Lighthouse News - Winter 2023

Appointment of New Board Chair

Lighthouse Disability’s Board have appointed Dr. John Harvey both as a new Board Director and Chair.

John Harvey has an extensive career as a board director A scientist by trade, he worked as a researcher in the health and agriculture sectors prior to joining the not-for-profit sector.

John currently sits as a Non-Executive Director of the National Youth Mental Health Network (also known as headspace) and Helping Hand Aged Care.

He is also Chair of Studio Nine Architects, Rural Business Support and was the immediate past Chair of Can:Do Group

"John brings with him a wealth of experience in the not-for-profit sector and I am looking forward to working with him to achieve our vision of providing services that achieve the best possible outcomes for people with disability,” Andrew Ellis Chief Executive Officer says.

After six months as Interim Chair, Jani Baker has returned to her role as a Board Director.

“Jani has provided great leadership over the last six months and on behalf of Lighthouse Disability, I would like to thank her for assisting us during this transition,” Andrew Ellis says.

Sue Imgraben is continuing in her role as Interim Deputy Chair.

John said, “I'm really pleased to be a part of defining the future of Lighthouse Disability and above all else, ensuring that we are the very best service that we can be."

Andrew's Welcome

I am excited to share with you some of the developments that have taken place at Lighthouse Disability in last few months

As part of our ongoing commitment to delivering a high-quality service, I personally have now visited over 20 of our services.

It was a great experience to witness the support our staff provide with our clients, but also allowed me to identify some opportunities for improvement. I would like to thank all the clients and their support workers who welcomed me into their homes.

Agency use has been an ongoing concern for families and support networks for a number of years. I have heard from families the importance of having people who are familiar with the needs of their loved one.

I am pleased to report we have reduced our agency use by more than 70% this year compared with our 5-year average. This is an incredible achievement in improving the consistency of our support services and I am sure you are starting to see some of these benefits in the support of your loved one.

To achieve this, we have welcomed 20 community support workers (CSW) to the organisation, as well as a number of Service Leads. These new staff members will be

familiar faces in our services and I look forward to welcoming even more skilled staff in the future

We have also been busy improving the quality of our houses.

Our clients have now transitioned out of the Rome service and a full renovation is underway (kitchen, bathroom, electrical, paint, new flooring and furniture).

Further to that, I just signed off on a quote for significant work at Matilda, which will greatly improve the accommodation for our clients.

In addition, Manager Service Delivery, David Hemer is in the process of getting the second kitchen operational again at Mayfield with a new fridge, oven and other appliances on order and coming soon.

This is just the beginning and a small snapshot, so watch this space for even more improvements coming soon to our other services.

I am also delighted that we have introduced newer vehicles at Clairville and Innes. These additions not only bolster our existing fleet, but also demonstrate our commitment to providing our clients and staff with the best possible vehicle for transport.

Further to that, we have also ordered several other vehicles, which are on their way to 19 Audley, Mercedes, Payneham and Rome.

Check out page 17 for an overview on all the improvements we've made over the last few months

I am equally excited to welcome Sally Ryan, our General Manager, Client Services who has been with the organisation since 21 June.

You may have met her at one of your recent meetings with Lighthouse Disability or at the recent 'Meet the Client Services Team' event.

Sally is endeavouring to meet as many families, plan nominees and staff as possible, so if you haven't met her yet - I'm sure it won't be long. We sat down with Sally to learn more about her background, which you can see on page 4

On 30 June, I attended a special forum event for participants and providers with NDIS Minister Bill Shorten It was interesting to hear how the priorities of the Government compared to that of participants and providers.

It was great to hear first-hand some of the future priorities for the scheme and what to expect next.

Our Plan Management service continues to grow and I am firm believer that this is a reflection of the great service our Plan Managers, Jo and Chris provide.

On page 7, you can learn a bit more about Jo and Chris and their background

If you are with an external plan manager and not happy with their service, I invite you to have a chat with Jo or Chris and experience what I'm talking about

As you can see, this newsletter has now grown to 24 pages, showing that we've got a lot to update you on.

