About the Family Support Program
The Family Support Program provides flexible and responsive supports, to families who have a child with a disability. These supports are designed to strengthen the family’s ability to care for their family member with a disability as well as continue to care for all family members.
Family Support Program assists families whose needs are not being met through the current service system. Families who access family support may require longer-term assistance or may simply need support to overcome a short-term crisis.
The Family Support Program is provided by Disability Services Queensland (DSQ) and various non government agencies. Lifeline Darling Downs & South West Qld Limited is funded to operate a Family Support Program from our St. George office. The areas covered are from St. George up to Surat and on to Roma, to Chinchilla, Tara, Meandarra, Dalby across to Goondiwindi and back to the ST. George area.
Mission Statement
The Mission of the Lifeline Family Support Program (St.George) is to assist families who are caring for a child with a disability (as defined under the DSA Act 2006) through being responsive and working collaboratively to identify their needs and help our families to improve their quality of life.
The Values in achieving this mean;
- We will work closely with our families.
- We will work closely with Disability Services Queensland.
- We will work closely with other appropriate agencies.
- We will be transparent in our actions.
- We will provide support and advocate on behalf of our clients.
- We will be respectful of different cultures and traditions.
- We will always strive for improvement and to empower individuals to take control of their lives.
The Vision of Lifeline Family Support Program (St.George) is to become a leader in the area of Family Support work in South West Queensland.
How does the Family Support Program Operate?
Family Support Program assists families through access to a facilitator who can support families in many ways by:
- providing information on available supports, resources and networks
- assisting with short and long term planning
- linking families to a range of informal and formal supports
- advocating, or assisting families to advocate, for improved services from existing service providers
- providing access to discretionary funds available in the Family Support Program to purchase supports that cannot be accessed in other ways
The relationship between the facilitator and the family is critical to the success of the program. This relationship needs to be a partnership based on trust, respect and open communication. The facilitator’s role is to empower families to identify their needs and assist individuals with a disability and their families to make key support decisions, and obtain the supports they require.
There is a range of supports and services that might be accessed in this program. In recognition of the diversity of needs across families, the Program aims to support families in flexible and responsive ways. The types of supports accessed should be in keeping with the lifestyle of the family, their customs, traditions and cultural background.
