Living with Disabilities

Holdsworth services At Holdsworth, living with disabilities can be living with possibilities. Our underlying aim is to treat all people with respect and dignity and support them to build on their strengths to enhance their life choices and the rewards of personal achievement and social interaction.

Eligibility Criteria

Holdsworth offers disability services for both children and adults, who have a mild to moderate intellectual disability and live with a primary carer in Eastern Sydney (the local government areas of Woollahra, Botany, Randwick, City of Sydney, and Waverley). We are funded through the HACC program and supported by Woollahra Municipal Council. Anyone from another area should contact their local Council to find out about their neighbourhood.

Due to the high demand for services we do have a waiting list. Priority is given to those who have little or no access to other services.

People can be referred by family members, themselves, a Home and Community Care Service, hospital social worker, community nurse, a carer or your advocate. The program coordinator will arrange a meeting with you to discuss the service and your needs. An assessment by the program coordinator is undertaken prior to commencing with the service.

Our Children’s Disability Support Programs provide information and referral, recreational & respite programs, school holiday activities and Saturday group activities during school terms.
Our Playgroup (see our Family Services page) has the new initiative PlayGroup Plus, which offers opportunity for parents of children with special needs to meet and discuss parenting. See Flyer (PDF).

Our Adult Peer Support Programs operate throughout the year and provide either group activities or one-to-one support.

Our popular group activities for people with low to moderate support needs assist them to participate in recreational activities and make new friends through such things as bowling, gym, art classes and social outings.

For people with higher support needs, we offer one-to-one support providing respite in the community and/or in the client’s home focusing on age appropriate recreational activities.

Mobility and transport can be a big issue for people with disabilities and the integrated approach of the Holdsworth Centre uses our extensive Community Transport Program to assist all service users.

For more information about Living with Disabilities you can download a Brochure (PDF) or contact us at (02) 9302 3600 or info@holdsworth.org.au