❓ Question regarding the abolishment of Disability Services Commission social trainer positions and the process for choosing new service providers. The Minister assures no job losses, with staff moving to residential care, and individuals choosing their service providers.
AnsweredQoN 1096Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DISABILITY SERVICES — OUTSOURCING
I note the minister’s statement today on Disability Awareness Week. I refer to the 40 Disability Services Commission community social trainers and supervisors, who one month before Christmas have been advised that their jobs will be abolished as of 27 January 2012 to enable a disability sector organisation to provide the same service. (1) What will be the process for choosing the new provider? (2) Is there a preference for a for-profit or not-for-profit provider to provide the service? (3) Is the minister concerned at all at the disruption that a change in service provider will cause to families and clients with a disability? Hon HELEN MORTON
I note the minister’s statement today on Disability Awareness Week. I refer to the 40 Disability Services Commission community social trainers and supervisors, who one month before Christmas have been advised that their jobs will be abolished as of 27 January 2012 to enable a disability sector organisation to provide the same service. (1) What will be the process for choosing the new provider? (2) Is there a preference for a for-profit or not-for-profit provider to provide the service? (3) Is the minister concerned at all at the disruption that a change in service provider will cause to families and clients with a disability? Hon HELEN MORTON
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. As the member would be aware, over many years the work of social trainers has been declining as more contemporary service organisations have been involved in establishing the disability service organisations in the community. As a result of that, it has been indicated that the remaining small number of social trainers will be moving into more of the residential care services. So, none of them will lose their jobs, I might add. There is no suggestion that any of them will lose their jobs. They will be moving more into the residential care facilities and services that are being provided, while the individuals living in the community are given the opportunity to go through a personalised services programming process that will enable them to both identify the new approaches to the life services that they are looking for, and to determine who those service providers might be. There is a whole range of service providers in the community that these people can choose from in that process. That is the process by which that will take place. It will involve the individuals and their families. I want to assure anybody who is concerned about the social trainers currently employed by the Disability Services Commission that there is absolutely no suggestion that any of these people will not be given ongoing work. But their work will not be in the current way that they are providing services to individuals in the community. The second thing is around the profit and not-for-profit areas. I believe that by far the majority of those services will be provided by the not-for-profit sector. But I cannot give a total guarantee that there is no for-profit disability service organisation out there that will not be the organisation of choice by an individual who wants to go with that particular organisation.
(1) What will be the process for choosing the new provider? (2) Is there a preference for a for-profit or not-for-profit provider to provide the service? (3) Is the minister concerned at all at the disruption that a change in service provider will cause to families and clients with a disability? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. As the member would be aware, over many years the work of social trainers has been declining as more contemporary service organisations have been involved in establishing the disability service organisations in the community. As a result of that, it has been indicated that the remaining small number of social trainers will be moving into more of the residential care services. So, none of them will lose their jobs, I might add. There is no suggestion that any of them will lose their jobs. They will be moving more into the residential care facilities and services that are being provided, while the individuals living in the community are given the opportunity to go through a personalised services programming process that will enable them to both identify the new approaches to the life services that they are looking for, and to determine who those service providers might be. There is a whole range of service providers in the community that these people can choose from in that process. That is the process by which that will take place. It will involve the individuals and their families. I want to assure anybody who is concerned about the social trainers currently employed by the Disability Services Commission that there is absolutely no suggestion that any of these people will not be given ongoing work. But their work will not be in the current way that they are providing services to individuals in the community. The second thing is around the profit and not-for-profit areas. I believe that by far the majority of those services will be provided by the not-for-profit sector. But I cannot give a total guarantee that there is no for-profit disability service organisation out there that will not be the organisation of choice by an individual who wants to go with that particular organisation.
(2) Is there a preference for a for-profit or not-for-profit provider to provide the service? (3) Is the minister concerned at all at the disruption that a change in service provider will cause to families and clients with a disability? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. As the member would be aware, over many years the work of social trainers has been declining as more contemporary service organisations have been involved in establishing the disability service organisations in the community. As a result of that, it has been indicated that the remaining small number of social trainers will be moving into more of the residential care services. So, none of them will lose their jobs, I might add. There is no suggestion that any of them will lose their jobs. They will be moving more into the residential care facilities and services that are being provided, while the individuals living in the community are given the opportunity to go through a personalised services programming process that will enable them to both identify the new approaches to the life services that they are looking for, and to determine who those service providers might be. There is a whole range of service providers in the community that these people can choose from in that process. That is the process by which that will take place. It will involve the individuals and their families. I want to assure anybody who is concerned about the social trainers currently employed by the Disability Services Commission that there is absolutely no suggestion that any of these people will not be given ongoing work. But their work will not be in the current way that they are providing services to individuals in the community. The second thing is around the profit and not-for-profit areas. I believe that by far the majority of those services will be provided by the not-for-profit sector. But I cannot give a total guarantee that there is no for-profit disability service organisation out there that will not be the organisation of choice by an individual who wants to go with that particular organisation.
