Published: 8 December 2010

Centacare Trinity clients enjoy a barbecue lunch

A Centacare Community Support Services program that assists young people with a disability has undergone a recent name change in tune with its service goals.

The transformation of Vida and 201 Support Services to Centacare Trinity reflects the three main aims of the service headquartered at Sumner Park in Brisbane's southwest: to connect with the person who has a disability; to understand that person and their needs; and to respond to those needs.

Service manager Cathy Hesse says Centacare Trinity supports about 130 families with children who have a disability through in-home and centre-based respite, vacation care programs for children and accommodation support for young adults.

"Our clients are generally young people with intellectual impairment or physical disabilities," Cathy says.

"Some of our clients have challenging behaviours but all have an intellectual impairment.

"With the change of name we've been talking a lot about connecting, understanding and responding and how we could do that.

"It's a real turnaround in the culture to leave behind the concept of simply being babysitters.

"The parents of these families certainly don't wish for that; they need someone to help their son or daughter achieve something meaningful in their lives."

Centacare Trinity's day programs connect clients to their communities of interest such as the local services club or the Special Olympics, a sporting event for people with an intellectual disability.

Respite programs sustain families allowing them time out with other members of the family who can sometimes be overlooked by the needs of the person with a disability.

"I've seen lots of families at their absolute wits end and on the point of relinquishment," Cathy says.

"Some meaningful respite is put in for them and suddenly they can cope and it's possible for them to dream and think about where they want to be in a week's time or a month's time."

"Other families that aren't supported appropriately can only think in the moment and just make it through to the end of the day.

"They'll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow."

Centacare Trinity is part of Centacare Community Support Services and can be contacted on (07) 3725 7300 for more information.