History

Head Office in Benalla

The history of Central Access is celebrated in two books about Ballandella and Killara - availabe from Central Access on (03) 5761 3555.

Through this amalgamation Central Access is able to acknowledge the emerging environment of disability service delivery in which it operates. This can be characterised by:

• Changing government policy (redevelopment of service sectors)
• Changing legislation (State - Disability Act 2006)
• Increased competition
• Increased accountability to governments and consumers
• Continuous improvement (increased efficiencies and effectiveness)
• Shift from stability and isolation (protection, monopoly) to instability, rapid change and competition
• Shift from service sector focused to consumer (outcome) focused

• Corporate Governance & Financial Accountability
• Service & Infrastructure
• Community Engagement
• Development & Growth

Central Access is a Registered Training Organisation and has adopted an accredited Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2000) to ensure the successful achievement of the Corporate Plan.

Our Future

Central Access Limited’s future will be guided by its Vision which continues to provide direction for the activities of all staff and illuminate the pathways we explore together.

Our Vision is

Advancing opportunities for people.

Our Mission & Values

Our Mission

Create a dynamic community based organisation by being:

• customer focussed
• sustainable
• innovative and
• flexible   

Our Values

• Trust
  We have confidence in the ability and commitment of others and ourselves.
• Respect
  We see all people as being valuable, acknowledging their individuality, opinions, needs, abilities and respecting the knowledge, expertise and skills of others.
• Openness
  We foster an environment, which encourages honest communication in all dealings endeavouring to address issues as they arise.
• Equity
  We treat all colleagues and customers fairly and consistently, promote equal rights and ensure resources are allocated according to need.
• Excellence
  We aim to achieve the highest standard in everything we do while paying due regard for the operations of other groups within our organisation.
• Enjoyment
  We obtain personal and professional satisfaction in an environment where everyone feels they belong.

Statistics 

There has been a steady rise in the underlying disability rate since the first ABS Survey in 1981, with an increase in the proportion of Australian's with disabilities from 15 percent in 1981 to 20 percent in 2003 (3.9 million people).

The major factors influencing this increase are:

• People generally are living longer and acquiring disabilities as they age,
• People with pre-existing disabilities are living longer, and
• Changes in social attitudes have made many people feel more comfortable about identifying as having a disability.

The ABS estimates that the number of Australians with disabilities can be expected to increase through the first half of this century, due to the ageing of Australia's population. By 2051, the ABS projects that about 25 percent of Australians will be aged 65 years or over, compared with 12 percent in 1997. As the proportion of Australians in these older age groups with high disability rates increases, the proportion of Australians with disabilities can also be expected to increase.

The 2003 ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers indicated that:

• Twenty percent of Australians have a disability.
• 3.3 million people (17.1 percent of the total population) say they are restricted in carrying out one or more daily activity, such as self-care, mobility and communication (referred to as 'core activity restrictions').
• The rate of disability increases with age.
• Four percent of children aged 0-4 years have a disability compared to 41 percent for people aged 65-69 and 92 percent of people aged 90 and over.
• The proportion of males and females with a disability is similar; but disability rates vary across age groups. 19.9 percent of all males, compared with 20.1 percent of all females in the same age group, (12.4% and 7.5% respectively). In contrast, females aged 80 years and over had a much higher rate (52%) of disability than males of the same age (34%).

People with disabilities participate in a wide range of activities.

A place to live...

Approximately 93 percent of people with disabilities (3.6 million) live in private dwellings, alone or with at least one other person. Seven percent of people with disabilities (279,500) live in other care accommodation, such as hostels, supported accommodation in retirement villages or children's homes.

Help with daily activities...

Seventy-nine percent of people with disabilities living in households that need help with one or more of their daily activities receive it from partners, relatives or friends. Just over half of those with a disability (53%) received assistance from formal providers such as home-care workers and voluntary workers. The usual assistance required is to move around or go out, shower or dress, prepare meals, do housework, light property maintenance, paperwork and communicate.

Employment...

Fifty-three percent of people with disabilities between 15 and 64 years were employed in 2003, compared with 81 percent of people without disabiltiies. 8.6 percent of people with disabilities were unemployed (that is, they were actively seeking work) compared with 5 percent of people without disabilties.

Out and about...

In the 2003 survey a number of questions were asked about the social activities of people over the preceding 12 months. The responses showed that they had undertaken a wide range of activities including: visited family and friends, attended church, eaten out, gone to the movies, played or watched sports, or been involved in art, craft, drama and other special interest groups.

- Statistics courtesy ABS