(3) Is the minister concerned at all at the disruption that a change in service provider will cause to families and clients with a disability? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. As the member would be aware, over many years the work of social trainers has been declining as more contemporary service organisations have been involved in establishing the disability service organisations in the community. As a result of that, it has been indicated that the remaining small number of social trainers will be moving into more of the residential care services. So, none of them will lose their jobs, I might add. There is no suggestion that any of them will lose their jobs. They will be moving more into the residential care facilities and services that are being provided, while the individuals living in the community are given the opportunity to go through a personalised services programming process that will enable them to both identify the new approaches to the life services that they are looking for, and to determine who those service providers might be. There is a whole range of service providers in the community that these people can choose from in that process. That is the process by which that will take place. It will involve the individuals and their families. I want to assure anybody who is concerned about the social trainers currently employed by the Disability Services Commission that there is absolutely no suggestion that any of these people will not be given ongoing work. But their work will not be in the current way that they are providing services to individuals in the community. The second thing is around the profit and not-for-profit areas. I believe that by far the majority of those services will be provided by the not-for-profit sector. But I cannot give a total guarantee that there is no for-profit disability service organisation out there that will not be the organisation of choice by an individual who wants to go with that particular organisation.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. As the member would be aware, over many years the work of social trainers has been declining as more contemporary service organisations have been involved in establishing the disability service organisations in the community. As a result of that, it has been indicated that the remaining small number of social trainers will be moving into more of the residential care services. So, none of them will lose their jobs, I might add. There is no suggestion that any of them will lose their jobs. They will be moving more into the residential care facilities and services that are being provided, while the individuals living in the community are given the opportunity to go through a personalised services programming process that will enable them to both identify the new approaches to the life services that they are looking for, and to determine who those service providers might be. There is a whole range of service providers in the community that these people can choose from in that process. That is the process by which that will take place. It will involve the individuals and their families. I want to assure anybody who is concerned about the social trainers currently employed by the Disability Services Commission that there is absolutely no suggestion that any of these people will not be given ongoing work. But their work will not be in the current way that they are providing services to individuals in the community. The second thing is around the profit and not-for-profit areas. I believe that by far the majority of those services will be provided by the not-for-profit sector. But I cannot give a total guarantee that there is no for-profit disability service organisation out there that will not be the organisation of choice by an individual who wants to go with that particular organisation.
(1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. As the member would be aware, over many years the work of social trainers has been declining as more contemporary service organisations have been involved in establishing the disability service organisations in the community. As a result of that, it has been indicated that the remaining small number of social trainers will be moving into more of the residential care services. So, none of them will lose their jobs, I might add. There is no suggestion that any of them will lose their jobs. They will be moving more into the residential care facilities and services that are being provided, while the individuals living in the community are given the opportunity to go through a personalised services programming process that will enable them to both identify the new approaches to the life services that they are looking for, and to determine who those service providers might be. There is a whole range of service providers in the community that these people can choose from in that process. That is the process by which that will take place. It will involve the individuals and their families. I want to assure anybody who is concerned about the social trainers currently employed by the Disability Services Commission that there is absolutely no suggestion that any of these people will not be given ongoing work. But their work will not be in the current way that they are providing services to individuals in the community. The second thing is around the profit and not-for-profit areas. I believe that by far the majority of those services will be provided by the not-for-profit sector. But I cannot give a total guarantee that there is no for-profit disability service organisation out there that will not be the organisation of choice by an individual who wants to go with that particular organisation.
(1) What will be the process for choosing the new provider? (2) Is there a preference for a for-profit or not-for-profit provider to provide the service? (3) Is the minister concerned at all at the disruption that a change in service provider will cause to families and clients with a disability? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. As the member would be aware, over many years the work of social trainers has been declining as more contemporary service organisations have been involved in establishing the disability service organisations in the community. As a result of that, it has been indicated that the remaining small number of social trainers will be moving into more of the residential care services. So, none of them will lose their jobs, I might add. There is no suggestion that any of them will lose their jobs. They will be moving more into the residential care facilities and services that are being provided, while the individuals living in the community are given the opportunity to go through a personalised services programming process that will enable them to both identify the new approaches to the life services that they are looking for, and to determine who those service providers might be. There is a whole range of service providers in the community that these people can choose from in that process. That is the process by which that will take place. It will involve the individuals and their families. I want to assure anybody who is concerned about the social trainers currently employed by the Disability Services Commission that there is absolutely no suggestion that any of these people will not be given ongoing work. But their work will not be in the current way that they are providing services to individuals in the community. The second thing is around the profit and not-for-profit areas. I believe that by far the majority of those services will be provided by the not-for-profit sector. But I cannot give a total guarantee that there is no for-profit disability service organisation out there that will not be the organisation of choice by an individual who wants to go with that particular organisation.
