The Iemma Government will soon start a $1.6 million, four year trial of programs to promote support networks amongst children with a disability and their families across NSW.
NSW Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, Kristina Keneally, said that the support networks were a brand new innovation designed to help families to share ideas and resources - helping each other to meet the challenges of raising and caring for children with disabilities.
"The Iemma Government acknowledges that our record investment in disability services is just one way we can achieve our goal of improving the lives of people with disabilities, their families and their carers," Ms Keneally said.
"The trial will see the Iemma Government provide a range of services including participation in website chat rooms, pampering days for parents, drop in centres and social activities including forums and creative and vocational activities.
"It is intended that the support networks will get people with disabilities and their families together to share their experiences - building connections between those individuals, the services provided by the Iemma and Rudd Governments, and community support services.
"It is intended that the support networks will help provide participants with the emotional, practical and social support which people with disabilities and their families need."
Ms Keneally said that the support networks would be launched in the Sydney metropolitan area, the New England district and on the Central Coast, with each program covering a specific area of need. The focus of the networks will include:
• Children and young people aged from eight to 18 who have autism;
• Brothers and sisters of a child or young person with a disability;
• Parents of children with autism from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; and
• Aboriginal and other communities in the New England which include people with disabilities.
Ms Keneally said that support networks would be developed in many ways and were tailored to the needs of their target groups.
"It is expected that the demonstration projects will give the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care the information it needs to provide additional support through support networks for the trial’s different target groups," Ms Keneally said.
"This is new territory for us – but we expect that there will be some positive results, and if we confirm that the trials are delivering we will look at rolling support networks out on a wider scale.
"The trial is being financed under Stronger Together, the NSW Government’s 10 year plan to improve disability services."
Ms Keneally said the projects would be conducted by Autism Spectrum Australia, Youth Connections, The Junction Works and Northcott Disability Services.