Our History

Formed in 1970, Suncare Community Services Inc. formerly known as the Central Sunshine Coast Committee On The Ageing Inc. (the Committee) was established in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast and now services an area which encompasses both North Brisbane to Central Queensland HACC regions.

Since establishment, Suncare Community Services Inc. management have provided  services to the community such as the network of Commonwealth Carer Respite Centres, Direct Respite Services, Meals on Wheels, Maroochydore Day Respite Centre, Community Alternative Transport Service, the Carelink Centre, including Carebus mobile information units.

In a community development capacity they have supported other organizations to establishment such as Alzheimer’s Association (SC), Sixty and Better and Volunteering Sunshine Coast.


The organisation consists of a growing number of dedicated and greatly valued staff and volunteers working within its diverse range of community services and as such has been able to respond successfully to the exceptional population growth within the Brisbane North, Sunshine Coast, Central Queensland and Wide Bay regions.

The project establishment dates that are Managed by the Committee are:

  • 1972- current - Meals on Wheels Maroochydore established 1972 and maintained since on fees fundraising HACC subsidies
  • 1987- current - Maroochydore Day Respite Service established by the Committee and maintained through community fundraising and HACC subsidies since1987
  • 1994- current - Direct Respite Services Commonwealth Health and Ageing funded continuously since 1994.
  • 1996- current - Carer Respite Centres, National Respite for Carers Program, funded continuously by Department of Health and Community Services since 1996.
  • 1996- 2000 Host Family project, providing respite in selected homes for those experiencing a mental illness, as an alternative to hospitalization.
  • 1997- current – Dorney House (Community Cottage Respite facility) maintained through donations, community fundraising and fee payments for use of premises by other service providers, for training programs, meetings etc.
  • 1999 - current – Commonwealth Department of Veteran Affairs Veterans Home Care (VHC) Program
  • 2002- current - Carer Respite Centres, National Respite for Carers Program South Wide Bay Central Region, taken over in 2002
  • 2002- current - Carebus Mobile Information unit commencing in Caboolture and currently has extended to 4 units/buses across the Central and Brisbane North HACC Regions.
  • 2002- current - Community Alternative Transport Service, funded by HACC and developed and maintained since 2002
  • 2002- current - Direct Respite Services extended outlets, services and Training arm
  • 2003- current - Volunteering Sunshine Coast. established and supported since November 2003.
  • 2005- current – amalgamation of Commonwealth Carer Respite and Carelink Centres, Central Queensland and Brisbane North (HACC) regions.
  • 2005- current – Working Carers Program supporting carers in maintaining employment or assistance to move back into the workforce or study
  • 2005 - 2007 - Ageing Carers Project – providing specific assistance for Ageing carers to plan future of those whom they care for
  • 2005 - 2009 – Recovery Australia Project – partly funded by Kirk Foundation, over 4 years, to support recovery from Mental Illness for those with lived experience to achieve the best they can be.
  • 2005- current – Young Carers’ project, aimed specifically in identifying and supporting young carers in their caring role and to maintain their education.
  • 2006- current – Cottage Respite Services located at Bribie Island, Glasshouse Cottage and Noosa areas, and locations in Central Queensland covering Hervey Bay and Rockhampton providing overnight respite and frequent short stays for Carers over 65 years.
  • 2006- current – Direct Respite Services Veterans Home Care funding extended for another term through Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • 2006- current – Independent living skills Program - Mental Health funding through Department of Communities, providing recovery based support and respite support specifically for carers of those experiencing mental health experiences/ conditions.
  • 2007- current - Carer Support Project – FaCSIA Mental Health funding, providing support and community development specifically for carers of people experiencing mental health experiences/ conditions.
  • 2009-current - Responsive Care - Unfunded direct service arm providing fee for service to service providers and individuals in the community.
  • 2009-current - National Respite Develop Fund - Pilot providing support to Mental Health sector in developing and implementing resilience based services to carers and the person with the lived experience of Mental Illness with a focus on recovery.
  • 2010-current - HACC Carer Counselling Services (Brisbane North and Sunshine Coast) providing flexible and resilience focussed counselling services to Carers with a focus on the caring role. This service provides face to face or telephone counselling, group counselling sessions, carer information and education and a range of options that support carers in their role.

Suncare Community Services Inc. has a long and sound history of management of Commonwealth Funds (NRCP), State (HACC) projects, and community funded projects such as the fund raising, building and maintaining of a large Community Hall and the purchasing and maintaining of a Cottage Respite facility (Dorney House).


The Committee is financially debt-free and has a talented, experienced Committee membership with a broad wealth of management experience.
Throughout its development the Committee has established sound management policies that are replicated in the funded programs under their Auspice. These personnel practices and human resource management are regularly scrutinized through an external quality assurance process.

In 2005 the Committee successfully tendered for the Brisbane North and Central Queensland (HACC) Regions network of Commonwealth Carer Respite and Commonwealth Carelink Centre Programs and Direct Services North Brisbane Region. The achievement of the tenders demonstrates the Committees’ commitment, capacity and capabilities in implementing innovative yet improved service systems within both regions, thus lessening service gaps and overlaps as outlined in A New Strategy for Community Care – The Way Forward.

The Committee has a number of Sub Committees or Executive groups who set annual strategic planning reviews, provide specific oversight of each program Manager's area of responsibility across both regions, engage their own community consultation processes, and offer their expertise in areas of interest relating.

One of the Committee’s key strengths has been its flexibility and ongoing commitment to the broader community through their community development processes. This has been in order to broadly cater to and responsively support the needs of individuals who are ageing, aged and/or have a disability (and their carers), within both its regions.

 

 

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