Media Release by The Hon Jane Prentice MP

$85m to deliver NDIS in Victoria

Four local service providers will share in $85 million of funding to deliver Local Area Coordination (LAC) and Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) services in Victoria to support the rollout of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) from 2017.

Latrobe Community Health Service Ltd has been announced as the successful LAC partner in Barwon, Inner Eastern Melbourne, Inner Gippsland, Outer Eastern Melbourne, Ovens Murray and Western District. They have also been appointed as the ECEI partner for Western District.

Link Health and Community Ltd will provide ECEI services in Inner Eastern Melbourne, Inner Gippsland and Outer Eastern Melbourne, with Merri Health to provide ECEI services in Ovens Murray and Barwon Child, Youth and Family to service the Barwon region.

The Hon Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services, congratulated the successful grant recipients and recognised the importance their local experience will have in supporting people with disability in their community.

“These organisations have the right local knowledge to work closely with the National Disability Insurance Agency in delivering this world-leading Scheme,” Mrs Prentice said.

“This is a significant investment for Victoria and will ensure participants are well supported in their transition to the NDIS.”

LAC services focus on participant capacity building, including plan development, implementation and review. ECEI services deliver outcomes for children and their families through best-practice and family-centred approaches.

The Partners in the Community Program provides funding for community organisations to partner with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to help deliver the NDIS across the country.

The second Victorian Partners in the Community Program grant round for the Hume Moreland and Bayside Peninsula service areas is now open.

Round two closes on Friday 5 May at 2pm AEST. A webcast on key information on the Partners in the Community Program will be available on the NDIS website in mid-April.

Information about the Partners in the Community Program is available at www.ndis.gov.au.