The respite service is designed to provide companionship by matching volunteers (often bi-lingual) to people with a disability, giving carers a short break to pursue other activities.

The Respite program provides:

1. "In Home" respite for people with a disability with a volunteer companion. These can be set regular times each month, or at irregular intervals throughout the year according to the individuals need.
   
2. "Planned Group Day Acitivities" for the carer/family and the person with the disability to be able to participate in group outings/activities together with others in the wider community. With the knowledge and trust of the additional support of ADEC's respite programs.
   
3. "Out of home respite" for individual people with a disability, especially for young people in their adolescent years, to be able to participate or attend activities of their choice. For example, being able to attend sporting events, recreation and other special activities with a respite volunteer.

Companionship

Depending on age, gender, and abilities of the person with a disability, as well as carer and family needs, volunteer companions can:

• Provide friendship and discussion;
  
• Listen to music or watch a video or TV programme with their companion;
  
• Read to their companion from newspapers, magazines or books;
  
• Offer to help write letters to family or friends;
  
• Play games or other forms of entertainment;
  
• Teach simple art and craft skills such as knitting, card-making, painting or needlecraft;
  
• Take their companion for a walk or to a park;
  
• Take their companion for outings, for short drives or to the movies.

Eligibility

The respite program is available for:

• The primary carer or sibling of a person with a disability who lives at home, is from an ethnic community and resides in the northern metropolitan areas of Melbourne
  
• The person with a disability has low to moderate support needs (excludes psychiatric disability and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder as the primary disability);
  
• The person with a disability is aged 6 years or older, with a strong focus on people who are 6-18 years of age (although not limited to this age group), but must be less than 65 years of age.

Priority will be give to primary carers who:

• Are not currently accessing or utilising respite services to any appreciable level
  
• Are aged, or sole supporting parents, or where parents with a disability are also the primary carers.

Multicultural Family Respite brochures:

 

Further Information

If you would like any further information about being matched with a friendly companion

OR

If you would like to find out more about the benefits of volunteering with the respite program, please contact:

Alanya van de Wiel
Family Respite Program Co-ordinator
Manager of Volunteers
Phone: (03) 9480 1666
Fax: (03) 9480 3444
Email: alanya@adec.org.au

 

Return to top