What are licensed boarding houses?
Any residential centre for handicapped persons licensed or declared under the Youth and Community Services Act 1973. There are over 65 such facilities in NSW, providing accommodation and support to approximately 1,200 people with a disability. These centres generally do not receive any direct funding through the NSW Government, but residents receive a range of community services funded through the governments Boarding House Reform Strategy. What is the Ombudsmans role in relation to licensed boarding houses? 1. Official Community Visitors The Ombudsman coordinates the activities of Official Community Visitors, who visit over 1,000 residential services for children and young people in care, and accommodation services for people with a disability in care throughout NSW. Visitors try to resolve residents concerns at the local level with the service, observe the conduct of services, and report to the Ombudsman and to the Minister for Community Services. From December 2002, Visitors will vi
