Latest news with #disabilityservices
ABC News
02-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Yapunyah Lodge in Cunnamulla reopens as aged care and disability centre
It was a "boys' footy racing weekend" that somehow led two Queensland blokes to open an aged care and disability centre in the outback. Daniel Manley and Brett Sandy met at the Darwin Cup in 2023 and, several pub crawls later, formed a friendship based on a shared love of sports and a dedication to improving services in regional Queensland. They started their own aged care and disability group, Gwandalan Support Services, drawing on Mr Sandy's experience of raising a son with a disability in a small rural town. Two years on from their chance meeting, the pair has opened an assisted-living facility in Cunnamulla, an outback town of 1,200 people, 800 kilometres west of Brisbane. Mr Sandy said Cunnamulla had not had an aged care facility for five years. "Little towns like Cunnamulla … unfortunately they miss out because there's not enough funding to help with facilities like this," Mr Sandy said. Their combined disability and aged care model has focused on encouraging active, healthy living. "Our support workers we've employed are all footballers," Mr Manley laughed. "An active body leads to an active mind and leads to much better outcomes." Cunnamulla has a higher percentage of residents aged over 60 than the national average. In 2020, not-for-profit organisation Churches of Christ closed the only aged care centre, Yapunyah Lodge, due to the high cost of operating in a rural area. Resident Barbara Capewell said many ageing residents were forced out to larger towns including Toowoomba and Roma. Paroo Shire Council Mayor Suzette Beresford said the council had been trying for years to find someone to take over Yapunyah Lodge. "We're very fortunate that the Southwest Hospital and Health Service built 10 aged care units within the hospital, but they're fully occupied," she said. Mr Sandy said he had family near Cunnamulla who told him there was an aged care facility sitting unused in the town. Gwandalan Support Services was able to reopen Yapunyah Lodge in May as a disability support service, with plans to add aged care residents later this year. The response from the community was immediate. Yapunyah Lodge now has its first resident, lifelong Cunnamulla local and Gunggari man, Keith Stewart. For the past year, the 66-year-old has been being treated in Toowoomba after having a stroke. His daughter, Meisha Johnstone, made the 1,200-kilometre round trip every fortnight to visit. "I wasn't going to let him go there by himself," she said. Mr Stewart said the reopening of Yapunyah Lodge was a lifeline for his family. "To get back to Cunnamulla was good," he said. "I just love being out in the bush." Yapunyah Lodge manager Fiona Sodeau said she had seen enormous health improvements when elderly residents such as Mr Stewart returned to country. "It's just amazing, it's where people need to be and where they want to be," she said. Ms Johnstone said having her dad back home meant everything. "He's a completely different person now that he's in this place," she said. There are challenges to running Yapunyah Lodge. "Everything is just so much more expensive out there, especially when you're talking very remote like Cunnamulla," Mr Manley said. Mr Manley and Mr Sandy invested their own money to reopen the lodge, with support from the council. They have been rallying for federal government funding. "If you don't have the funding, the aged care packages themselves don't cover the high level of cost of regional aged care facilities," Mr Manley said. Aged care consultant Paul Sadler said many rural aged care services struggled with long-term viability due to the higher cost of overheads and smaller clientele. "At any one time, up to half of aged care services in rural areas operate at a deficit year on year," he said. "That's simply unsustainable." The government has been contacted for comment.
The Guardian
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Four key changes could save the NDIS, new Grattan report says, but advocates worried children left out
The National Disability Insurance Scheme has grown too big too fast, but four key changes could 'save' it while ensuring disabled Australians get the help they need, according to a new report from the Grattan Institute. It comes as federal and state governments continue to negotiate a funding deal for new 'foundational supports' – disability-specific supports outside of individual NDIS packages that were supposed to be operational by today. But advocates have warned against some of the institute's suggestions, expressing concern changes would leave children out of the scheme. The report, Saving the NDIS: How to rebalance disability services to get better results, says costs must be reined in – but this can be done in a way that ensures Australians living with disability can get help. The NDIS remains one of the biggest pressures on the federal budget, costing nearly $42bn in 2023-24, which is expected to grow to more than $58bn by 2028. In 2011, the Productivity Commission estimated a mature NDIS would serve 490,000 people. But as of March the scheme was supporting more than 700,000 people and that number was projected to pass one million by 2034, according to the NDIS. The number of adults in the scheme was only slightly higher than originally expected, but the number of children is nearly double, according to the institute's report. Despite this, many Australians living with disability don't qualify for the NDIS, and there is little support for them outside the scheme. 'The problem is the NDIS has become the only game in town,' the Grattan Institute's disability program director Sam Bennett said. 'You either get an NDIS package, or you get minimal mainstream services. That means disabled Australians have an incentive to try to get into the NDIS – and once people get in, they tend not to leave.' To address the issue, the report has called for four key changes to ensure it survival into the future. First, the NDIS needs firmer boundaries so it is clear who the scheme is for and what needs it is intended to meet, the report says. This would include strengthening eligibility criteria for permanent impairment and removing the early intervention requirements so children get foundational supports. Second, the way the NDIS manages claims needs to change so funding is allocated fairly and consistently. People should have more choice and flexibility in how they use their NDIS funding so they can access support from a wider range of places, and expedite NDIS rule changes to support the adoption of a new needs assessment and budget setting process. Third, the federal, state, and territory governments should establish a strong tier of 'foundational supports' to ensure people get appropriate supports when and where they need them, the report says. Under Grattan Institute's plan, the existing NDIS budget would be used to fund foundational supports from within the same funding envelope. And fourth, Australia needs a new National Disability Agreement, to clarify the relationship between all aspects of the disability policy landscape and to facilitate cooperation and greater accountability between governments. The current NDA was crafted in 2008, before the NDIS even existed. The Grattan Institute blueprint to rebalance disability services would reduce NDIS payments by about $12bn over the next 10 years, and create further savings of $34bn over the same period by not requiring new money to fund foundational supports. 