With the National Disability Insurance Scheme arriving on our sunny Gold Coast shores, we’re looking forward to new and improved services for people with disability.
The NDIS is designed to be consumer-directed, giving people with disability, their families and carers, more choice and control over their supports. With rollout now taking place across Queensland, we’re fortunate to learn from the challenges that earlier participants have faced.
Making a daunting experience easier
While getting started on the NDIS can sometimes feel quite daunting – especially considering the challenges we’ve heard about from other parts of the country – The Benevolent Society is here to make it simple.
As one of Australia’s largest providers of specialist disability services, The Benevolent Society has helped hundreds of people with disability to transition onto the NDIS and even undergo their first and second reviews. With this wealth of experience, The Benevolent Society has gained a deep understanding of how to support people joining the NDIS and are well-equipped to assist Queenslanders as the State comes on board.
Providing disability services in Queensland
As Australia’s oldest charity, The Benevolent Society has been operating for over 200 years. We have multidisciplinary disability service teams, including physiotherapists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, positive behaviour support, psychologists and clinical nurse consultants. On the Gold Coast we are now a major provider of specialist disability services, and in Brisbane we provide Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) services.
Meeting the current need, our support services are designed for smooth NDIS transitions. We provide support coordination (which helps people organise the services on their plans) and capacity building (which helps people reach their life goals). The Benevolent Society’s mobile workforce is always on hand; accessible through online platforms, and ready to service participants at home, school and other convenient locations.
There for you during life transitions…
There are many points in life when you may need a bit of extra support. These often occur during times of major life transition, when moving from one stage to the next.
The Benevolent Society supports many people in Queensland and across the country, whether that is when a child has their first diagnosis or when they are leaving school. The Benevolent Society has the right experience, knowledge and support to see you through. While life transitions can be challenging, the right supports can turn them into rewarding periods of growth, achievement and pride.
Dane’s Story: A transition to independence
Dane’s story is just one example of how The Benevolent Society provided assistance through a significant life transition.
A Coffs Harbour teenager, Dane had recently finished high school and relied on his mum Jo in his day-to-day living. With the familiar routine of high school now over, Dane and his mother Jo were frightened by what Dane’s day might look like and how he might achieve the level of independence needed for life as a young adult. Jo also wanted to see Dane get more involved in the activities that other young men enjoyed.
It wasn’t long before Jo was introduced to The Benevolent Society and Mellisa from The Benevolent Society became Dane’s case manager. It was an instant connection which evolved into a cherished relationship between Mellisa, Dane and his mother. By facilitating Dane’s involvement in activities like surfing and skating, Mellisa and Jo saw Dane learn a new set of skills which set him on the path to becoming as independent as he could be.
Through the help of case management and the vital support services provided through The Benevolent Society, Dane is now a vibrant member of the community, getting himself out there and doing things that make both Mellisa and Jo glow with pride. Jo always knew Dane could do it, but she didn’t know how he could do it without the support of The Benevolent Society.
The Benevolent Society finds the best ways for people with disability to live their best life. For more information, visit The Benevolent Society website or call our support centre on 1800 236 762.