FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Addressing the barriers:People with a disability accessing mainstream and specific services in rural and remote areas

Wobbly Hub & Double Spokes Project

Angela Dew, Craig Veitch, Kim Bulkeley, Gisselle Gallego,

Anita Bundy, Michelle Lincoln, Scott Griffiths,

Jennie Brentnall, Richard Madden

Wobbly Hub and Double Spokes Project

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Project Aim:

›To develop, implement and evaluate evidence-based policies which will promote timely and effective therapy service delivery to people with a disability living in rural and remote communities

ADHC Western Region (WR) of NSW

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Identification of a problem

› Geographic distance / travel

› Dispersed service user population

› Recruitment and retention issues

› Demand for therapy outstripping supply of therapists

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Challenges in delivering therapy services to people with a disability in WR

www.grc.asn.au

Understanding the Current Situation

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Analysing Policy DocumentsReviewing Literature

Talking to 50 Senior Staff in WR and Head Offices

Talking to 97 Service Providers in WR

Talking to 78 Carers and 10 Adults with a Disability

in WR

LocalState

Policy context – Community Services

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Federal

Person centred

Whole of government

Early intervention

Capacity building & Strengths

based

Interagency collaboratio

n

Model of Person-Centred Therapy

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DRAFT

Interagency Collaboration

Person Centred Practice

Capacity building

Early Intervention

Strengths-based

State Local

Locality

DRAFT

Carer

Person

Education

Whole of government

Person Centred Practice

Strengths based

Capacity building

Early Intervention

Interagency Collaboration

Health

ADHC NGO

Cross BorderPrivate

Federal

“Tarquin”

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Town

DRAFT

Parents

Tarquin

Interagency Collaboration

Person Centred Practice

Capacity building

Early Intervention

Strengths-based

Community Health

Early Intervention NGO

Capital cityCross Border

Siblings

Rosie said………….

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› “I need instruction to be able to know what to do with Tarquin….to make sure what I’m doing are not things that are going to hurt him…that I’m getting the best out of him and I don’t feel that I’m getting that here at all locally.”

“I’m not prepared to accept that how he is right now is never going to change…I still think that there’s a lot of progress to be made…I don’t think he’s been given enough [early intervention] to say ‘this is as good as it’s going to get;.”

“Marcus”

1010

Town

DRAFT

Marcus

Strengths based

Person Centred Practice

Capacity building

Early Intervention

Interagency Collaboration

Supported work NGO

Lives independently with drop-in

support

Marcus said………….

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› “I got speech problems and went to a lady [speech pathologist] in [regional town] a long time ago before 1982. I get muddled up with trying to get money, they [bank tellers] don’t understand me. When I am on the phone it is hard for me. I have not been able to get help with my speaking…I’d like to get some help with talking and people understanding me.”

“I can’t read and write and I don’t know why…I do my best. I got help but the lady I went to moved on and it stopped. Is it too late? I am 59.

“Marcus”

1212

Town

DRAFT

Marcus

Strengths based

Person Centred Practice

Capacity building

Early Intervention

Supported work NGO

Lives independently with drop-in

support

So what can be done?

Improved therapy service delivery in rural and remote

areas

Therapy Assistants

Technology

Flexible models

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