SOLAS evolved in response to the Queensland Governments commitment to enhancing Accommodation Support and Community Access supports for people with a psychiatric disability. SOLAS was one of two pilot programs within Queensland which were established for the purpose of identifying and promoting best practice principles.
An extensive consultation was carried out in Townsville during 1994 to identify the Accommodation Support and Community Access needs of people with a long-term psychiatric disability and to explore a preferred service model to respond to these identified needs.
A steering committee was established in July 1995, which consisted of community representatives of local services, such as Mental Health, DSQ, Legal Aid Office, Queensland Police Service, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and service users and carers. Community based organisations were invited to submit for this funding and funding to the new Steering Committee was auspiced by Queensland Lifestyle Services Inc (QLS) until SOLAS was incorporated on the 5th February 1996.
The first staff members were employed in late 1995 and the first Ten (10) people started receiving support in January 1996, with the second eight (8) people accessing the service in April 1996.
Today SOLAS has evolved to provide support services to over one hundred and twenty (120) concurrent service users over fourteen programs and employs over sixty five (65) staff.
