SSI
Disability contract signals strength of diversity approach
The Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Stuart Robert, today announced Settlement Services International (SSI) would deliver frontline Local Area Coordination Services for the NDIS in two areas in New South Wales.
Minister Robert was announcing $400 million in grants to The Partners in the Community (PITC) grants program, which identifies organisations to deliver Local Area Coordination (LAC) Services to NDIS participants on behalf of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
The NDIA partners with suitably experienced and qualified organisations, with strong local knowledge and understanding of the needs of people with disability or developmental delay. They deliver LAC services to help people with disability aged 7 and over to access supports in their local communities, and to support participants along their NDIS pathway.
SSI will deliver services to 16,000 participants in the South West Sydney and Sydney areas, covering 14 local government areas, from Fairfield to Bundanoon, and between Rhodes, Punchbowl and Glebe.
During a three year contract, SSI will work with participants to build and pursue their goals, exercise choice and control, and engage with the NDIS.
SSI will also support people with disability, and their families and carers, by working with communities and mainstream services to build awareness and to become more inclusive of the range of needs and aspirations of people with disability.
Minister Robert said, "The PITC grant rounds allow the NDIA to seek out the most suitable organisations to deliver these important services for our participants to ensure they continue to have a positive experience with the Scheme."
SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis welcomed the announcement.
She said, "SSI as a values-driven organisation, with a strong focus on access and equity, is a perfect fit with the NDIS approach of supporting people with disability early in life to improve opportunity and outcomes across their lifetime.
"In partnership with the NDIA, we seek to assist people with a disability to improve their lives by increasing support and facilitating opportunities to participate in all aspects of social and economic life. I am confident, with our diversity lens and client-centred approach, we will offer innovative and new approaches with strong support for NDIS participants."
Current LAC agreements for NSW cease on June 30.
SSI will commence transition activities immediately with full operations scheduled for October 1.
A handover arrangement for participants will be put in place between SSI and the outgoing partner, St Vincent de Paul, to ensure continuity of support.
Changes to existing partner arrangements will not affect participant plans, funding or level of service provided.
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