With this in mind, as well as feedback from families and plan nominees - we will be moving to a fortnightly newsletter. This means you can stay right up to date with what's happening in the organisation

So watch out for the next newsletter which will be coming in the middle of August.

Until then, stay warm and happy reading

Andrew Ellis Chief Executive Officer

NDIS Forum with Minister Bill Shorten at the Playford Civic Centre

5 minutes wi h S ll

We recently welcomed new General Manager, Client Services Sally Ryanso we sat down with her to learn more about her background and her first month at Lighthouse Disability.

What are your first impressions here at Lighthouse Disability?

Since starting with Lighthouse Disability I have been really impressed with the commitment from everyone to developing quality practices that will positively impact the lives of the clients we support. Our staff recognise we need to continually improve and evolve and are willing to be a part of that process. This can be seen in the length of time some of our support staff have been here, and their continued loyalty to our clients

So what does the role of being General Manager, Client Services entail?

My role is about ensuring we have the processes in place to enable the support workers to do their job well out in the houses.

I liaise with all teams to ensure we are operating efficiently and effectively and are meeting all compliance requirements. I am kind of the conduit between the vision of the Board and CEO and figuring out how that looks on the ground and what we need to put in place to ensure we are following the strategic directions of the organisation.

I am involved in supporting the functions of our finance, rostering, and HR teams, as well as developing the Managers of Service Delivery to perform in their role well and develop their services and staff.

I have been involved in the mental health and disability sectors for about 13 years now I first started with Neami National as a mental health support worker, before taking on leadership positions including team leader, service manager, and project officer

When the NDIS was being rolled out I decided to start my own business as I identified that there was a major gap in how services were delivered to people who experienced complex mental health or dual disability, and I wanted to be a part of the solution.

I was lucky enough to be able to develop a successful service that delivered Supported Independent Living (SIL), Support Coordination and Outreach Services to over 200 clients. I ended my time at Pathways to Recovery in 2022 after 6 years of dedicating myself to leading the support in the local community.

I have spent the last year doing some private consultancy work with other NDIS businesses across Australia. During this time, I missed being part of a team, and concentrating on one organisation that I could make a difference in. When I learnt about the opportunity at Lighthouse Disability, and about the organisation in general, I knew this was the place for me due to our shared values and the vision the leadership team have for the future.

How do you see the NDIS evolving at the moment, and what can we expect to see next?

The NDIS is focussing on delivering longerterm plans to reduce the administrative burden on NDIA staff and the need for unnecessary reviews if a client’s supports are stable, and developing the NDIA workforce internally to prevent staff turnover.

There is also a focus on ensuring people with NDIS plans are not paying more for services than other people pay, which is happening at times when some providers realise they can charge the maximum price set by the NDIS instead of the market price they usually charge. The NDIA will also look at measures to reduce fraudulent and unethical practices of some service providers Lighthouse Disability is committed to preventing fraudulent and unethical behaviour, and will support any measures around this to continue to protect our clients.

Recently, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten announced there will be a SIL review, with a focus on delivering better outcomes for SIL clients. The review will consider housing supply, rental market accessibility, cotenancy models, community housing and other innovative housing models.

Lighthouse Disability is already preparing for this through a review of how our housing is operated and delivered, including our partnerships with community housing providers.

We are also reviewing how we currently measure client outcomes, and how we can do this better in the future

The NDIS is renewing its call for states and territories to do more to support people with disability, so people aren’t forced to depend on the NDIS for all their disability support needs.

This means we will have to be better at identifying what the health system and other sectors are responsible for, and not relying solely on NDIS funding to assist with client need.

Lighthouse Disability will be supporting our staff and families to understand this better through the development and delivery of training and information sessions in the near future.

Over the next few years the NDIS will focus on resolving the sector’s workforce shortage; attracting new professionals into the sector; and ensuring minimum qualifications, even for unregistered providers This will include a review of the industrial relations laws and the SCHADS Award to better align it with the needs of the disability sector.

