genU

The disability educators are amazing. As a female, I have found that other men who work there are disruptive, insensitive and rude. My educators work hard to try to provide an environment I feel safe in however people come and go from the room interrupting us continually. [This review has been edited based on information provided by Notgenuinecorio]

They have nice staff. They're really kind and sweet. I do a course there, art and computers. They look after us really well! They need to talk more with us through to see what we want and need.

I like NSS because they help me volunteer at the lost dogs home. The staff are friendly and kind. I would recommend getting cupboard for our bags to keep them safe.

I like NSS. I like being with nice people. They need more staff.

I like Northern Support Services because I have good friends there. I like it because its magical and like home to me. I do radio with them too and all sorts of things.

I go to camp, talk to people there, hang out. I like spending time with the people there. Some of the staff are really good. I like everything there. They could do more activities.

I am there five days a week. Music is my favorite activity but I also do movie making and car washing. Some of the staff are ok but I suggest they could work on more positive communication

I like the music classes. I love the cooking, love playing with the Ipad and internet there too. I would love to go out more with carers for outings and cafes.

Great they help us if you are being bullied or something. They talk about it and talk to the other person. they do that really well.

'Participate' day programs are good. They have staff that know, care, and actually see our children. They'll phone if there is a problem. The volunteer systems they have are also really good. Their volunteers assist in the programs, workshops (Such as 'Kommercial'). The volunteers work out of work hours, are friendly and have been able to come to my home. The day programs offer "chat books" for us to communicate with the staff. My daughter likes this, and I can use it to help us have conversations. I feel confident that my daughter will have a good, interesting day; and she loves going. The Individual Services aren't always as good - there is concern that some 'emergency' carers who come don't have enough information about the person. A suggestion for improvement would be adequate briefing of new staff before they come to work. “This review was originally for Karingal which has now merged with genU“

They organise some really nice days and a cool night out. They all have fun. All the staff are really awesome because they look after the group and they take us to the football club and we practice football there. “This review was originally for St Laurence which has now merged with genU”

I think the bigger the organisation the more the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing, IF it is not diligent to see this doesn’t happen. I just wish Karingal would make my co-ordinator my rosterer too – that used to work MUCH better than the system they have now. I also wish they would send my invoices to me as well “Green Pie” – my financial intermediary. And Karingal’s timesheets are not great; they are not even sent to me to “check” them when they send them to ‘Green Pie’. They expect your support worker’s’ timesheets to be submitted on the Friday BEFORE the fortnight ends – which creates real headaches when workers have to report to Centrelink as well and “does MY head in”! Whoever heard of payslips going in before the workers have done the work. Height of inefficiency it seems to me. I am not going sign their “Service Agreement”. I will scan it in and make it more individual for ME. I’ve read it and it’s pretty good, EXCEPT it’s not MINE. On the plus side, in my experience, Karingal tries their hardest to give me workers that suit my personality. I really like the two I’ve got now. . . And a team of workers from HQ are trying their `best to build new houses for people with disabilities. “This review was originally for Karingal which has now merged with genU“

Unfortunately, as a client of Karingal since it bought out my previous service provider around 2000, my ongoing experiences have proven that the biggest isn't always the best. One of my most frustrating complaints about Karingal management is their total disregard for individual needs, likes and dislikes which seems to reflect a lack of understanding of the role they are expected to have in my life and little empathy for what it means to be a working, social and independently focused woman with a physical disability. Despite my numerous requests for a more organised, efficient and effective method of covering fill in shifts I have found myself without carers for morning, dinner and tea shifts. Recently I did not have my dinner shift covered which meant I was left not being able to go to the toilet from 11:30am to 10:00pm. This meant that I had to restrict my fluid intake that day. Another frustration is that quality carers are hard to find, and Karingal like other service providers struggles to attract them. However, too many of the fantastic, committed and compatible carers they have sent my way, become disillusioned with the Karingal culture and practices, that they leave to go to other agencies while some have left the field all together. It is devastating to build a healthy working relationship with someone you respect to have them leave because they can't tolerate the managerial style and culture of the service provider you are with. "This review was originally for Karingal which has now merged with genU"