CRU's Main Objectives

1. Work to strengthen the community living movement
2. Provide analyses of the reality of the lives of people with disabilities and families
3. Invest in those in leadership roles, including those who are potential leaders
4. Invest in people who are committed to furthering the interets of people with disabilities and families
5. Safeguard and strengthen the provision of personalised, individualised services and supports that lead to good supported living
6. Be an organisation that is internally coherent with its mission, and is a viable and thriving organisation

Management of CRU

The direction and management of Community Resource Unit is vested in the Committee of Management which is elected annually. Implementation of the programs are the responsibility of the Director and the staff team.

More details about CRU

Community Resource Unit Inc. (CRU) is a non-government organisation with a Committee of Management comprised of parents, people with disabilities and interested professionals. Its origins lie in an initiative of the parent advocacy organisation, Queensland Parents of People with a Disability. In October 1987 in its role as a catalyst for improving services for people with disabilities and their families, QPPD organised a Search Workshop involving consumers, parents, service providers and government representatives from all over Queensland. One of the initiatives to come from this workshop was a task force which developed a strategy for supporting, informing and providing training opportunities for people with disabilities, their families, workers and organisations. CRU is a result of that work.

Initially sponsored by QPPD, CRU subsequently became incorporated and has been undertaking contract work since June 1988 for government and non-government organisations. The focus of its work is the development of leadership and services which are responsive and respectful of the real needs of people with disabilities.

CRU believes that people with disabilities should belong to and participate in community life. This means their interests are best served when they are supported to grow up in a family, go to school at their local neighbourhood school, participate in community activities with their peers, achieve a home and relationships of their own, maintain strong relationships with their parents and siblings, work and participate in community life and have their rights as citizens protected. As much as possible, CRU believes that people with disabilities should be allowed to make decisions for themselves or to be supported by their family and close friends to make decisions about their lives when they need this support.

CRU believes people with disabilities are vulnerable to being excluded from all these possibilities. They are at risk of being excluded from community life and having their needs and rights ignored. To counter this, CRU believes it is essential that people with disabilities, their families, friends and allies, service workers, board members and government officials be informed about the risks and possibilities, and orient their energies and resources to safeguard them against rejection and exclusion and make it possible for people with disabilities to truly participate in community life.

CRU's main Program Activities include:

• Publication of CRUcial Times 3 times a year
• State-wide access to the CRU Resource collection
• Educational events throughout Queensland
• Leadership Development Programs and Strategies
• Service and Organisational Development work (including advice, planning, evaluation and training)
• Service Reform Consultancy
• Project Work in areas of Key importance

For further information contact any of the CRU staff.