PARTICIPANT CHARTER

Better Care Services respects and fully commits to upholding the rights of all people, including those with disabilities. Better Care Services is also committed to ensuring you are aware of your rights and responsibilities and are supported to exercise them.

Better Care Services is required to comply with Victorian and national disability legislation. We are also guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which states that people with disability should enjoy the same human rights and fundamental freedoms as any other person.

You have the Right to access supports that:

• promote, uphold, and respect your legal and human rights

• respect your culture, diversity, values, and beliefs

• respect and protect your dignity and right to privacy

• are free from violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or discrimination and

• allow you to exercise informed choice and control.

It is our responsibility to:

• tell you about and uphold your rights

• provide supports in a way that promotes, upholds, and respects your rights to freedom of expression, self-determination, and decision-making

• support you to make informed choices, exercise control and maximise your independence in relation to the supports we provide

• respect your autonomy, including your right to intimacy and sexual expression

• provide you sufficient time to consider and review your support options and seek advice if required, at any stage of our service delivery

• support you to access an advocate (including an independent advocate) of your choosing

• support you to engage with your family, friends, and community in the ways you want

• treat you with fairly, with courtesy, dignity, and respect and without discrimination

• give you information about our services and associated costs, as well as other support options, within and outside Better Care Services

• involve you in decisions about your supports, as well as our programs and policies

• provide services that consider and respect your lifestyle, cultural, linguistic, and religious background and preferences

• protect your personal information and only use it for the right reasons

• support you to provide us with feedback on our service, including complaints

• promptly address enquiries and complaints about the supports you are receiving

• support you to connect with other services, including advocates, interpreters, and translators, if needed

• support you to have a person to speak on your behalf for any purpose and

• provide safe and appropriate services that are culturally relevant and support your needs and goals.

As our participant we ask that you:

• provide us with information that will help us to best support you

• tell us if things change or you cannot keep an appointment or commitment

• act respectfully and safely towards other people using the service, and towards our staff provide us with feedback about our service and how we can improve

• promptly pay the agreed fees associated with your services and

• tell us as early as possible if our services are not required.

At all times Better Care Services expects its staff to abide by and promote your rights in accordance with this Charter. Any potential breach of the Participant Charter will be treated seriously.

If you have any questions or concerns about your rights and responsibilities or would like to access a full copy of Better Care Service’s Participant Rights and Responsibility Policy and Procedure, please ask any member of our staff.