Membership and Conditions of Travel

 

HOW TO JOIN HOLIDAY EXPLORERS

 

Holiday Explorers has two (2) membership categories:-

 

1.  Tourist Member – for the person who goes on the holiday.  
Fee $10 per financial year

To be eligible as a Tourist Member, the person:

  • has an Intellectual Disability,

  • is aged 16 years or over, &

  • is a resident of South Australia.

Please refer to the ‘New Tourist Member Criteria” listed below for additional information.

2.  Organisational/Associate Member – for interested persons / organisations.  
Fee $20 per financial year

Any persons or organisations may be considered for Organisational Associate Membership.  Unfortunately these members do not get to go on the holidays!  Agencies providing accommodation support for Tourist Members must be registered as Organisational Members.  All members are eligible to vote at the Annual General Meeting, organisations holding Organisational/Associate Membership are entitled to one vote. All members receive by mail a copy of our tour brochure, ‘Holidaytime’, which is distributed 3 times/year and lists the upcoming holidays.

New Tourist Member Membership Criteria for 2010/2011:  Any potential new members, or previous members who have allowed their membership to lapse, please contact the Tourist & Respite Coordinator for more information.  Holiday Explorers is only able to accept new members who are living at home with unpaid carers at this time.  People living independently or with limited support will be listed on the waiting list for consideration if vacancies arise.  (The "Waiting List" Policy can be made available in the office).

Unfortunately anyone living in a group home will not be eligible to join.

 

Membership Renewals:  Membership renewals are due by the 1st July each year.  Membership Renewal Forms are sent to all current members.  Any memberships not renewed by the due date are cancelled.  To rejoin (if eligible) the New Tourist Member Membership criteria & application process will apply.

 

THE 4 EASY STEPS TO BECOME A TOURIST MEMBER

  1. Contact the Tourist & Respite Coordinator to check eligibility and to arrange a meeting time. 
    Ph: 8331 2399 or email: tourists@holidayexplorers.com.au

  2. The Tourist and a family member/carer attend the meeting to record the Tourists support needs and interests.  This information is used to write a Briefing Sheet which provides the Support Staff with essential information to ensure the Tourist’s safety, well being and happiness when away on the holiday.

  3. During this meeting we explain the Conditions of Travel including our Confidentiality and Privacy requirements, complete Membership & Carer forms and provide further information about how this service operates.

  4. The next issue of Holidaytime and a booking form will be provided for the Tourist to book a holiday and for the Carer to book respite.

Applicants from NESB/CALD Families or those with a Hearing Impairment: Holiday Explorers can arrange for Interpretive Services to be available if assistance is required.

HOLIDAY EXPLORERS HOLIDAYS ON OFFER FOR TOURISTS

  • Day trips (Saturday or Sunday)

  • Weekends (Saturday & Sunday)

  • Long weekends (3 days, including either the Monday or Friday)

  • Longer holidays (from 4 days to 12 days)

Small Group Holidays:  The holiday groups generally consist of 5 Tourist Members and 2 to 3 trained Volunteer Support Staff.

Holiday Activities & Arrangements:  Holiday Explorers operates like a travel service in making all of the holiday arrangements and then co-ordinates any additional support requirements for the Tourists.  Once the holidays has commenced, the Volunteer Support Staff assist with planning activities, offering choices and assisting with decision making, provide limited personal care support and assist the Tourists to manage their personal belongings and spending money.

HOLIDAY BOOKINGS & ALLOCATIONS

As a ‘Respite Service’ holiday allocation priority is given to Tourist Members who live at home with unpaid carers.  All members are entitled to at least one holiday per membership year.  Every effort is made to have compatible groups of Tourists, consideration is given to age, gender, mobility and personalities.  Booking Forms must be returned by the advertised closing date.  Bookings received after this date are placed on a ‘standby’ list for consideration if vacancies arise.  A copy of the allocation policy is available to members at our office.

 

CONDITIONS OF TRAVEL

Responsibilities of Tourist Members:  Tourists are required to participate as a group and ‘work together’ to have an enjoyable holiday.  Tourists are advised to take out their own insurance cover for loss of deposit and cancellation charges, loss of, or damage to baggage and personal effects and for accident benefits.  Holiday Explorers can assist with arranging insurance cover.  Further Conditions of Travel include:

  • safety of tourists, staff and public,

  • staying with the tour group,

  • medication (refer to important information below),

  • sleeping arrangements,

  • deposit and payment for holidays,

  • changes to prices and itineraries,

  • cancellations and refunds,

  • spending money,

  • pretour meetings (refer to important information below)

Medication:  Tourists are required to self administer their medication while on holiday unless additional support is arranged through the Tourist & Respite Coordinator prior to the holiday.  Volunteer Support Staff are instructed to supervise and observe the Tourists self-administering their medication by ensuring that the correct medication is taken by the correct person at the correct time.  The Support Staff shall not assist in any other way unless they have been trained to do so.  Self administration is an opportunity for skill development to enable the tourist to holiday as independently as possible.  We are happy to discuss ways for improving self administration of medication.

