David and Bev Spraggs from Te Hapori Disability Trust are on the ground floor of the New Zealand disability sector.
Specialising in providing services for high-needs people, David talks about the many struggles that disability trusts like Te Hapori face every day – from the inequities that exist within society to the frustrations of the lack of government funding.
While some of the issues that David comes up against are systemic and complex, BizCover is proud to help a small business alleviate one problem – getting business insurance.
David Spragg (left) next to Brendan Fry (right), a builder who was so touched by Te Hapori's work he offered up $2000 worth of his time. Image credited: Rebecca Grunwell in an article by Gisborne Herald.
An essential safeguard for small businesses in the disability sector
With dozens of high-needs clients and more than ten people on his books, David's small business faces a lot of risk in its day-to-day operations.
But just like many other disability trusts in New Zealand, David says he had initially found it difficult to find insurance coverage for his small business to cover the risks.
"Especially with the lack of support and added pressure, you want to have surety that you'll be protected if something goes wrong," he says. "We have participants with incredibly high health needs, and it's not hard to imagine that something could easily occur."
After being hit with high premiums and low cover, David found SME online business insurance service BizCover – and he has been renewing his insurance through them ever since.
While there is not much he can do but advocate for change in the industry, David does urge for similar disability trusts to manage their exposure to risks.
"I'd hate for a small business owner to get discouraged because they are finding it hard to cover their risks," says David. "We've been with BizCover since we started. We arranged for the Public Liability and Professional Indemnity cover and found it incredibly easy to sort out."
"I really need to commend whoever set up that framework to work because it works beautifully."
Image of some of Te Hapori's clients
Helping people with high needs live a life well lived
Having a young daughter with significant special needs recently out of school, David and Bev set up Te Hapori to work alongside people with very high needs in a way that "they wish" so they can live a great life.
"Our day program allows participants to come for the same length of time as they would've been at school, giving the parents a chance to either recharge if they're older and retired or continue working rather than leaving work because of the needs of their adult child," David says.
Autonomy and equity are central principles of the Te Hapori Disability Trust, as the program is designed for people over 18 to do what makes them happy.
"If one of them wants to go down the pub for the afternoon, then the carer takes them down the local. A different bloke gets a buzz from going to the laundromat and watching the machines whizz around him, so that's what we do."
David talks about the joy he feels watching one of his patients with low vision operate a vehicle for the first time after his carers identified his interest in cars and trucks.
"It's something we made happen. This young man, who is usually very shy, was grinning ear to ear and giving amazing eye contact, which was one of those moments we aim to provide."
But with funding only about a quarter of the amount Te Hapori needs for the wages of its carers, these moments are becoming harder to achieve.
David says while his service should ideally have one client for every carer given the nature of the care involved, it's more realistic to have four patients per carer with the current government funding.
"We don't have a national approach. We have a whole lot of different charities doing as much as they possibly can with not enough funding," says David.
"I think we have probably another five or six years of having some sort of national strategy or national process that make sure that people who have a significant disability have the ability to live within society in the way they choose."
One of David's clients operating a vehicle
Creating enabling societies
The New Zealand government's disability strategy has come under fire recently, with reports of inequality and a lack of justice plaguing the sector.
A silver lining to the added attention is that it's started a national conversation.
"Until now, it's been managed within different portfolios of government, which effectively has meant that people with disability have very little voice," says David. "And now what they've decided to do is set up a dedicated ministry, which is a really good beginning."
The Government stated at a recent UN hearing that it would continue to work with civil society to implement reform.
Minister for Disability Issues Pato Williams said at the hearing that the State plans to work to create "enabling societies" and vows to ensure that people with disabilities are "at the heart of this work".
David hopes the work will take a holistic approach, tackling practical issues while still fixing the big picture.
"Despite the challenges ahead, David is optimistic about the future of care in the New Zealand disability sector.
"While it has its drawbacks, helping people with high needs is one of the most rewarding careers you can get into, and I'd love for more New Zealanders to join our industry."
