Regional families benefit
Suzie Misi and son Laurie have benefited from the Local Area Coordination program.
Thursday Island Local Area Coordinator Frank Cook has worked with Suzie Misi to help her to access the right support and information for her son Laurie.The Local Area Coordination program assists people with disabilities in remote and rural communities, helping connect people with a disability to services and supports within their communities. Connect talks to the Misi family from Thursday Island about their experiences with the program.
Suzie Misi didn't move back to Thursday Island from Cairns for the white-sand beaches and palm trees. It was more a case of family connections and the knowledge that Disability Service Queensland's Local Area Coordination (LAC) program could help link her to support for her young son Laurie.
Suzie says her return to the island has been great for the whole family, "Yes it's a smaller place, but everyone knows everyone here, they help you out. Laurie can't run too far without someone bailing him up,'' she says.
Local Area Coordinators are based in rural and remote communities throughout the state, from Moa Island in the north to Goondiwindi in the south and Longreach to the west. The success of the LAC program is based on two key principles - assisting people to build informal support networks and to use local community solutions that require little or no additional funding, and engaging with the community to develop an inclusive and supportive environment for people with a disability and their families.
Where services are not available, the coordinator will work with the community to develop ways to support people with a disability. In this way communities are assisted to be more supportive and inclusive of all citizens and accepting of diversity.
When Suzie and Laurie moved back to the island they needed help to find appropriate housing for their family and were also assisted by the program to access extended respite hours from the Port Kennedy Respite Service.
This year the LAC program beds down an expansion in service delivery. Funding increased last year by $1 million to $6.26 million and there are now 50 LACs across the state.
Just like Queensland's other 49 LACs, Thursday Island coordinator Frank Cook lives locally - close to the people he supports. Frank says his role is to build confidence and self-esteem and empower people with a disability by helping them access the information and resources they need. "I don't do all the work for them, all the filling out of forms and ringing around" Frank says.
"I do it with them so they can build confidence to do it themselves. When someone needs information about what's available for themselves or their children they come to me. I know all about what they can access, no matter where they live.''
Frank believes if one family is having trouble finding transport to a medical clinic or support group, others in the community are probably having the same difficulties. He will then help the family meet with Rotary or the local council to discuss the need for more transport services. In this way, people with a disability and their families are engaged in the community and the community is encouraged to look after itself.
Suzie says being among family may have helped Laurie's health too. "He's only been in hospital two times in the last three years, compared to lots of times in Cairns,'' Suzie says. "I don't think I've had to ask for too much help last year. I know Frank's there and if I can't access him on the phone I can go and knock on his door."
What do Local Area Coordinators do?
Local Area Coordinators work with families, communities, local organisations and people with a disability living in the community either independently or with their family or a carer to:
- establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals, families and communities
- assist people with a disability and their families to clarify their strengths, goals and plans for the future, and to access the supports and services that will enable them to meet their identified goals
- assist people with a disability and their families to engage with and develop natural networks and community connections to build inclusive and welcoming communities
- work to develop leadership skills within and between people with a disability, families and communities that result in better recognition of, and response to, the rights and needs of people with a disability to live full and empowered lives.
For more information
Disability Information Service
1800 177 120
Last updated February 2009