Mudgee Disability Support Service (MDSS) has established a new respite home in Mudgee, Mealey House, giving local people with disabilities a comfortable and close place to take a break.
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“This is our respite home away from home,” said MDSS program officer Ingrid Puxty.
Previously, local people with disabilities had to travel to Dubbo for respite at a centre funded by the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care.
Now they can stay with an MDSS staff member in comfortable, homely accommodation close to the centre of Mudgee.
“It can be for a few hours or it can be overnight, or it can be for a few days, depending on the needs of the clients,” said MDSS team leader Sue Field.
MDSS only recently signed the lease for the home, and the organisation has been busy decorating the house, improving its accessibility, and installing play and exercise equipment in the backyard.
“Now we’ve got to fundraise,” said MDSS manager Christine Puxty.
The organisation has already begun raising the funds it needs to equip the home in the best way possible, and to decorate it to create a warm and pleasant atmosphere.
The recent MDSS variety dance at Club Mudgee made a great contribution to the house, and fundraising will continue with activities such as the annual play night - this year featuring a unique MDSS version of Mary Poppins.
As well as providing respite, the home will house individualised programs tailored to MDSS clients’ interests, a new function for the organisation made possible by the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Where previously a group such as Mudgee Disability Support Service would design its programs and clients would fit into what was available, the NDIS gives people with disability control over their funds and choices about the programs and services they will go towards.
The new system allows MDSS to design a program to meet the goals and desires of the organisation’s clients, and these new programs will run at Mealey House, or start there before heading out into the community.