AGY-2044 | Home Help Service of New South Wales

Full description

In 1976-1977 The Housekeepers Emergency Service of New South Wales adopted a new Constitution establishing a new advisory Committee and changing its name to the Home Help Service of New South Wales (1) The Executive Committee of nine persons included a representative of the Health Commission of New South Wales, the Department of Youth and Community Services, the private sector and branches of the Home Help Service. (2) The Chairman reported immediately to the Minister for Youth and Community Services and the Department of Youth and Community Services provided support services. (3) The purpose of the Service was 'to provide domiciliary assistance for the preservation and maintenance of family units, and to maintain the aged and chronically ill or incapacitated in their homes as long as possible'. (4) In its first year of operation under its new constitution the service was able to fill more housekeeping positions because of the high unemployment rate but financial constraints had preventing it form introducing the new services made possible under its new constitution - handyman services, heavy cleaning and remedial homemaking. (5) The States Grants (Homecare) Act, 1969 was amend in 1980 halving the Commonwealth contribution to the cost of homecare and therefore placing a higher burden upon the State. The service at this time comprised 150 branches and 13.525 clients. The new services made possible by the Constitution including a handyman service, personal care and assistance to families with disabled children were implemented. (6) . The Community Services Act, 1982 (Act No 76, 1982) (s.29) provided for the incorporation of the Home Help Service of New South Wales as the Home Care Service of New South Wales following the lodgement of the constitution with the Corporate Affairs Commission. The Home Help Service of New South Wales was abolished and the Home Care Service of New South Wales was established on 31 August, 1984 following the lodgement of the Constitution with the Corporate Affairs Commission. (7) In its final year the service reported that 4/5ths of its clients were over 60 years old. The others were lone parents, and people with children under 16 years or with disabled children. (8) End Notes (1) Department of Youth and Community Services Annual Report for the year ended 30 June, 1976 p. 21 (2) Loc. Cit (3) Department of Youth and Community Services Annual Report for the year ended 30 June, 1977 p. 18 (4) Department of Youth and Community Services annual report for the year ended 30 June, 1980 p. 30 (5) Department of Youth and Community Services annual report for the year ended June, 1977 p. 18 (6) Department of Youth and Community Services annual report for the year ended 30 June, 1980 p. 30-31 (7) NSW Government Gazette 31 August, 1984 p. 4398. (8) Department of Youth and Community Services annual report for the year ended 30 June, 1983 p. 30