There are many services available for people with disabilities. Aboriginal carers have a right to use all of these services and get help and support for the person they are caring for. These services are expected to cater to everyone in the community. Do not feel shy about contacting them and asking for help.

NSW State-funded programs

Department of Disability, Ageing and Home Care (DADHC)

The NSW State Government funds programs through the Department of Disability, Ageing and Home Care (DADHC) for people with disabilities. The aim of all these services is to offer culturally appropriate information, advice and support.

Services include:

• The Attendant Care Program – People with disabilities who are of working age (16-64 years) may be eligible for assistance with activities of daily living they cannot perform for themselves such as household management, mobility, transfers, personal hygiene, bathing, grooming, dressing, eating and drinking. Ideally clients should be able to direct and supervise their attendant carers. Priority is given to people living in nursing homes, hostels or hospital, although people at risk of going into inappropriate institutional care are also eligible.

• Community Support Teams provide a range of support services to people with disabilities, families and carers. They may provide direct services such as counselling, family support and behaviour management, or help plan and coordinate other services. The teams work in either a geographical area for rural people or provide services based on client age for those who live in metropolitan areas.

• Day programs are targeted at people with an intellectual disability over 18 years of age. These are group programs usually provided at a centre or other community settings. They focus on daily living skills, such as social skills, independent living and preparation for work; participation in community activities; and leisure and recreation. They are offered on a long-term basis and most clients attend for a minimum of half a day a week for an extended period of time. Day programs are available Monday to Friday for 48 weeks of the year.

• Local Support Coordination is a personal, flexible service that aims to increase the links between people with a disability, their families and their local community. It assists people with disabilities to determine their own needs and to identify the supports that may be required so they can be more independent, self-sufficient and able to participate in their communities. The program also supports families to continue to provide care and encourages communities to become more inclusive of people with disabilities.

• Respite provides planned short breaks for families and unpaid carers of children with a developmental delay and adults with an intellectual disability in order to support and maintain the primary caregiving relationship. The goal is also to provide a positive experience for the person with a disability. Respite can be provided at a centre, at home, with a host family or through activities such as group outings or weekends away.

• Post-school programs include Community Participation and Transition to Work. Transition to Work supports a school leaver with a disability to develop skills that will help them to get a job or do vocational education and training or higher education, for up to two years after leaving school. Community Participation helps school leavers with a disability who need an alternative to paid work, education or training. The program provides school leavers with opportunities for continued learning, life skills development and participation in the community which increase independence and ability to meet life goals.

• The Behaviour Intervention Service helps families, government and non-government agencies that provide support to people with an intellectual disability who have challenging or offending behaviour. They may live at home or in community settings e.g. group homes, be at risk of being moved to a more restricted environment because of their behaviour, need help at work, at school or while in custody, or need support or have families or carers who need support, in planning a move to a less restrictive environment.

• Accommodation – DADHC supports group homes for four to six people with an intellectual disability who are over 18 years of age. Houses are, wherever possible, located in a residential neighbourhood close to services and supports to meet client needs, including family or social support, transport, shops, education, medical, employment and recreational facilities. Group homes provide accommodation and (usually) 24 hour support for daily living. They are staffed by residential support workers.

• The Young Carer Project through Carers NSW – DADHC funds support for carers 25 years and under and their families. Young carers are children and young people who care for and support a family member who has a long-term physical illness, mental illness, disability, drug or alcohol problem. The project promotes the issues and needs of young carers across NSW, is developing a young carer support network, coordinates activities, supports referrals to local services which can assist young carers and their families, and develops and distributes resources including an interactive website at www.youngcarersnsw.asn.au.

For more information on all of these programs check the People with a Disability and Carers sections of the DADHC website: www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au.

You can also get information and advice about dementia care from DADHC’s Dementia Advisory Services. These services promote local awareness of dementia, provide information, education, and support, and link people to assessment and support services. To find the service nearest to you go to the Older People section of the DADHC website at www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au.

DADHC’s Aboriginal Policy
DADHC has formed an Aboriginal Policy Unit which is attached to the Community Access Branch. The role of the Branch is to facilitate and develop system improvements to support access to a wide range of community participation options for older people, people with a disability and their carers.

The role of the Aboriginal Policy Unit is to improve DADHC's capacity to influence mainstream and specialist service providers to respond appropriately to the needs of Aboriginal people and communities of NSW by providing advice and resources to DADHC units. They do this by articulating policy agendas and building the capacity of DADHC through its staff.

Aboriginal-specific services

People with Disability Australia offer a service called the Aboriginal Disability Network NSW for Aboriginal people with a disability and the people associated with them. For individuals, they can go to meetings with you or on your behalf, write letters and make phone calls. They cannot give legal advice. Contact them on 9319 6622 or if you live outside Sydney, on freecall 1800 422 015, or on http://www.pwd.org.au/. This is a free service.