'Saving the NDIS is not a question of spending more money – our analysis shows the problem lies in how existing funding is allocated,' Bennett said. Children and Young People with Disability Australia CEO Skye Kakoschke-Moore said she was alarmed by the recommendation that the early intervention pathway for children with developmental concern or delay be removed from the NDIS and instead replaced with targeted foundational supports. One of the biggest drivers of cost to the NDIS is children. As of March 2025, there were 167,876 children under 9 on the NDIS, according to the latest quarterly report. While the government said it would set up alternative supports, there has been no communication on what that would look like, leaving families in the dark, Kakoschke-Moore said. 'We also know that there the NDIA are currently undergoing a large amount of eligibility reassessments, particularly with children who are on the scheme, and that of those that are being reassessed, a large proportion, close to 50% or more, either being removed from the scheme or having their plans cut.' Bennett said under the Grattan plan no one would 'lose their services'; it was just about 'making the money work better and smarter in some ways'. 'We do know that we're having a lot of children reassessed right now and waiting to exit the NDIS, as is happening every week; they are leaving to no foundational supports,' he said. 'Under the Grattan plan, if kids need ongoing support, the funding will follow them essentially.' The health minister, Mark Butler, said negotiations on foundational supports with the states were ongoing, with the initial focus on children under the age of nine with mild to moderate developmental delay or autism. The second focus group would be people with psychosocial disability, he said. 'We know those Australians without support are bumping in and out of emergency departments, in contact with justice and police systems, are vastly overrepresented in our homeless population and, frankly, deserve better,' he said.
News.com.au
12-06-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
National aged care and disability provider Annecto announces shock closure
National aged care and disability services provider Annecto will close in July, putting the care of more than 3000 patients in limbo. The business announced the shock closure on Wednesday, citing 'service model shifts and financial challenges' for the breakdown. 'This difficult decisions follows careful deliberation and extensive stakeholder consultation which considered the service model shifts and financial challenges facing the organisation into the future,' the company said in a statement. The provider supports more than 3000 people with disabilities, members of the veteran community and older adults across Victoria, NSW, Queensland and the ACT. 'Our focus now is working to transition our customers and services to other trusted providers who can continue delivering the support and assistance our customers expect and deserve.' The company said it was working with the Department of Health, the NDIS and the Department of Veterans' Affairs and 'other key stakeholders' to ensure 'the seamless transition' of its customers and staff to 'trusted and quality accredited providers'. The business ran for some 70 years. Annecto chair Colleen Furnaletto OAM said the decision to shut down the enterprise 'was not made lightly'. 'We deeply appreciate the support of our community over all these years and the dedication of our staff and partners to high quality of support standards,' she said.
BreakingNews.ie
08-06-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Over 12,000 children waiting for first contact from disability teams
Over 12,000 children are waiting for their first contact with Child Disability Network Team (CDNT). Figures from the HSE, seen by Breakingnews, show that at the end of April, 12,106 children were waiting for their first contact from a CDNT. Advertisement Of that figure, 8298 children are waiting over a year for first contact. Of the six Regional Healthcare Areas (RHAs), HSE Dublin and North East have the longest waiting list, with 3841 children waiting for first contact, with 2980 waiting over 12 months for contact from a CDNT. 1506 children are waiting between seven to 12 months to hear from a CDNT. In Dublin Midlands, there is 3035 children waiting for first contact, with 2116 children waiting over a year. Advertisement The HSE Dublin and South East region has 2707 children waiting for first contact, with 2112 waiting over 12 months for first contact. This area covers South-East Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and most areas of Wicklow. In the HSE Midwest, which provides care to Clare, Limerick, and North Tipperary, 1070 children is waiting for first contact, with 530 waiting over a year. The HSE West and North West, which covers Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, West Cavan, Mayo, Galway and Roscommon, has 819 children on the waiting list, with 290 waiting over a year. Advertisement In the HSE South West, covering Cork and Kerry, 634 children is waiting for first contact, with 270 waiting over a year. There are 93 CDNTs, aligned to 96 Community Healthcare Networks across the country, providing services and supports for children aged from birth to 18 years of age. The CDNTs are currently providing services and supports for 43,000 children and strategies and supports for urgent cases on the waitlist where staffing resources allow. The HSE have said CDNTs face significant challenges, including staffing vacancies, growth in the numbers of children with complex needs as a result of their disability, and growth in demand for Assessment of Need, diverting further resources away from interventions. 1,233 children and/or their parents who are on the CDNT waiting list participated in one or more individual and/or group intervention appointments during April 2025.
