|
Kaiyu
Our organisation was formed on 25 March 1997 as a community response to the need for additional community support and rehabilitation services in the Lake Macquarie area.
The founders were a group of mental health consumers, carers and concerned citizens. They were impressed with the Clubhouse model’s success in helping people with a mental illness live satisfying and productive lives. Their clear commitment was to bring the benefits of a Clubhouse model program to the Lake Macquarie area. For eighteen months the association lobbied for Government funding. During this time volunteers provided a monthly social support and skill development activities. In June 1998, Dr Andrew Refshauge, NSW Minister for Health, provided the first of a series of one-off grants to develop Kaiyu Clubhouse, a support and rehabilitation program based on the (Fountain House) Clubhouse model. The most recent grant extends to June 2006.
In response to consumer and community need we have also assisted people across the wider Hunter region. We have secured funding to provide mental health support in a broader range of services. In view of our expanded focus we changed our name from Lake Macquarie Clubhouse to Kaiyu Enterprises Inc. in January 2003.
In May 2000 NSW Boarding House Reform Strategy enabled the provision of social, recreational and skill development activities with former boarding house residents. Although the people assisted by the Community Based Activities program live in the inner Newcastle area the activities they engage in are spread across a wider area. The NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care has now approved funding for this program until 2006.
In June 2002 Lake Macquarie Clubhouse Inc was appointed as a provider for the Australian Government's Department of Family and Community Services' Personal Support Program. Under this program the Clubhouse will receive funding to assist people with a mental illness to improve their living circumstances. Centrelink will refer people to the program which will help people to stabilise their circumstances and enable them to achieve outcomes that match their abilities and capacity. These will include social as well as economic outcomes.
In July 2002 we commenced the innovative Community Inclusion Project funded by the Hunter Area Assistance Scheme. This project aims to assist mental health consumers become active participants in the social and recreational activities of mainstream organisations such as clubs and neighbourhood centres. This project involves providing partial assistance to consumers in identifying and linking with social and recreational options. The project also provides information, training and support to mainstream organisations. The project will conclude in June 2004
|
