Townsville Independence Program for Adult Community Living (TIPACL) Incorporated was formed in 1987, sponsored by James Cook University and funded by the Department of Community Services and Health. TIPACL was established to respond to an urgent need for services for five young adults with severe and profound disabilities and high support needs. These young adults did not fit the criteria set by other existing day services and as a consequence were rejected by them. There was recognition that ongoing work was needed to discover ways to manage unpredictable behaviours and research and expertise would provide the key.

A Community Access program was developed and implemented for the young adults and the service operated from a three-bedroom house in Wotton Street Aitkenvale. All activities were to be individual and were to reflect the needs, wishes and choices of each person and enhance their citizenship role within the community. During the next four years, TIPACL developed a philosophy of service provision for people with disability based on the following assumptions and goal statements:

The right of every individual to live in a safe community.

To value a diverse community and respect the uniqueness of each individual.

To assist individuals claim their rights whilst fulfilling their responsibilities.

The willingness of the community to share, inform and promote participation.

To trust in the ability of all individuals to learn, grow and be challenged by new opportunities.

To expect that individuals will work on several dimensions of life areas in relation to people, places, activities, relationships, appearance, skills and challenges.

To acknowledge the compromises which may need to be made and recognize that difficulties and hurdles may not disappear in the face of all best efforts.

To expect that individuals will have the need for ongoing support and facilitation to varying degrees and for varying purposes.

To better understand the preferences and choices of each individual and to work on an individual basis to achieve positive outcomes.

To strengthen and safeguard the role of families and others who know the individual well.

Over time, those assumptions became the axioms in which TIPACL delivers its programs for individuals who have access to the organisation’s services. TIPACL was able to conceptualize a way of providing the type of service that moved away from the mistakes of the past. Service programs focused instead on the universal needs all individuals shared in common rather than disability and unmanageable behaviours. These universal values include, but are not limited to, acceptance, relationships, belonging and having physical needs met. In 1991, the Townsville Welfare Council took over the auspice from the university with the aim of nurturing the service until it could achieve incorporation status. About this time, funding was transferred from the Federal government to the Queensland State government. Over time, clients and their families, Board members and staff all contributed to what now is known as the organisation called TIPACL. The Mission, Goals, Philosophy and Values statements were debated, amended and adopted until it became the entity it is today.

TIPACL became incorporated in May 1994 under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981. Gradually, from 1994 to 1999, TIPACL increased its client base until the organisation moved to larger premises on Ross River Road Mundingburra in 2000 where a more diverse and structured form of service delivery was established. The thinking underpinning these changes meant that a multi-layered approach was possible to meet the changing needs of existing and future service users. TIPACL could now offer Community Access programs and Accommodation programs with a more realistic outlook of being able to meet individual needs.

With a greater emphasis on stricter guidelines emanating from our funding body, Disability Services Queensland (DSQ), in relation to the outcomes achieved in service delivery, TIPACL was required to revamp its professional practices. A greater significance was placed on increasing the skills of our workforce with formal and personal development opportunities for staff, which would benefit all stakeholders. Our reputation was further enhanced as we accepted and successfully delivered services for a number of high support individuals who have since achieved greater levels of independence and self-reliance.

To provide for the needs of the programs, and the ever-increasing number of clients, it was again necessary to move to larger premises. In 2005, through funds acquired from private contact work and investments over the past decade, TIPACL was able to purchase an office complex at Rendle Street Aitkenvale. TIPACL is innovative and constantly evolving, taking pride in its willingness to break new ground. Since its inception, TIPACL has enjoyed broad community support, including the support of many government and non-government organisations. TIPACL currently delivers the following programs on behalf of DSQ:

Disability General Block (D/Gen)

Adult Lifestyle Support Program (ALSP)

Post School Services (PSS)

Young Adults Exiting the Care of the State (YACS)

Additionally, TIPACL has a number of regular ‘fee for service’ clients and performs other paid work such as consultancy and training.

A firm commitment has been made by TIPACL’s Board of Management and its employees to provide clients with high quality services with the attributes of efficiency and efficacy in accordance with the requirements of the Disability Services Act 2006 (Qld) and the Queensland Disability Service Standards. Attaining and maintaining accreditation in the Disability Sector Quality System will demonstrate that TIPACL’s capability to engage in quality management and continuous improvement strategies in services for people with disability has been achieved.

This commitment is achieved in accordance with the Joint Accreditation System of Australian and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) Procedure 28: General Requirements for Bodies Auditing and Certifying Disability Support Services in Queensland drawing upon the International Standard ISO 19011.