COMETS Program

This service is a social and recreational program for people with a disability living with an ageing carer in one of the 7 Local Government Areas. These LGA’s are: Dungog, Port Stephens, Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook and the Upper Hunter (this includes Scone, Aberdeen, Murrurundi, Merriwa).

The program aims to assist the person with a disability to maintain or increase independence, living skills and social skills.

A range of support options and skills training is available where the assistance is not available or accessed from other local services. People with a disability involved with the Community Access Day program will have the opportunity to:

• Meet people
• Get out and about in the community
• Learn new skills
• Make new friends
• Be more independent
• Make choices and decisions about how to use your lesson time
• Access community facilities and activities
• Participate in Volunteer work
• Access training opportunities
• Participate in sporting activities

The aim of the program is to give assistance to enhance and maintain social interaction within the community and to increase or maintain skills. The name ‘COMETS’ is an acronym describing the aims of the program (Community, Opportunity, Motivation, Experience, Training and Skills).

These aims are related to the funding guidelines set out by DADHC our funding body, which include:

• Build the capacity of individuals to participate in community life
• Enhance the independence of people with a disability
• Enable individuals to develop and sustain social and community relationships
• Increase the ability of individuals to self-manage their social interactions and community participation
• Facilitate and promote opportunities and pathways to ensure ongoing learning, training and development.

 

Activities and Services

The COMETS program run in each of the seven Local Government areas listed below.

The days of service are dictated by the demand for services in the areas. These are:

• Port Stephen ~ Nelson Bay on Fridays
• Medowie on Thursdays
• Dungog ~ Tuesdays and Wednesdays
• Maitland ~ Monday to Friday
• Cessnock ~ Tuesdays
• Muswellbrook ~ Denman on Fridays
• Upper Hunter ~ Scone (ABI specific group) on Mondays, Aberdeen on Fridays, Merriwa on Fridays

Some of the activities / events the groups do include:

• Arts
• Craft
• Woodwork
• Exercise / Sport / maintaining mobility
• Training Programs
• Hobby Development
• Cooking / food preparation
• Literacy / numeracy
• Host a Cancer Council Biggest Morning Tea
• Attend Melbourne Cup events
• Attend local shows and events
• Participate (with respect to all religions) seasonal celebrations ~ easter, Christmas, New Year, Mothers Day, Fathers Day.
• Hold cultural days to look at other countries and their culture which can involve cooking food, wearing clothing, music / dancing, craft, learning words.

All activities are done whilst respecting the customs and beliefs of other cultures.

 

The COMETS Referral Process

Intake Process

A client can be referred to us in a number of ways:

• Self referral - A client may contact us directly for information about our program and a referral form for the program.
• Referral from another Service - A client may be referred by another service.

The Process Steps

1. The Referral form, is filled out either by client or another service with the permission of the client. The referral form requests details of the client and their circumstances. This needs to be posted or faxed to the program coordinator.
   
2. The client is contacted regarding their referral form. If the client does not meet the criteria they are told and given the contact details of other services that may be of assistance. If the client does meet criteria, an interview is organised at a time convenient for the client and family.
   
3. An interview is held with the client, family members and other services. The interview is to determine the clients ability, assess the clients needs and to determine how the service could best meet the client’s needs.

After the interview an Intake panel is held where the clients details and circumstances relevant to the panels decision are presented (client’s initials only are used for identification and to protect privacy). A decision is made by the panel as to if the program can offer service to the client. Client is notified by phone and letter of the outcome of the Intake panel. If the client is not successful then they are given contact details of other services that may be of assistance. If the client is successful they are contacted to organise a start date. The client is also notified the following details regarding the service, ie service days and time, support worker’s name, cost and transport details.