Garss.asn.au
Title
Gippsland Accommodation and Rehabilitation Support Service: Home
Description
GARSS Inc became a thought in the minds of a number of dedicated people who saw a gap in service provision for people with mental health issues in Gippsland. The Steering Committee involved the participation of carers from the Schizophrenia Fellowship Victoria (SFV), social workers , consumers and interested people in the community. These individuals saw the need to provide an organisation where people with mental health issues could be supported in the community through the provision of a range of secure accommodation and rehabilitation activities. At this service it was envisaged that those people with mental health issues would be challenged and motivated to live independently in the community and hopefully be valued by the community. Statements in the original submissions state:
“ In light of the policy of de-institutionalisation and the existing choices of home, hospital or hell, GARSS was formed to bridge the gap to provide and teach independence and encourage mutual support which would build confidence and self-esteem and enable people to lead a successful life as part of the community in spite of their illness.”
“GARSS believes that for it to achieve its potential as a community based service provider, watch dog and developer of services for psychiatrically disadvantaged people it is essential that an many people as possible who are associated with the project embrace an adult learning model which specifies that we all come together with varying skills, abilities, knowledge, learning desires, and needs. This means that as much as the clients of the program will hopefully develop in self confidence and ability, so will the committee members and all associated with the project develop skills, self confidence and a sense of empowerment as equal participants in the GARSS process. We believe that as a community based group we bring together, in our local area a unique combination of skills and experience which make us the experts in planning , developing and running a specialised segment of services for psychiatrically disadvantaged people and their families. As well as being a particularly vocal and effective lobbying and community education group that aims to change community attitudes towards mental illness.”
