Care’s out there

By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
CHILDREN and young adults with disabilities could soon be running alongside their siblings with a greater chance to join in community activities from soccer to scouts and school holiday programs.
Five respite providers have shared in almost $700,000 worth of funding to deliver support and school holiday care in the Yarra Ranges.
The funding was provided to Autism Plus, Interchange Outer East, Interchange Inner East, Extended Families Australia and Oz Child, as part of the Baillieu government’s $21 million plan to improve disability respite and carer support services across the state.
Interchange Outer East CEO Fred Brumhead said his organisation had been able to fund two major projects, including a reach out program in the shire where children with a disability could be supported with carers to get involved with activities in their community.
“It’s about having an impact for young people to be able to access local programs that they are interested in, whether that’s Auskick, scouts, a holiday program, or drama,” he said.
“They will have that opportunity and capacity to be able to attend those programs and it doesn’t mean their family member has to be there too.”
Mr Brumhead said rather than getting a Warburton family to drive to Ferntree Gully to take a child to a day activity the aim was for participants to look at what existed in their area.
“I was talking to a family recently where the child wants to play in a soccer team because his brothers do, so is there scope for a non-competitive soccer team?”
“Even within the Upper Valley area there are quite a few clubs, looking at footy we could get two clubs involved with social games and let the kids feel part of the club.”
Extended Families Australia CEO Julie Langdon said the government’s funding showed it had support for new activities and new opportunities for the disability sector.
She said EFA was doing some work with families in the Yarra Ranges area but hoped to strengthen that in the future.
Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe said the government was providing people with a disability, their families, and carers more choice by making it easier to access a broader range of respite support services.
“The Baillieu government has listened to families and carers and has provided what they wanted most – flexibility and funding for respite care,” she said.