Quick read profile—Kimberley area consultation document

Map based on information provided by and with the permission of the Western Australian Land Information Authority (Landgate), and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

About the Kimberley profile area

The Kimberley area profile covers about 419,558 square kilometres (ABS 2012a) and includes four local government authorities (LGAs): the Shires of Broome, Derby-West Kimberley, Halls Creek and Wyndham-East Kimberley.

There are an estimated 34,792 people living in the Kimberley areawith around 43 per cent living in the Shire of Broome (ABS 2012a). The Kimberley area represents about 1.5 per cent of the West Australian population.

Information about the Sector Development Plan and the area profile consultation documents

The Disability Services Commission’s (the Commission) vision is that all people live in welcoming communities that support citizenship, friendship, mutual support and a fair go for everyone. The Commission is working together with key stakeholders to create a Sector Development Plan (the Plan). The Plan will provide the disability sector with direction and will identify opportunities for development.

The Commission has written fifteen area profile consultation documents which cover all areas of WA as well as this summary document for each area—the quick read. Each area profile consultation document presents information about supports and services available in each profile area. We want to hear from people who live and work in each profile area.to help us understand more about the disability supports and services people receive. The Commission will then use this information to develop local plans for each profile area along with an overall state-wide plan.

How to have your say

We are seeking feedback from interested stakeholders and have developed a list of questions covering a number of topics for your consideration. A feedback form template has also been provided which may assist you in consolidating your comments. Should you wish to use the template provided you can either complete it electronically or print it and hand write your comments.

Forms can be returned to the Commission by email or post.

  • email the template to
  • post the template to:

Disability Services Commission

Sector Development Plan Feedback

PO Box 441

West Perth WA6872

The template has been supplied as a helpful tool but it is not compulsory that you use it or answer every question to provide your feedback. Any general comments can be provided to the Commission via email or post using the details above, or they can be provided verbally or by attending a focus group.

To provide feedback another way you can:

  • provide verbal feedback by phoning Sector Development on 9426 9309
  • attend a focus group that will be hosted in local areas (these will be advertised on the web site).

If you have any questions or require further assistance, please email or phone 9426 9309.

Contents

Population characteristics4

Networks and support groups5–6

People using Commission-funded supports and services

  • Local Area Coordination6
  • Shared management6
  • Supported living7
  • Shared supported accommodation (group homes)7
  • Individualised community living7
  • Support to pursue meaningful occupation and lifestyle—7–8
    Alternatives to Employment (ATE), Post School Options
    (PSO) and recreation
  • Support to families—includes Intensive Family Support 8
    and Family Living Initiative, and breaks for families
    and carers
  • Support to optimise independence and wellbeing—9
    disability professional services

Other community services

  • Employment support9
  • Home and Community Care (HACC)9

Demand for supports and services10

Sector development issues11

Tell us what you think—consultation questions12–13

References14

Appendix A15–16

  • Information about organisations providing support in the area

Kimberley area

Population characteristics

  • It is estimated that 2.4 per cent of the population in this area have a severe or profound core activity limitation.Across the state it is estimated that 3.1 per cent of the population has a severe or profound core activity limitation (ABS 2012b).
  • 14.19 per cent of the population in this area was born overseas, which is below the WA average of 31 per cent (ABS 2012a).
  • 17.82 per cent of the Kimberley population speaks a language other than English at home.This is slightly below the WA average of 21 per cent (ABS 2012a).
  • People who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in the 2011 Census
    (ABS 2012a) represent 40.01 per cent of the population in the Kimberley area. This is significantly higher than the state-wide figure of three per cent.
  • For all LGAs in this profile area, just over six per cent of the population provided unpaid assistance to a person with disability (ABS 2012a). This is slightly below the percentage recorded for the State (7.50 per cent) (ABS 2012a).

Other observations

  • Median household weekly incomes across this area range from $968 to $1,610. The state figure is $1,415 (ABS 2012a).
  • Weekly rental costs for a three bedroom house in a sample of towns ranges from $265 to $1,600. The Perth metropolitan median weekly rent for a three bedroom house is $385 (REIWA 2012).
  • Median house prices for a sample of towns in this area ranges from $200,000 to $600,000. The Perth metropolitan median house price of $470,000 (REIWA 2012).

Networks and support groups

People get practical and moral support from their wider family, friends, neighbours and other families—this support is important. Informal and structured community groups also play a valuable role in supporting and strengthening people and families. People might find support through local church groups, sports and recreation activities, community networks, mothers’ groups, playgroups, self-help and peer support programs, disability-specific support groups, cultural groups and education and counselling services.

