Disability in New Zealand

• Background
• Experience to Date
• The Future
• Guidelines
• Other Publications
• Summary of the Act
• Related information

• A network of Regional Intellectual Disability Care Agencies (which employ the care co-ordinators), and;
• Regional Intellectual Disability Supported Accommodation Services (RIDSAS) have been established.
• A 10 bed hospital based secure facility has been established in Wellington and a further 10 bed facility in Auckland will be completed in mid 2006.
• Specialist Assessors (psychologists and psychiatrists) have been appointed to provide assessments and reviews to the courts, and District Inspectors (lawyers) appointed to provide independent monitoring of the Act, and to uphold the rights of compulsory care recipients.
• An annual budget of $56 million has been allocated in 2005/06 for services, but actual expenditure will depend on client volumes.

• Volumes are higher than estimated.

• 53 people across NZ have been placed under an ID (CC&R) order and a further 314 people in the “civil population” (ie not subject to an order), are receiving intensive support services.

• Prison services have identified 76 people who they believe may have an intellectual disability who may qualify for transfer under the Act, or who have been released and would require assessment if they reoffend. A 1997 survey of the prison population identified 13 people with an intellectual disability.

• 34 hospital level secure beds are currently funded, with a further 18 planned over the next year.

• Community RIDSAS providers, whose main focus has been on community support and independence, face challenges when contracted to provide forensic services requiring compulsion and restraint.

• The Resource Management Act, Occupational Safety and Health legislation, public sector unions, workforce development gaps, and a lack of clinical expertise within community services represent current challenges (most of which are replicated in other western jurisdictions)
  

Other Publications

1. an order made in the course of criminal proceedings;
2. by transfer from prison;
3. by transfer from the Mental Health (CAT) Act for special patients; or former special patients.

1. Secure Care (hospital level or community based) or
2. Supervised Care.

1. Care Co-ordinators (who are responsible for the operational administration of the Act;
2. Care Managers (who are responsible for oversight of the care and rehabilitation plan);
3. Specialist Assessors (who are responsible for assessments to determine eligibility and care and rehabilitation needs); and
4. Medical Consultants (who provide a second opinion on medication required to manage a care recipient’s condition).

Lester Mundell
Chief Advisor, (Disability Services)
Ministry of Health
PO Box 5013
Wellington
Phone: 04 496 2371
Fax: 04 496 2050
Email: lester_mundell@moh.govt.nz

Or

Rachel Daysh
Project Manager / Advisor IDCCR
Phone: 04 496 2042
Email: rachel_daysh@moh.govt.nz