Policies

DAIS meets Standards One to Eight of the Commonwealth Disability Services Act (1986). A more detailed explanation of how DAIS meets those Standards is available from the DAIS Office.

Standard 1 - Service access

DAIS entry and exit procedures allows individuals to access our service in a manner sensitive to their needs, age, sex, cultural, language and religious background.

Referrals to our service can be made by the individual, or by others including carers, family members, advocates, friends, other interested people, support workers, service provider representatives, the Office of the Public Advocate, the Guardianship Board, the Protective Commissioner.

Referrals are accepted by telephone, letter, or attendance at DAIS office.

Standard 2 - Individual needs

DAIS recognises the individuality of every service user and the right of each individual to have their needs met in the most appropriate and least restrictive manner.

Standard 3 - Decision making and choice

DAIS is committed to giving people with disabilities a say in the affairs that affect their lives, through access to membership and management control of DAIS.

DAIS promotes independence by providing the level of support necessary to achieve a positive outcome and encourage the development of self-advocacy skills.

Standard 4 - Privacy, dignity and confidentiality

DAIS recognises each service user's right to privacy, dignity and confidentiality. Information about an individual is kept secured in locked filing cabinets in the DAIS office.

Standard 5 - Participation and integration

DAIS conducts a regional community education service to promote the positive aspects of people with disabilities.

At all times, people with disabilities are invited and encouraged to take part in the community education process.

DAIS promotes self-advocacy by offering support to existing disability groups and assists in the establishment of new groups in the region.

Standard 6 - Valued status

DAIS promotes the value of people with disabilities by presenting a positive image of people with disabilities in the media; providing information and support to individuals to access arts, sports, and leisure services in the community; strongly encouraging services in the community to adopt access policies; and conducting a community education program.

Standard 7 - Complaints and disputes

Service users or representatives of other organisations have the right to have their complaints about our service, or disputes with DAIS, dealt with fairly and promptly and without retribution.

Individuals also have the right to make complaints about DAIS to another organisation or to the funding body.

Procedures to lodge a complaint are available in DAIS� policy manual.

Standard 8 - Service management

The Committee is responsible for policy development and strategic planning. The Committee focuses on the overall services provided to ensure the most efficient and effective service programs, organisational structures and financial procedures are proposed in order to meet the demands of service users and the funding body.

The Manager has immediate responsibility to the Committee of Management to operate the service, to ensure that goals are met in accordance with the Mission Statement, and meet the guidelines of funding and service agreements.