Richmond Connections Newsletter – March 2024
Welcome to Richmond Connections
Welcome to the first Richmond Connections newsletter of 2024.
2023 was a year of significant change for Richmond Group (Richmond Fellowship and Richmond Futures), particularly with the decision to exit of our Support Coordination and Recovery Coaching services. This was not an easy decision given the broader changes being discussed by the NDIS. However, as we saw with the publishing of the NDIS Review in December, this was a change that was already coming. The NDIS Review announced the recommended change that a Service Provider of NDIS Services should not also be a provider of Support Coordination, Recovery Coaching or Plan Management. These three roles will be replaced by a new role called a Navigator. Richmond Group will continue to work closely with the NDIA to understand further changes.
With this newsletter marking my first year in the role of Richmond Group CEO, I continue to be very proud of the work we do and the social impact we make in people’s lives. Our team works closely with each other to ensure a quality service to our participants. Through 2023, our corporate services teams worked closely with service delivery staff to make adjustments to how we roster and schedule services that aim to provide greater continuity to our participants. These changes were implemented, and we are already receiving feedback from participants that this is well received. Our staff are also providing positive feedback on the way we work together.
Glenson Place, February this year, view of the outdoor communal area and what will be a landscaped garden area behind that.
2024 is a very exciting year ahead as well. There are significant initiatives ahead that will continue to strengthen our commitment to the Tasmanian community. The key changes are:
- Statewide Services: Richmond Group provides two key streams of focus in the community, our NDIS services and our Mental Health Services. We are creating more roles that ensure a statewide focus. We continue to work with our funding agencies to enhance the Rethink2020 Mental Health Strategy, and the ability to support NDIS Supported Independent Living capacity.
- Glenson Place (Claremont): We are proud to see the completion of the new 14-unit Supported Independent Living (SIL) complex in April. This is thanks to the vision and contribution of the Fairbrother Foundation who contributed $2M to bring this SIL complex to reality. This has been a partnership with Fairbrother Foundation, Homes Tasmania and Richmond Futures. We have already been advertising this since late last year and look forward to welcoming more Expressions of Interest.
- Bellete Place (Chigwell): This is a 24-unit Mental Health Recovery & Rehabilitation complex funded and constructed by Homes Tasmania, where Richmond Group will be the service provider in partnership with the Tasmanian Government. We will continue to design an integrated service model with Tasmanian Mental Health Services that listens to what we are hearing from the community and the wider sector. This will aim to be completed by the end of 2024.
We welcome any feedback and look forward to a strong future as we continue to deliver on our 10-year strategy.
Patrick Lilwall – CEO
Participant Story – Overcoming Adversity to Achieve Remarkable Success
(* denotes this is not the participant’s real name, this has been changed for privacy reasons.)
Anna* joined our Outreach Recovery Program in 2022 under incredibly challenging circumstances. Having just escaped domestic violence, Anna* found herself homeless, seeking refuge in a shelter. Anna* was also a victim of a financial scam and sexual assault in 2023. However, with her resilience and the support of our program, Anna* embarked on a transformative path towards empowerment and stability.
While engaging with the program, Anna* received comprehensive support tailored to her needs. This included assistance in identifying recovery goals, connecting with Legal Aid, reporting the scam to the relevant authorities, assisting in bank processes, and accessing Disability Support Pension (DSP) and a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Additionally, Anna* connected with our TasRec program, as well as the Aboriginal community, and is currently receiving support with a My Aged Care application.
Through unwavering determination and the support provided by our program, Anna* made significant progress in managing her mental health. Furthermore, she achieved a remarkable milestone by securing stable accommodation and employment. The pinnacle of Anna’s* success was her strategic investment of the settlement amount she obtained, which resulted in the acquisition of three units in a complex. Demonstrating remarkable entrepreneurship, she decided to rent out two of the units, thereby not only ensuring her financial stability but also creating avenues for increased income for herself and contributing to the community.
Anna’s* journey is a testament to the power of resilience, determination and the impact of comprehensive support systems. We celebrate her achievements and are incredibly proud to have been part of her remarkable transformation. Her story serves as an inspiration to us all, showcasing the potential for positive change even in the face of adversity.
Our Outreach Recovery Program is designed for individuals diagnosed with mental illness aged 18 – 65. The aim of the program is to support clients to identify ways their mental health could be improved utilising our recovery model, to maintain their community living choices and also engage them in other services of their choice.
For more information about our Outreach Recovery Programs, contact: referrals@richmondtas.com.au or phone 03 6228 3344 or visit the website.
Glenson Place – Nearing Completion!
Glenson Place is safe and suitable accommodation on a modern property comprised of 14 individual self-contained apartments.
