Residential services
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Disability Act 2006
- Providing information
- Community inclusion
- Access to services
- Planning
- Residential services
- Complaints and review
- High Quality Services
- Restrictive practices
- For carers and families
- Easy read information
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Information sheets - Audio
- Disability Act Announcement
- Contact Information
- About the Act
- Information Sheet 1 - The Disability Act 2006
- Information Sheet 2 - Participation in the Community
- Information Sheet 3 - Access to Disability Services
- Information Sheet 4 - Planning for People with a Disability
- Information Sheet 5 - Rights for People in Residential Services
- Information Sheet 6 - Rights for People in Community Residential Units
- Information Sheet 7 - Standards and Monitoring Performance
- Information Sheet 8 - Service Providers Registration
- Information Sheet 9 - Community Visitors
- Information Sheet 10 - Provision of Information
- Information Sheet 11 - Complaints About Disability Services
- Information Sheet 12 - Disability Services Commissioner
- Information Sheet 13 - The Senior Practitioner
- Information in community languages
A residential service is accommodation with staff support provided by a disability service provider.
The Disability Act includes rights and duties for people living in residential services and obligations for disability service providers. The Strengthening rights in residential services policy provides further information to supplement the provisions of the Act.
Disability service providers must provide a residential statement to a person with a disability when they start living at a residential service. The residential statement must include the type and cost of the service and other information such as a person's right to make a complaint.
The Guidelines for setting and collection of residential charges contain information for community service organisations about fees in community residential units and facility-based respite services.
In addition, the department has developed a policy called Department-managed residential services, residential charges for long-term accommodation and facility-based respit.This policy applies to all department-managed residential services including community residential units, residential institutions and facility-based respite services.
The Act has duties for disability service providers, including making sure there is a balance between the rights of a person and the safety of all people living in the residential service.
The Act outlines duties for people living in the residential service, such as paying fees and keeping their room free from fire and safety hazards.
The Act protects the rights and privacy of people living in a residential service by providing guidance about when a disability service provider can enter a person's room.
Download the information sheet for an overview of residential rights under the Act and some frequently asked questions:
Community Residential Units
The Act has extra requirements for community residential units in relation to fees and what needs to happen if people who live in the service need to move. If a person is given notice of a fee increase, or notice to move permanently from the community residential unit, the person can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to review the decision.
Download the guidelines which contain an outline of the notice provisions:
The residential notices are available in easy read.
Download the information sheet about specific rights for people living in community residential units:
Residential Institutions
The Act outlines reasons for when a person with an intellectual disability may be admitted to a residential institution.
If a person is admitted to a residential institution, they can apply to VCAT for a review of this decision.
Managing money
The Act says a disability service provider cannot manage the money of a person with a disability using their service.
However, a residential service may manage a limited amount of money for a resident in specific circumstances.
The Rights and Accountability: Management of Money Policy provides further information to supplement the provisions of the Act.