 

Preparing Medication for the Holiday, the Tourist and their Carer/s must:

  • Provide precise details of all current medication to the Tourist & Respite Coordinator approximately 2 weeks prior to the holiday,

  • Ensure medication and treatments are prepared and presented to Support Staff in a sealed container, clearly labeled with the Tourist’s name.  Dosette, Webster, Nomad, Medico or Medical Sachet are preferred types of containers,

  • Ensure each dose of medication is clearly labeled with the day and time medication is required,

  • Provide correct type and dosage of medication for duration of holiday (ie dosage quantity for the holiday only, no additional quantities unless approved prior to the holiday),

  • Hand all medication to Support Staff at the holiday departure point and wait for them to check it with their records,

  • Notify the Tourist & Respite Coordinator of any late changes to medication prior to holiday departure.

Daily and PRN medication is stored in a locked medication bag for the duration of the holiday, (except for PRN Asthma and other emergency PRN treatments as approved by the Tourist’s carer and Holiday Explorers).  A copy of the medication policy is available to members at our office.

 

Pre-Tour Meetings:  There may be a Pre-Tour meeting scheduled for longer holidays (more than 3 days).  Attendance is compulsory as per arrangements specified in the itinerary.  Tourists who live in country areas unable to attend because of distance are exempt and their family members/carers are to be briefed by phone.  The pre-tour meetings are held early evening at easily accessible Cafés, close to the city, on either the Monday or Wednesday before the holiday is scheduled to depart.

Updates to Conditions of Travel:  Detailed information concerning all aspects of Holiday Explorers Conditions of Travel is posted to all Financial Members with their renewal of membership form each year and also provided to new members when they join. 

 

ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR TOURISTS

Holidays For Tourist Members With Higher Support Needs:  We offer a small number of fully wheelchair accessible and higher support ratio holidays for Tourists with higher support needs in each edition of Holidaytime.  Other holidays marked as wheelchair accessible may be modified and additional staff engaged depending on the itinerary & venues.  In some circumstances we may need to work in collaboration with other organisations that the tourist is associated with to be able to facilitate the required level of support.  Tourists with higher support needs living in Group Homes are to provide and pay for their own staff.  Please note that the availability of holidays for people with higher support needs may be limited by the availability of suitably qualified and experienced staff.

Meet and Greet Service for Country Tourist Members:   Tourists residing in country areas may use the ‘Meet & Greet’ service.  A Volunteer Support Staff will meet the Tourist on arrival in Adelaide by their preferred mode of travel, provide support and take the Tourist to the holiday departure point.  This may involve an overnight stay in Holiday Explorers preferred Motel / Hotel.  At the conclusion of the holiday the Tourist will again be assisted to connect with transport for the return journey home.  Tourists are required to pay for their transport costs to and from Adelaide (or other designated departure point) and for their meals during the Meet & Greet.  Holiday Explorers will cover the accommodation and Support Staff expenses.

Day Trip Information:  Most Day Trips offer a home pick up and return service for Tourists living in Holiday Explorers metropolitan ‘pick up zone’.  Please refer to the map.  Allocation for day trips have a geographical basis in an attempt to minimise driving and maximise time spent at the Holiday destination.  Staff will contact Tourists who live outside this zone to make the alternative ‘pick-up’ arrangements to a mutually suitable and safe location within the zone.

 

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY

Holiday Explorers has a legal obligation to respect the privacy of its staff, volunteers, Tourist Members and Associate / Organisational Members.  All information collected is respectfully handled and kept in the strictest confidence.  Members may access their records at any time, please contact the Tourist & Respite Coordinator if you would like to arrange this.

 

CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS

We encourage anyone who may not be happy or has concerns about the services received from Holiday Explorers to let us know as soon as possible.  Concerns may be directed to our Executive Officer, Lisa Albinus.  If you would like to make a formal complaint, please provide this in writing, addressed to ‘Chairperson Elizabeth Gazard’, and send to Holiday Explorers, marked ‘Confidential’.  The Health & Community Services Complaints Commissioner may also be contacted, Ph: 8226 8666 or www.hcscc.sa.gov.au.

 

ADVOCACY

All Tourists, parents and carers have a right to an advocate to assist them at any stage.  Information about local advocacy services as well as information about how to raise concerns or make a complaint is sent to all members.  This information can be requested from the office at any time.  The Disability Advocacy & Complaints Service of SA may also be contacted, Ph: 8234 5699 or www.dacssa.org.au.

Please contact the Tourist & Respite Coordinator if clarification or assistance is required with any of the above information, Ph: 8331 2399 or email: tourists@holidayexplorers.com.au