Community Development

 Kyabra's Flexible Support Options

Kyabra offers this program for the carers of people with severe mental illness / psychiatric disability and carers of people with intellectual disability. The aim is to provide tailored respite options to families living in our service area, i.e. Acacia Ridge, Algester, Berrinba, Calamvale, Coopers Plains, Drewvale, Eight Mile Plains, Karawatha, Kuraby, Macgregor, Mackenzie, Mansfield, Mt. Gravatt, Mt. Gravatt East, Upper Mt Gravatt, Parkinson, Robertson, Rochedale, Runcorn, Salisbury, Stretton, Sunnybank, Sunnybank Hills, Wishart.

Priority in accessing this program.

Priority will be given to carers who are unable to access respite through state programs and carers of people with severe and profound conditions or challenging behaviour. There are also age related priorities to consider, i.e. priority will be given to;

n      elderly parent carers 65 years of age and over (for Indigenous carers 50 years of age and over) who live with and care for children (including adult children) with a severe mental illness/psychiatric disability or intellectual disability;

n        other non residential elderly parent carers 65 years of age and over (Indigenous 50 years and over) who are the primary carer of children (including adult children) with a severe mental illness/psychiatric disability or intellectual disability;

n        carers of any age who care for people with a severe mental illness/psychiatric disability or intellectual disability who require emergency respite care (unplanned respite); and

n        carers aged 55 to 65 (Indigenous 40-49) who live with and care for children (including adult children) with a severe mental illness/psychiatric disability or intellectual disability..

What is the limit of respite that a carer is eligible to receive?

The amount of respite that a carer is able to access will be based on the carer’s need. Commonwealth Carers Respite Centre South (CCRC) will undertake assessment of carer needs and refer carers to the most appropriate respite service provider, including Kyabra. CCRC will use a standard assessment tool to ensure that those in most need of respite receive it at the time they need it. However, the principle underpinning allocation of respite is that it is "short-term", providing the opportunity for carers to "take time-out" from the direct carer role.