Quick read profile—North Metropolitan 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 North Metropolitan profile area

The North Metropolitan area profile covers about 784 square kilometres (ABS 2012a) and includes two local government authorities (LGAs): the Cities of Joondalup and Wanneroo.

There are an estimated 304,783 people living in the North Metropolitan areawitharea with the population evenly split between the Cities of Joondalup and Wanneroo. The North Metropolitan profile area represents about 13.61 per cent of the West Australian population (ABS 2012a).

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 areaasthisas this will 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 PerthWA6872

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 8–9
    and Family Living Initiative, and breaks for families
    and carers
  • Support to optimise independence and wellbeing—9
    disability professional services

Other community services

  • Employment support10
  • Home and Community Care (HACC)10

Demand for supports and services10–11

Sector development issues11

Tell us what you think—consultation questions12–13

References14

Appendix A15–21

  • Information about organisations providing support in the area

North Metropolitan area

Population characteristics

  • It is estimated that 2.2 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 have a severe or profound core activity limitation (ABS 2012b).
  • 38.72 per cent of the population in this area was born overseas, which is slightly more than the WA average of 31 per cent (ABS 2012a).
  • 13.76 per cent of the North Metropolitan population speaks a language other than English at home—this is lower than 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 1.05 per cent of the population in the North Metropolitan area. This is below the state-wide figure of three per cent.
  • For all LGAs in this profile area, nearly seven per cent of the population provided unpaid assistance to a person with disability (ABS 2012a). This is slightly lower than the State (7.50 per cent) (ABS 2012a).

Other observations

  • The median household weekly income in the City of Joondalup is $1,780 and in the City of Wanneroo is $1,514. The state figure is $1,415 (ABS 2012a).
  • Weekly rental costs for a three-bedroom house in a sample of suburbs in the area range from $350 to $400 per week. The Perth metropolitan median weekly rent for a three-bedroom house is $385 (REIWA 2012).
  • Median house prices also vary, with three-bedroom houses in a sample of suburbs ranging in price from $373,500 to $700,000. The median house price in the Perth metropolitan area is $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 North Metropolitan profile area include:

Duncraig Information and Care Centre:

Provides a caring, compassionate service to members of the community, listening carefully to their problems and providing information and referral.

Address: 29 Wandoo Road, Duncraig, WA, 6023.

ISHAR Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health:

Provides services to help women deal with problems or worries, stay healthy, build self-confidence and meet women from other countries. A female GP, clinical and therapeutic services, counselling, carer support and skills development, and multilingual information are available.

Phone: 9345 5335

Web: .

MerceyMercy Family Care:

Provides community-based activities, group meetings, courses and programs. Other services include information and advocacy, training seminars and other professional services. Open Monday to Friday 8.30am–4.30pm.

Phone: 0413 538 542

Web: h .

Parent Focus:

A support group for parents whose children have cerebral palsy, providing information, education services, library resources and group meetings, as well as friendship and support. Please phone for meeting details.

Phone: 9342 4181

Patricia Giles Counselling Service for Women: Offers counselling and therapeutic groups for women in the northern suburbs who have experienced/are experiencing domestic violence.

Postal address: PO Box 25, Joondalup, WA, 6027.

WA Special Families

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

Women’s Healthworks (WHW):

Works to empower women, enabling them to make more informed decisions about their health and well-being. Provides information, education, support and social groups, including women only walking groups, craft groups, the laughter club, and counselling.

Phone: 9300 1566

Web: .

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 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 areunder 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.

  • 1,181 people in this area were registered with LAC in 2011–2012 (Disability Services Commission (DSC) 2012).
  • More than 60 per cent of these peoplewere aged between five and 19 years (this trend is common across WA).
  • Most lived in Joondalup (609), followed by Wanneroo (572).

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 plans 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.

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

Shared supported accommodation (group homes)

115 people in this profile area lived in one of 23 shared support accommodation homes in 2011–2012 (DSC 2012). Observations included:

  • More than 38 per cent of these people were aged between 20 and 34.
  • Most people were living in Wanneroo (96), followed by Joondalup (19).
  • Four organisations provide most of the shared supported accommodation in this profile area—i.d.entity.wa, Autism Association, Brightwater Care Group and the Commission’s Accommodation Services directorate(see Appendix A for a full list of providers)
  • About six per cent of all group homes in the state are located in this profile area.

Individualised community living

81 people in this profile areaused individual community living support and services and were assisted to live independently in the community (DSC 2012).

  • Most of these people live in Wanneroo (47).
  • There are many Commission prequalified organisations providing people with individualised community living support in this area (see Appendix A for a full list of providers).
  • 15 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 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.

  • 289 people in this profile area received an ATE or PSO allocation in 2011−2012
    (DSC 2012).
  • More than 78 per cent of these people were aged between 15 and 34.
  • Most people lived in Wanneroo (150), followed by Joondalup (139).
  • There are many organisations working with people with ATE and PSO funding allocations in this profile area (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.

  • 170 people in this area used recreation support services in 2011–2012 (DSC 2012).
  • Most of these people lived in Joondalup (101), followed by Wanneroo (69).
  • Riding for the Disabled Association of WA was the recreation service used by 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.

In 2011–2012:

  • 168 people and their families in this profile area received IFS funding (DSC 2012).
  • Almost 58 per cent of these peoplewere aged between 10 and 24.
  • Most lived in Joondalup (94), followed by Wanneroo (74).
  • 37 people have 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:

  • 83 people received some form of family support funding from the Commission which was managed through LAC.
  • 427 people accessed Commission-funded respite support (DSC 2012).
  • The State Government opened a respite house in Clarkson. This service is contracted to Life Without Barriers.

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.

The Commission provides services and funds organisations to provide services to eligible people with disability. Services can also be accessed privately, through WA Health, or by accessing Commonwealth funding. People can access services in a variety of ways—depending on eligibility, availability of services and relative need.

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.

Targeted services are single-focused, highly specified services which are available across all stages of life. Services include equipment display, specialised equipment consultancy, interventions for challenging behaviours and state-wide consultancy and resource teams.

In this profile area in 2011–2012:

  • 1,254 people accessed some form of disability professional service.
  • 296 people accessed comprehensive early childhood intervention services.
  • 694 people accessed comprehensive school age intervention services.
  • 137 people accessed comprehensive adult intervention services (DSC 2012).

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 proportion of people accessing services in the North Metropolitan area is similar to state-wide figures. However, there are a lower numbers of people accessing shared supported accommodation and individualised community living support compared to the average for the state.

Future demand

There are two areas of potential future demand.

  • There are 484 young people registered with LAC in this area, this may affect future demand for services that support young people to find and keep a job or find meaningful activities after they finish school. Local, targeted efforts may be required to support young people with disability to access further education or find opportunities for employment.
  • There are fewer people in the area accessing accommodation support services. There may be demand for these types of services 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