Since 1981, we’ve grown and developed into a well respected and viable not-for-profit organisation which actively provides leadership, advocacy and valued services to people with disabilities and their families.
Our approach emphasises choice and self determination, enhancing lifestyles through independence, recognising the importance and maintenance of personal support networks.
Our track record is of innovative and creative support services ranging from carer respite to social support, leisure and work experience, social opportunities.
A Quality Assurance system that enables us to critically review our performance and evaluate our processes ensures continuous improvement.
We work to achieve recognition in the community of the abilities of the people we support and energetically advocate for the acceptance and participation of people with disabilities in all areas of life.
We focus on the needs of individuals, starting with all significant people in a person’s life coming together to help plan and set goals for outcomes.
We invite you to join us on an enriching and rewarding journey of expanding possibilities.
Interchange Illawarra accepts as basic to its service that participants have the right to
- respect for their individual worth, dignity of risk, privacy and confidentiality
- be assessed for access to services without discrimination
- be informed about available services
- choose from available alternatives
- pursue any complaint about service provision or staff without retribution
- involve an advocate and/or interpreter of their choice
- participate in decision making
- access any information held by this agency pertaining to themselves
- access policies and procedures of the agency
- be involved in the development, implementation and regular review of the policies and procedures of the agency
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But wait..... there's MORE!
- Interchange Illawarra encourages people with disabilities, their carers and families to nominate for the Management Committee. This ensures participants, carers and families are involved in the planning, decision making and future directions of this organisation. This ensures that we know what people need most and work to deliver it.
- Feedback from these surveys are collated and reviewed. Where necessary, changes are made to policies, procedures and practice to improve service delivery to benefit you and the person you care for.
- Topics for these sessions are obtained from the annual satisfaction survey
- When families, parent/carers register with Interchange Illawarra they are informed of their right to raise complaints or concerns without fear of retribution. This information is provided to you in a registration package
Interchange Illawarra defines respite as providing support to the family/carer in their caring role. This support is delivered collaboratively, flexibly, within available resources and is responsive to the consumers individual needs. Respite is time limited in its occasion of service