Improving Human Services in
Redfern and Waterloo
Draft Phase 2 of Human Services Plan
released
The draft Phase 2 of
the Redfern-Waterloo Human Services Plan is on public exhibition until close of
business on 7 November 2006. Community feedback is welcomed (see details this
page). You can obtain a copy of the Plan by contacting the Redfern-Waterloo
Authority’s office or by accessing the website.
The Human Services Plan has been developed by the RWA to
improve the coordination, quality and access to health, education, disability,
transport and other human services for the people of the area.
Phase 1 of the Human Services Plan commenced implementation
late last year after a period of community consultation. It focuses on improving
services delivered to children and families, Aboriginal people and young
people.
Phase 2 of the Plan aims to make a positive impact to the
lives of older people, particularly those with disabilities or isolated from
the community. It also has a strong focus on improving support for homeless
people.
The draft Phase 2 Plan has been developed following
preliminary community consultation – a forum held on 24 and 25 July 2006 at the
Australian Technology Park
brought together more than 130 community members, service providers and
government officers to discuss and fine tune priorities and actions to be
included in the draft Plan.
Tell us what you think …
Redfern-Waterloo Authority Level 11, Tower 2, 1 Lawson Square,
Redfern NSW 2016
PO Box
3332, Redfern 2016
Email (general): redfernwaterloo@rwa.nsw.gov.au
Email (Draft Human Services Plan): humanservices@rwa.nsw.gov.au
Website: www.redfernwaterloo.com.au Telephone: 9202 9100 Facsimile: 9202 9111
Photo: The Human
Services Plan aims to improve the coordination and quality of services in
Redfern and Waterloo.
Key Proposed Priorities and
Actions
Priority 1 –
Improving access to dementia support
Key actions
- Make
it easier for older people to access dementia services by improving hours
of operation; - Improve
service referrals, planning and coordination; - Provide
better training for case management workers; - Involve
general practitioners in diagnosis, care and case management; - Increase
respite services for carers; and - Deliver
culturally appropriate dementia and aged care services to Aboriginal
people and migrant communities.
Priority 2 – Improved
service quality for migrant communities
Key actions
- Improve
access to information through community language radio and newspapers; - Ensure
local libraries have internet information translated to community
languages; - Improve
access to English classes for new migrants; - Increase
community activities in neighbourhood centres; - Improve
access to mental health services; and - Provide
support to victims of family violence.
Photo: The Plan aims
to improve access to English lessons for new migrants.
Priority 3 –
Improving access to aged care and health services by Aboriginal people 45 years
and older
Key actions
- Establish
a Redfern Community Health Centre to improve the delivery and coordination
of health services to the local community; - Examine
the extension of the Seniors Card to Aboriginal people aged 45 or older; - Examine
the need for an aged care facility for Aboriginal people; - Provide
training to improve cultural awareness among staff in local organisations;
and - Increase
the number of Aboriginal people working in local services.
Priority 4 – Reducing
the negative impacts of homelessness through early intervention and support
Key actions
- Develop
a support service for homeless people that is culturally appropriate and
addresses the needs of ‘transient’ homeless people; - Pilot
housing models that lead to long term accommodation; - Develop
an affordable housing strategy; and - Homeless
support services to operate regular night patrols in Redfern and Waterloo seven days
a week.
Priority 5 –
Improving identification of need and access to services for people with
disabilities
Key actions
- Improve
employment opportunities for people with disabilities; - Ensure
modifications to Redfern Railway Station, and other infrastructure, cater
to people with disabilities; - Ensure
services assist people with disability to continue living at home; and - Ensure
services adapt to the changing needs of people with disabilities.
Priority 6 – Reducing
social isolation
Key actions
- Undertake
community safety audits in public housing estates with the support and
assistance of tenants; - Improve
access to information about services and activities available; - Give
greater consideration to current tenants’ needs in the allocation of new
tenancies; - Introduce
an ongoing audit of maintenance in public housing such as repairing lights,
doors and removal of graffiti; - Involve
older people in classroom and school activities; - Promote
tenants’ use of community rooms and facilities in high-rise and other
projects on public housing estates; and - Examine
the need for enhanced community facilities in the Redfern-Waterloo area.