You can also find information about local support groups through Local Area Coordinators (LACs), information services provided by Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres (CRCC), Carers WA or your LGA.

Some support groups in the Kimberley profile area include:

Broome Community Information Resource: Offers family support information and referral. A financial counsellor provides information and assistance with budgeting bill paying and obtaining entitlements.

Phone: 9193 6425

Web: .

Marnja Jarndu Outreach Service:

The service helps keep the women and children of Broome and surrounding communities safe.

Postal address:
PO Box 1263, Broome, WA, 6725.

Ngungar Women’s Resource Centre—Derby: Provides a meeting place for mothers; a mobile play group in remote areas; drop-in centre; financial counselling and craft shop. Open Monday to Friday 8am-4.30pm.

Phone: 9193 1455

Marinwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre: Assists women with advocacy information on health issues and is a resource centre for domestic violence abuse. Liaises with government organisations regarding housing and other issues. Organises community workshops in remote areas.
Open Monday to Friday 8am-4.30pm.

Phone: 9191 5284

WA Special Families

A state-wide Facebook support group accessed by invitation only.People able to access the group must be a parent of, or someone caring for, a person with disability.

Access through Facebook only.

Wyndham Family Support Inc.—Joongari House:

A resource and information support service for all members of the community. Services include a drop-in centre, playgroup, toy library, financial counsellor, emergency relief, craft/sewing sessions, workshops and home visits.
Open Monday to Friday 7.30am-4pm.

Phone: 9161 1383

People using Commission-funded and provided services

This section describes how people in this area used Commission-funded and provided supports and services in 2011−2012.It does not provide detail about how well services are working.

Local information and support for individuals and families—
Local Area Coordination (LAC)

Many people with disability access the Commission’s Local Area Coordination (LAC) support across the state. LACs support children and adults with physical, sensory, neurological, cognitive and/or intellectual disability who are under 65 at the time they first apply for support. LACs work with individuals and communities to provide direct and personalised support to people with disability, their families and carers to live a fulfilled life.

  • 200 people in this area were registered with LAC in 2011–2012 (Disability Services Commission (DSC) 2012).
  • Over 43 per cent of these people were aged between five and 19 (this trend is common across WA).
  • Most lived in Broome (75), followed by Derby-West Kimberley (69), Wyndham-East Kimberley (43) and Halls Creek (13).
  • A number of people live in very remote communities throughout the Kimberley. To meet with these people LACs can spend several days travelling by road or small aircraft.

Directing supports and services—shared management

Most people with an individualised funding package from the Commission have their support managed and provided by a disability service organisation. Some people with Community Living or Family Living manage their funding through their LAC.

Organisations are encouraged to offer shared management. A shared management approach gives people greater control over their supports and funding. To make sure expectations and responsibilities are met by each party, an agreement is developed. (See Appendix A for a list of organisations that offer shared management).

Supported living

Supported living describes the support provided to people with disability so they can live in their home and community. Supported living relies on individual funding allocation—which people apply for through the Combined Application Process (CAP) or Community Living Program.

  • In this profile area 23 people were supported in shared supported accommodation or an individualised accommodation arrangement in 2011–2012 (DSC 2012).

Shared supported accommodation (group homes)

Fewer than five people people in this profile area lived in shared support accommodation homes in 2011–2012 (DSC 2012).Life Without Barriers provided all of the shared supported accommodation in this area.

Individualised community living

17 people in this profile area used individual community living support and services and were assisted to live independently in the community in 2011–2012 (DSC 2012).

  • Most of these people live in Broome (12).
  • Life Without Barriers provided most of the individualised community living support in this area (see Appendix A for a full list of providers).
  • Fewer than five people in this area have a community living package.

Support to pursue meaningful occupation/lifestyle

Post School Options (PSO) and Alternatives to Employment (ATE) are Commission-funded programs that support people in meaningful activities during their week. These programs rely on individual funding allocation. People of school-leaving age can apply for PSO and it is allocated based on eligibility and support needs. Adults with disability can apply for ATE funding through CAP, which is allocated based on eligibility, support needs and priority
of need.

  • 31 people in this profile area received an ATE or PSO allocation in 2011–2012
    (DSC 2012).
  • Most people lived in Derby-West Kimberley (15), followed by Broome (11).
  • There are two organisations working with people with ATE and PSO funding allocations in this area. Kimberley Individual and Family Support Association provided the majority of ATE and PSO support(see Appendix A for a full list of providers).

Recreation

Eligible people with disability may access support from Commission-funded organisations to pursue recreational activities. People contact organisations directly to find out about how to access services.

