Residents living in Canberra and across the ACT will now have better access to National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) services, with Feros Care opening a permanent office near the city centre.
The new Local Area Coordination (LAC) office, located in Phillip, was officially opened today by State Minister for Disability, Youth and Children, Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA, and Feros Care chief executive officer, Jennene Buckley.
The office, which employs 27 staff, is designed to connect members of the community with the Federal Government’s national disability scheme. Ms Buckley said its establishment would greatly assist those living with a disability.
“In partnership with the National Disability Insurance Agency, the role of Feros Care Local Area Coordinators is to link people with disability to the NDIS, provide information about community and mainstream supports available in the region and build the capacity of the community to be inclusive of people with disability,” Ms Buckley said.
Feros Care is a ‘Partner in the Community’ for the NDIA, operating across Townsville, Mackay, ACT, Northern Adelaide and the Barossa in South Australia.
This is the fifth NDIS LAC office that Feros Care has opened, which Ms Buckley said was testament to the valuable role they played in other areas.
“We’re really proud of what we’ve been able to achieve in other communities across the country and we’re pleased the Government has given us the opportunity to extend our services to people in need,” she said.
Local Area Coordinators are appointed by the NDIA to assist participants in applying for the NDIS; building their plans, providing detailed information about their plan, how to access and spend their funds; connecting them to mainstream and community supports; connecting participants to local services; and hosting regular information sessions.
The LAC is also responsible for building capacity in the community to include people with disabilities.
