Residential

Alkira Residential Services are homes in the true sense of the word. Every resident has their own bedroom, where their right to privacy is assured; friends and family visit, chores are shared and residents meet regularly to organise outings and make decisions about their home. All this occurs with the support of our skilled staff, who are committed to ensuring that there is truly ‘no place like home’ for people who live in an Alkira residence.

The type of residential service Alkira can provide will depend on people’s needs. We offer long term (permanent) accommodation and low support living for people with an intellectual disability who are no longer able or no longer wish to live with their family or carers. Respite and crisis accommodation is also available.

Access
We would love to be able to accommodate everyone who needs our services, but permanent accommodation can only be accessed through the Department of Human Services Eastern Metropolitan Region disability service register. When a vacancy occurs, people may be offered a place according to the level of support needed, compatibility with other residents and urgency.

Alkira Houses
Sharing a house with friends is one option for people. Thirty permanent residents are currently living in our six houses, supported by teams of rostered staff. Sharing a house means dealing with everyday issues, making friends and respecting each other’s rights.

Support staff are there to help residents in various ways to ensure that they are happy and healthy in their homes and that everything runs smoothly. This includes helping each resident work out a Residential Support Plan, to provide a framework for their lives. This plan includes recreational and leisure opportunities as well as activities to develop and maintain skills.

As well as a Residential Support Plan, each resident has a Health Plan to ensure regular health checks and that specialist appointments are made when necessary. The Residential Support Plan and the Health Plan are part of every resident’s My Plan.

Residents are encouraged to be active participants in the running of their house and to be involved in decisions that affect their daily lives. They can join a House Committee to have a more active say in running their home and be elected as the representative to report to the Residential Services Committee of the Board of Management. Residents are also involved in helping to select key support staff and house staff.

Our houses are located in:

• Mont Albert
• Box Hill
• Box Hill North
• Forest Hill
• Nunawading
  

Respite Services
Respite is available to people who attend Alkira Training and Support Services and who live with their parents or carers. Respite is also available to any adults with intellectual disabilities who live in the Eastern Metropolitan Region and whose carer is over the age of 65, or in the case of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, over the age of 45.

Respite is intended to help families in crisis or emergency situations, but it can also be used for families who are planning a holiday or who need to attend to personal business. It can provide an opportunity for people to socialise with others as a step towards living independently or in supported accommodation. Urgency, compatibility and whether we can meet people’s needs are all factors we consider when respite is sought.

Low Support living
Low support living allows people who are able to, and want to be more independent, to share a house, while still getting support from family and a network of paid workers. People can apply for individual funding from the Department of Human Services so that support staff can be employed.