Occupational therapist Amy Savoirey with Rocky Bay customer Sonay Arif, her mother Sandra Reid and carer Leanne Penn.
Camera IconOccupational therapist Amy Savoirey with Rocky Bay customer Sonay Arif, her mother Sandra Reid and carer Leanne Penn. Credit: Supplied/Matt Jelonek www.communitynews.com.au d492952

Disability service provider Rocky Bay opens Clarkson hub

Lucy JarvisNorth Coast Times

DISABILITY service provider Rocky Bay is launching a hub in Clarkson today.

The facility is expected to improve access to services for people with disabilities in the northern suburbs, including Clarkson resident Sonay Arif (25).

“Sonay has come a long way in her ability to socialise since joining Rocky Bay,” her mother Sandra Reid said.

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“She’s grown into an independent young woman and has become much more confident in being able to access and be part of the community.

“Sonay, who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and slow development, has been a Rocky Bay customer for seven years and accesses therapy and leisure and independence services for swimming, daily care and getting out and about in the community.”

Sandra Reid, Sonay Arif and carer Leanne Penn.
Camera IconSandra Reid, Sonay Arif and carer Leanne Penn. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Ms Reid said Sonay relied heavily on her full-time carer to do everyday tasks and they were excited the Clarkson hub was opening.

“I don’t have a vehicle, so I’ll now be able to be more involved with Sonay and her Rocky Bay activities and appointments,” she said.

“It’s going to be fantastic to be able to meet parents who also have children living with disability who live locally.”Anthony Gangemi (14) used Rocky Bay’s Cockburn hub for autism services and support before his family moved to Two Rocks to be close to a community and school that met his needs.

His mother Nicole said Anthony went without support and services for three-and-a-half years as there were no providers available to them in the area that did not have a long waitlist or were not expensive.

“We can’t wait to start accessing Rocky Bay’s Clarkson hub; it’s long overdue,” Mrs Gangemi said.

“It will be so nice to have people who understand Anthony, and we can go back to having all his supports in one place which is also close to home.

“I’m looking forward to seeing our old therapists and the familiar faces that Anthony grew up with, and having a diverse range of services available in one location.”

Rocky Bay services include physio, speech and occupational therapy, therapy groups, psychology, recreational supports, life skills and social work services, as well as NDIS support co-ordination.

There is another hub in Duncraig. Chief executive Michael Tait said the Clarkson site would complete the organisation’s planned network of hubs to make services and support accessible to all people with disabilities.

“Perth is currently experiencing unmet service needs in the northern suburbs, with those requiring disability support on waiting lists of up to two years,” he said.

“Through the development of hubs across the Perth metropolitan area, Rocky Bay are now within 20 minutes of customers and able to fill a much-needed gap in disability support and services provision.

“With more than 1800 people expected to be eligible to receive NDIS services in Perth’s northern suburbs, it is vital easily accessible disability services are made available.”

Disability Services Minister Stephen Dawson is due to attend an official ribbon cutting ceremony at the hub at 61 Key Largo Drive today.

For details about the hub, call 9383 6113 or email enquiries@rockybay.org.au.