Holistic Horizons Support Services: May Network Breakfast at The Komo

Holistic Horizons Support Services: May Network Breakfast at The Komo

Join us for a morning of networking and learning at The Komo in Redcliffe. Our May Networking Breakfast is a great opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals in the disability industry. Come along to share your experiences, learn from others, and make valuable connections.

The event will start at 7:30am on Tuesday, May 7th, 2024 and will be held at The Komo, located at 99 Marine Parade, Redcliffe, QLD.

About our guest speakers:

Safemate Australia - Leanne Clarke

Leanne Clarke, the Queensland Business Development Manager for SafeMate Australia. Leanne has worked for SafeMate for 3 years and loves every aspect of her job. Her favourite part is meeting new people, connecting with local communities, and assisting people to improve their safety and peace of mind through SafeMate.

SafeMate has been working with the Queensland Ambulance Service since 2017, and they proudly offer a product and service that saves time and saves lives. Since Leanne started with SafeMate, she has had the opportunity to bring this same peace of mind to over 500 other families.

Leanne is very passionate about SafeMate as she has met many people who now feel safe and secure knowing that if something happened, SafeMate will speak for them in an emergency. They now have “peace of mind” and today, she would love to give you the opportunity to experience the same.

WHAT IS SAFEMATE?

SafeMate is a fast, simple and secure digital health system that gives QAS paramedics a patient’s vital details in a medical emergency within 20 seconds of them scanning the client's SafeMate QR code. It is easily identifiable and has been proven to save paramedics up to 10 minutes of time in an emergency situation. SafeMate stores vital medical information in a highly confidential and encrypted database which includes emergency contacts, allergies, medications, medical conditions, trigger alerts, access information, end of life contacts and essential health details.

SafeMate have been working closely with Queensland Ambulance Service since 2017 and have helped many of clients who may encounter a medical emergency either at home or when they're out socialising by providing quick and secure access to medical information for paramedics which in turn helps alleviate any patient stress, can help avoid hospitalisation, enhances the patient's outcome and gives our clients total peace of mind.

SafeMate is especially helpful for people living on their own, suffering from a disability or mental health issue, are non-verbal, take multiple medications, have severe allergies or any medical conditions. SafeMate gives our clients, their family and their carer peace of mind knowing that should something happen, the paramedics will be able to treat them quickly as they have all the relevant information readily available via the SafeMate QR code. SafeMate will help keep your clients safe in their home and will definitely help alleviate any stress in a medical emergency.

And the good news is, for those who are eligible, SafeMate can be claimed under the NDIS's Core Support Budget - Assistance with Daily Life - Self Management Capacity Building section. It can also be claimed under "My Aged Care" within the "Assistive Technology - Personal Safety" category

Marco Polo Portal - Amy Connelly & Aaron Cotton

Amy Connelly:

Amy is a proud Dharug woman, she has dual qualifications as a registered nurse and social worker; this equips her with a unique perspective on patient care and social advocacy. Her role as an NDIS Local Area Coordinator (LAC) for Carers QLD and as a Director of Acorn Homes indicates a deep commitment to enhancing service delivery within the disability sector. This dual perspective of healthcare and social services positions her uniquely to address the multifaceted challenges faced by NDIS participants​​, and providers.

Through her work with Carers QLD and direct involvement in the disability housing sector, Amy has witnessed firsthand the limitations and challenges of the current NDIS framework.

Aaron Cotton:

Aaron is a neurodivergent individual and a registered pharmacist with a profound understanding of the healthcare sector. His transition into the disability services arena as a Director of Acorn Homes showcases his commitment to improving living standards for people with disabilities. Aaron's intimate familiarity with the NDIS and its impacts on participants and providers stems from his hands-on experience navigating the system. His leadership in Marco Polo reflects a direct response to the systemic issues identified within the NDIS, aiming to empower participants through choice and control over their living arrangements.

Marco Polo represents Aaron and Amy's collaborative vision to remedy the observed shortcomings within the NDIS framework. They have crafted a platform that addresses critical areas of need:

• Giving NDIS participants the autonomy to choose their living arrangements and housemates, directly countering the lack of choice and control prevalent in the current system
• ​​Offering providers a cost-effective avenue to fill vacancies and connect with potential participants, thereby reducing financial strain and promoting ethical service provision​​.
• Simplifying the process for support coordinators to find suitable housing options for participants, reducing administrative burdens, and improving outcomes for all parties involved​​

Through Marco Polo, they are setting a new standard for participant empowerment and provider engagement within the NDIS ecosystem.