F E AT U R E
Building Connections: Development of a Collaborative Resource Centre Chris Pearce, Managing Director and OT, Occupational Therapy Services Group
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s Michelle Bihary identified in her recent Connections article, “Leading to Support Communities”, one of the best ways to support our communities— whether it be clients, professional colleagues, or our professional network—is to be more proactive and influential in our leadership. The Solutions Centre is one such initiative driven by a perceived need for an accessible community resource where suppliers, therapists, students, and service users can collaborate. As one of the leaders in the WA occupational therapy community, and with established and long-standing networks with the various suppliers across WA, the team at OT Services Group (led by Chris Pearce) designed and envisioned a ‘centre’ as part of its strategic planning and to centralise resources for therapists, suppliers, and service users. After securing sponsorship from four other local suppliers—who are also established, long-standing, family-owned businesses with lived experience in disabilities—our six-month journey of development began in mid-2020 and culminated in January 2021 with the opening of the Solutions Centre. This innovative community space provides a fresh approach to the WA disability community, with resources for open-minded collaboration, as well as therapy services, information, professional development, social events, community resources, and professional advice to the community at no charge.
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The Solutions Centre was born from a belief that services and resources for people with disabilities had become decentralised and operationally (or financially) driven, rather than consumer-focused (in particular, as funding for disability services has transitioned to individualised funding under the NDIS). It is designed to enhance consumer experience by centralising innovative assistive-technology solutions for trial, providing resources for therapy service provision, combining community resources, professional advice, and information that is available to everyone, and providing access to all key stakeholders in the WA disability community. The centre aims to ‘inspire solutions’ through collaboration of stakeholders and by providing displays and demonstrations of conventional and extra-ordinary possibilities. Rather than adopting a showroom model, the Solutions Centre is an inviting, interactive space with innovative assistivetechnology solutions on display–including
those found in mainstream marketplaces such as Bunnings or Ikea, as well as specialist assistive-technology options from disability equipment suppliers. The centre encompasses the full range of activities that we complete every day, with areas dedicated specifically to: driving and vehicles; mobility, cushioning, and seating; sensory; home and daily living (including kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom demonstrations); vision, hearing, and communication; home automation and environmental modifications; and lifestyle (including items to assist with participating in social integration, gardening, pets, and sexuality). To date, all visitors have expressed their amazement at having found at least one solution they had not seen or trialled previously. The coffee nook has also been well received and creates a relaxing non-clinical atmosphere. Located in Malaga, WA (11km north of the Perth CBD), the Solutions Centre sits alongside other specialist, disability assistivetechnology providers and creates a therapy
“I believe that the more integrated and collaborative that service users, occupational therapists, and the commercial sector can be, the better the experience and outcome for the service users. The Solutions Centre is our next step in that direction.” – Chris Pearce