  • 26 people in this profile area used recreation support services in 2011–2012
    (DSC 2012).
  • Most people who accessed these services lived in Broome (23).
  • The Kimberley Individual and Family Support Association provided support to the largest number of people (see Appendix A for a full list of providers).

Support to families

Some services and supports aim to improve family wellbeing.In some cases these services are individually funded through the Family Living Initiative (FLI) or Intensive Family Support (IFS).

FLI has a strong emphasis on planning. Families can apply for funding based on a plan that complements informal supports provided by families, carers, friends and the community.

When families are under stress or at risk of breakdown people can apply for IFS funding through CAP. Funding is allocated based on eligibility, support needs and priority of need.

  • Fewer than five people and their families in this profile area received IFS funding in 2011–2012 (DSC 2012).
  • There were no people with a plan and funding package through the FLI (DSC 2012).

Breaks for families and carers

To give themselves a break, families and carers can sometimes access respite services from Commission-funded organisations or Commonwealth funded programs. Individuals and families apply for respite opportunities directly with organisations that provide services based on a person’s need and vacancies. These services can be flexible, for example they can be provided in the person’s home and/or community, provided out-of-home in respite houses, and during school holidays.

Commonwealth Respite and Care Link can provide information about organisations that provide respite, and can fund short-term or one-off respite. LACs can also help people to have a break or access supports.

In this profile area in 2011-2012:

  • Nine people received some form of family support funding from the Commission in which was managed through LAC.
  • 74 people accessed Commission-funded respite support (DSC 2012).

Developing independence and wellbeing

Disability professional services

Many people with disability access professional services, including therapy, to improve wellbeing, support their independence, and develop skills.

In regional Western Australia comprehensive disability professional services are provided through the WA Country Health Service (WACHS). Services can also be accessed privately, or in some cases using Commonwealth funding.

Comprehensive services are services that respond flexibly to the needs and goals of people with disability and their family. These services include speech and occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology support.

In this profile area comprehensive disability professional services are provided by WACHS.

Other community services

Employment supports and services for people with disability

Some people with disability access employment services to support them to find and keep a job. People choose (or are assessed and directed by Centrelink) to access Australian Disability Enterprises (ADE) or Disability Employment Services (DES), depending on their support needs. Information about ADEs and DESs operating in this area can be found at the following websites:

  • ADE: .
  • DES:

Home and Community Care Services (HACC)

The Home and Community Care (HACC) program provides assistance to people who are aged, frail or with disability to live independently. Services include nursing care, allied health care, meals, domestic assistance, personal care, home maintenance, transport, respite, counselling, information and advocacy, social supports and assistance with essential activities such as shopping and banking.

In the Perth metropolitan area, people can apply for HACC services and be assessed for eligibility via the Commonwealth Carelink and Respite Centre (CCRC). The HACC program has limited resources and services are allocated according to relative needs.

Demand for supports and services

Demand from people who need support and services is growing. As such, service provision is adapting to become more flexible and meet this demand.

Service access

When population is taken into account the following observations about service use in the Kimberley are made:

  • The proportion of people registered with LAC is higher than the state-wide figure (DSC 2012). This could be due to LAC having people with accommodation support packages registered in regional areas. In metropolitan areas people do not necessarily remain registered with LAC.
  • Lower numbers of people in this area accessed accommodation support services, intensive family support and ATE/PSO compared to state-wide figures (DSC 2012).

Future demand

There are a number of areas of potential future demand:

  • This area has a higher number of people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. This suggests increasing demand for culturally relevant supports and services.
  • Many people in this area live in remote communities and there may be increasing demand for supports in these communities.
  • People in this area use less use of family support (including intensive family support, family living initiative and respite) than in other areas—demand for these types of services may increase.
  • It is expected that people in this area will have an increasing interest in shared management into the future.

Sector development issues

This section considers any existing sector development initiatives and describes what may be emerging needs for this profile area. Consultations will provide an opportunity to consider sector development in more detail.

Potential areas for sector development

Developing culturally appropriate supports and services

In this area a high percentage of the population is of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander decent. Consultation with local people may be needed to understand the quality, viability and capacity of organisations to provide culturally appropriate supports.

Supporting people to share the management of their individual funding packages

Organisations and individuals may require practical assistance to develop and implement shared management. In this profile area many organisations do not offer shared management.

Creating employment opportunities

Strategies may need to be developed to support people with disability to have adequate career/employment preparation, and planning and services to pursue further education, find employment or pursue meaningful lifestyles.

Tell us what you think—consultation questions