South Australia will welcome the country’s first home care service business dedicated to supporting member of the Police Association of South Australia and their families, with an eye on expanding to servicing the wider community in the future.
Police officers leaving the police service will also have employment opportunities in the home care sector if they want to continue working and serving the community.
Police HomeCare Services is delivered in partnership with Lifestyle Plus Group, an Adelaide-based disability services provider. Importantly, the new business is a registered provider under both the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and My Aged Care.
According to its website, it’s here to “disrupt the unacceptable norms that currently exist in the homecare services sector”.
Lifestyle Plus Group Managing Director Wayne Boden said Police HomeCare Services has been established to disrupt some unacceptable norms that currently exist in the care services sector and lead the way towards a standard where transparency, dignity, and integrity in care are the highest priority.
“Demand for home care services in the disability and aged care sectors will continue to grow. This will require high standards to be maintained across the care industry and new people to be attracted to work in the sector,” Mr Boden said.
“We aim to build on the trust that’s inherent in the police name to deliver high-quality care services within the community.”
“We’re grateful for the faith that the Police Association has shown in us – a privilege and responsibility that we take very seriously.”
They will provide a range of care services, including domestic support, personal care, community access, behavioural support, allied health services and complex care.
Police HomeCare Services was jointly launched by Bill Shorten, Minister for the NDIS and Government Services, who labelled it a smart idea by the Police Association to support the interests of its members.
We’re very committed to the NDIS being here for the future. We want to work with people, but it is really fantastic to be part of such a good news announcement as today,” Minister Shorten said.
“This is exactly what the NDIS was created for and it’s great to see the broader community, in this case the South Australian Police Union leadership, grasping the opportunity, doing what they’ve done for the whole time of their existence, standing up for the industrial interests of their members.”
Mark Carroll, the Police Association of South Australia’s President, added that it’s an invaluable practical service for their members and an investment in the future.
While the short-term focus is on police members and their families, a desire to expand and support the broader South Australian community has already been signposted. This will include providing work opportunities for staff looking to step away from active duty or police-related tasks.
“It’s important that when you start this initiative to have trusted partners you can work with. But I think it is an initiative which maybe other associations and employers and unions may look at doing in the future, but it’s first been done here by Mark and the South Australian team,” Mr Shorten added.
