Individual Support Packages
HomeFirst, Support and Choice and Community Options/Futures for Young Adults Years 1-8 are all Disability Services package-based supports (packages) that operate under different guidelines.
From July 2008 these different packages have been combined to create Individual Support Packages, with a single set of guidelines.Information about the project conducting this work is available from self-directed support.Better Start for children with Disability
From 1 July 2011, children who are aged under six years and have been diagnosed with sight or hearing impairments, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy or Fragile X syndrome will be able to be registered to access early intervention funding of up to $12,000 (to a maximum of $6,000 per financial year).
The funding will be able to be used to pay for services such as speech pathology, audiology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology and orthoptics. Families will have until their child turns seven to use the early intervention funding. This targeted early intervention in the pre-school years is intended to complement existing Commonwealth and State and Territory services and to assist these children to have the best possible preparation for transition to school. Parents or carers of eligible children will need to register their child for the Better Start initiative before they turn six in order to access the early intervention funding.Helping Children with Autism
The early intervention funding under the Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) package is aimed at providing increased access to early intervention for children aged zero to six with an ASD. The funding supports the delivery of multidisciplinary evidence based early intervention to facilitate improved cognitive, emotional and social development prior to a child starting school. Eligible families can access service providers from the panel of Early Intervention Service Providers. The Australian Government has revised the eligibility criteria for children accessing the early intervention funding via the Early Intervention Service Provider Panel. This change is effective from 19 October 2009. The eligibility criterion for children accessing the early intervention funding through the HCWA package is as follows:
• To be eligible for the early intervention funding package a child must have been seen by an Autism Advisor and deemed eligible to access the program before their sixth birthday. The $12,000 in funding under the early intervention component can be used until the child’s seventh birthday to a maximum of $6,000 per financial year.
• Up to 35 per cent of a child’s early intervention funding may be used to purchase resources, to a maximum of $2,100 per financial year, or $4,200 in total. Resources must have been assessed by an Early Intervention Panel Provider as being integral to the child’s therapy. The following link provides some questions and answers on purchasing resources with early intervention funding.
ABI:STR Program
The ABI:STR Program is designed to assist those people who have experienced catastrophic brain injury who are not in receipt of compensation and who require high-level care such as that provided in a residential aged care facility with long-term support. The statewide program is managed by Southern Health and delivered through external contracted case management agencies and contracted attendant carers and therapy providers.Better Outcomes in Mental Health
On 1 November 2006, Medicare rebates were introduced that allow patients with a mental disorder to receive up to 12 individual and up to 12 group allied mental health services per calendar year. These items are generally provided in courses of treatment, with each course of treatment involving up to six services provided by an allied mental health professional. At the conclusion of each course of treatment, the allied mental health professional reports back to the referring medical practitioner on the patient's progress and the referring practitioner assesses the patient's need for further services.Early Choices
Early Choices is a family centered program which provides case management and support to families caring for a child (0-6 years) with a severe disability and/or very high support needs. The Early Choices program provides a Family ServicesCo-ordinator who works in partnership with families to identify their needs in relation to their child and to find ways of meeting those needs. A family may be linked with existing services or, where necessary, funds may be available to buy services to meet particular needs. Services provided through Early Choices will be flexible and organised in ways which best suit these needs. Where additional supports are required, some funds may be used to purchase services and/or contribute to the cost of equipment, modifications and other items.Making a Difference
Making a Difference is a family centred program which provides case management and support to families caring for child/adult members (5-65 years) with moderate to severe disabilities and/or high support needs. The Making a Difference Program provides a Family Services Co-ordinator who works in partnership with families to identify needs and co-ordinate services and resources to ensure that quality of life is enhanced. Families may be linked into a number of existing services, or funds may be available to purchase service, if necessary. Where additional supports are required, discretionary funds may be used to purchase services and/or contribute to the cost of equipment and modifications. Priority is given to families:
• Caring for a family member with severe and/or multiple disabilities
• Families with more than one family member with disabilities
• Families requiring intensive support
• When the carer is over 60 years of age Disabilities may include, Physical, Intellectual, Sensory, Neurological Impairment or Acquired Brain Injury.
Short Term Assistance Packages
Short Term Assistance Packages provide case management and support services to families who are caring for a child or adult (five to sixty five years) with moderate to severe disabilities and/or high or complex support needs and live in the local government areas of Stonnington, Port Phillip, Glen Eira, Bayside & Kingston . A short term assistance package is designed to provide a timely response to families who require access to appropriate services for their child or adult member with a disability. A 'Family Services Co-ordinator' will work with the family to ensure they are linked into a range of existing services that meet expressed needs.Statewide Equipment Program (SWEP)
The State-wide equipment program (SWEP) provides people who have a permanent or long-term disability with subsidised aids, equipment, oxygen and continence and vehicle and home modifications. SWEP aims to enhance the independence and safety of people with a disability in their own home, facilitate their participation in the community and support families and carers. SWEP is a suite of programs funded by the Department of Human Services and administered by Ballarat Health Services. SWEP incorporates the following programs: 1. Aids and Equipment Program (A&EP) 2. Supported Accommodation Equipment Assistance Scheme (SAEAS) 3. Domiciliary Oxygen Program (DOP) 4. Continence Aids (CA) 5. Vehicle Modification Scheme (VWSS) You may be eligible if:
• you have a permanent or long term disability/or are frail aged; and are living independently in the community
• you require aids & equipment or home or vehicle modifications from the aids availability list on a permanent or long-term basis. and
• you are a permanent Victorian resident
• or you are on a Permanent Protection Visa – resolution of status (RoS) (subclass 851)
• or you are an asylum seeker Obtain an Application for Aids & Equipment Form