Everyday Living

 

LIVING FOR THE FUTURE

Living for the Future focuses on supporting school leavers and adults with a disability to work towards achieving their life dreams who are not able to maintain full time employment.

Activities are not centre-based and use flexible programming that identifies and focuses on individual aspirations in a range of community settings.

GIFSA's "Living for the Future" program gives individuals living in the Eastern Goldfields area including Kalgoorlie, Boulder, Coolgardie, Kambalda and Esperance access to a range of meaningful options that encourage involvement in everyday community life while providing skills development, enjoyment and satisfaction.

The "Living for the Future" Program consists of the State Government funded Alternatives To Employment (ATE) and Post School Options (PSO) programs.

Individuals in these programs access various community based activities as well as individually designed activities such as shopping, budgeting, cooking and other life-skill opportunities.

Both of these programs operate 48 weeks of the year, inclusive of weekends, evenings and public holidays.

 

ALTERNATIVES TO EMPLOYMENT (ATE)

The Alternatives to Employment program is a State Government funded program, which provides developmental opportunities for adults with severe and profound disabilities who are unable to pursue full time employment.

ATE options are generally provided during normal working hours in community-based settings.  For people living at home, this may have the additional benefit of providing respite to other family members.

Based on the needs and goals of the individual, programs will be developed which could include typical activities such as participation in social clubs, skills development programs, TAFE short courses, voluntary work, recreation and hobbies, or various other activities such as visiting friends/peers and community facilities.

Alternatives to Employment programs are one-to-one and/or provided in group settings.

Funding covers the cost of direct support, is ongoing (unless otherwise stated), and is allocated to each person which can be moved between services within Western Australia.

Individual's and/or applicants must meet the Disability Services Commission's established eligibility criteria.  This means that the person must have a permanent profound or severe intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive or neurological disability or autism.  Applicants must also be under 60 years of age at the time they first apply for services and not be eligible for or in receipt of Commission funding via the Post School Options program.

Not everyone who is eligible will receive funding.  Eligible people will be assessed against specific criteria to establish their priority.  Priority will be given to adults with high support needs who cannot realistically pursue employment, have recently lost employment and who require support to access the community.

Funding is available for options ranging from a few hours per week to up to 20-25 hours a week, depending on the individual need and the type of service chosen.

Individuals will need to complete an application form, which will then be considered by a panel including community representation and Commission staff.  A Commission staff member will also meet with the individual to conduct an assessment of the individuals needs.

 

POST SCHOOL OPTIONS (PSO)

Post School Options is a collaboration between people with disabilities and their families; the Disability Services Commission; the Department of Education and Training; Catholic Education Commission and Association of Independent Schools; and service providers for people with a disability.

The program aims to assist school leavers with a disability to access an Alternatives to Employment Program (ATE) and information and contacts for post secondary education.