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Who is AmeCare?
We are a family-established and NDIS-registered organisation providing support to people with a range disabilities.
Our name
Pronounced "am-care" and inspired by the amethyst crystal, known for its protection and emotional healing qualities. Amethyst can also be used to help send negativity away, and encourage intuition and stability.
Where did we come from?
2004
Our director, Gina, first established Arnica Community Care as a consultancy service.
2011
Gina established Arnica Lodge, which is the first Supported Residential Service (SRS) to be registered with Arnica Community Care as proprietor.
2018
Gina established AmeCare with Yanie (our general manager). At the time, we had a team of 5 employees and 20 clients.
2021
We launched this website. Our team had grown to approximately 100 employees and over 150 people trusting us to support them.
2024
AmeCare and Arnica Community Care teamed up to established Cause Victoria. The Supported Residential Service (SRS) is a step forward in our goal to bridge the gap, providing pension-level services that tailors support to ability, not diagnosis.
Ethos
AmeCare's values and model of care is based around Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. This is all about how, on the path to reaching your full potential, it is important to feel emotionally and physically safe and respected.
A quote by Abraham Maslow: "One can choose to go back towards safety, or forward toward growth".
We use this theory to establish a secure environment where people can grow and thrive - either through our accommodation models, or in the way our employees provide support. Finding meaningful activities to engage with is a foundation for someone feeling supported.
Zooming out on the bigger picture, we want to bridge the gap and promote inclusivity and collaboration in mental health and disability service provision.
Sometimes, people can be marginalized for factors that are out of their control. At our core, we wish to provide stability and security during periods of learning and growth.
Based on personal experiences and knowledge, we understand that multidisciplinary teams can feel repetitive and overwhelming for people already navigating complex needs, dual diagnoses, co-morbidities, and mental health conditions.
We aim to provide realistic, cohesive care that empowers and informs the people who have placed trust in us to support them.
Our motto
"Working with you on the canvas of your life"
Life is a blank canvas that each person paints upon as they collect experiences and memories.
We work to build positive and striking canvases for people to share proudly, owning their experiences and themselves as they reach their goals.
Goals
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Uphold a standard of excellence with person-centered, holistic care
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Empower self-awareness, responsibility, and independence
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Fill the gap in the community care sector as specialists supporting people within multidisciplinary approaches
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Remain dedicated to growth as an innovative source of support
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Each and every member of our organisation comes from individual walks of life - we accept, understand, acknowledge, and embrace this with no judgement
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We actively encourage, promote, and support interaction and connection within local and wider communities
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Everyone is unique with individual needs. Everyone is free to express themselves in a safe, non-judgemental environment.
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The work we do is safeguarded and in line with the National Disability Standards and the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
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We acknowledge the importance of having a strong support system.We actively encourage family, friends, community members, and informal supports as an important part of life, self-esteem, and sense of belonging.
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Diversity is not only encouraged, but celebrated! We recognise and respect individual spiritual and cultural views, values, and beliefs that promote peace.
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We have a person-first view to promote and enhance quality of life; we are dedicated to upholding dignity and respect for each member of our organisation.
Values
Conflict of Interest
With a relatively small management team, AmeCare is committed to ensuring that individual interests that may conflict with the interests of the organisation are identified and managed, so that they do not affect the services, activities, or decisions of the organisation.
This is addressed in our Conflict of Interest Policy, in which all staff, volunteers, and members of AmeCare's management are required to...
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Act impartially and without prejudice;
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Declare any potential or actual conflict of interest; and,
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Never accept gifts or benefits that would influence a decision.
Code of Conduct
Our expectations
Anyone representing AmeCare needs to:
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Be punctual, accountable, and reliable for all shifts and contactable in the event of an emergency or if you are late or absent, including being accountable in shift noting and providing evidence of each shift occurring
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Recognise that each AmeCare participant is an individual and subsequently has individual needs (inclusive of those with complex or more specialised support needs)
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Respect the AmeCare participant’s right to choose the care they want and from whom they want it, and ensure these decisions are free from victimization
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Under no circumstances are staff or participants to engage in bullying, or make disrespectful/invalidating comments or judgements about either a staff member providing support or the participant being supported; nor are staff or participants to engage in unsolicited gossip
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Understand the importance of effective communication and communicate openly, honestly and with AmeCare participant, and their family members or representatives.
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Uphold a person’s privacy, dignity, and confidentiality at all times – always ask permission before taking a photo and actively encourage informed choices and decision making
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Always show respect and understanding of personal, cultural, linguistic, and religious preferences and background.
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Care and consideration should always be provided without use of exploitation, abuse, discrimination, or harassment
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Provide care with empathy and sensitivity, without exploitation, abuse, discrimination or harassment and to always act with due diligence in regard to the health, safety and wellbeing of the of the participant
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Not act in a vulgar manner, nor act in any way that may expose a support worker or participant to pornographic, sexually explicit, or otherwise inappropriate material
Expectations from the
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NQSC)
All staff employed under an agency working with the NDIS must comply with the following:
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Act with respect for individual rights to a freedom of expression, self-determination and decision-making in accordance with applicable laws and conventions.
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Respect the privacy of people with a disability
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Provide supports and services in a safe and competent manner, with care and skill
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Act with integrity, honesty, and transparency
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Promptly takes steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that may impact the quality and safety of supports and services provided to people with a disability.
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Take all reasonable steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that may impact on the quality and safety of supports and services provided to people with a disability.
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Take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct