Jimaylya Topsy Harry Centre

Service area name

Our storyIn 2003, the then Minister for Families and Aboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderPolicy, Judy Spence, announced a new strategy to address homelessness andassociated problems amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with aparticular focus on Cairns Townsville and Mount Isa.

In Mount Isa, the “Safer Places with New Opportunities”, Regional Blueprint,Indigenous Homelessness was launched by Mr Tony McGrady, the then Minister forPolice and Corrective Services in January 2003.

The Blueprint contained four deliverables:• establish the Government Coordination Working Group• refurbish the old Wulliberrie Hostel be be used as an administration centre• develop outdoor shelters on the Glider Port site opposite Wulliberri; and• establish a daytime drop-in and activity centre, this was to provide• alternative activities for clients as options to drinking.

Our story (cont’d)

The Government Coordinating Group (GCG) was constituted immediately andincluded:• Local Member• Regional Managers Coordination Network (RMCN) Chairperson• Mayor• Regional Director (DATSIP)• Traditional Owner (Kalkadoon Representative)• Mt Isa Mines Representative• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) Representative• Riverbed Action Group.

The GCG focussed on the refurbishment of the Wulliberri Hostel and was officiallyopened on 1 August 2003. The Centre was renamed after a very prominentKalkadoon Elder, Jimaylya (Kalkadoon word for pink water lily). Her English namewas Mrs Topsy Harry.

Once all four deliverables had been completed and the Centre was fully operational,the GCG disbanded in 2005.

Our story (cont’d)

The Jimaylya Centre operated by the Department of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Policy (ATSIP) from 2003 until 2006.

In 2006 the Centre was divested from ATSIP to the Department of Communities (DoC)In 2013 the Centre was divested from Department of Communities, Child Safety & Disability Services to Department of Housing and Public Works.

The Centre operates seven days a week 24 hours a day. There are currently 14 support workers and four team leaders that work three shifts on rotating rosters. The Centre’s management consist of a manager, assistant manager, administration officer and a service support worker.

Our objectives: helping people to maximise choices for new opportunities

We:• assist homeless people (particular focus on Indigenous clients) to transition to

mainstream housing• assist clients to develop skills that will assist them to obtain and maintain housing,

move into employment and/or advance their education• provide crisis accommodation• provide a safe environment for all clients• provide a service that is culturally appropriate.

Note:The main complex accommodation is free of cost. All clients must provide their own food. All clients must cook their own meals. All clients must maintain the cleaning of the centre.

Accommodation

12 x Outdoor sleeping bays (couples/singles)

AccommodationCrisis Centre - 1 x 3 bedroom house (couples)

Accommodation

Yudu Hostel (male dormitory) – 11 x single rooms

AccommodationFemale dormitory - 10 x single beds

AccommodationTransitional support houses – 6 x 2 bedroom houses (couples)

Wet (recreational) areaThe wet area is a space where clients can consume alcohol in a safe environment, monitored by staff.

Staff intervene and assist if:

• they believe clients disagreements have the potential to lead to physical abuse/assaults

• clients require first aid assistance• client or visitors have had enough to drink

They also monitor the quantity of alcohol brought into the wet area.

Note:They majority of staff are local Indigenous community members.

All staff are trained in cross cultural awareness, non-violent intervention, senior first aid, domestic violence awareness, mental health awareness.

Opening and closing times are 10.00am – 12.00pm (beer only) and 12.00pm – 10.00pm (incl wine/pre-mix spirits).

Staff record all alcohol belonging to clients. Alcohol which is not consumed by the client is recorded and stored for the client to collect the next day.

Because TAFE is scheduled four times a week the wet area is not opened until midday on days which TAFE is scheduled. As well, the wet area is closed at 8pm the night before TAFE is scheduled.

Management implements ban restrictions on all clients who misbehave or suffer from medical conditions. Note: No alcohol is allowed into the wet area after 6pm.

Wet (recreational) area

Case managementAll case management is provided by the Centre’s Service support workers, team leaders and support workers. They help with:

• Housing applications• Centrelink• Identification• Police and legal matters• Employment• Register with all job network services• Food vouchers • Medical appointments• Support in Court appearances• Referrals• Food shopping• Register clients into TAFE courses• Teaching clients to maintain all living quarters and living skills• Transportation – airport/bus/train terminal

Working in partnershipThe Centre has established a number of partnerships since it began. This included a community partnership with three other organisations which received funds from the Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Foundation (AERF) for two years (expired 2007).Other partnerships include:• Homeless Health Outreach Team (HHOT) attend three days a week• Queensland Police Service attend when required• Queensland Ambulances Services attend when required• Queensland TAFE attend four days a week (four hours a day)• Department of Human Services (Centrelink) attend twice a week• Alcohol tobacco and Other Drugs (ATODS) attend quarterly• Mt Isa Domestic Violence Services attend quarterly• Aurthur Petersen Special Care – Diversion Centre• Mount Isa Recovery Service Centre – Rehabilitation Centre (Kalkadoon Aboriginal Sobriety

House)• Centacare• Intergrated Case Management (group) attend monthly• Homeless Community Action Plan (group) attend monthly

Transitional Support HousesClients transition from the main complex into the Transitional Support Houses (TSH).

All clients residing in the TSH are registered with the department and awaiting an available house or unit.

All clients must take part in intensive case management and in all courses provided by TAFE every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday including numeracy, literacy, basic mechanic course and basic computer skills.

Each Saturday people are taught living skills like healthy eating, cleaning, house safety, food handling, how to budget, paying bills and hygiene. It’s expected that clients maintain their house and yard.

All clients pay a minimum amount towards rent – once they obtain permanent residency they arereimbursed by having their bond & power paid, all white goods and furniture purchased for them.

Transitional Support Houses outcomesSince taking control of theTransitional Support Houses in2008, we have achieved:• 126 clients housed• 66 clients placed into

mainstream housing• 43 clients still remain in

mainstream housing• 35 clients placed in permanent

employment• currently accommodating 42

clients.

PositivesThere are lots of positive outcomes from the way we have done things including:• life skills taught in a comfortable environment• health needs met, maintained and monitored• decrease in alcohol consumption• decrease in violence• clients able to maintain and sustain tenancies once housed• education opportunities• employment opportunities• clients who are housed, still utilise the Wet Area at the Centre (assists

clients to sustain their tenancies by not breaching tenancy agreement)• centre is open to all clients who are homeless or at risk of

homelessness• case management provided in a comfortable environment• local staff who have an understanding of their community and the

issues faced by clients.

Jimaylya fire drill exercise

Contact details:Robert WillettsManagerJimaylya Topsy Harry CentreDepartment of Housing and Public WorksLandline: 07 4743 6196Mobile: 0409 260 729Email: robert.willetts@hpw.qld.gov.au