St Giles taking giant leaps forward to underpin NDIS roll-out

Ian Wright explains latest bid to assist those with disabilities

PRESERVING a high standard of service and client trust while growing inclusion, lifestyle and therapy options are among the aims St Giles pursues as our statewide group evolves into the National Disability Insurance Scheme as an all-ages service.

Since 2009, St Giles has helped more than 3000 southern Tasmanian children from our modern service at Lenah Valley. Next month marks a major NDIS milestone for St Giles, when children aged four to 11 roll into the NDIS. This represents the largest proportion of our 6000-plus client base.

St Giles spent a great chunk of the past seven years identifying changes and restructuring our disability therapy, support, assisted living and equipment services in line with expectations and requirements of the NDIS.

We are one of Tasmania’s largest disability services, with 400 staff in outreach and community settings such as child and family centres, and from our ultra-modern campuses in Launceston, Hobart and more recently the Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre at Burnie.

Historically, St Giles treated children from birth to 18 who experienced conditions such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and autism. Once they turned 18, our hands were tied when Commonwealth funding ceased. In many cases this was heartbreaking for our teams, especially for young adults with disability, their family and carers. Without expert therapy and support, many young people struggled to keep good health and to participate in education, employment and life.

But the NDIS means, if a person chooses, St Giles can continue whole-of-life support across therapy, assistive technology and supported accommodation and respite.

St Giles started its NDIS journey in 2009 when it became a member of the Tasmanian NDIS taskforce.

The lead role St Giles played was recognised by the Commonwealth in 2011-12, when it approved applications for more than $11 million to develop our sites. By 2013-15, with the support of Artas and Vos Constructions and Joinery, St Giles Launceston and Hobart were able to open new doors into buildings designed to be uplifting, functional and NDIS-ready.

The new premises have more one-on-one spaces for

clients with autism, state-ofthe-art splinting clinics in Launceston and Hobart, contemporary gyms, outdoor play and therapy areas, and tech-ready rooms for programs such as gymtronics for adults and children.

In 2016, St Giles was appointed to take over services at Burnie’s Autism Specific Early Care and Learning Centre for children from birth to five years. The Burnie service complements speech and occupational therapy outreach clinics at East Devonport.

We have made significant advances in the choices for people living with disability. New teams, fresh models of support and innovative therapy and support programs have also been part of the St Giles transition to the NDIS.

St Giles uses donations to buy equipment for programs like its REEL behaviour support playgroup for children with autism, Wilderness and Camping Program for young adults with disability, Little Car Yard motorised mobility opportunities for disabled toddlers, and ChatFit Communication and Fitness groups for young adults.

We recently applied for equipment grants and employed a theatre practitioner for a new theatre program for young people. We collaborate with the Migrant Resource Centre, Mission Australia and Beacon to find jobs and offer training.

Our teams are national leaders in all-ages assistive communication technology, and the St Giles Hobart speech pathology team is the only Australian group qualified to offer professional and carer training in Language Acquisition through Motor Planning.