8/3/01
Country people with disabilities and their families are set to benefit from a range of new respite initiatives worth more than $200,000.
Disability Services Minister Sheila McHale said significant funding had been approved for 11 respite projects to be run by non-Government service providers throughout regional Western Australia.
The funding had been provided by the State and Commonwealth Governments to increase the range and types of respite services to people in country regions.
Ms McHale said the State Government recognised the vital role carers played in supporting family members, friends and neighbours with disabilities. She said carers' needs must be recognised and addressed if they were to continue with their caring role.
"Family and friends provide more than 70 per cent of the support required by people with disabilities in WA and we need to do all we can to provide the support they need," Ms McHale said.
"Carers have told us that being able to take a break from their caring role when they need to is a priority issue.
"We are responding by moving to help strengthen families by ensuring flexible and responsive respite options are available."
The Minister said service providers in country regions had been asked to develop innovative solutions to meet local respite needs.
"Through the Disability Services Commission, agencies have been given the opportunity to come up with some constructive proposals to increase respite support in country regions," she said.
"Tailoring respite options to meet the needs of local carers will ensure better outcomes for carers - we recognise that an option that works well in the south of the State, for example, may not necessarily suit the needs of people in the Goldfields or Pilbara.
"We are providing communities with the resources and the freedom to make their own choices on the types of respite they feel they need."
Funding has been approved for the following projects:
- East Kimberley Family Support Association, $19,000 for a carers' retreat;
- Kimberley Community Living Association, $41,800 to help local families caring for young adults;
- Pilbara Individual and Family Support Association, $21,000 to provide respite help to more families in the region;
- Pilbara Homecare, $15,000 to provide holiday assistance to families living in remote areas;
- Mid-West Family Support Association, $13,500 for a holiday program and a project which will identify the specific training needs of family members and their paid carers, especially those living long distances from major centres;
- Kambalda Individual Disability Support and Carers Respite House Incorporated, $8,000 to provide a range of individual and flexible respite programs;
- Harvey Health and Community Services Group, $24,000 for a project that will work across the community to improve supports for carers at a corporate, community and individual level;
- South-West Family Support Association, $50,000 for carer assistance to families who are supporting people with challenging behaviours;
- The Bunbury Community and Child Care Association (Milligan House), $25,000 for its 'Creative Connections' project, which will study the available resources in the South-West, provide community education and problem solving at a community level;
- Lower Great Southern Community Living Association, $41,800 for the program 'My Life, My Community', which will provide assistance to people with high support needs to learn valuable skills and relationships, at the same time providing a break for their carers; and -
- Esperance and Districts Recreation Association, $10,000 for a program to provide respite options through recreation.
Ms McHale said country service providers would have a further opportunity to apply for more than $200,000 respite funding in October this year.
Media contact: Owen Cole 9321 2222
