XAVIER has been helping children with disabilities for more than 70 years and recently joined with Centacare Brisbane to streamline administrative processes and create opportunities for improved specialist care.
Executive director of Centacare, in the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Peter Selwood said with “the growth and increasing complexity of the disability sector, we saw an opportunity for Centacare and Xavier to work more closely together, in a way that will improve our capacity to provide services to Xavier clients and families”.
“Accordingly, within the next three to six months, Xavier will officially become a part of the Centacare family,” he said.
“Xavier will operate within the Community Services directorate and the team will share some of our administrative systems and functions, including Technology Solutions, People and Culture, and Work Health and Safety.”
Xavier and sister brand InFocus are set to continue operating under their existing names and branding.
Mr Selwood said as Centacare and Xavier operations got closer together, it would “create new opportunities for collaboration, such as the way Xavier and Catholic Early EdCare teams have already been able to support a number of children with complex disabilities participate in mainstream early education and care”.
Xavier has been part of Brisbane archdiocese since 2003.
The service dates back to the 1940s when Catholic professionals and businesspeople known as the “Xavier Society” purchased a property in Coorparoo as a home for children who suffered from polio.
Today, their work supports children and young people and their families, including:
- Respite care at their purpose built centre Xavier Place in Yeerongpilly
- In-home and community access support
- Allied Health support provided at home or from their community therapy clinics
- Direct nursing support for complex health needs as well as training and education for carers and support workers
- Inclusive childcare to enable children with disability to participate in mainstream early childhood education
- Counselling support for the health and wellbeing of children and young people with disability and their family members
The joining of Xavier and Centacare will help Xavier to expand the specialised services they provide to support more children and families in need.
It will also allow for a better transition of care for young people as they outgrow Xavier services and supports to access Centacare services.
