Each person seeking a service has access to TIPACL on the basis of relative need and within available resources. People have a right to make an application for services to assist them to live within the general community and participate in community life.

The object of the assessment process is for the potential client to be aware of the services TIPACL offers to meet their needs and if these needs could be met within available resources.

Every contact for potential service delivery directed to TIPACL will be assessed openly and in accordance with our eligibility, referral and assessment criteria.

If TIPACL is unable to meet the person’s needs and the applicant agrees, every attempt to assist with an acceptable referral to a suitable organisation will be made. All decisions will be made without discrimination of age, gender, race, culture, religion and disability.

Referrals are accepted from government and non-government agencies as well as independent referrals from applicants and/or their families.

Eligibility Criteria:

TIPACL provides services for people residing in the Townsville region, aged 18 and over, from the following four primary disability groups:

Intellectual Disability.

Autism – including Asperger’s Syndrome.

Acquired Brain Injury.

Dual Sensory Impairment.

TIPACL recognises that the focus of the organisation, across all positions, lies within this target group.

The provision of services is reliant on the availability of appropriate financial and human resources. Service costs can be met privately by the individual or by DSQ’s block and/or individualised funding grants.

Private funded services:

People who have access to funds other than DSQ funding grants can purchase services directly with TIPACL. These funding sources might include, for example, private funds, brokerage from other agencies, Public Trustee Office, emergency response support and other Government departments.

Contact TIPACL’s Services Manager on (07) 47251070 for further details.

Disability Services Queensland funded services:

Under the Disability Services Act 2006 (Qld), the applicant’s disability must be attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, neurological, sensory or physical impairment, or a combination of these. The applicant’s disability must also result in a substantially reduced capacity that inhibits the person’s day-to-day functioning, requiring support needs over above what would usually be required by a person of the same age without disability. Applicants who do not meet the Australian residency requirements are not eligible for Disability Services Queensland funded services.

Disability Services Queensland (DSQ) funds individuals and/or non-government disability service agencies to provide support services for people with disability. TIPACL currently provides the following DSQ funded initiatives:

Adult Lifestyle Support Program (ALSP)

Block Funded Community Access Services

Post School Services (PSS)

Young Adults Exiting the Care of the State (YACS)

Family Support Program for Adults (FSP)

Adult Lifestyle Support Program (ALSP):

The ALSP is one of the ways DSQ assists adults with disability to live and participate in their local community by contributing funding and support to help meet the disability support needs of individuals. This funding and support is intended to complement informal networks and promotes access to other general community services. This might include providing support to:

Live at home and manage their household.

Take part in recreation and leisure activities.

Strengthen personal and family relationships and networks.

Purchase necessary aides and equipment that cannot be provided by other agencies or government departments.

Block Funded Community Access Services:

Provides long term support services to an identified number of service users, assessment processes and waiting lists apply. Typically, skills development programs are for a set number of days per week for an extended length of time. Opportunities that promote and develop increased social, interpersonal, leisure and community participation skills are sought to increase levels of confidence and autonomy.

Post School Services (PSS):

The PSS program assists young people with disability who are 18 years of age and are transitioning from school and helps the young person and their family to plan for the future.

DSQ connects the person to funded service providers that can assist them to set and realise goals. This might include providing support to:

Develop new communication skills or improve on existing ones.

Learning how to use a computer.

Gaining some skills around the house that will help with becoming more independent in the future.

Young Adults Exiting the Care of the State (YACS):

Provides individualised support for young adults exiting the care of the state, helping access community life and develop and maintain community living arrangements.

Funding for this program is generally provided on an ongoing basis. Funding from the program can be used in a variety of ways. For example:

For support at home and to manage the household.

For participation in recreation and leisure activities.

To strengthen personal and family relationships and networks.

Family Support Program for Adults (FSP):

The FSP focuses on supporting the person with disability as well as the family as a whole. The program includes a support package comprising a family support program facilitator and access to some discretionary funds.

Family support facilitators work in partnership to:

Clarify family priorities and develop plans.

Assist in implementing these plans.

Some items on the plan may require using discretionary funds to use existing community supports and networks to support the family.

How to apply for DSQ funding:

A Disability Services Queensland Application for Support is required for a person with disability to register or apply for Disability Services Queensland specialist disability services.

Copies of the Application for Support and the Guide to Completing the Application for Support are available online at www.disability.qld.gov.au and at any Disability Services Queensland Service office.

It is important to notify DSQ of any changes to your circumstances that impact on the information previously provided in the Application for Support. Copies of the Application Update Form and the Guide to Completing the Application Update are also available online and at any Disability Services Queensland office.

All completed forms can be posted or hand delivered to the nearest Disability Services Queensland regional office. DSQ will notify applicants of outcomes relating to their applications for support and assistance.