What changes are planned at Lighthouse and when can we expect to see more?

Lighthouse Disability has a focus on becoming an employer of choice, and a quality service that delivers accreditation standards every day This focus means we will have happier, more stable staffing; a further reduction in agency staff usage; more knowledgeable and confident staff who are actively engaged in the work they do.

With this focus the clients we support should experience a higher level of support and feel confident in the support they receive every day The changes centre around supporting the work of our CSW’s on the ground, so they are delivering a level of service that is consistent, predictable, and person-centred.

To help achieve this, we are improving our IT systems; staff induction process; documentation; and training so that staff feel more confident and are better resourced to deliver services This will also mean families can feel more confident their family members are experiencing a high level of care. CSW’s will be supported through the introduction of the Service Lead role at houses; the reintroduction of monthly team meetings; internal training opportunities, new handbooks and guides to provide additional direction and support.

The Managers of Service Delivery will continue to focus on supporting and upskilling their teams, whilst the Service Leads will be focussed on providing support within houses and being the main point of contact for any client-related enquiries We are also concentrating on developing our internal policies and processes to support this.

Our current Service Agreements are not in line with NDIS requirements and we are in the process of reviewing and updating these documents. This means that your next Service Agreement will look a little different.

Please take the time to review it before you sign it and don't hesitate to ask us any questions

Lighthouse Disability recognises a need to improve on the way we communicate with and engage clients, families and

Lighthouse News - Winter 2023

stakeholders, and this will be a major focus over the next 6 months.

The Consumer Reference Group (CRG) has actively promoted opportunities for clients to express their views regarding the quality of Lighthouse Disability services. Previous members have been very eager to give quality suggestions and feedback We appreciate that it has been some time since the last meeting and we will be re-instigating the CRG soon.

The Family Advisory Committee (FAC) has in the past provided important information to the leadership team of Lighthouse Disability about aspects of service delivery that are working well in addition to points of concern. The FAC will also be re-instated very soon

Historically, Lighthouse Disability have held a number of client and family events. The monthly Boom Box Disco, Easter Picnic and Christmas Breakfast have created great opportunities for our community to get together. These events will continue in the next financial year and we have also budgeted for two more to keep our community connected

We will be recruiting for a Community Engagement Officer in the near future who will take responsibility for organising these events, as well as coordinating the CRG and FAC.

My personal values centre around honesty, transparency, communication and inclusion, and I am committed to listening to and acting on the needs of our clients and families.

Service Information

As at 1 August 2023

To ensure you know the Manager of Service Delivery and Service Lead at your service please see the current list and their contact details below. Please contact the service phone number in the first instance, as our Service Leads work across multiple services and may not be able to take your call.

Manager, Service Delivery Contact Details

Cyril Paul 0404 951 635

David Hemer 0427 671 582

Jimmy Dominic 0439 218 263

Tracey Sinclair 0426 443 604

Meet Our Plan Managers

Jo didn’t always work in disability services. In fact, she used to work in finance for a pest control business!

Jo moved to Lighthouse Disability in an accounts receivable role when one of her family members acquired a disability. After seeing the challenges involved, Jo wanted to work for an organisation where she could support families going through similar experiences.

When the NDIS was rolled out and Lighthouse Disability introduced Plan Management Services, Jo was eager to work directly with customers and help to manage their funding. So, she moved across - and the rest is history. Now a seasoned plan manager, her dedication and passion shines through in her interactions with clients

As Jo’s NDIS expertise has grown, so has her personal experience with the impacts of disability. She’s proud to be in a role where she can shoulder some of the burden for people on their NDIS journeys, and her customers love that she can always be relied on to ‘keep it real’

A self-described ‘people person’, Jo’s favourite part of the job is meeting with customers and being their go-to for questions about their NDIS Plans. She also welcomes the continuous learning that the role provides – not only has she become something of an NDIS expert, she’s also learned a lot about the diverse experiences of people living with disability.

