• identify your goals to ensure you can live as independently as possible
• develop a support plan
• identify what support best meets your own individual needs
• obtain the services and equipment you need
• ensure that services continue to meet your needs
• plan for the future

Who can get support under this program?

Frail older people. These are people with complex support needs  who are over 65 years of age or over 45 if of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island Background

Younger people with a disability.  These are people with moderate to high support needs and who are under 65 years of age - or under 45 years if of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island Background

and their Carers

who may:

• need a number of different services to remain living at home
  need help working out what services best meet their needs and where to get them
• have needs that change from time to time
• would rather continue to live in their own home instead of moving into an aged care facility

or who

• Care for someone whose needs change or whose own needs change from time to time.

How does the case manager help me?

Once you have decided on what you want to achieve, the case manager and you will look at different options to help you achieve your goals.  These options may be support from other service providers, like assistance with personal care or transport, learning new skills, like preparing your own meals  or help with following a hobby.  The options will be different for everyone, as everyone has different needs, abilities, likes and goals. 

Once you and the case manager have discussed the choices and decided on action, the case manager will draw up a support plan.  This will guide you both to help you achieve your goals.  The Coordinator will stay in touch and monitor how you get on and whether you are moving towards your goals.  Once you have reached the goal, you will leave the program. 

If in the future your needs change and you want to come back onto the Community Options Project, you can do so.

What type of services can the case manager help me get?

If you agree, the case manager can refer you for a range of services like

• Personal care like with showering or bathing
• Housework
• Laundry
• Transport
• Outings
• Shopping
• A break from caring - respite

Can I get direct services supplied by Community Options directly?

If your case manager refers you - for example to Home Care - and they cannot give you the service because they are full, the Community Options Project can pay Home Care for a few weeks to provide you with service,until they are able to accept you as a client  

What else can the case manager do to assist me?

• help you apply for equipment to help you be more independent, for example - shower chairs
• Supporting you when you need to talk to other services or authorities, like the Department of Housing - Advocacy
• Referrals to other services, like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, hydrotherapy, counselling
• Information and education

What do I need to do to get a COP?

You can call our intake officer on (02) 6650 2000 to discuss your situation or apply for service. We are happy to complete the application form for you over the phone.

When we have a vacancy on the COP program, we will ring you to make an appointment to visit you in your home.