A wide-ranging review of accommodation services for Western Australians with disabilities has been completed.
Disability Services Minister Eric Ripper said he had received the report today and would forward it to the Advisory Council on Disability Services for comment.
"I anticipate making the Government's response to the report early next year and releasing the report for public information in January," Mr Ripper said.
The Minister ordered the review in June after concerns about shortfalls in current accommodation services, particularly relating to elderly parents caring for children with disabilities.
The review was carried out by a steering committee, involving service-users, both Government and non-government organisations, representatives from the Authority for Intellectually Handicapped persons (AIH), Homeswest, psychiatric services and other disability organisations. It analysed the range, accessibility, cost and shortfalls of existing accommodation options and investigated the existing occupancy and demand for services in both metropolitan and country areas.
The Minister said that while the review was underway, interim action had been taken to ease the accommodation situation, which included:
· an extra $76,000 from the State and Federal Governments for a special festive season holiday respite program: this would benefit about 50 families in Perth's northern suburbs, with an extra six to eight places each week;
· $600,000 to build and operate a respite care home for children with severe and multiple disabilities, run by Catholic Care in Perth's northern suburbs: construction would start early in 1993, and more than 80 families would benefit;
· $300,000 for the Colstoun Road project - two purpose-built homes in Ashfield to provided independent community accommodation for eight people with disabilities.
Mr Ripper said the review put forward a strategy for the development of accommodation options and supports for people with disabilities.
"Specialist accommodation services have developed independently in the different disability areas. A more co-ordinated approach is necessary and this will be one of the important roles of the Bureau for Disability Services across the entire range of accommodation services."
