Service Needs of Residents in Private Residential Services in Queensland: Summary Report

Abstract

The Queensland Premier established the Hostel Industry Taskforce (HIT) in 2000 to oversee the implementation of a reform package for the private residential services (PRS) sector. The aim of the reforms was to improve the quality of life of residents by improving residents’ safety, residential amenity and services, residency rights and access to external support services. Senior Executives of the Queensland Government Residential Services Reforms Committee recommended that research be undertaken to support service planning for the residents in PRS. The intent of the research is to determine the need for government and non-government support services among people living in PRS. The University of New South Wales Consortium was engaged to conduct this research. This research focuses on the support service use and needs of people living in PRS and similar groups of people. Chamberlain’s (1999) research suggests their needs are similar in a number of important respects to those of people who are homeless. A considerable number of people in PRS tend to cycle in and out of homelessness and temporary accommodation. For both groups, key vulnerabilities include mental illness, psychiatric disability, chronic illness and addiction (Decker et. al., 2006).