Outside of work, Jo is super crafty. You’ll find her beading, working with clay, making jewellery, or op-shopping for pieces that she can customise.

Joanne Pratt (better known as Jo)

An exciting and rewarding career in finance set Chris up to become the Plan Manager extraordinaire she is today.

Before joining the Lighthouse Disability Plan Management team, Chris spent fifteen years working in the not-for-profit sector. For twelve of those, she was the senior finance officer at an Aboriginal organisation in Alice Springs She loved supporting different projects that improved the living conditions in regional communities all over the top-end, such as infrastructure development, fuel deliveries, and education programs.

After leaving Alice Springs, Chris came back to Adelaide and took on a finance role in another Aboriginal organisation, this time a disability services provider Here, Chris felt a sense of fulfilment like never before and decided she wanted to keep working in this sector for a long time.

One day, Chris saw a temp role going at Lighthouse Disability. She applied, became a plan manager, and did such a good job that she was made permanent

Chris says the best part of the job is having contact with clients. All she has ever wanted to do in her career is use her skills to help others, and she enjoys getting to do this every day as a plan manager.

When she’s not working, Chris loves sewing and quilting She’s especially talented at crafting bags and table runners, often gifting her creations to friends and colleagues. Eventually, Chris hopes to volunteer her skills to make items for service personnel and covers for hospital humidicribs.

Christine Hawkett (better known as Chris)

Introducing the Business Improvement Program

Lighthouse Disability has started to develop an organisational Business Improvement Program (BIP) reviewing existing software and business processes We have engaged two consultants - Anita Gover of TechAbility and Anthony Venditozzi of BEE squared – to support our internal team working on this. Learn more about their backgrounds below.

Meet Anita Gover

Anita has over 20 years’ experience in IT and business, with particular skills and experience with a broad range of NDIS software systems. She has first hand knowledge of the NDIS where she manages a family member's NDIS Plan. You can learn more about Anita's experience by visiting TechAbility's website: techability net au

Meet Anthony Venditozzi

Anthony has over 15 years’ experience across private, public and not for profit sectors in project, change, improvement and operation roles. Most recently Anthony worked with another large South Australian disability provider in a similar role. You can find out more about Anthony’s experience by visiting the BeeSquared website: beesquared.com.au

What is the BIP?

The BIP is a series of projects put together in a 'program' to help improve our business processes and use of software around finance, rostering, customer and people management.

The BIP will help Lighthouse Disability to spend less time on administrative duties and more time supporting our clients and families to ensure we deliver our service more efficiently and effectively.

Who's involved?

Anthony has started in our Park Terrace office part-time as Project Manager and will play a pivotal role in leading this project.

Anita has brought her specialist NDIS software experience to help guide us

Further to that, given her time in the organisation and understanding of different roles (finance, rostering and property)

Emma Amos has taken on a key role as a Finance Specialist and will work on a number of different initiatives.

Denny Ackerly, who has great experience as a Community Support Worker in several other organisations and worked initially at Lighthouse as a Manager, Service Delivery has taken on the role as Client Services Specialist

Her role will involve putting a client services lens on all initiatives and assist in implementing the range of new projects that are planned

What has happened so far?

Over the last few months, Anita and Anthony have conducted several workshops with Park Terrace staff to understand the business processes and systems we currently use as well as identify challenges and opportunities to improve.

We have reviewed areas of our organisation that we have historically received feedback and complaints about, so we can look to improve the systems that deliver better outcomes

This has included:

Our rostering system

How we collect and store client information

Invoicing processes

Recruitment and management of staff training and qualifications

Managing incidents.

We've had a number of conversations with our current technology providers to identify improvements to make.

One key area we know isn't working is our management of money in services. The BIP team are currently working with the client services team to pilot a new online debit card facility called 'Weel' This will help us to streamline receipt capture and bank reconciliation processes, replacing the current blue card system for how household money is spent.

