Provides a broad range of personal support either in the home or within the community to those with an Individualised Support Package.

Download the service brochure (PDF - 184.77 kB)

Self Directed Support involves a broad range of personal support activities to assist people who have physical, intellectual, sensory and/or cognitive disabilities, along with those who are frail aged to live more independently in their home and their local community.

Personal support activities are provided either in the home or the community and may include:

• Assistance with:
  o mobility including transfers with aids,
  o rehabilitation, exercises, therapy and associated supports;
  o accessing recreation, leisure and cultural activities
  o using local facilities and services including shops, banks, public transport and recreational activities,
  o accessing generic services to enable them to maintain independence
• Assistance with personal hygiene (bathing, grooming, dressing etc) and include Bowel and Bladder care, general self-care (eating, drinking, taking medication etc.)

Self Directed Support can:

• Provide trained staff to meet your support requirements;
• Provide support for all levels of need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;

Do you need assistance with:

• Care and support at a range of times during the day or evening, 7 days a week?
• A helping hand to continue to live independently?
• Support to establish your independent living situation?
• Assistance with personal care?
• Someone to help you coordinate all your supports?
• Learning new skills?
• Someone to help you at school or work?
• Help finding out about activities of interest and linking you into your local community?
• Making new friends and social connections?
• Having a break away from family?

Self Directed Support:

• is underpinned by the individualised planning and support framework.
• is flexible and responsive to the individual's needs and interests and maximises independence.
• links people into activities that are offered in the community.
• provides a range of activities in the areas of skill acquisition, continuing education, vocational training, recreation and leisure, social and community support within the local environment.
• develops partnerships between disability-specific services, local organisations, generic services and communities to increase participation of people living with a disability in their local community.
• supports the pursuit of paid work as a powerful and valued option where possible and to the fullest extent for each person.
• coordinates services across a range of locations within the community, including in the person's home.

You can use your Individualised Support Package to purchase supports:

• Throughout the day to participate in the Visions group activities or;
• At any time 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to obtain individual supports through Self Directed Supports;
• From Abound to assist you to link with recreational, rehabilitation and leisure opportunities

Eastern Metropolitan Region Pension Level Supported Residential Services Referral Resource Kit

EACH was funded by the Department of Health to explore the current referral process to SRS and identify and promote a new process through the development of an Information Resource, including referral procedure to better facilitate the most appropriate accommodation choices for individuals.

A Steering Committee with representation from the SRS Proprietors/Managers and referral agencies from accrss the mental health, aged, disability and hopsital sectors developed the Referral Resource Kit.

The Referral Resource Kit provides information on:

• what is an SRS
• services provided
• an overview of the eight pension level SRS's in the EMR including location, number of beds, cost, demographics, financial management and staffing
• preferred Referral Procedure
• Department of Health SRS Referral Form

• Quick Referral Reference Sheet to print and placed on the wall as a reminder for staff.

"The trail of lost souls" by Andy Drewitt, Maroondah Leader, 29 June 2010

Read about the journey by some of the residents of SRS's to find their identities at http://maroondah-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/a-trail-of-lost-souls1/