Bega Valley Shire Council has decided to cease providing families, ageing and disability services and will transition out of these services over the next 11 months.
Council's Director Community, Environment and Planning, Emily Harrison said Council undertakes regular reviews of its funded programs to ensure services are being delivered effectively, meet market need and ensure it is well-positioned to adapt to potential funding changes.
"Our 2023 review of Council's Families, Ageing and Disability services found that while Council provides a high level of service, the provider market has changed significantly since we became a families, ageing and disability services provider, and there are now multiple providers of ageing and disability services located in the shire," Ms Harrison said.
"An EOI process in May resulted in a number of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers expressing interest in taking on new clients, which demonstrated there is capacity in the market and options for our current clients to transition to other providers.
"Following today's Council decision, our NDIS clients will be supported by staff to transition to a new provider of their choice and establish new service agreements over the coming months, with a final end date of this service of 30 June 2025.
"We will work with the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care to assist in the transition for clients in the Commonwealth Home Support Program by 30 November 2024.
"We will also engage with the NSW Government Department of Communities and Justice regarding transitioning out of Council's Brighter Futures family preservation program by 30 June 2025.
Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick said today's decision had not been an easy one, but as Councillors they needed to weigh up whether Council, as a local government organisation, was best placed to provide these services into the future.
"We started providing these services many years ago when there were limited other providers out there. We filled a gap, and we filled it well," Mayor Fitzpatrick said.
"However, the market has changed since then and there are now many other options available to support our community. I acknowledge this will be a difficult time for many of our clients, but our staff will support clients through the transition process from a participant centred approach.
"In making this decision today, I would like to acknowledge the exceptional service and commitment of the staff in the Families, Ageing and Disability Services team. They have worked tirelessly over many years to provide support to those who need it most.
"This decision is not about the quality of the services they provide—and its clear from the feedback that they always put their clients' needs first—but whether Council, as a local government organisation, is best placed to deliver these services.
"I'd like to thank the staff for their dedication and commitment to supporting Council's National Disability Insurance Scheme, Commonwealth Home Support Programme, and Brighter Futures clients over many years, and I know they will all continue to put their clients first as we move through the transition process."
