Page 168 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 February 2016

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As part of these new arrangements, the NDIA consulted with the ACT government to identify currently funded programs that meet the criteria for ILC and the ACT government has negotiated a transitional funding arrangement for the 2016-17 financial year for services that are in the scope of the ILC national framework.

Regrettably, a small number of organisations such as Radio 1RPH will not receive funding in 2016-17, and meetings were held with each of the impacted organisations in December 2015 to confirm that their block funding would be impacted. However, it needs to be stated that some of these organisations will be able to change their business models to deliver tier 3 supports within a participants plan. Where this happens, these organisations will receive cash payments direct from the NDIA for the services they provide.

The ACT government is committed to supporting all disability providers through the transition to the national disability insurance scheme, including the implementation of ILC. We are investing heavily in resources to assist providers like Radio 1RPH to prepare and, where necessary, adapt their business and service delivery models.

New programs were launched at the end of 2015 to support ACT disability service providers to operate successfully in the new NDIS environment. These include Ready4, a scheme led by National Disability Services, partnering with ACTCOSS and RSM Bird Cameron. The scheme delivers direct one-on-one and small group support for the NDIS service offer and includes business, system and governance model development. The program has $600,000 of funding.

The Nous Group’s “opening doors”, partnering with Lifestyle Solutions and First Peoples Disability Network, provides an intensive, targeted response to Aboriginal organisations looking to build their capacity to enter disability provision in the ACT, and 10 to 15 selected mainstream disability providers looking to deliver more culturally sensitive services. This program has $440,000 worth of funding.

The Julia Farr Association’s Purple Orange provides intensive assistance to 10 disability providers committed to developing a sustainable, high performing, person-centred workforce. This program has $360,000 of funding. Furthermore, in 2015 ACT providers had two opportunities to apply for tailored NDIS development assistance through NDIS business investment packages valued at up to $50,000 per organisation. Applications opened on 1 February 2016 for a further round of business investment packages. ILC providers, including Radio 1RPH, wishing to change their service model will be prioritised for this funding.

Print handicapped radio has to date received a $20,000 funding and governance package to better prepare the organisation to strengthen its business practices. Radio 1RPH previously received $38,227 per annum from the ACT government for the provision of alternative formats of communication by providing radio broadcasting. Officers from the Community Services Directorate have met with representatives of the radio station and will continue to do so in order to support them during this period as they transition their services to a sustainable model.


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