Photo: The Plan will
help reduce the isolation of some older members of our community
Priority 7 – Improving
access to local and community transport for people who are transport
disadvantaged
Key actions
- Identify
gaps in transport services across the community; - Trial
projects that improve transport access for older people, people with
disabilities, transient people and people with low incomes; - Undertake
an audit of existing buses to maximise their use; - Encourage
more taxi services to come into Redfern-Waterloo; - Develop
a directory of community transport services; and - Improve
transport connections to the Royal
Prince Alfred Hospital and shopping venues.
Priority 8 – Improving
safety and amenity
Key actions
In addition to ongoing Police operations to reduce drug
availability in the Redfern Waterloo area the Plan will aim to:
- Improve
support available to seniors in public housing; - Examine
the need for providing ‘seniors only’ housing; - Actively
engage older people in planning and implementing urban renewal strategies
and improving the use of public space; - Review
current and future Department of Housing maintenance work plans; - Address
community safety issues such as uneven footpaths, low hanging trees and
poor lighting in public areas; - Improve
access to community facilities such as libraries, computer rooms, meeting
rooms and community kitchens; - Develop
intergenerational activities to encourage older people outdoors and
engaging with young people; and - Examine
the need for additional aged care facilities in the Redfern-Waterloo area.
Photo:
Intergenerational activities will be encouraged under the Plan to help older
people get out and about more and engage with young people.
New health centre to deliver
better services
When recently releasing the RWA’s Built Environment Plan,
the Minister for Redfern-Waterloo, Frank Sartor, announced a new $10 million
community health centre to be established through adaptive re-use and
refurbishment of the former Redfern Courthouse and Police Station.
In accordance with community requests throughout the
development of the Human Services Plan, a number of much-needed health services
will be provided at the new centre, which is expected to be completed in late
2008.
The services will include: health assessments, health
education, early childhood and family support services, counselling, referral,
perinatal and family drug health services, mental health services,
rehabilitation, welfare support, screening for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, sexual
health services and other community health services.
The current health centre at the former Rachel Forster
Hospital site will be
relocated to the bigger and much-improved new community health centre in Redfern Street.
Illustration: The
health centre in Redfern Street
will provide much needed services.
Catering assistance for
community events
The RWA, in partnership with the NSW Community Relations
Commission, is offering one-off catering assistance grants of up to $200 to
help non-profit community groups based in Redfern and Waterloo meet the cost of holding a small
community event.
A neighbourhood BBQ or a small-scale community cultural
event are examples of activities which may be eligible for funding grants.
Should a community group wish to participate in this scheme,
the application form is available on the RWA website at www.redfernwaterloo.com.au or by phoning the RWA on 9202 9100 or by email
request at redfernwaterloo@rwa.nsw.gov.au
Photo: Catering
assistance is available for local community events.
Federal State Govts partnership
agreement
The NSW Minister for Redfern-Waterloo, Frank Sartor, and the
Federal Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mal
Brough, have signed a 10-year partnership agreement on enhancing opportunities
for Redfern-Waterloo’s Indigenous community.
The agreement’s aim is for both governments to work closely
on initiatives relating to employment and enterprise, education and training,
health, Indigenous housing (including the area known as the Block) and delivery
of other human services, “as a means to address social and economic
disadvantage, to reduce welfare dependency through wealth creation and to improve
delivery of services”.
Need Assistance?
For more information or to send us your feedback please
contact the Redfern-Waterloo Authority, Level 11, Tower 2, 1 Lawson Square, Redfern
Tel: (02) 9202 9100 Fax: (02) 9202 9111 Mail: PO Box 3332, Redfern
NSW 2016 Email: redfernwaterloo@rwa.nsw.gov.au
Internet: www.redfernwaterloo.com.au