Service Handbook

Service Handbook 2020

ABN 60 614 444 165

Occupational Therapy – bridging the gap between
where you are, and where you want to be.
Accommodation Services – Providing supported
homes for young people that provide
opportunities to be active community members.
Support Coordination – supporting you to better
utalise your NDIS plan and link you with providers
that best meet your needs.
Skill-Development Programs – developing
individualised programs in order for young people
to gain more independent living skills.

A NOTE FROM
NICOLE WILLIAMS
What can I say, it has been a huge 12
months here at Geronimo OT. We
have reflected and refined what we do
and how we do it. We have added
accommodation services to our
portfolio of existing services. We have
also started planning for future
development and growth. I remember
this time last year we were pounding
the pavements in Melton with fliers in
hand, thinking about how great it
would be to open a new office space
as an expansion of our existing
service. Fast forward to now and I
couldn’t imagine the service without
it.
Geronimo has evolved over time,
being a dynamic and innovative
service that is established by an array
of skilled professionals in the sector. I
am extremely proud of just how much
the service has developed over the
past year and look forward to new and
exciting opportunities in the future.
We hope to continue to work with
professionalism, enthusiasm and
dedication to promote and foster a
positive impact in the lives of those
who we support!

A NOTE FROM
JAMES ASCIAK
I’d like to thank the young people and
their families who choose Geronimo
to support them. We work tirelessly to
provide a great experience, and
having you choose us is the greatest
compliment of all.
In 2020 I am most excited about our
accommodation services, which
launched last year. We’re enjoying
developing relationships with a
handful of young people and having
new adventures together.
We’ve opened a new office in Melton
- a place I facilitated a special needs
holiday program over 10 years ago. In
many ways it has felt like coming
home.
I’m really excited by our current
Geronimo team – a group of inspiring
people who are driven to learn,
develop their professional practice,
think differently, and support one
another to do well.
I hope everyone has a happy and
productive 2020 – it won’t all be
peachy, but we’ll be here to take the
leap with you.

Occupational Therapy &
Support Coordination
Geronimo provide a range of therapy services specifically
designed for the needs of children and young people
who want to develop skills and have greater participation
in their communities.
Occupational Therapy (OT) – provides
children and young people with the ability to
be an active participant in their own lives. OT
can assist young people to become more
independent in self-care tasks, selfregulation,
sensory processing, motor skill
development, and being an active play
member.
We can provide OT in a young person’s
home, school, or at our offices in Melton &
Geelong.
Support Coordination – can support
participants to understand and implement
their NDIS plans to maximise their supports.
This can assist young people to better meet
their goals and yield better results.
Assessments & Reporting – Occupational
Therapists can administer a range of
assessments to better understand the areas a
young person requires additional supports.
These can then provide important evidence
at upcoming NDIS plan reviews.

Secret Agent Society – is a small group
program for children aged 8-12 years to
improve their social and emotional needs.
Children develop their ‘secret agent’ skills,
enabling them to recognise emotions in
themselves and others, express feelings in
appropriate ways, talk and play with others,
solve friendship problems, and cope with
change and deal with bullying.
The program involves 9 weekly sessions
facilitated by Occupational Therapists, parent
information sessions, and liaising with
schools. It is provided at our Melton &
Geelong offices.
Travel Training - through OT interventions we
can develop a program to give young people
the skills to access the community more
independently. This includes not only
catching public transport, but also strategies
to understand personal safety.
Social Skill Development – through OT
interventions Geronimo can support young
people to develop their social skill
development.