What's next?

Once the project plan has been completed, we will engage with all staff to explain the findings from the workshops, key goals for the project and a plan of action

As the project evolves further, we will provide more information about how it will affect and benefit you, including providing opportunities for input

We are expecting this plan to have long term benefits not only internally, but further improving our quality of service.

By having efficient and effective processes, technologies and roles we will be able to provide a more consistent and quality service.

Supported Independent Living and Community Participation - What's the difference?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Australia provides a range of supports for people living with disability. Two key components of the NDIS are Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Community Participation (CP) - but do you know the difference?

In this blog, we will explore the differences between SIL and CP, highlighting their purposes, benefits, and how they contribute to enhancing the lives of people living with disability.

What is Supported Independent Living?

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is a core support within the NDIS, designed to assist participants to live as independently as possible

SIL provides funding for support services necessary for daily living activities. This support enables participants to develop skills to live independently, fostering greater autonomy. 12 | Lighthouse

Some examples that SIL may include various forms of assistance, such as:

personal care, household tasks, meal preparation, managing finances and; accessing the community.

It can be delivered in different settings, including group homes, shared accommodation, or individualised living arrangements. SIL aims to create a safe and inclusive environment that promotes personal growth, community integration, and social connections.

Only about 5-6% of NDIS participants are funded for SIL

What is Community Participation?

Community Participation (CP) is another essential component of the NDIS, emphasising the active engagement of participants in community life.

CP funding enables participants to access various activities, programs, and services that promote social inclusion, skill development, and community connections

CP supports can include:

participation in sports and recreational activities (for example bowling), attending educational courses, joining clubs or interest groups, volunteering and engaging in community events.

The aim of CP is to enhance social skills, build relationships, and foster a sense of belonging within the wider community.

CP acknowledges the importance of social interaction, personal development, and community involvement in improving the overall quality of life for people with disability.

What are the differences and benefits between SIL and CP?

While SIL focuses on providing support and accommodation for independent living, CP is centered around community engagement and participation.

SIL primarily addresses the practical aspects of daily living, whereas CP emphasizes the social and recreational aspects

Both supports are essential and complement each other in supporting people with disability to lead fulfilling lives

SIL enables independence and self-care skills, while CP encourages social inclusion, skill development, and building relationships within the community

In summary, SIL and CP are integral components of the NDIS, each serving unique purposes in empowering people with disability to thrive independently and actively participate in their communities.

Lighthouse Disability primarily provides a SIL service to our customers. Whilst some other disability service organisations provide CP to non-SIL customers, Lighthouse Disability only provides CP to its current SIL customers.

The SIL and CP support process can be quite complex and daunting, but please know we're here to help.

Your Complete Guide on the NDIS Code of Conduct

The National Disability Insurance Scheme NDIS Code of Conduct is a set of standards developed by the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Commission. It outlines the legal obligations of all workers and health practitioners operating within the NDIS.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme

NDIS Code of Conduct is a set of standards developed by the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Commission. It outlines the legal obligations of all workers and health practitioners operating within the NDIS.

What is the NDIS Code of Conduct?

The code is a legal regulation that outlines the expectations of how individuals receiving services under the NDIS (also known as participants) should be treated It aims to provide a standard of support that is built on trust, competency, and compassion.

It also covers the behaviours and actions of anyone engaged in NDIS-related activities, which includes service providers, their employees, volunteers, support coordinators, registered health practitioners and other organisations. There are two codes - the NDIS Code of Conduct for Workers and one for Service Providers.

Here are the seven elements:

1) Act with respect for individual rights to freedom of expression, self-determination, and decision-making in accordance with relevant laws and conventions.

Deliver services in a way that maintains standards and principles underpinning the NDIS.

Support people with disability to make decisions.

Communicate in a form, language and manner that enables people with disability to understand the information and make known their will and preferences

Take into account the expressed values and beliefs of people with disability, including those relating to culture, faith, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexuality and age, as well as disability

2) Respect the privacy of people with disability.

