative support-
ing Tasmanians experienc-ing all forms of disability, toengage with the NDIS, par-ticularly those who have ex-perienced barriers toengaging with services orthe NDIS in the past.
The statewide outreachservice is delivered in part-nership through RichmondFellowship Tasmania, Col-ony 47, The Link Youth Ser-vices and Family andCommunity Connections.
Project manager, Mi-chael Douglas, said, “Ourprimary focus is to supportour consumers to access anNDIS plan or provide link-ages with other appropriatesupports if the NDIS is notan option”.
People in contact withProject ReachABLE are liv-ing with physical and/orpsychosocial challengesand for a range of reasonshave not yet connected withsupport or struggled to re-main with existing supports.
Many have already ap-plied for the NDIS and havebeen unsuccessful, or areliving through other chal-lenges in life such as home-lessness, relationship orfamily breakdown, dom-estic violence, involvementwith the justice system, ad-diction or other issues that
have created extra chal-lenges to engaging withsupports.
“One of the principal is-sues we have heard fromour consumers is that theyhave found entering theNDIS and disability supportsystem for the first timeoverwhelming,” Mr Doug-las said.
One client said “There isso much information outthere to access, it’s hard toknow where to start.
“Once you think youhave found the informationyou need, there is often notenough practical detail for itto be useful.”
Similar feedback hasbeen provided to us by ourconsumers’ family mem-bers, carers and supportworkers.
“This has led us to designour service in a way that isaccessible, provides clearand accurate information,and enables us to supportpeople through each step ofthe NDIS application pro-cess,” Mr Douglas said.
The project is supportedby the Australian Govern-ment Department of SocialServices and the TasmanianGovernment Departmentof Health and Human Ser-vices. For more information phone 6228 3344
Helping to bring the NDIS within reach
Solutions for allSUPPORT: A consumer takes part in an activity at one of Richmond Fellowship’s residential sites.
1 Bowen Rd, Moonah TAS 7009 P 03 6228 9099 W langford.org.au @langfordsupportservices
CELEBRATING YOUR LIFE YOUR WAY
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STGILES assistive technologyassessors will work with you todetermine the level of support
you will need to integrate the technology into your life successfullyonce it is supplied.
StGiles speech and occupationaltherapy teams can help with
Alternative and Augmentative Communication, such as electronic communication devices, speech generating devices, voice amplification and other communication resources. These devices may help people with speech and language impairments to
better communicate. StGiles provides competent advice on Computer Access aids such as switch access and mouse alternatives, including eye-gaze mouse control, head tracking devices and power wheelchair controls integrated as mouse
controls. They can also help with specialised computer access software, including voice control software and voice-to-text software which can allow computer access to individuals with complex presentations and limited functional movement.
Enabling others to live improved lives
MANY adults withdisability can nowaccess the support,
allied health services and technology to maintain good health, thanks to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Widely regarded as one ofTasmania’s most capable and compassionate children’s disability organisation, StGiles is now able to support people throughout their lives from three sites across Tasmania.
Previously StGiles serviceswere forced to end when a person turned 18.
StGiles chief executive, IanWright, said “We have people in their 30s coming back to
StGiles because they know and trust our teams.”
In Hobart, StGiles providesaquatic physiotherapy for people of all ages living with disability or requiring prescriptive hydrotherapy at the KGV Sports and Community Centre, in Glenorchy.
Hydrotherapy co-ordinatorand director of Clinical Innovation and Enhancement, Kirsty Bartlett Clark, said the StGiles team was among the state’s best qualified and most compassionate.
The service operates fromMonday to Friday during business hours.
“Now that we have a newcontemporary facility we are hoping to extend our hours to include before and after work sessions,’’ Ms Bartlett Clark said.
StGiles provide aquatic physiotherapy for children and adults whose health condition may be assisted by a hydrotherapy program.
StGiles aquatic physiotherapy programs include, paediatric rehabilitation at St Giles’ Children’s Therapy Service, adult rehabilitation for patients requiring rehabilitation post-surgery or acute condition post
discharge, chronic disease management plans, groups and clients choosing to pay for themselves.
Ms Bartlett Clark said, “StGiles Aquatic Physiotherapists are highly trained in the provision of therapy in an aquatic environment.
“Our pool is unique as it isheated to 35C, and is accessible for anyone who requires support to enter and exit the water.”
Participation is by referralonly and referrals may be part of a person’s NDIS Plan, or through your GP or physiotherapist.
A WARM WELCOME: A StGiles patient gets a hydrotherapy plan from an aquatic physiotherapist.
Clients lap upsupport
CARER SOLUTIONS AUSTRALIA is an innovative way for individuals with disability and their families to employ support workers
CARER SOLUTIONS AUSTRALIA offers a person centred approach to care empowering you, the individual, to fi nd and employ the support worker YOU want
CARER SOLUTIONS AUSTRALIA is a fl exible alternative. Talk to us today about your individual circumstances
CARER SOLUTIONS AUSTRALIA also offers Plan Management Financial Intermediary service, which involves us paying suppliers on your behalf that you may use as part of your NDIS plan
For enquiries contactAmanda Williams
Tasmanian Relationship Manageron 0488 772 260 or
email: [email protected] 1300 729 839
or visit www.carersolutions.com.au
Are you finding the NDIS overwhelming?Do you need support to access the scheme?Project reachABLE can help you to access the support you need, regardless of the challenges you are experiencing.
FIND OUT MORE
www.facebook.com/projectreachable
P 03 6228 3344 E [email protected]
