28th November 2007

The Office of the Public Advocate, National Disability Services (NDS) and the Department of Human Services have, for the first time, signed a tripartite Protocol for the Disability Community Visitors Program.

The Protocol was signed by the three parties at a meeting of the Community Visitors Regional Convenors at the Office of the Public Advocate on Wednesday 28th November 2007.

In his speech to Regional Convenors, Arthur Rogers, Executive Director, Disability Services Division at the Department of Human Services commended the work of Community Visitors to date.

“Community Visitors perform a valued role in safeguarding the rights of people with a disability who reside in accommodation managed by the department and community service organisations”, Mr Rogers said. “The protocol represents a real commitment to a co-operative and open approach toward monitoring and improving services for people with a disability. The protocol commits all parties to work in a manner that is respectful, both with each other and in our dealings with support users and their families”.

The Protocol is designed to establish a common understanding between all parties. The Public Advocate, Ms Colleen Pearce said she was “delighted to sign the new Protocol” and added, “it is “an important document that outlines the responsibilities of the Community Visitors and residential support staff”.

Ms Pearce also warmly welcomed National Disability Services, as the peak body representing community service organisations, as a signatory to the protocol for the first time.

Spokesperson for National Disability Services, Ms Sarah Fordyce said, ‘NDS has been pleased to work with the Office for the Public Advocate and the Department of Human Services to revise the Community Visitors Protocol. The revised Protocol, together with other elements of the Disability Act, will strengthen protections for people living in residential services”.

Ms Fordyce reaffirmed the collaborative approach to the protocol, saying, “NDS’s contribution to the development of the Protocol reflects our commitment to work in partnership with other organisations to improve the well being of people with disability.”

Any person who has a role in providing or monitoring residential services for people with a disability should familiarise themselves with the Protocol. One of the stipulations in the document is that a copy of the Protocol itself is kept on file at each disability accommodation residence.
The Protocol can be downloaded from the Disability Services web site at: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/disability.