Who can use the service?

 Anyone, living in the Illawarra between the ages of 0 and 65, who has a developmental disability and

is living at home with their primary carer.

How can the service be accessed?

Interchange Illawarra accepts referrals using the Client Information and Referral Record (CIARR) for

people in the target population who are not able to gain access to generic respite services.

Referrals can be made by professionals, work places, schools, families, carers, friends (only if consent

is given by the person with a disability and their family), or by self-referral.

Where Interchange Illawarra is operating at capacity and a ‘waiting list’ is being kept the referring

source is advised and the person with a disability, their family and carers, are notified and advised of

other organisations that provide respite support.

With permission from the person with a disability, their family and carers, Interchange Illawarra can

inform the Illawarra Respite Co-ordination Group of the support required and ascertain if another

service is able to meet the need. If so, that service will then register the person with a disability using

their own referral process.

When can the service be used?

 The service can be used according to a Respite Agreement tailored in response to the needs of the

person with a disability and their family/carer.

For more information regarding Flexible Respite Support, see below.

The person with a disability can also register to participate in an age-appropriate Peer and Social

Support program, which provides respite for carers on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

For more information regarding Peer and Social Support programs, see below.

Emergency or crisis support is available through the Emergency Care Service (ph: 4255 8000)

or the Illawarra Carer Respite Centre (ph: 1800 059 059).

What will it cost?

 Interchange Illawarra is funded by both the Commonwealth and State Governments. For flexible respite

support, consumers are asked to make a contribution for the support they receive; however, inability to

pay will not exclude consumers accessing our services.

For peer and social support programs the cost is dependent on activity.

What are the benefits?

• new friends
• new experiences for everyone
• a support network for the family
• better community understanding of disability
• satisfaction and new skills for the volunteer/support worker