Moving to adult services
The move into adulthood is an important milestone for young people. For young people with a physical disability and for their parents and carers, it can be a time of anxiety if it is not clear how services are going to be provided. Novita is a provider of therapy and family support services for children with physical disability - it does not provide therapy services for adults. Such services may be provided by other agencies. This page provides information about services for adults that can be considered when planning a smooth and successful move from Novita.
On this page
Introduction
When a young person with a physical disability, living in South Australia is approaching or has reached 18 years of age there are a number of important changes in the way that disability services are provided:
- Therapy support services may be provided by Disability SA (part of the Department of Families and Communities), subject to eligibility criteria being met.
- Funding for adult equipment is approved and managed by Disability SA .
- There are a number of separate organisations responsible for providing supported accommodation and day programs.
The following sections describe the main services available for adults.
Top of page contents
When young people who have been clients of Novita turn 18 years of age, they no longer receive service co-ordination services from Novita. Instead, they obtain these from Disability SA.
For further information, contact Disability SA:
Disability SA website
Email: disability@dfc.sa.gov.au
Telephone: 1300 786 177
How does one get services from Disability SA?
- Before the young person turns 18 they will be referred to the Intake Team of Disability SA. Being referred on means that, with their permission, their name and other details will be passed on to the agency so that it is less likely that their services will be disrupted as they move from children’s services to adult services.
- If services have not been provided by Novita Family Service Coordinators, it is important that either the client, or the person who is most responsible for their care, contacts Disability SA.
Top of page contents
Therapy services
For more information on therapy services provided to adults, please contact Disability SA.
Medical services
When the young person turns 18 years of age they are no longer seen by the Novita Medical Service or Women's and Children's Hospital. It is most important to start talking to your paediatrician well before this time, to discuss who might be appropriate to take over medical care. If this has not happened by the time the person is 18, it can be done through the young person’s local doctor or general practitioner.
Top of page contents
Equipment services
If a person is a client of Disability SA, the therapists in the service will help to organise equipment such as wheelchairs, toilet chairs, hoists, beds and walking frames.
Day programs
When young people turn 18 they are also often leaving school. Therefore, as part of the move to adult services, decisions usually need to be made about the young person's future. Service co-ordinators help in this area by referring teenagers, young adults and their families to Disability SA for assistance with planning services, including day programs.
Accommodation services
Moving on to adulthood may also involve thinking about a future place to live away from the parents home. This is a big step for most young adults, but help is available from:
Top of page contents
Frequently asked questions
What part does Novita Family Support play in the process of helping families to move from children’s services to adult services?
- The process begins when the child reaches 17 years of age. With consent from the family, a referral and a needs assessment for the young person is provided to Disability SA. This information is regularly updated, becoming more specific as the young person nears age 18.
- Novita Family Support helps to decide what services a young person may need to access. They will assist in providing information on a range of issues including Centrelink payments, transition from school, employment services, equipment needs and day options. However, the parent plays a greater role in organising for the provision of services.
- Close to age 18 Disability SA receives more detailed information about what the young person needs. Family Service Coordinators staff make contact with the allocated service co-ordinator wherever possible, as part of a managed handover.
Can parents make a choice about how they think their child fits into the system and what services they can receive?
- Disability SA has eligibility criteria that need to be met before Novita can successfully transfer a client to them.
- Service co-ordination providers have agreed that only one agency will provide the overall case management for a client, but there will be a variety of programmes and services available, and families will be encouraged to make informed choices.
Top of page contents
Is age 17 early enough to make contact, or would there be advantages in registering earlier to be placed on waiting lists (for example, for Day Options)?
- Earlier planning meetings may not be much of an advantage because a co-ordinator would not be assigned until the young person is almost 18. Order of placement on waiting lists for day options is often determined on the basis of urgency of need, not necessarily on how early contact is made with the agency.
- Generally speaking, clients won’t be placed on the waiting lists of another agency unless they are eligible and this doesn’t happen until they have moved to that agency. However, even though they may not appear on a ‘waiting list’ for particular services, transferring young people will appear on an agency’s list of ‘expected’ clients, enabling that agency to plan ahead to meet the young persons’ needs.
What services would young people with mild disability link into?
- All referrals to Disability SA will be assessed by the Intake Team and the severity of a person’s disability will be considered as part of their eligibility for services. Service co-ordinators can provide information about Business Services (formerly Supported Employment).
- Centrelink assist with entry to these programs. The Novita website has current information on these programs.
- Generally young people with mild disability use mainstream services. Although they may well be eligible for specialised services because of their diagnosis, they would be a relatively low priority and would not receive much contact or support from Service Co-ordination.
- All referrals that do not meet the criteria of the adult agencies are added to an ‘unmet needs’ register. This information is stored to demonstrate to government where extra services are needed.
Top of page contents
What is the funding process for compensation clients who are not eligible for government funding?
- Compensation clients are young people who receive payouts resulting from a compensation claim, often related to a motor vehicle accident.
- With the family’s consent, Novita Family Support can assist the funding process by submitting a services contract to the Lawyers or Public Trustee for payment.
If a client is not accepted by Disability SA and their condition deteriorates, can they be assessed again?
- Yes. However for this to happen, they need to be re-referred to the adult agency.
Top of page contents
Who is responsible for letting the family know when it is time to meet with the Novita Service Coordinator to begin discussion about moving to adult services?
- The Novita service Coordinator is responsible as part of the regular review and planning of services.
How do families work out what Day Options and other services are available?
- Each year the disability sector holds a Disability and Ageing Expo for families to learn about programs provided by Adult Service Providers (these events are advertised on this website).
- The agencies that are featured at the Expo include Disability SA, specialist employment services, day (post-school) options providers, further education institutions and more.
- Novita Family Service Coordinators organise a transition information session each year and include speakers from a range of relevant agencies.
How is equipment funded for adults?
- Disability SA covers all equipment funding.
- Therapists from the adult service providers carry out any assessments required and then prescribe the equipment.