Interchange Illawarra Inc

FAQs about our services

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 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 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 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.

Flexible Respite Support

Interchange Illawarra provides Flexible Respite Support to people with developmental disabilities, their families and carers using both volunteers and support workers.

We develop Respite Support Agreements in consultation with the person who has the disability and their families/carers. Agreements are tailored to meet individual needs and may include in-home and out-of-home support varying from a few hours to several overnights. The support will be available at times and places that best meet the needs of the person with a disability and their families/carers.

Financial assistance may also be allocated to purchase services and/or other supports to assist in the caring role.

For further information regarding the Flexible Respite Support, please contact our office.

Peer and Social Support

Peer Support is a service providing respite support to carers by offering people with developmental disabilities, who have moderate to low support needs, options to participate in community activities. These programs are supported by volunteer/support workers.

These programs aim to:

  • provide respite to the primary carers
  • expand the leisure experiences and choices of the person with a disability
  • provide an option of interesting and regular recreational and social activities
  • link individuals into existing leisure and recreational activities in the community and with other people of similar ages and interests.

There are a number of groups offering a range of recreation and leisure activities which can include going to the movies, ten-pin bowling, bushwalking, swimming, barbecues, bus trips or short stays away. It is essential to ‘book in’ for all peer support activities so that adequate resources and assistance are available on the day.

Saturplay caters for children with autism aged 4 to 12 years, living at home with a primary carer. The program offers the children opportunities to participate in structured activities that encourage participation and desensitisation in a safe, familiar environment.

Saturday Club offers young people between 12 and 18 years with low to moderate support needs options to participate in community activities with a group of people or individuals of similar ages and interests. Also for these young people Vacation Options operate five days a week during each school holiday period.

Adult Peer Support is for people over 18 years living in any of the Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama LGAs. These groups operate on Tuesdays, Thursday and Friday evenings, and on weekends or short stays away.

To view current programs of peer support activities, click here.

For further information about any of these programs, please contact our office.

People who are interested in volunteering their time to assist with these activities are encouraged to contact our office or download the appropriate application forms and send them into us at Interchange Illawarra, PO Box 5077, Wollongong NSW 2520.

Evans Street House

Interchange Illawarra has a comfortable three-bedroom, accessible home that is located in central Wollongong. The home is most suited to people who have low to moderate support needs and can accommodate up to eight adults. It can be used by people with disabilities and/or their families and carers on a user pays/funded basis.

For further information regarding the Evans Street House, please contact our office.

Staff

Interchange Illawarra Inc. currently employs three full-time and three-part time staff. These include the manager, office manager/respite co-ordinator, peer support co-ordinator, administrative officer and administrative assistant.

Brokered Services

Interchange Illawarra provides brokered services to agencies through our pool of volunteers and casual support workers who have disability-specific experience, skills, knowledge and training. The services available are respite support, emergency care, social support and holiday support.

For further information regarding Brokered Services, please contact our office.