Formerly Catholic Care

A Catholic outreach supporting people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

WHO ARE WE?

identitywa is an outreach of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Perth. We provide services to people with intellectual disabilities and their families, and have been doing so for the past 32 years.
The organisation was formerly known as Catholic Care. The name identitywa was launched on 17 October 2001.

identitywa's values and approaches are proudly drawn from the Catholic (Christian) tradition.  This has many implications for the organisation, one of which is that identitywa respects each person's spirituality, faith, and religious and cultural practice.  Similarly, identitywa asks that each person associated with the organisation respects its Christian beliefs, values and Catholic teaching as these are expressed in our work practices and policy, because they are integral to the organisation's life and culture.

identitywa services are funded by the government through the Disability Services Commission, and the Home and Community Care Program, with additional resources being provided by the Archdiocese of Perth, donations, and agencies such as the Lotterywest.

WHO USES OUR SERVICES?

identitywa's target group is people with intellectual and/or multiple disabilities, particularly those with expressed spiritual needs.

• identitywa provides services to people with intellectual disabilities of all ages
  
  

• We specialise in services for people with high support needs - in particular, people with multiple disabilities, or people with intellectual disabilities who also have challenging behaviour.
  
  

• We provide services to people with lower support needs who specifically choose our services because of our reputation for quality - our clear values - our transparent policies - our integrity - and our skilled and committed management and staff.
  
  

• Our services for families are designed to meet the individual needs of mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters of people with disabilities, and are unique in Western Australia.
  
  

• Demand for services is greater than the funding available. All services are available on the basis of relative need: those individuals with intellectual disabilities and families in greatest need have priority for receiving services. No other criteria are used in determining access to scarce services.
  
  

• We provide our services across the Perth metropolitan area, and to a small number of people who live in rural Western Australia.