Information for families and friends of the people we support Tuesday 22 November 2022

Information for families and friends of the people we support

Update as at 22 November 2022

Join us as we work towards the NDIS

We have been talking to you for some time now about the reforms happening in DHS Disability Services as we work towards being a fully operational, state-run NDIS service provider by 1 July 2023.

The introduction of Service Agreements, the NDIS audit processes and changes to how clients pay for everyday living expenses, all support us reaching this important milestone. This will allow our service to continue working with clients funded through the NDIS, Disability Support for Older Australians, Lifetime Support Authority and My Aged Care, long into the future.

Over the next 7 months, we will be keeping you updated on how the service is changing to meet this milestone, what this means for clients, and you as their supporters.

Video to introduce the changes

Today, we want to share with you a video to introduce the changes that you can expect. It will take just two and a half minutes to watch and provides a great introduction to what is to come.

DHS Disability Services Forums in 2023

In 2023, we will be hosting DHS Disability Services Forums where you will have the opportunity to meet with all of us, learn more about the changes and ask questions.

Locations

• Adelaide North
• Adelaide South
• Kadina
• Mount Gambier.

We will send out invitations to these information sessions, closer to the date.

In the meantime, we encourage you to join clients and staff in our End-of-Year Celebrations coming up in early December, which you will read about below.

Thank you for your continued support as we work towards being a fully operational, state-run NDIS service provider and we look forward to navigating this journey with you.

Joe Young
Executive Director, Disability Services

Sarah White
Director, DHS Disability Services

Julie Rogers
Director, Quality and Clinical Services

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End-of-Year Celebrations

Please join us to celebrate the year that has been – with clients, staff and our families and decision-makers coming together in this way for the first time since COVID-19 restrictions were introduced.

If you’re excited to attend, please ensure you RSVP by Friday 25 November 2022. Date, time and locations as follows:

Adelaide South

Hendrie Street Reserve

Thursday, 1 December 2022
120B Hendrie Street, Park Holme
12.00 noon to 2.00 pm

Adelaide North

Golden Fields Reserve

Thursday, 8 December 2022
Atlantis Drive, Golden Grove
12 noon to 2.00 pm

Please ensure you specify in the RSVP which event you’ll be attending.

About the venues

The venues been specifically chosen for their accessibility. This includes:

• drop-off zones
• ample on-site parking
• wide, solid footpaths throughout
• accessible toilets
• accessible barbecue space
• open space for activities.

Food and drink

Guests are invited to bring along a chair or picnic rug, and a plate of food to share.

Halal, vegetarian/vegan and gluten free options will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!

Welcome Sarah and Julie, our new Directors

Since our last Families Newsletter, we have had two new Directors start.

Sarah White has been in the role of Director, DHS Disability Services since September 2022 and yesterday.

Julie Rogers started with the service, filling the new position of Director, Quality and Clinical Services.

Sarah has extensive experience in human services, including disability service delivery, in both the public and private sectors. This experience includes being a board member of two non-government NDIS providers. Additionally, Sarah has lived experience in accessing the NDIS and caring for loved ones with health challenges. She is passionate about delivering high-quality services, allowing clients to live their best life.

Julie has been with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) since 2014 and has a wealth of experience in clinical and quality assurance along with qualifications in Nursing, Critical Care Nursing and Disability and Inclusion.

You can meet Sarah and Julie, along with Executive Director, Joe Young and other service leaders, face-to-face and online at our 2023 DHS Disability Services Forums series. More information will follow in the new year.

Disability Support for Older Australians information

Earlier this year Individual Support Packages were introduced for people who had previously been funded through Continuity of Support (CoS), which became Disability Support for Older Australians (DSOA).

More recently, the Department of Health and Ageing requires a DSOA Consent Form to be completed for all clients funded through DSOA. DHS Disability Services Service Coordinators are contacting the families and decision-makers in November about the consent, and also providing further information about our service delivery to clients.

If you have questions about this consent process or the information provide you can speak directly with your Service Coordinator or phone 1800 952 962.

Paul jets off to Orange, NSW

It's not often that our staff get to travel with the people they support, but that opportunity came around for Jake Leach recently, supporting Paul, a DHS client. Paul hadn’t seen his mother for over 15 years as she lives in Orange, NSW. When the opportunity to visit presented itself, Paul jumped at the chance.

The travel itself was less than straightforward. While it was a quick flight to Sydney, the men then caught a train from Sydney to Lithgow and then a bus to finally reach Orange. All in all, it was a full 12 hours of travel.

Everyone, especially Paul, was adamant that the travel time was worth it. Once Paul and his mother, Margaret, were reunited, they hopped on Zoom to call Angela, Paul’s sister, who lives in Washington, USA. Angela also hasn’t seen Margaret for more than 5 years. It was incredibly special for the family to have this experience together, even if they weren’t all in the same place.

Aside from enjoying each other’s company, Margaret and Paul (supported by Jake) visited the Orange museum, cinema and of course the local pub. There were also many trips to local cafes, and even more cappuccinos enjoyed.

A special mention to Jake for accompanying Paul on his holiday. Without such support, this trip would not have been possible. Additionally, support worker, Angel Li, provided wonderful, person-centred support in the lead up to Paul’s holiday by helping him plan the trip.

Celebrating the return of the Royal Adelaide Show

Like most Adelaidians, Paul, Jacinta, Peter, Michelle, and Penny were ecstatic to see the return of the Royal Adelaide show this year.

The day started with a general mosey around the show grounds, taking in the nostalgic sights, scents, and sounds.

Penny, the apparent thrill seeker, was all about hopping on the rides. Paul and Peter were simply happy experiencing the various sources of entertainment on offer. Jacinta encouraged the girls to partake in a makeover, which resulted in getting their hair curled. Michelle had her sights on one thing — showbags! Her goal was to obtain Bluey and Pusheen bags, which she successfully sourced.

Of course, the rest of the group indulged in a showbag or two. Paul was a big fan of the Cadbury Chocolate one, while Peter was more of a liquorice lover. After her earlier pamper session, Penny was all about the makeup showbags, and was elated with her haul.

Overall, the group had a fantastic day. The extra excitement the event brought after the last few COVID-years was evident It was a day full of laughter, great conversations and far, far, too much fun.

Kindship app

Navigating the NDIS can be a confusing experience, and one that you’re likely very familiar with now, or about to be. Kindship is an app originally developed to connect parents and caregivers of children living with disability. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t join the Kindship family too.

Kindship is a safe space for parents and care givers of those who live with disability. It provides a platform to ask questions, decompress and share your successes. It is a valuable support system, that can be a real asset to your NDIS journey.

For more information, please visit Kindship - About Us

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How to contact us

If you have any queries about your family member or friend, you can:

• Contact your Service Coordinator or Team Leader
• Email us at AccomFeedback@sa.gov.au
• Phone us on 1800 952 962 (and then press 3)

If you know another family member or friend who would like to receive this e-newsletter, please encourage them to sign up via the DHS website or phone 1800 952 962.

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