Media Releases

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said today non-government grants were available for young people with disabilities in the Lowan electorate.

“This initiative was introduced in Queensland in 2009, the At Home Care Grants program was extended into New South Wales in 2011 and is now being offered in Victoria for the first time in 2013,” Mr Delahunty said.

Youngcare aims to help young people with disabilities, and to give them and their carers access assistance and the At Home Care Grants (AHCG) program is one of the ways to provide practical help to those in the most need.

Mr Delahunty said the first found of Youngcare AHCG is valued at $100,000 with one-off grants of up to $10,000 being available for equipment, home modifications or services to assist young people aged between 18 and 65 who are living with a disability to remain in their own home for as long as possible.

Examples of what may be funded include a water powered hydraulic lift, in-home support, wheelchair ramp, air conditioning, respite, power wheelchair and pressure cushion, electrical adjustable bed, or motor vehicle wheelchair modification.

Applications for the Victoria At Home Care Grants close 15 March 2013.  For further information visit the Youngcare website at www.youngcare.com.au or telephone Shane Jamieson on (07) 3041 3400 or at sjamieson@youngcare.com.au

An information booklet and application form is also available at Mr Delahunty’s office at 114 Firebrace Street, Horsham telephone 5382 0097 or 44 Gray Street, Hamilton telephone 5571 9800.

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty is inviting residents of the Lowan electorate to nominate individuals, teams and businesses that have made a difference to the lives of people with disability for the 2013 Victorian Disability Sector Awards.
“There were many examples in western Victoria where people had shown passion and a real commitment to improving the lives of some of the most disadvantaged members of the community,” Mr Delahunty said.

“This is an opportunity for these wonderful people who do so much but who, quite often, do it behind the scenes, to be recognised.”

Nominations for the 2013 Victorian Disability Sector Awards can be made across nine different award categories that recognise excellence in service, advocacy and personal and community support for people with disability.  

“One in five Victorians experience disability either personally or have friends, family or other loved ones with disability whose support deserve recognition,” Mr Delahunty said.

“These awards are an important opportunity to publicly acknowledge the innovation and commitment of individuals and organisations that provide services and support to people with disability,” Ms Wooldridge said.

The Victorian Disability Sector Awards are a partnership between National Disability Services (NDS), Disability Professionals Victoria (DPV) and the Victorian Coalition Government.

Nominations for the awards close on 13 March and winners will be announced at the Victorian Disability Sector Awards ceremony on 19 June 2013.

For more information about the Victorian Disability Sector Awards visit www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-service-providers/disability/disability-recognition-awards/victorian-disability-sector-awards

The 2012 Victorian Disability Sector Awards are currently open and Western Victorians are being encouraged to nominate a member of the community or organisations who demonstrate excellence in service and a commitment to be development of people with a disability.

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty said the awards celebrate and acknowledge those people who have a passion and vision to the advancement of people with a disability to achieve their life goads, through upholding their rights and choices in a way that promotes inclusion.

“It is important that we recognise this essential network of people and organisations who on a daily basis are supporting people with a disability and their cares.”
“These awards recognise the efforts of those individuals, teams, organisations and businesses for the significant contribution they are making to enriching the lives of people with a disability,” Mr Delahunty said.

Community Services Minister, Mary Wooldridge, said the continued efforts of disability support workers, volunteers and businesses are important in helping ensure people with a disability can achieve their goals and participate within the community.

“These awards provide a unique opportunity for this commitment and valuable community contribution to be acknowledged and honoured.”

Members of the public can make a nomination in eight different award categories including: Support Worker (Individual); Support Worker (Team); Client Services Worker; Leadership; Emerging Leader; Volunteer; Business Supporting Disability and Lifetime Achievement Award categories.

Nominations close 7 March 2012 and ward winners will be announced at the disability Sector Awards ceremony on Thursday 26 April.

For guidelines and nomination forms visit http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/disabilityawards

In a move that has been welcomed by the Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty, Victoria will soon have legislation that sets out clear expectations for organisations that engage with carers.
“The Coalition Government has honoured an election commitment with the introduction of the Carers Recognition Bill 2012 which recognises all carers, including young carers, kinship and foster cares and acknowledges the valued role of cares in Victoria,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Over 700,000 Victorians are caring for a family member or friend with a disability, mental or chronic illness or someone frail aged and carers need to be recognised for the enormous contribution they are making to the community and deserve our full support.”

“Family carers save the Australian Federal Government more than $40 billion every year and many struggle with the demands of the role.  This legislation will help carers gain better support when dealing with agencies and organisations,” Mr Delahunty said.

Community Services Minister, Mary Wooldridge said that the Bill which she outlined in Parliament will raise the status of these cares and care relationships in the community and sets out principles recognising cares for their contribution.

Ms Wooldridge said the Bill would bring Victoria into line with legislation in other states and territories and the Commonwealth.

“However, the Bill is unique in recognising care relationships.  Carers and the people they care for are in a shared arrangement and if the care relationship is strong, the carer and the person being cared for will have better lives,” Ms Wooldridge said.

“This approach to recognising the significance of care relationships has been the subject of extensive consultation.”

The legislation requires government and funded agencies to reflect the care relationship principles in the conduct of their business and report annually on the actions they have taken to comply with the principles.

The Victorian Charter “Supporting People in Care Relationships’ will be updated to reflect the new legislation and will support implementation of the Bill.

Nationals Member for Lowan, and Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation, Hugh Delahunty has encouraged local government authorities, State Sporting Associations, disability organisations and organisations currently receiving funding from the Access for All Abilities Program to apply for Building Inclusive Sports Grants.

“These grants are part of the Access for All Abilities Program which supports and encourages inclusive sport and recreation opportunities for people with a disability throughout Victoria,” Mr Delahunty said. 

“They provide a great opportunity for people with a disability to engage in sport and recreational activities.

“There has been discussion in Parliament regarding the need for increased support for people with a disability and their carers. Initiatives such as the Building Inclusive Sports Grants are a step in the right direction.”

Grants of up to $80,000 over two financial years are available for projects which target people with a disability and develop new mainstream, ongoing participation opportunities, and develop new active sport and recreation activities for people with a mental illness or an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The grants aim to develop partnerships and sustainable projects that can continue beyond the life of the funding.

Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate a co-operative partnership between different organisations and identify a community need for a project. Preference will be given to bushfire affected communities, Neighbourhood or Community Renewal areas and other areas of significant socio-economic disadvantage.

Applications close on 30 July 2010 and forms are available at www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au.