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Why Corporate And Government Collaboration With Nonprofits Is Critical
Kendra Davenport is the President and CEO of Easterseals. Federal funding for nonprofits has been all over the news recently. It's worth remembering that nonprofits not only provide essential services to Americans, but they also help power our economy. These organizations employ millions of people, many of whom deliver critical care to individuals who need it while allowing their family caregivers to go to work. But nonprofits don't do it alone. The services they provide are often through an impressive collaboration between the business community and federal, state and local officials. As the president and CEO of a nonprofit that provides life-changing services for people with disabilities, aging adults, veterans, children and caregivers in communities across the country, I know firsthand how nonprofits can improve people's quality of life. I began working in the nonprofit sector after graduating from college in 1988. Since then, I have worked for multiple domestic and international nonprofits, all of which help fill a pressing societal need—from early childhood education to direct support for people with disabilities. I believe nonprofits are a source of tremendous good that positively benefits our society in countless ways, making them a force multiplier. Nonprofits across the country support people of all ages and backgrounds, often acting as an extension of the services provided by the U.S. government. Nonprofits address community needs that are otherwise unmet—empowering millions to work, go to school, raise and support families and realize the American dream. They step in when crisis strikes—feeding, clothing, housing, caring for and providing medical assistance to people in immediate need. Nonprofits also serve as an important bridge to private sector companies with which many of the nation's largest and oldest nonprofits have forged impressive, long-standing and mutually beneficial relationships. Such companies, many household names, play an integral role in delivering in-kind donations of products as well as significant financial support to promote and sustain important programs that benefit millions of Americans of all ages. Simply put: Government, business and nonprofit collaboration helps provide essential services that strengthen communities and delivers vital services to millions of people across the country. If you have grown up in America, you have likely personally benefited from at least one nonprofit—Easterseals, the YMCA USA, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Girl Scouts, the Red Cross or any number of other nonprofit institutions, including schools, community centers, churches, museums and hospitals. Nonprofits are part of the fabric and culture of the United States. The Covid-19 pandemic illustrated how many Americans are just a paycheck away from food insecurity. As the pandemic dragged on, impacting more and more people, nonprofit assistance became essential. Nonprofits helped address this problem by distributing food and other essentials to people through hundreds of food banks, food pantries, churches and community centers. The images of cars lined up to collect food at distribution facilities are etched in our minds—images that reflect the intrinsic good of the American people and underscore the notion that nonprofits are a force multiplier. Most nonprofits operate with a mix of private funding they raise through the support of corporations, foundations, individual donors and grants from the U.S. government. Many health and human service nonprofits, including ours, rely heavily on other forms of government support, including Medicaid, to pay direct service professionals who provide care for millions of people with disabilities, seniors and veterans. But while our services are partially funded by the government, we also raise money from private entities and individuals. This means we supplement government funding, making tax dollars go further than they would otherwise. Without the assistance of the country's massive nonprofit community, programs operated by the federal government that provide people with food, medicine, physical and mental healthcare, education, job skills training, crisis intervention, transportation and more would not be able to meet many of our country's needs. But nonprofits don't just provide critical services that support hard-working Americans; they also play a massive role in our economy. Nonprofits across America employ nearly 13 million people, accounting for roughly 10% of America's working population. Cutting federal funding for nonprofits will weaken our ability to maintain lifesaving programs while also eliminating many of these jobs. Once those programs are eliminated, families who depend on them to care for children or loved ones will be forced to rethink everything from childcare to eldercare. Many will have to choose between continuing to work and staying home to care for their loved ones. The most disastrous impacts, however, will be borne by the direct beneficiaries of the programs—our most underserved and under-resourced populations—young children, people with disabilities, older people and veterans, to name just a few of the groups for which the risk is greatest. Nonprofits work every day in service to Americans, often on shoestring budgets with too few staff and typically not nearly enough money. Despite these challenges, U.S. nonprofits do extraordinary things. Easterseals, for example, provides essential disability and community services for 1.5 million people yearly; Feeding America provides food for Americans who don't have enough daily; the Salvation Army provides food, clothing and shelter to those most in need. Removing federal funding that helps pay for these essential services will create a funding emergency for nonprofits, making immediate layoffs, program shutdowns and closures inevitable. However, this challenging situation also presents an opportunity for businesses. Now more than ever, their partnership with nonprofits is needed to support local communities. By stepping up to support these organizations, businesses can not only contribute to meaningful causes but also build long-term value by enhancing brand awareness and fostering goodwill, especially at a time when nonprofit organizations urgently need support. Business leaders, let's keep America strong by protecting funding for the critical programs nonprofits provide to millions of people each and every day. It's the right thing and the smart thing to do. Forbes Nonprofit Council is an invitation-only organization for chief executives in successful nonprofit organizations. Do I qualify?
