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The State Government has not allocated any significant funding in this years State Budget for the future redevelopment of Colanda Residential Services. However, the Minister for Community Services Lisa Neville has announced a more limited support package for Colanda designed to ensure ongoing service stability and support for Colanda Residential Services and to enable 10 residents to have their preferences to move to the community sooner.
Whilst the broader government policy position of moving people to community based services remains, the budget outcomes means that there is no definite decision about the broader future of Colanda.
HACSU is seeking high level discussions with the Government and DHS to work through the details of the announcement and to influence its implementation on behalf of Colanda members.
The details announced by the Minister and DHS in their contact with HACSU involve four key areas;- Two new Community Residential Units to be built. One in Colac and one in Geelong to assist 10 clients/families who have identified that they wish to relocate closer to the community. This is a good outcome for those individuals and this will provide opportunities for their preference to be realised sooner. The Department has also advised that they will seek to arrange opportunities for those residents/families who have indicated that they wish to move closer to their family, this may involve up to 6 residents.
Members are aware that there was a plan to continue to work with people who identified that they wished to relocate through the client future needs assessment project last year - Maintenance of Current Services and Maintenance Plan. The government is committing resources to ensure that the current service standards and building maintenance at Colanda is maintained to ensure ongoing quality care into the foreseeable future.
- Process of Future Service and Workforce Planning.
Service Development - The government’s announcement includes a commitment to continue with Service and Workforce planning on a consultative basis. HACSU understands that this will entail building on the work from the client needs assessment into a longer term service delivery and configuration plan. That plan would then be the subject to future budget bids prior to any announcements on implementation.
Workforce Planning - The government is seeking that a comprehensive workforce development and support plan to be established. The plan is to include immediate investment in the ongoing training, development and support of staff
- Framework Agreement with HACSU. The DHS has advised that it is seeking discussions with HACSU to establish a specific framework agreement that would facilitate and support staff in the implementation of the Colanda announcement including how any necessary reconfiguration and improvement of existing services should occur in light of these decisions.
HACSU is now working with members at Colanda on the range of issues that arise from the announcement. |
