Barwon region wins two of 73 grants as ‘launch site’ of NDIS

GEELONG organisations have received two of 73 funding allocations to prepare for Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) despite Federal Goverrnment earmarking the Barwon region to host a launch site.
St Laurence Community Services received $86,267 and Deakin University $127,032 for NDIS transition projects.
The Government’s Practical Design Fund provided 73 organisations with $10 million as part of the scheme launch to deliver projects for disability services. Twenty-four Victorian organisations received $3.22 million.
Disability Reform Minister Jenny Macklin said the investment would help prepare communities for new ways of accessing and delivering services for the disabled.
“The Practical Design Fund will also help providers and suppliers of equipment make the transition to an NDIS and help improve access to supports in remote and regional communities,” she said.
A spokesperson said NDIS Launch Transition Agency chose the grant winners from 400 applications based on the advice of an assessment panel.
“Successful projects were selected based on their ability to assist the disability sector and people with disabilities, their families and carers in the transition to an NDIS. The geographical location of the projects was not an element of the selection criteria.”
The Government announced a New South Wales consultant as head of the transition agency.
The Victorian Government has nominated Barwon as the site for the agency.