The Boarding House Reform Program commenced in 1998 with the aim of improving the standards of accommodation and support provided to boarding house residents.

ADHC is responsible for licensing and monitoring boarding houses that accommodate two or more people with a disability. These boarding houses are currently known under the Youth and Community Services Act 1973 as Licensed Residential Centres or LRCs.

The Boarding Houses Act 2012 which was passed in October 2012, but has not yet fully commenced, will regulate both general boarding houses and LRCs, which will be known as 'assisted boarding houses'.

Read more about the Boarding Houses Act 2012 and the draft Boarding Houses Regulation 2013.

Until the Regulation and the remainder of the Act come into force (later this year), the Youth and Community Services Act 1973 and the Youth and the Youth and Community Services Regulation 2010 will continue to apply to LRCs.

Licensing

LRCs are currently licensed under the Youth and Community Services Act 1973 and are subject to the Youth and Community Services Regulation 2010 and licence conditions which set out a minimum standard for provision of accommodation services.

Read more about the 2010 Regulations and an example of licensing conditions.

Supports

Through the Boarding House Reform Program the standards of accommodation and support provided to LRC residents is improving. The following support services for LRC residents funded by ADHC are:

• Case Management
• Primary and Secondary Health Care Service
• The Active Linking Initiative Program (ALI)
• Advocacy Services

Relocation

Services provided to people who have relocated from LRCs and have high support needs include:

• Accommodation support services such as group homes and drop-in support.
• Community based activity services.

Boarding house relocation vacancy management is managed through regional processes. Residents have choices regarding the accommodation options presented to them in the event of a boarding house closure.

See Boarding House Program reports, policies and guidelines.