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Independent Living Skills

independent_living_skills000  Anyone can do it  Independent Living Skills

A journey towards independence!

Independent Living Skills provides opportunities for people to build on their existing skills thru a module based training program designed to increase skills of daily living including household tasks and community based skills such as visiting the doctor, paying rent and shopping.

Participants will work thru the workbooks, and will have their own library of modules upon completion to keep and refer back to. Activities can be modified to meet skill levels as required.

Modules include:

Living Independently

  • The participant will be able to differentiate between the different living options available to them.
  • The participant will be able to read advertisements for rental properties and understand terminology used.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate searching for rental  properties using different advertising media.
  • The participant will be able to define important characteristics to be aware of when choosing a rental property.
  • The participant will demonstrate team work skills when working together as a group to select property to rent.

Household Rules

  • The participant will be able to define what a rule is and why it is important.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate an understanding of household rules.
  • The participant will be able to work within a team to negotiate and compromise on household rules.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate public speaking skills by presenting group ideas to the class.
  • Roles in the Household
  • The participant will be able to define the various roles undertaken within a household.

Household Chores

  • The participant will be able to define the chores needed to be done to keep a household running smoothly.
  • The participant will be able to distinguish which chores need to be done on a daily, weekly and fortnightly basis and prioritise them.
  • The participant will demonstrate effective team work skills by completing a Weekly Timetable for household chores.

Steps to Renting

  • The participant will be able to understand and define the 12 steps to renting a property.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate the steps taken to look through a rental property.
  • The participant will be able to understand the role of the real estate agent and/or landlord when renting a property.
  • The participant will demonstrate completing an ‘Application for Rental Property’ form.
  • The participant will be able to understand the process of paying rent.
  • The participant will understand the significance of an ‘Inspection Report’.
  • The participant will be able to define what a ‘bond’ is used for and the amount paid.
  • The participant will demonstrate the completion of a ‘Bond Lodgement’ form.
  • The participant will be able to define the steps needed to move into a rental property.
  • The participant will understand the costs involved with moving into a rental property.
  • The participant will be able to define the role of the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal in handling disputes with a landlord.

My Skills at Home

The participant will be able to rate their abilities at completing skills independently including personal hygiene, household chores, finances, nutrition, social, organisational, community and leisure time.

The participant will be able to demonstrate basic chores such as ironing, sweeping, vacuuming, washing dishes and dusting.

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Budgeting for Bills

  • The participant will have an understanding of bills which need to be paid when moving into a rental property.
  • The participant will demonstrate looking up phone numbers in a telephone book.
  • The participant will demonstrate using a telephone to enquire about the bond money required for telephone and electricity providers.
  • The participant will have an understanding of the amount of bond required for electricity and telephone providers.
  • The participant will investigate how often bills are paid within their own household and the amount of money roughly spent on bills.
  • The participant will have an understanding of the amount of money needed annually to budget for common bills.
  • The participant will  demonstrate knowledge of methods of payments available for typical bills such as electricity and telephone.
  • The participant will be able to read through a telephone and electricity bill and understand the terminology.

All About Food

  • The participant will be able to define the positive and negative aspects of sharing food with housemates versus purchasing food independently.
  • The participant will be able to define the positive and negative aspects of eating food at home versus purchasing take away food.
  • The participant will demonstrate an understanding of nutrition and the food pyramid.
  • The participant will be able to reflect upon their own eating habits to determine if they are heating healthily or unhealthily.
  • The participant will be able to define the term Body Mass Index and demonstrate the ability to calculate their own BMI.
  • The participant will be able to calculate if their BMI is in a healthy range.
  • The participant will be able to have an understanding of living a healthy lifestyle and how to develop and maintain this.
  • The participant will demonstrate an understanding of the dangers of eating too much take away food.
  • The participant will demonstrate the cost of take away food versus the cost of making food at home.
  • The participant will be able to read through a variety of take away menu’s and select items to order.
  • The participant will demonstrate an understanding of the cost of ordering a home delivered meal.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate ordering take away food.

Meal Planning

  • The participant will demonstrate making lunch items within their group whilst utilizing team work skills.
  • The participants will demonstrate shopping skills when purchasing food for their housemates.
  • The participant will demonstrate budgeting skills when shopping for food.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate planning a weekly meal schedule including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks using nutritious foods.
  • The participants will be able to demonstrate writing a weekly shopping list incorporating the ingredients required according to their weekly meal plan.

Going Shopping

  • The participant will demonstrate an understanding of miscellaneous items needed when shopping including cleaning items and personal care items.
  • The participant will demonstrate an understanding of food specials including weekly specials advertised in pamphlets and no-name versus name brand products.
  • The participant will be able to read through a food pamphlet and have an understanding of the foods included, their prices and the savings available.
  • The participant will demonstrate team building skills by negotiating with their housemates their ‘weekly cooking schedule’.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate shopping online using the internet.

Paying for Goods and Services

  • The participant will be able to demonstrate shopping online using the internet
  • The participant will be able to stick to a budget when shopping online
  • The participant will demonstrate an understanding of different payment options available when paying for goods and services.
  • The participant will understand the terminology associated with payments of goods and services.
  • The participant will be able to read through and demonstrate an understanding of a bank statement.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate the use of a cheque.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate how to purchase a money order.
  • The participant will be able to understand the difference between a credit and a debit.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate how to complete a withdrawal and deposit slip.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate knowledge of a credit card
  • The participant will be able to understand the positive and negative aspects of having a credit card.

Setting Up House

  • The participant will be able to draw a rough floor plan of their house.
  • The participant will be able to determine the amount of furniture and other items needed to ensure their rental property is livable.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the different avenues available for purchasing furniture and other sundry items.
  • The participant will be able to read through catalogues and select items needed within their budget.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate knowledge of an interest free loan.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the positive and negative aspects of an interest free loan.

Budgeting for Clothes

  • The participant will have an understanding of the different types of clothes needed for work experience, work and leisure.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate how to wash clothes.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate how to iron clothes.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate cost effective ways to purchase clothes.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate how to take care of their clothes.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate sewing using a ‘running stitch’.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate sewing on a button.

Christmas Shopping

  • The participant will be able to budget money for Christmas shopping using a weekly savings plan.
  • The participant will be able to select gift items for people for Christmas.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate public speaking skills by presenting ideas to the class.

Mobile Phones

  • Participant will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the use of mobile phones including providers available.
  • Participant will be able to define the difference in purchasing a mobile phone on a contract or using a prepaid system of paying for mobile phone bills.
  • Participant will demonstrate an understanding of budgeting for a mobile phone and phone calls.
  • The participants will be able to research and select a mobile phone and payment system that best suits their needs and budget.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate speaking in public by presenting ideas to the class.

Going to the Doctors

  • The participant will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the costs involved with visiting a doctor.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the role of Medicare on the Australian health system.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate completing an ‘Application For a Medicare Card’ form.
  • The participant will be able to demonstrate making a claim from Medicare.
  • The participant will have an understanding of the cost of prescription medication.

  • The participant will have an understanding of the extra costs involved with medical services not covered my Medicare.