During a tour of Armidale last week, Jim Longley Chief Executive for Ageing, Disability & Home Care within the NSW Government’s Family and Community Services, visited a home supported by House with No Steps to see and hear firsthand how its five male residents are benefitting from the support provided by the quality staff and facilities.
The facility, which is funded by the Federal Government and administered by the NSW Government, caters for five male residents, providing an alternative to living in an aged care home.
“I am visiting Armidale to meet with a number of service providers, including the House with No Steps,” said Mr Longley.
“This is a fantastic place for young people and it is great to see where service providers are doing new and innovative things; and House With No Steps is one of them.”
Ageing, Disability & Home Care within the NSW Government’s Family and Community Services’ principal role is to provide services for people with disabilities and provide funding for organisations that deliver those services.
“I have been really impressed with what I have seen at the House With No Steps home here in Armidale,” said Jim Longley.
“It is a very modern facility and has a lot of features that are excellent. I visited some other facilities today that were a bit older but still had a really homely feel to them; this is what we are trying to aim for in our whole understanding, is to have community inclusive arrangements so that people with disabilities are living lives as close to ordinary home lives as possible.”
The purpose of Mr Longley’s visit was for him to receive feedback on what issues local communities think are important in the delivery of services.
“I am always very keen to receive feedback and help people’s understanding of where reforms are up to,” said Mr Longley.
“We have the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) which is a very substantial transformation of our whole service system around people with disabilities over the next number of years.”
House with No Steps (HWNS) is a leading not-for-profit organisation providing services and support to 3600 people with a disability across 200 locations in NSW, Qld and the ACT.
We offer employment, education, training, accommodation and social connections programs. Last year HWNS celebrated its 50th year in Sydney and its 40th year in the Northern region. Over the past two years, HWNS has extended its service operations to include the New England region and currently provides varying models of accommodation support, both in Tamworth and Armidale.
HWNS in New England is also an approved provider of individually designed services for young people leaving schools through the Community Participation Program. We can also support others through the Life Choices, Active Ageing and Supported Living Fund programs too.