Comply with Commonwealth and State and Territory privacy laws

Deliver services in a dignified way that maintains personal privacy.

3) Provide supports and services in a safe and competent manner with care and skill.

Ensure workers have the necessary training, competence and qualifications for the supports and services delivered. Provide services consistent with relevant professional codes. Meet relevant work health and safety requirements.

Maintain appropriate and accurate records and follow security procedures. Hold appropriate insurance.

4) Act with integrity, honesty, and transparency.

Recommend and provide supports and services appropriate to the needs of the participant

Maintain integrity by declaring and avoiding any real or perceived conflicts of interest.

Avoid engaging in, participating in or promoting sharp practices

5) Promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that might have an impact on the quality and safety of supports provided to people with disability.

Foster an environment where people with disability, their families, carers, advocates and workers feel safe to make a complaint or report issues Operate effective complaints processes. Operate effective incident management system.

Undertake investigative and disciplinary action and comply with external investigations.

6) Take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to all forms of violence, exploitation, neglect, and abuse of people with disability.

Commit to eliminating any form of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

7) Take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct.

Identify and respond to incidents of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, and report these to the NDIS Commission and, as appropriate, to other relevant authorities. Reduce and eliminate restrictive practices. Have in place clear guidance for staff behaviour.

Operate effective processes for dealing with sexual misconduct

Why is the NDIS Code of Conduct important?

The Code of Conduct is essential because it provides a framework that every person working in the NDIS needs to follow to ensure that only the highest standard of support is provided to people with disability.

It establishes a set of values and behaviours that support the delivery of quality services and protect the rights of people receiving those services.

Additionally, it ensures the safety and wellbeing of people with disability, as well as the NDIS workforce.

Here are five reasons why it is important:

Protection of Participants: The Code safeguards the interests of people with disability receiving supports under the NDIS It requires providers to always act in the best interests of participants while assisting them in achieving their goals.

Safeguarding of Participants: The Code emphasises the inherent dignity of participants and requires service providers to show respect and preserve their privacy and confidentiality.

Accountability: The Code creates an obligation for all service providers, employees, support coordinators and registered health professionals to maintain a level of accountability for their actions.

Consistent Standard of Support: The NDIS Code of Conduct ensures that participants receive a high level of support irrespective of the provider they choose. The Code also aligns with the expected professional conduct for healthcare practitioners providing services to people with disability.

Ethical Practice: The NDIS Code of Conduct provides an ethical framework that providers need to abide by

The Code is an essential aspect of the National Disability Insurance Scheme as it outlines the responsibilities of all service providers

It ensures providers implement the highest standards to maintain values, ethics, and behaviours that uphold participants' best interests Maintaining the Code of Conduct ensures a more accessible, safer experience for people accessing the NDIS.

Does each state have its own NDIS Code of Conduct?

The Code applies to all service providers and workers nationally. While each state has its own laws relating to the Code, the elements are consistent nation-wide

At Lighthouse Disability we ask all staff to undertake training in the Code and as part of this must pass a test to ensure they understand it

Further to that, we have developed and enforce our own Code of Conduct that complements the NDIS version Together, both Codes ensure our clients receive the best support possible

To see the full versions of the Code of Conduct visit the NDIS website: ndis gov au

Maintenance Matters

A gardener has been through a number of our houses to tidy things up and is in the process of getting to all our other houses

We’ve bought new vehicles for Clairville, Innes, Mercedes, Rome, Audley and Crane

Significant tidy up internally and work will soon commence at Matilda, which will include painting, repairs and other improvements.

Renovations have now started at Rome with the kitchen, bathrooms and floors all being replaced

The floors and air conditioning are planned to be replaced soon at Audley

The second kitchen at Mayfield will soon be operational again

Out and about in Winter

We pride ourselves on delivering person-centred active support to all our clients. Check out what we've been up to below.

