Recreation Support Program
Who is this service for?
People who:
- Have goals that include being involved in the local community, developing relationships and pursuing a recreational or sporting interest
- In receipt of, or eligible for, the Disability Support Pension
- Between the ages of 18 and 60
- Living in the Perth metropolitan area between and including the suburbs of Wanneroo, Fremantle, Armadale and Guildford (To view map of area, please click on the document on the left hand side of screen)
And who meet the Disability Service Commission's eligibility criteria:
- Level 2 (People in need of ongoing help or supervision)
- Or Level 3 (People with intellectual disability, autism or acquired brain injury)
How to refer someone to the Recreation Support Program
Request an Application Form from us by phoning a Recreation Officer on 08 9201 8900 or 08 9452 1152 or emailing info@rec.net.au.
Return signed and completed Application Form to us:
- post to Recreation & Sport Network, PO Box 1279 INNALOO WA 6918
- fax to 08 9443 8799.
How the program works
An individual with a disabiliy may be referred to our organisation by a parent, support person or professional, such as a Local Area Coordinator, therapist or job coordinator. A person can also self refer. When Referral and Release Forms arrive we write to the individual being referred and invite them and the person who referred them to an Information Session. At this session our Recreation Support Program is explained, Recreation Officers are introduced, and initial information about the interests the individual nominated on their referral form is provided. Ideas on how the individual could get started in following all or some of those interests are discussed.
What we do
Recreation Officer's go through the following steps with people they are working with.
1. Discover your interests
We help you discover your sport or recreation interests and what your passions are. This process may involve your friends, family or advocates as part of making sure we get this step right for you.
2. Create an Individual Recreation Plan
We help you work out what your sporting, recreation and personal goals are and then we help you develop a plan to achieve these goals. This will include: - Determining what your goals are and what you want to achieve
- Identifying which skills you already have and which ones you may need to develop in order to meet your goals
- Facilitating your learning of new skills and providing opportunities to develop them in community situations.
3. Researching activities
We assist you in locating venues, groups, clubs, activities and supports that exist in your local or wider community that may also help you to achieve your goals. There are many ways to do this such as looking on the internet and on our computer database and visiting community and sport venues.
4. Providing support at the activity
We encourage and assist you if necessary to join your chosen community sporting or recreation activity of choice. We can support you to attend the group/activity and continue until you are either: - comfortable enough to attend on your own
- supported by people already attending the chosen group or activity
- assisted by a volunteer identified by Recreation and Sport Network as suitable or as sharing common interest with you. We may also educate your chosen sport/recreation club on how best to include you, if you think it is necessary.
5. Reviewing your involvement
We remain in contact with you to see how you are going after your Recreation Officer stops attending the activity with you. You and your Recreation Officer review how you are going with your sporting, recreation and personal goals after: - three months
- six months
- one year.
What you do
Your role in the process involves the following.
1. Talk with us
Talk to your Recreation Officer about your passions. Talk about the sporting and recreation interests, skills and talents that you have. There may be a number of things you've wanted to do. Tell us about your skills and what you are good at. Be prepared to explore your own interests and to think about your dreams. Make a decision about interest areas to explore.
2. Work with your Recreation Officer to develop your Individual Recreation Plan
Develop your own Individual Recreation Plan by talking about what goals you want to achieve and working out, with your Recreation Officer, how our organisation can best support you in achieving these goals.
3. Think ahead and plan your involvement
Put some thought into how you will pay for your activity, which days you are free to attend and how you will travel to the activity location. Involve the most important people in your life in this planning, or check it over with them if you need to.
4. Be genuinely committed to making your Individual Recreation Plan work
If you are committed to working out and following your Recreation Plan you are much more likely to succeed. A committed person is likely to: - be on time or even early for the activity
- keep appointments with your Recreation Officer
- attend the activity on a regular basis
- stay in regular contact with your Recreation Officer
- be positive and friendly
- dress appropriately for activities.
5. Understand the Contract of Service document
It is important that you are clear about what to expect from Recreation & Sport Network and understand what is expected of you. All of the above points ("What we do" and "What you do") plus other information about our organisation are listed in a document called a Contract of Service. If you agree to all the listed points then you sign the documents and your Recreation Officer signs, to show our commitment in working together to achieve your goals. You must ask your Recreation Officer questions if you do not understand the contract, and talk it over with family and friends. Click on the link at the left of screen to download a copy of our Contract of Service.
How long does the program last?
Maximum length of the program is 12 months.
The length of time before your Recreation Officer finishes supporting you will depend on you and your situation. If you already know a lot about yourself and what you want to do, you might be settled into a group or regular actitivity after only weeks or a couple of months. If you need plenty of time to think and research and try different activities then the process may take several months.
After you have settled into a group or regular activity your Recreation Officer will continue to keep in touch. You and your Recreation Officer will review how you are going with your sporting, recreation and personal goals after three months and six months, and will have a final review after 12 months.