(2) Is there a preference for a for-profit or not-for-profit provider to provide the service? (3) Is the minister concerned at all at the disruption that a change in service provider will cause to families and clients with a disability? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. As the member would be aware, over many years the work of social trainers has been declining as more contemporary service organisations have been involved in establishing the disability service organisations in the community. As a result of that, it has been indicated that the remaining small number of social trainers will be moving into more of the residential care services. So, none of them will lose their jobs, I might add. There is no suggestion that any of them will lose their jobs. They will be moving more into the residential care facilities and services that are being provided, while the individuals living in the community are given the opportunity to go through a personalised services programming process that will enable them to both identify the new approaches to the life services that they are looking for, and to determine who those service providers might be. There is a whole range of service providers in the community that these people can choose from in that process. That is the process by which that will take place. It will involve the individuals and their families. I want to assure anybody who is concerned about the social trainers currently employed by the Disability Services Commission that there is absolutely no suggestion that any of these people will not be given ongoing work. But their work will not be in the current way that they are providing services to individuals in the community. The second thing is around the profit and not-for-profit areas. I believe that by far the majority of those services will be provided by the not-for-profit sector. But I cannot give a total guarantee that there is no for-profit disability service organisation out there that will not be the organisation of choice by an individual who wants to go with that particular organisation.
(3) Is the minister concerned at all at the disruption that a change in service provider will cause to families and clients with a disability? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. As the member would be aware, over many years the work of social trainers has been declining as more contemporary service organisations have been involved in establishing the disability service organisations in the community. As a result of that, it has been indicated that the remaining small number of social trainers will be moving into more of the residential care services. So, none of them will lose their jobs, I might add. There is no suggestion that any of them will lose their jobs. They will be moving more into the residential care facilities and services that are being provided, while the individuals living in the community are given the opportunity to go through a personalised services programming process that will enable them to both identify the new approaches to the life services that they are looking for, and to determine who those service providers might be. There is a whole range of service providers in the community that these people can choose from in that process. That is the process by which that will take place. It will involve the individuals and their families. I want to assure anybody who is concerned about the social trainers currently employed by the Disability Services Commission that there is absolutely no suggestion that any of these people will not be given ongoing work. But their work will not be in the current way that they are providing services to individuals in the community. The second thing is around the profit and not-for-profit areas. I believe that by far the majority of those services will be provided by the not-for-profit sector. But I cannot give a total guarantee that there is no for-profit disability service organisation out there that will not be the organisation of choice by an individual who wants to go with that particular organisation.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. As the member would be aware, over many years the work of social trainers has been declining as more contemporary service organisations have been involved in establishing the disability service organisations in the community. As a result of that, it has been indicated that the remaining small number of social trainers will be moving into more of the residential care services. So, none of them will lose their jobs, I might add. There is no suggestion that any of them will lose their jobs. They will be moving more into the residential care facilities and services that are being provided, while the individuals living in the community are given the opportunity to go through a personalised services programming process that will enable them to both identify the new approaches to the life services that they are looking for, and to determine who those service providers might be. There is a whole range of service providers in the community that these people can choose from in that process. That is the process by which that will take place. It will involve the individuals and their families. I want to assure anybody who is concerned about the social trainers currently employed by the Disability Services Commission that there is absolutely no suggestion that any of these people will not be given ongoing work. But their work will not be in the current way that they are providing services to individuals in the community. The second thing is around the profit and not-for-profit areas. I believe that by far the majority of those services will be provided by the not-for-profit sector. But I cannot give a total guarantee that there is no for-profit disability service organisation out there that will not be the organisation of choice by an individual who wants to go with that particular organisation.
(1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. As the member would be aware, over many years the work of social trainers has been declining as more contemporary service organisations have been involved in establishing the disability service organisations in the community. As a result of that, it has been indicated that the remaining small number of social trainers will be moving into more of the residential care services. So, none of them will lose their jobs, I might add. There is no suggestion that any of them will lose their jobs. They will be moving more into the residential care facilities and services that are being provided, while the individuals living in the community are given the opportunity to go through a personalised services programming process that will enable them to both identify the new approaches to the life services that they are looking for, and to determine who those service providers might be. There is a whole range of service providers in the community that these people can choose from in that process. That is the process by which that will take place. It will involve the individuals and their families. I want to assure anybody who is concerned about the social trainers currently employed by the Disability Services Commission that there is absolutely no suggestion that any of these people will not be given ongoing work. But their work will not be in the current way that they are providing services to individuals in the community. The second thing is around the profit and not-for-profit areas. I believe that by far the majority of those services will be provided by the not-for-profit sector. But I cannot give a total guarantee that there is no for-profit disability service organisation out there that will not be the organisation of choice by an individual who wants to go with that particular organisation.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.