The History of Homelife Association Inc.

Homelife Association Inc. is a community based non-profit organization. It began providing services to people in 1992. Homelife Association Inc. members are local citizens who have joined for a common purpose of providing support for individuals with disabilities and their families who live in the Caboolture Shire and surrounding areas.

The organization was started by parents who wished to create an individualised support service to assist their family member with a disability to live a lifestyle of their choice in their own home. The founders of the organisation were very strong in their beliefs that adults with a disability had a right to life valued lives like everybody else. Their original mission statement was “ Recognise the potential and worth of individuals with a disability and support them to realise their rights as a citizen to live meaningful lives”

Homelife Association started out as an accommodation service for adults. Over the years the organization has responded to the needs of people with a disability and their families, and has created supports around these people and families to meet their needs.

The original accommodation service is now called the Homelife Lifestyle Service. The Homelifee Lifestyle Service supports 30 adults with a disability through in-home support, community participation and through shared living arrangements. The Homelife Lifestyle Services receives funding from Disability Services Queensland through a block grant as well as individualised grants.

In June 2003, Homelife Association was successful in receiving funds from Disability Services Queensland to establish the Caboolture Family Network. This innovative service was established to support families in their role as carers of adults and children with a disability. Caboolture Family Network supports over 60 families by providing respite and opportunities for education and development.

The Retreat was opened in 2004 to offer overnight respite. Located on 2 acres just outside of Caboolture, The Retreat is a holiday destination for children and adults with a disability so that their carers may have a break. It has remained a very popular option for people, providing a great environment for 3 guests at any one time.

Around the same time, a number of people who were being supported by the Homelife Lifestyle Service asked for assistance to secure some form of employment. Unfortunately people had had limited success with employment services and were seeking flexible casual employment so that they could participate in the workforce and bring in extra income.

A number of strategies were developed culminating in the creation in 2006 of the Caboolture Community Work Cooperative, an independent cooperative run by its members. To assist the Cooperative Homelife is committed to a Memorandum of Understanding that sees Homelife Association providing administrative support to enable the Coop to meet its legal and financial obligations. The COOP currently supports 15 people to secure contracted work. It does not currently receive any government funding.

In 2007, Homelife was again successful in securing funds to establish another initiative, The Caboolture Participation Network. Homelife has always believed in the full inclusion and participation of people with a disability within the Caboolture Community. The Participation Network is developing strategies that will increase the social, civic and economic participation of adults with a disability in the activities of the Caboolture community. These strategies include a “Better Together” Campaign, a Friendship Network, Community Connector training as well as practical support for 20 adults with a disability who do not receive funded support to participate more in activities of their choice.

Homelife is a community organisation that is person focused and community connected. It is one of many community organisations that actively work towards a better community where people with a disability are included in the life of the community. Homelife is not a government agency although it does receive funding from the state government. Homelife is not a business although it does ensure that its service is completed in an efficient and business like manner. Community organisations have their own identity and reason for existing. A healthy society has a healthy third sector made up of many community organisations. Community organisations are seen as being part of the third sector, with the government as the first sector and the business world as the third sector.

Characteristics of a person-centered, community - connected, authentic, community organization:

• The community organisation has a strong identity and clear direction that is quite distinct and independent from legislative and funding directions. The organisation understands clearly their reason for existing and alters its directions in line with the needs of the people it supports.

• The community organization has a set of values that guide its development. These values are know and held by everyone in the organisation.

• The community organization accounts firstly to the people it supports and then to other stakeholders including government.

• The community organisation has a servant leadership model where leadership is based on a conscious choice to serve others. Leaders in the organization accept and recognize others for their unique gift and seek to draw out, inspire and develop the best within others.

• The community organisation balances good management practices with leadership, never losing sight of its core service nor allowing “red tape” to distract them from their core service. It seeks to develop organizational capacity to be flexible and responsive to the changing needs of the people it serves while staying financially viable.

• The community organisation is committed to right relationships with all people: the people they serve and the important people in their lives, their staff and people in the wider community.

• The community organisation encourages voluntary action from within the organization and from the wider community.

• The community organisation works for the common good of the society where citizens participate and are connected. The community organisation seeks to build social capital – trust, reciprocity and networks between individuals and / or groups in the community

• The community organisation values personal integrity amongst its members. Living within the community that is serviced by the community organisation, members and staff walk the talk of community connectedness and right relationships in their own lives. Living according to these values becomes more than a 9am to 5pm job, as those who are served by the organisation share a common community life with those who serve.

• The community organisation works collaboratively with other organizations in the community sector, as well as with others in the business and government sectors.



Homelife Association Inc. believes:

• That people with a disability are entitled to a lifestyle which is based on the same rights and opportunities as other citizens;

• That the community is richer because of the presence of people with disabilities;

• That people with disabilities, with varying amounts of assistance, can lead full and meaningful lives.