Perth, Australia: Representatives from a range of disability services providers came together for the inaugural Possibilities Forum, co-presented by Mosaic Community Care and Westcare.
Held at Westcare’s disability accommodation village in Shenton Park, the event saw open discussions led by sector experts on two critical topics: navigating complex transitions from hospital to home and implementing workplace adjustments to support employees with disability.
Mosaic Community Care CEO Rob Wilton opened the session focusing on the vital impact industry collaboration can have on sustainable service delivery outcomes for people with disability. “One of my key focuses is strengthening collaboration across the sector, working with both large and small providers to help them navigate challenges, stay sustainable, and continue delivering quality support.”
If Mosaic and Westcare can help your organisation navigate industry challenges, we will. Because this isn’t just about organisations, it’s about ensuring better outcomes for people with disability.”
Rob Wilton
Enabling safe transitions from hospital to home
SN Services Director Caroline Yates joined Mosaic COO Kim Adamson to spotlight the importance of safe and timely transitions from hospital to home for people with complex needs.
“There’s a fundamental disconnect between health and disability systems, and too much siloed thinking,” Caroline said.
“Clients can spend months, even years in hospital, and then suddenly there’s pressure to send them home within a week because of bed demand. That push to transition people when it’s not safe is very real, and it’s dangerous. We’re often seen as obstructive, but we simply won’t discharge someone unless it’s safe. That accountability has to come first,” she added.
Highlighting one of the key challenges, Caroline reflected:
People talk about workforce shortages, but that’s not the real issue. The issue is capability. We’re asking people to deliver highly complex medical care under a delegation model, yet there’s no qualification that truly fits what they’re being asked to do. Saying someone on a ventilator can be cared for by a support worker without consistent, structured training is something that needs to change.”
In her message to providers in room, Caroline implored, “When you’re supporting people with complex needs, don’t take on a contract just because it’s there or because of the funding. Do it properly. Don’t cut corners. Most importantly, look beyond the diagnosis. Too often, people become defined by their condition – their spinal injury or their genetic disorder – but that’s not who they are. You have to look at the person, their life, their family, and ask what quality of life you can help them achieve. That’s what truly matters.”
Workplace adjustments drive disability employment
JobAccess National Manager Georgia Miller sat down with Westcare COO Fitz Cass to share insights on how workplace adjustments can support people with disability secure employment and help close the disability employment gap.
“Workplace adjustments are any changes that support someone with disability to work safely and effectively. They can range from physical modifications to flexible work arrangements or communication supports, and they play a critical role in improving retention, productivity, and overall participation,” Georgia said.
Countering the myth that adjustments are difficult and costly, Georgia shared:
What we often find is that adjustments don’t always need to be complex or expensive, sometimes a simple change can remove a barrier and unlock someone’s ability to fully participate at work.”
When it comes to purchasing adjustments, the Employment Assistance Fund can help remove cost as a barrier for employers. Georgia explains, “The Employment Assistance Fund provides funding for work-related adjustments, helping people with disability not only enter the workforce but remain in it. It complements other supports, like the NDIS, by focusing specifically on employment needs.”
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