Accommodation
Geronimo provide a small and exclusive Supported
Independent Living (SIL) service for young people who
are looking to take the next step towards
independence. We are focused on creating fun, safe
and beautiful spaces that allow young people to make
informed choices and develop skills to lead active lives.
Geronimo Accommodation currently provide:
Geronimo Home – Geronimo currently
provide a home for two young people in
Geelong, who are supported by a small
team of staff.
The Skill Development House – We
provide short-term options where young
people access 2-4 nights per fortnight in
order to develop skills and transition to
live out of the family home on a full-time
basis.
Geronimo do not plan to provide a large
accommodation service – instead focusing on providing
an intimate, personal service with a small team of staff.
For this reason, priority for any Supported Independent
Living (SIL) placement will only be extended to young
people who Geronimo already have a relationship with.
Please contact us if you would like more information
about whether this would be suitable for you.

Young people receiving Supported Independent Living
(SIL) supports through Geronimo receive:
A safe and supportive home with modern
comforts, close to public transport links and
community amenities.
Participation in regular House Meetings
where young people decide how supports
are delivered.
A small, consistent and reliable team of
qualified and experienced disability support
workers.
Supports to develop new skills around the
house and to access the community more
independently.
Accessing a range of community-based
activities with your housemates, exploring
new places and doing new things.
Opportunities to go away on holidays
throughout the year – from weekends away,
interstate holidays, and perhaps one day a
trip overseas.

IS

Service Fees
Geronimo provide services according to the pricing
determined by the National Disability Insurance Agency.
We process payments and invoice on a fortnightly basis,
and still invoice for supports if support is cancelled with
less than 24-hours notice.
Support Coordination
07_001_0106_8_3: Support Connection
07_002_0106_8_3: Coordination Of
Supports
$60.16 p/hour
$60.16 p/hour
Occupational Therapy
15_048_0128_1_3: Occupational Therapy $193.99 p/hour
15_056_0128_1_3: Occupational Therapy $193.99 p/hour
Secret Agent Society
Please contact (03) 4206 7447 for a quote to access the
Secret Agent Society program
Skill Development Programs
09_009_0117_6_3: Individual Skill
Development & Training
$58.52 p/hour
Geronimo Accommodation
Please contact (03) 4206 7447 for a quote regarding these
supports

Nicole Williams
Operations Manager
Occupational Therapist
James Asciak
Accommodation Manager
Quality Manager
Laura Pollock
Occupational Therapist
Accommodation Team
Secret Agent Society
Briony Grant
Occupational Therapist
Ben Cook
Accommodation Team
Support Coordinator
Leah Bigger
Occupational Therapist
Secret Agent Society
Emma Shiels
Occupational Therapist
Support Coordinator
Tammy Richmond
Accommodation Team
Shaye Foster
Support Coordinator
James Cox
Skill Development Team

OUR
TEAM

Complaints
Complaints are a great way for us to know what
areas of our service we need to improve. We
encourage people to make a complaint when
they are unhappy with the service, and aim to
respond to and resolve complaints within 15
days. You can contact the NDIS Commission at
any time to seek advice or make a complaint on
PH: 1800 035 544.
You can make a complaint to Geronimo by
phoning (03) 42067447, emailing
hello@geronimo-ot.com.au or speaking to one
of our staff in person.
Victoria’s Charter of Human
Rights & Responsibilities
- Your right to recognition and equality before the law
- Your right to life
- Your right to protection from torture and cruel, inhumane or degrading
treatment
- Your right to freedom from forced work
- Your right to freedom of movement
- Your right to privacy and reputation
- Your right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief
- Your right to freedom of expression
- Your right to peaceful assembly and freedom of association
- Your right to protection of families and children
- Your right to taking part in public life
- Cultural rights
- Property rights
- Your right to liberty and security of person
- Your right to humane treatment when deprived of liberty
- Rights of children in the criminal process
- Your right to a fair hearing
- Rights in criminal proceedings
- Right not to be tried or punished more than once
- Retrospective criminal laws

To access Geronimo services please
complete our referral form at:
geronimo-ot.com.au/referral

Melton | Geelong | Melbourne West
PH: (03) 4206 7447
PO Box 583, Geelong VIC 3220
geronimo-ot.com.au