Nothing brings people together on Anzac Day quite like a barbeque. At Matilda, we welcomed family and friends to enjoy a great Aussie tradition - a backyard BBQ

Tarah finished her latest piece of art and couldn't be happier. There's something truly satisfying about creating something from scratch and watching it come to life

When the weather is this good, why not explore the world around you. The clients from Mayfield went to explore the beautiful Belair National Park and soaked up the sun.

Another day of great weather, another beautiful Adelaide landmark to explore. We visited the picturesque Himeji Gardens in the city, and we are in complete aweMark gives it two thumbs up

Jake is a Crows fanatic but that doesn't stop him enjoying the atmosphere of a Port Adelaide game. While it was a great game to watch, we can confirm that he won't be changing his allegiances

We visited Cafe De Vili's for the first time and were blown away The food was absolutely amazing and the atmosphere was so cozy and welcoming on a cold wintery day.

Matt just made it to the beach for the last day of sunny weather before winter really sets in. Who says the beach is just for summer?

Mark crossed off the grocery list and stocked up on all the essentials. There's nothing quite like the feeling of a full fridge and pantry.

Who says cooking pasta has to be boring? Michael certainly doesn't think so They say you can judge your cooking by whether others want to eat it. Judging by Michael's housemate Simon - his cooking is a winner!

Being active is an important part of a healthy lifestyle The open sky, sunshine, and chirping birds provided the perfect backdrop for our most recent exercise session at an outdoor gym.

Bowling vibes! Phil had an amazing time hitting the lanes with his squad. trikes, spares, and lots of laughter

David had an incredible day at the Aviation Museum! Exploring the rich history of flight and witnessing iconic aircraft up close was an awe-inspiring experience

Staff Updates

Welcome

We are so excited to welcome our new members to the team over the last few months (April 15 - July 15) Let's all give them a warm welcome and help make them feel at home:

Farewell

At the same time, we want to say a goodbye to our departing team members. We are grateful for their contributions to our team and wish them all the best in their future endeavours:

Community Support Workers

Harsharan Kaur

Ajaya Bhatta

Ramandeep Kaur Johal

Mary Atem

Payal Ahuja

Mukesh Kumar

Rajesh Thapaliya

Sagar Khaniya

Ramandeep Kaur Sekhon

Bhumi Pathak

Sonya Castillo

Akon Nhail

Chandra Thapa

Arshdeep Singh

Sheena Jimmy Vithayathil

Manisha Khatri

Matiengay Korgar

Prince Kpadeh

Amritpal Kaur

Idris Lawal

Dharminder Singh

Community Support Workers Park Terrace

Kate Miller (Service Lead)

Denise Ackerly (Client Services Specialist)

Leila Basic (Rostering Officer)

David Hemer (Manager, Service Delivery)

Gagandeep Kaur (Service Lead)

Jordan Possingham (Accountant)

Sharada Acharya (Service Lead)

Manjinder Katoch (Service Lead)

Sally Ryan (General Manager, Client Services)

Libin John

Ian Morgan

Bhagawat Neopaney

Massama Jabateh

Marco Munayco

Payal Ahuja

Charles Ibeanu

Tamika Herschausen

Emeka Okerue

Lara Homburg (Manager, Service Delivery)

Brenton Drogemuller (Manager, Quality & Safeguarding)

Sharon Bristow (Authorised Program Officer)

Lea Smart (General Manager, Client Services)

Kerrie O’Dwyer (Manager, Service Delivery)

Rachael Hawkes (Administration Officer)

Retirement

We are bidding farewell and extending our warmest wishes to two valued members of our team, who will be retiring after nearly 30 years of dedicated service. Their unwavering commitment and contributions have left an indelible mark on our organisation, and they will be deeply missed by colleagues and clients alike:

James Broster (Community Support Worker)

Pat Netschitowsky (Administration Officer)

Park Terrace

Meet the Client Services Team Event

We wanted to extend our gratitude to those who were able to join us at our 'Meet the Client Services Team' event.

