❓ Hon Stephen Dawson raises concerns about disability services provider Lifestyle Solutions' Pilbara office, specifically regarding staff turnover and training. The Minister responds, outlining actions taken by the Disability Services Commission in response to earlier concerns.
AnsweredQoN 270Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DISABILITY SERVICES COMMISSION — LIFESTYLE
SOLUTIONS
270. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the Minister
for Disability Services:
I refer to disability services
provider Lifestyle Solutions and its Pilbara office.
(1) Is the
Disability Services Commission aware of complaints being made about this
service provider, including in relation to the high turnover of staff and
allegations of staff not being trained properly?
(2) If yes to
(1), has the DSC undertaken an investigation of the complaints and what was the
outcome of any investigation?
(3) If no to (2), will the minister
ask her agency to investigate the matter?
(4) If no to (2), why not?
SOLUTIONS
270. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the Minister
for Disability Services:
I refer to disability services
provider Lifestyle Solutions and its Pilbara office.
(1) Is the
Disability Services Commission aware of complaints being made about this
service provider, including in relation to the high turnover of staff and
allegations of staff not being trained properly?
(2) If yes to
(1), has the DSC undertaken an investigation of the complaints and what was the
outcome of any investigation?
(3) If no to (2), will the minister
ask her agency to investigate the matter?
(4) If no to (2), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question.
(1) In September
2015, concerns about Lifestyle Solutions were received by a Disability Services
Commission board member who had visited the Pilbara. Details of the concerns
were relayed to the director general of the commission, who directed that the
matters outlined be dealt with through the commission's contract
management processes.
(2) In late
September 2015, senior commission staff met with Lifestyle Solutions'
managing director and the organisation's manager of disability support.
The managing director acknowledged that it was experiencing difficulties in
retaining staff in some areas and gave an assurance that no individuals were
placed at risk by staffing issues. Subsequent to this meeting, a senior manager
Pilbara was appointed by Lifestyle Solutions, improved internal and external
communication was implemented by Lifestyle Solutions, and a Disability Services
Commission contracting officer visited the Pilbara in late October 2015. At
that time there were no apparent staffing issues.
(3)–(4) Not
applicable. However, should the honourable member have any information or
concerns about any disability service organisation, I would urge him to provide
me with the details. In that way, I can ensure that the director general
receives the information, undertakes an assessment and takes any appropriate
action.
of the question.
(1) In September
2015, concerns about Lifestyle Solutions were received by a Disability Services
Commission board member who had visited the Pilbara. Details of the concerns
were relayed to the director general of the commission, who directed that the
matters outlined be dealt with through the commission's contract
management processes.
(2) In late
September 2015, senior commission staff met with Lifestyle Solutions'
managing director and the organisation's manager of disability support.
The managing director acknowledged that it was experiencing difficulties in
retaining staff in some areas and gave an assurance that no individuals were
placed at risk by staffing issues. Subsequent to this meeting, a senior manager
Pilbara was appointed by Lifestyle Solutions, improved internal and external
communication was implemented by Lifestyle Solutions, and a Disability Services
Commission contracting officer visited the Pilbara in late October 2015. At
that time there were no apparent staffing issues.
(3)–(4) Not
applicable. However, should the honourable member have any information or
concerns about any disability service organisation, I would urge him to provide
me with the details. In that way, I can ensure that the director general
receives the information, undertakes an assessment and takes any appropriate
action.
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.