Privatisation of DSC properties has begun.
Camera IconPrivatisation of DSC properties has begun. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Disabled care moves to private hands

Staff ReporterEastern Reporter

The State Government announced in October last year that the DSC would move about 60 per cent of its direct accommodation support services to the non-|government sector.

On September 22 Activ Foundation started running a Doubleview group home, with DSC staff expected to be gone by yesterday.

The Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association expected Nulsen Disability Services would take over group homes in Morley, Nollamara and Armadale in the next few months.

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State secretary Toni Walkington said completing the handover in a two-week timeframe was rushed and would suit only the commercial interests of charitable organisations, not the residents or their families.

‘The Government and decision- makers are not listening to the concerns of experienced staff and the quick handover means there will not be appropriate safeguards in place for many individuals,’ she said.

Ms Walkington said charitable organisations were able to provide services at an attractive cost for the government, but that did not always equate to the same level of care to that provided by the public sector.

A DSC spokeswoman said the non-government sector was able to offer a much broader range of choices than the DSC group homes.

She said the contracted private organisations operated under the same standards and quality assurance systems as the DSC and would continue to do so.

‘The wellbeing of people who live in DSC accommodation is of utmost importance,’ the spokeswoman said.

‘People undertaking this transition process, their families and guardians are supported by a dedicated transition team that will explain and facilitate the process.

‘Staff working in services that will be moved to the non-|government sector will be deployed to other jobs within the DSC.’