For those who were unable to attend or would like to relive the experience, we have shared the event's recording and presentation slides to your supplied email address.

If you haven't received the recording or presentation, please call us on 8256 9807.

We believe the event was a great success, and your active participation and insightful questions added tremendous value to the discussions. Our team enjoyed the opportunity to connect with you and share our vision for the future

We deeply value your continued support and if you have any further questions or would like to provide feedback, please don't hesitate to reach out Your input is essential to us, and we always welcome your thoughts.

Once again, thank you for being a part of our event We look forward to staying in touch and sharing more exciting updates with you in the future.

That's a wrap on the Positive Futures Expo 2023. With 76 service providers and hundreds of attendees this was an event not to be missed. We had a great time catching up, connecting with and meeting so many NDIS clients and providers. We can say with confidence that a lot more people now know Lighthouse Disability.

For the first time, we exhibited at the Ready-Set-Home event held by One Community. We had a great experience connecting with providers and clients as well as showcasing our services. It was amazing hearing that so many people already know of the great service that Lighthouse Disability provides.

Share your feedback

Lighthouse Disability is committed to providing high quality disability support services. This is done through the delivery of person-centered services for people with disability

To achieve this, Lighthouse Disability reviews its services and strives for continuous improvement in all that it does. A key part of our continuous improvement is receiving feedback about people’s experiences with the support services we provide.

How do I share my feedback?

All clients, families, advocates and staff are encouraged to provide suggestions on how we are able to improve the quality of our services. Feedback can be provided by:

Email: complaints@lighthousedisability org au

Writing to: Lighthouse Disability, PO Box 722, Salisbury SA 5108

Calling: 08 8256 9800

Visiting: Lighthouse Disability, 101 Park Terrace, Salisbury SA 5108

Online: www lighthousedisability org au/contact-us/share-your-feedback

You can provide your feedback directly to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) which is an independent Commonwealth agency established to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services. You can provide feedback to the NDIS Commission by:

Calling: 1800 035 544 (free call from landlines) or TTY 133 677. Interpreters can be arranged.

Online: https://www.ndis.gov.au/contact/feedback-and-complaints

Through the National Relay Service and ask for 1800 035 544

What will happen to my feedback?

We aim to acknowledge your feedback within three working days. We will aim to address all feedback within a 21 working day time frame. We will always use your feedback to continually improve our services

Advocacy Organisations

If you would like more information about independent advocates that can help you share your feedback, see the below list:

Citizen Advocacy South Australia

20 Myers Street

ADELAIDE SA 5000

Tel: (08) 8410 6644

Mobile: 0408 811 845

Email: office.citizenadvocacy@gmail.com

Website: www citizenadvocacysa com au

Independent Advocacy SA

99 Frome Street

ADELAIDE SA 5000

Tel: (08) 8232 6200

Freecall: 1800 999 884

Email: indepadv@internode.on.net

Disability Advocacy & Complaints Service of SA

33 Franklin Street, ADELAIDE SA 5000

Tel: (08) 7122 6030

Fax: (08) 8332 5112

Email: admin@dacssa.org.au

Website: www dacssa org au

Website: www independentadvocacysa org au g q

ADELAIDE SA 5000

Tel: 1300 733 049

Email: info@binsa.org

Website: www.braininjurysa.org.au

Disability Rights Advocacy Service Inc

Shop 4/80 Henley Beach Road

MILE END SA 5031

Tel: (08) 8351 9500

Fax: (08) 8152 0396

Email: admin@dras.com.au

Website: www.dras.com.au

43 Franklin Street

ADELAIDE SA 5000

Tel: (08) 8202 5960

Country Callers: 1300 886 220

Email: das@unitingcommunities.org

Website: www unitingcommunities org

Lighthouse Disability would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the traditional custodians on whose ancestral lands we provide our accommodation and support services. We acknowledge the deep feeling of attachment and relationship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have with their Country.

We pay our respects to the Elders, both past and present, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may engage with our services.