A new office has opened in Parkes as part of an exciting announcement for those who will benefit from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in the region.
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Not for profit social justice and community services organisation Social Futures is assisting in rolling out the NDIS in Forbes, Parkes, Eugowra, Trundle, Peak Hill and Yeoval.
And, with three staff on the ground, they were thrilled to open their new office at 31 Bogan Street on Tuesday morning.
Parkes Wiradjuri Elders Advisory Group member Geoff Anderson provided a Welcome to Country prior to speeches from Social Futures executive manager people and quality Samantha Albertini, regional manager Matt Eades and Councillor Pat Smith, and a ribbon cutting.
Morning tea was especially prepared and provided by members of Currajong Disability Services for the opening.
Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack and State Member for Orange Phil Donato were apologies on the day.
The NDIS became available state-wide for people in NSW from July 1.
An official partner of the National Disability Insurance Agency, Social Futures now delivers what they’re calling Local Area Coordination (LAC) for the NDIS in Northern and Western NSW.
The Commonwealth Government scheme puts the person living with a disability at the centre of a process to learn about them and provide appropriate funding to help achieve their individual goals.
“This is the largest social reform that’s happened in Australia since Medicare, so it’s a huge reform and we’re on the cutting edge of it,” Ms Albertini said.
“The organisation won the tender to cover a lot of regional NSW Local Area Coordination, we do partner currently with two other organisations to help roll it out.”
Social Futures employs 80 staff throughout Northern and Western NSW, with Monica Perrie, Hannah Westcott and Belinda Separovic filling the three positions in Parkes.
This trio are the Local Area Coordinators (LACs), whose role is to support a participant throughout their transition onto the scheme.
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