Download our Independent Living Referral Form
If you are interested in living in our beautiful community, please email us at: referrals@richmondtas.com.au or call us on (03) 6169 1188.
You can also download our Independent Living Referral Form from our website.
TasRec Program – Latest News
Term one for TasRec has seen participants making the most of the warm weather with trips to beautiful Opossum Bay and historical Richmond which of course, wouldn’t be complete without a stop at The Richmond Lolly Shop.
The kitchen has been bustling! The cooking group have made some amazing dishes this term, including a crowd favourite, chicken parmigiana with home-made chips.
Our Hanging With Horses Program continues to be an absolute favourite with participants starting training with the horses to encourage them to follow their instructions.
Term two starts 15 April running through to 5 July and will feature another participant-led art group where they will learn how to make fairy garden doors and decorations.
For more information about or to book Term 2 TasRec activities, contact us: admin@richmondtas.com.au or phone 03 6228 3344.
Identifying Challenges and Opportunities Faced by Mental Health Services
Recently the Ulverstone team participated in a site visit from KPMG. The purpose of the site visit was to identify challenges and opportunities faced by mental health services across the state, the information sourced from these meetings will be used to establish a best-practice framework to optimise sub-acute and non-acute mental health service delivery in Tasmania. The review focused on what the program offers to participants, the barriers faced by current systems and asked for reflection from the workers on site as to what would reduce barriers for participants to access services. The team provided valuable insights to the survey and showed their wealth of knowledge and commitment to the participants they work alongside.
Revealing The Resourcefulness and Resilience of Those Experiencing Homelessness
Our Mental Health Homelessness Outreach Program (MHHOP) team have been working with several participants to help them focus on identifying their recovery goals and assist with developing action plans to achieve these goals.
MHHOP has revealed the resourcefulness and resilience of each participant enabling them to reach their goals:
- Participant A has achieved a private rental and now has Centrelink payments set up to cover all bills. They are budgeting for petrol and groceries, have received a NILS loan to pay for psychiatrist appointments, and are pursuing personal goals through photography courses.
- Participant B has been housed with Housing Tasmania after previously sleeping on the streets. They are actively paying off debts with Centrelink support, have accessed visitation rights to see their children, are attending Smart Recovery and have been sober for 12 days. They are also taking medication daily.
- Participant C is seeking help from UTAS Psychology and has accessed visitation rights to spend time with their son.
- Participant D has gained a private rental and is receiving community transport support. They are also undergoing ongoing counselling.
- Participant E now has personal identification.
- Participant F has gained full-time employment.
- Participant G is now privately housed with their dogs.
Want to Work With Us?
Current opportunities:
- Rostering & Scheduling Officer – Closes 22 March 2024•
- Property & Tenancy Manager – Closes 22 March 2024
A full position description and more information can be obtained by contacting recruitment@richmondtas.com.au
Want to work with us but don’t see your role advertised? You can fill out our Employment Expression of Interest Form on our Careers page.
A New Program for Tasmanian Family and Friends Supporting Someone Who Has Attempted Suicide
The Minds Together program is now available for all Tasmanian family and friends who support someone who has attempted suicide.
The Minds Together suite of programs are now available for all Tasmanian families and friends who support someone experiencing mental health concerns or suicidal distress.
The programs are free, online and self-paced, aiming to build skills, knowledge and confidence for family and friends in their support role.
In collaboration with Everymind, the Tasmanian Government has established a dedicated Tasmanian landing page to offer free access to Minds Together for family and friends supporting someone who has attempted suicide.
The Minds Together programs can be accessed at: https://mindstogether.org.au/supporting-someone-in-tasmania/
Backed by evidence and co-designed by family and friends with real-life experiences, the program offers practical ways to:
- Find out more about mental health concerns and suicidal distress.
- Learn new strategies for supporting a family member or friend.
- Strengthen coping and communication skills.
- Reduce stress and worry.
- Connect with other people supporting a family member or friend.
The Tasmanian Government continues to work hand-in-hand with the community and key partners in the sector to integrate the program, ensuring early accessibility and exploring ways to enhance the program for Tasmania.
If you have ideas on how we can enhance the program for Tasmania, we would love to hear your thoughts through the linked surveys:
- If you are a service provider: access the survey here.
- If you are a community member: access the survey here.
- If you work for a government organisation: access the survey here.
Talking and reading about mental health and suicide can be distressing and may bring up strong feelings or personal experiences for some people. If you’re worried about how you’re feeling and need help, please call Lifeline Australia on13 11 14 or another service that suits your needs. Access a list of support services here.
If you are, or anyone else is in immediate danger, call 000.
Independent Living – Current Vacancies
Richmond Futures has vacancy at three of our beautifully situated properties located at Shearwater, Howrah and Mowbray.
