Interchange Illawarra provides services to people from 0 to 65 years of age and have a developmental

disabilities. These are disabilities that occurred before the age of 18 and are ongoing, for example

intellectual, physical, sensory, acquired brain injury and psychiatric.

We currently have over 500 consumers registered with us. Some of these people use our services on a

regular basis and some only access us on a one-off basis.

To receive service from Interchange Illawarra the consumer must:

• have a developmental disability
• live at home in the Wollongong, Shellharbour or Kiama Local Governement Areas (LGA's)
• be under 65 years of age
• have a carer
• have exhausted all generic/mainstream services that provide a respite effect
  

Management Committee. This ensures consumers, carers and families are involved in the planning,

decision making and future directions of this organisation

All families accessing Interchange Illawarra participate in an annual satisfaction survey. Feedback

from these surveys are collated and reviewed. Where necessary, changes are made to policies,

procedures and practice to improve service delivery.

Interchange Illawarra offers families/carers bi monthly training and support groups. Topics for these

sessions are obtained from the annual satisfaction survey.

When families/carers register with Interchange Illawarra they are informed of their right to raise complaints

or concerns without fear of retribution. This information is provided to them in a registration package.

For more information about becoming a consumer of Interchange Illawarra, please contact our office.

Rights of Consumers

Interchange Illawarra accepts as basic to its service that consumers have the right to:

• respect for their individual worth, dignity of risk, privacy and confidentiality

• be assessed for access to services without discrimination

• be informed about available services

• choose from available alternatives

• pursue any complaint about service provision or staff without retribution

• involve an advocate and/or interpreter of their choice

• participate in decision making

• access and information held by this agency pertaining to themselves

• access policies and procedures of the agency 

• be involved in the development, implementation and regular review of the policies and  

         procedures of the agency