General News
18 September, 2023
Local disability support services grow with new business
Maryborough is establishing itself as a centre for disability support services, with a new provider aiming to elevate the level of care in the town and surrounds. Set up in June this year, Venture Care Support Services is the latest addition to the...
Maryborough is establishing itself as a centre for disability support services, with a new provider aiming to elevate the level of care in the town and surrounds.
Set up in June this year, Venture Care Support Services is the latest addition to the region’s expanding cluster of organisations focused on assisting people with disabilities.
With four directors at the helm including locals Julian Oakes and Teresa Holmes, the company currently has seven staff members supporting about 20 clients.
“Our priority is to ensure we are actively engaging with the people we’re assisting,” Ms Holmes said.
“We are happy with the number of clients we have at the minute because we’ve only just started and we’re also very keen on building relationships and not getting too big too quickly.
“Sometimes when you grow too soon, it leads to one carer dealing with several people and we’re trying very hard for that not to happen because we want our carer to be able to build a rapport and relationship with their clients.”
Still in the early stages, Ms Holmes said the company was focusing on building a niche for itself.
“There are some good organisations and some good support people in town — we don’t see ourselves going up against them,” she said.
“Instead, we’re trying to fill in the gaps. We’re trying to find that space where people are not getting the sort of support they need so we can step in and fill that role for them.
“Going above and beyond for our clients is what we’re aiming to do ultimately.”
Despite having various other support facilities in town, fellow director, Mr Oakes, views the competition as a positive force that encourages growth and accountability.
“By maintaining the level of care that we provide, we’re finding that clients are staying with us and are not moving out to other organisations,” he said.
“If people are happy with us and we continue doing the right thing, I’m confident we will retain our clients and keep building.
“I don’t see competition as a threat because it will keep everyone, Venture Care included, working towards giving better support and better quality — all of the businesses just want to do well for their clients.”
These organisations, that Mr Oakes is referring to include well-established providers like Asteria Services and Rivergum Support as well as places such as Chris & Julie’s Respite Farm in Daisy Hill and Amherst’s Wattle Tree Country Retreat, that offer various respite services, including short-term stays, for people with a disability.
“What we’ve found is that there is quite a lot of support out here, one way or another but as we’ve experienced, there are a lot of people needing that support too,” Mr Oakes said.
“Not just in Maryborough, in other areas as well, there is a huge requirement — we work with one particular support coordinator in Bendigo and she told us that she’s got about 200 clients from our region.
“So, we’re building slowly to cater to that growing need and we’re also looking for more staff to help us achieve that goal.”