A plan for community wellness through

health, learning and recreation.

DRAFT PROPOSAL

February 2015

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Summary

This summary of recommendations is an important step in an inclusive process

to lead to local and State action to support and enhance the centre of

excellence that is the Stockton Centre. A state-owned, centrally located

property with a mature built environment and grounds, state of the art

facilities for people with disabilities, has a rich history of service to residents

with severe intellectual and physical disabilities.

The Stockton Centre is a relatively large residential facility currently housing

around 340 clients with severe intellectual disability, 40% of who suffer severe

physical disabilities and some with challenging behaviours of aggression and

self injury and some with sensory disabilities. The clients are cared for under a

nursing model of care.

The area is about 83 hectares with around fifty buildings on it, many in need of

renovation. There are about 15 residential units each housing up to 29

residents, and 6 cottages housing 4 to 8 clients. There are 6 activity centres.

The centre also has a large modern recreation hall where dances, concerts,

parties, movies and physical activities are held.

The principles of this proposal have been developed by combining the ideas,

concerns, and needs of people with disabilities themselves, family members,

staff, the Stockton Hospital Welfare Association and members of various other

groups, including medical specialists.

The proposal identifies strategies to better meet the needs of people with high

dependency, behavioural problems and other profound disabilities and

support people in a more cost effective, inclusive and efficient manner.

The proposal also identifies strategies to improve the professional

development, training and research in the area of disability.

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General Principles

The general principles of the Stockton Disability Care Hub proposal are

outlined below. Each guiding principle is directly related to the visions and

objectives discussed in this proposal document.

To develop a balanced mix of housing designed to meet

residents needs and enhance their quality of life through

inclusive community practices.

To develop standards through research and staff training that are uniformly supported and

continually evaluated and improved.

To develop a training centre for people with a disability and the

people and services that support them, both in the

community and at Stockton, Tomaree and Kanangra.

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Vision Statement

1. Stockton becomes a Centre for Excellence with a priority on serving

residents but also those from the wider community with disabilities for

which health services are hard to access.

2. Stockton becomes an inclusively designed residential community for

people with disabilities and offers respite accommodation in a space

that provides quality of life and neighbourhood characteristics.

3. Stockton becomes a hub for learning, training and professional

development for all ages and abilities across a multitude of disciplines.

The proposal intends to realise these vision statements through a number of

objectives which are outlined below.

The proposal will increase the availability of medical and allied health services

for individuals with disabilities and others who have limited access to health

care.

It will increase the availability of cluster and villa type housing while

incorporating neighbourhood facilities while also provide space and services

for short term respite and crisis accommodation.

Finally, the proposal will develop partnerships with educational institutions to

provide learning programs for children to adults with a focus on disability. It

will provide opportunities for much needed research and service development

to take place.

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Vision 1 - Stockton becomes a Centre for Excellence with a priority on

serving residents but also those from the wider community with

disabilities for which health services are hard to access.

To realise this vision, the proposal seeks to increase the availability of medical

services for individuals with disabilities and others with inadequate medical

care.

A small medial / allied health business park will be developed using

underutilised building space and vacant land through private enterprise and

corporate sponsorship. This would provide private medical, professional and

research facilities with a specific focus on disability.

The establishment of a medical residency program in collaboration with Hunter

TAFE, Newcastle University and other tertiary education providers to ensure

the continuation of highly skilled nursing and support staff in the area of

disability.

Connections with disability and social welfare groups will be strengthened to

promote and expand the use of the current clinic and dental suites providing a

much needed service to the community. In addition, the development of allied

health service suites to provide services to both people with disabilities and

their caregivers.

Specialist care beds will be established to cater for people with acquired brain

injuries, young people and the aged with disabilities. They will have priority in

any of the onsite medical and health services.

A highly specialised training centre will be established to provide ability

assessments and to provide onsite training for clients and their carers in

specific areas of living with a disability. Assessments and training will be used

to assist people in choosing the most appropriate forms of accommodation

and assistive aids to meet their needs.

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Vision 2 – Stockton becomes an inclusively designed residential

community for people with disabilities and offers respite

accommodation in a space that provides quality of life and

neighbourhood characteristics.

To realise this vision, the proposal seeks to increase the availability of cluster

and villa type housing while incorporating neighbourhood facilities. In addition

it seeks to provide short term respite and crisis accommodation.

The creation of a model of mixed use development to provide both long and

short term accommodation for people with disabilities and their caregivers

through the use of existing buildings and the development of vacant land.

Provide respite accommodation for people with disabilities and their carers in

renovated buildings and through the development of unused land portions.

Incorporate short term accommodation in a renovated Nurse’s Home for staff,

family and community members who are working within the hub.

Provide opportunities for the existing kitchen and laundry to service new

facilities on site and facilitate the development of external service contracts

where appropriate, including forming relationships with tertiary education

providers.

Increase the use of the multi-purpose hall to accommodate community events

and host disability related education and research conferences.

Expand the use of the Owen Partridge Memorial Oval for community events

including markets, concerts and other sporting events.

Repurpose underutilised artisan buildings for artists workshops or local

community groups e.g. Men’s Shed

Provide opportunities for people with disabilities from the wider community to

use the swimming pool for therapeutic purposes.

Develop programs for people with disabilities to utilise The Garden area to

engage in meaningful outdoor activities and life skills.

Promote the extensive landscaped environment to social welfare and disability

groups as a safe place where people can express their independence.

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Vision 3 - Stockton becomes a hub for learning, training and

professional development for all ages and abilities across a multitude

of disciplines.

To realise this vision, the proposal seeks to develop partnerships with

educational institutions to provide learning programs for children through to

adults with a focus on disabilities.

Provide a training facility for people with disabilities to become acquainted

with new aids and to learn how to use the correctly.

Develop education opportunities for family members and carers to better

support the person with a disability they care for while allowing them to

become familiar with the latest disability aids.

Provide a training centre for medical and health professionals to assist them

treat and understand the needs of people with disabilities in a more dignified

and effective manner.

Incorporate an early intervention centre for parents with babies and young

children with disabilities, so they can obtain guidance in assessing the

condition, available help and options, as well as training for both parents and

children to live with the disability.

Develop a training and educational facility that practices and teaches agreed

standards and safe work practices, which would be applied to all government

and non-government residences.

Further develop relationships with University of Newcastle and other tertiary

education providers to increase the capacity of health professional to work

with people with disabilities, including psychiatrists, psychologists,

physiotherapists, occupational therapists, doctors and nursing staff.

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Figure 1 - A view of the existing Stockton centre site with potential uses labelled.

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Figure 2 Medical centres nearby the Stockton Disability Care Hub

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Figure 3 Education providers nearby the Stockton Disability Care Hub