New Funding To Boost Aboriginal Disability Services In the Illawarra And South Coast

Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast Gareth Ward MP and Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock MP have today announced grant funding for two Aboriginal businesses to help them deliver services to Aboriginal people with a disability under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Illawarra and South Coast regions.

Mr Ward said Education Services International Supply Group and Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre had secured a grant under the Making It Our Business program to deliver culturally appropriate support to Aboriginal people with disability

“We’re backing NSW businesses with grants and mentoring to help them scale-up and deliver new services for the NDIS and we want more Aboriginal businesses involved,” he said.

“It’s vitally important Aboriginal businesses participate as they are best placed to deliver culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal people with disability,” Mr Ward said.

Mrs Hancock said that these two organisations are doing great work and these grants will help them to expand and create jobs while for others the funds will enable them to enter the sector to support and improve the quality of life for Aboriginal people with disability.

“The grant funding of $243,800 to Education Services International Supply Group will help them establish the ‘Deadly Engagement’ program that will provide one on one support for Aboriginal young people with disability in their transition from school to work or further education,” she said.

“Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre will receive $51,060 to help them expand support services and increase the number of Aboriginal NDIS participants in the Shoalhaven area,” Mrs Hancock said.

Educational Services International Director Bernadette Jones said the organisation would also use the funds to assist Aboriginal people with disability engage in community education or work.  

“We will focus on each individual’s NDIS needs and wrap support and services around them,” she said.

“We aim to ensure that each Aboriginal client has the best opportunity to succeed in learning; in connecting socially with their communities and in work and life in general.”

Cullunghutti CEO Tara Leslie said the grant would enable the organisation to provide high-quality NDIS services in allied health and early childhood to Aboriginal people with disability in the Shoalhaven region.

“We will incorporate our current range of early childhood, paediatric and allied health services into NDIS plans and work with business advisors to deliver a sustainable business plan in operations, partnerships, marketing and training,” she said.

The NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Skills John Barilaro MP said the Making It Our Business program is part of the $19 million Disability Sector Scale-Up (DSSU) that’s designed to assist businesses and communities maximise benefits from the NDIS rollout.

“The NDIS has the potential to double the size of the disability support sector in NSW from around $3.4 billion to $6.8 billion over the coming years,” he said.

Education Services International Supply Group operate in the following areas:

• Cootamundra
• Goulburn
• Kiama
• Griffith

Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre operates in the following area:

• Shoalhaven Region (Kiama to Ulladulla)