Contact: Gerry Grogan, Brian Hardy.

Sunday, March 29, 1998.

BIG BOOST FOR WEST IN $6.7m WORKS PROGRAM FOR VICTORIA’S DISABLED SYSTEM - DENIS NAPTHINE

The western suburbs is receiving almost $1 million in funding as part of a major $6.7 million Victorian Government program to build and upgrade day program facilities and vocational and training centres for people with disabilities, the Youth & Community Services Minister, Dr Denis Napthine announced today.

Dr Napthine said the bulk of the funding, for three centres catering for young people with disabilities under the Futures for Young Adults program, followed on from a $1.79 million allocation in 1996/97 to establish the programs.

The new funding will provide $282,000 to St.John of God Services at St. Albans, $320,000 for the Wyndham Centre at Altona, and $320,000 for the Merrimu Centre at Melton, plus funding for other smaller projects.

“The funding for St. John of God Services comes on top of $700,000 the previous year to buy and carry out building works on the former Sydenham Primary School site,” Dr Napthine said.

“This new funding will complete the works for the facility, to cater for 34 young people.

“The funding for the Wyndham Centre comes on top of $700,000 the previous year to buy and carry out building works on part of the former Altona Hospital site. The new funding will complete the works for the facility, to cater for 28 young people.

“The funding for theMerrimu Centre at Melton comes on top of $390,000 last year to buy a former child care centre, which has been fitted out for programs for 14 young people with disabilities.

“This level of funding shows the Victorian Government’s commitment to providing new futures and services for people with a disability in the western suburbs.”

Dr Napthine said the new $6.7 million funding program includes the purchase and refurbishment of nine facilities for new programs under the Government’s successful Futures for Young Adults program, and extensions or modifications to a further 14 facilities. A further $98,000 in rental costs will support five other programs.

The funding will provide vocational and training programs for more than 350 young people with disabilities aged 18 and over who were previously in the school education system, Dr Napthine said.

The major funding boost also includes $822,937 for 39 Adult Training Support Services (ATSSs) which provide day programs for people with disabilities.

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“This extra $6.7 million will provide a major expansion of the service system which provides opportunities and programs for people with disabilities in Victoria,” Dr Napthine said.

“The Futures for Young Adults program and our network of ATSSs are key components of Victoria’s services for people with a disability.

“The Victorian Government spends some $508 million per year on disability services around the State, servicing the needs of people with a range of intellectual, physical or sensory disabilities. This new works program will play a major role in expanding the system to address the needs of people with disabilities.”

Dr Napthine said the expansion of the Futures for Young Adults program will mean that satisfying and appropriate opportunities will have been provided for almost 2200 young people since the Government created the initiative in 1996.

“The $5.8 million which we have provided to establish and expand Futures for Young Adults programs comes on top of the $7.2 million which was provided in 1996/97,” Dr Napthine said.

“These levels of expenditure show the Government’s commitment to this program, to provide pathways to help young people with disabilities to access training, vocational and community venues.

“These young adults, who had been attending Special Schools and other educational settings, were more in need of vocational training and other adult options than ongoing schooling as they reached their late teens and into their 20s.

“This innovative program is opening doors for young people with disabilities, helping them to participate more fully in the community and make a successful transition to adult life. The Government is committed, through Futures for Young Adults, to supporting young people with disabilities to move from school to the adult option of their choice, and to give them the maximum chance to reach their full potential,” Dr Napthine said.

He said that the Government also spends about $38 million per year to provide programs to about 4000 people with intellectual disabilities through 140 ATSSs around the State.

Major Victorian Government reforms over the past five years had led to an enhanced quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities, Dr Napthine said.

“The Victorian Government spends some $508 million per year on services for people with a range of disabilities,” he said.

“The State Plan for Intellectual Disability Services1996/99 has made a funding commitment of an extra $82 million over the three years, taking total expenditure for intellectual disabilities in Victoria over that period to more than a billion dollars.

“The Government remains committed to reducing the number of people living in institutional settings, to providing appropriate community-based living where possible, and to help people with disabilities to achieve their maximum potential and level of independence. This extra funding for program facilities and for training and vocational centres is a key part of this commitment.”

Media inquiries:

Graeme Walker, Department of Human Services, Media Unit 9616 7296.

Scott Whiffin, Press Secretary (weekend) 9651 5799; 0412 198 947.

(F:press/Vast1W/gw/27.3.98)

****SEE THE ATTACHED THREE PAGES FOR DETAILS OF THE FUNDING PACKAGE

THE WORKS PROGRAM FUNDING IS:

FUTURES FOR YOUNG ADULTS:

Camperdown. $300,000 to buy and adapt a property to provide day programs for nine young people.Currently 16 existing clients living in Camperdown access day services in either Terang or Colac. When this new facility commences most of these clients are expected to request a day program in Camperdown resulting in the freeing up of day program places both in Colac and Terang.

Fairfield. Kew ATSS $65,000.This new ATSS facility is shortly to commence construction and this allocation will ensure that FFYA consumers will be able to access it in future years of the initiative.

Syndal. Spastic Society of Victoria $150,000. Funding will be used to fit out and use Syndal Hall and allow the adaptation and fitout of this site for use as a day program venue catering for up to 20 young people. State Government funding last year bought the property.

Box Hill. Yooralla First Base $550,000.Capital funds will enable the purchase and adaptation of a property to support the day program needs of up to 24 FFYA consumers. The agency has previously rented sites to delivery day programs.

Box Hill. Alkira ATSS $350,000. The purchase of an additional facility in the Box Hill area will allow the agency to meet the day program needs of a further 12 FFYA consumers in the Box Hill area, as well as additional resources for the more flexible delivery of day services to existing clients.

Hawthorn. Villa Maria $800,000. The agency received rental assistance in the 1996/97 financial year to establish a day service for up to 15 FFYA consumers. This $800,000 will provide a permanent facility and allow an extra 15 FFYA consumers to access day services over the next two years.

Morwell. Central Gippsland TAFE $48,000. This TAFE has providedday programs for 14 FFYA consumers and a further 10 are to attend this facility in 1998. This minor upgrade will provide additional facilities to meet the day program needs.

Bacchus Marsh. Merrimu ATSS $303,000 (plus a further $100,000 under the ATSS capital funding). This redevelopment will enable an additional 10 FFYA consumers to access day services while at the same time ensuring existing ATSS clients have access to improved day program facilities. Merrimu is contributing the balance of funds required to complete this project.

Ballarat. McCallum House ATSS $60,000. The agency provides day programs for 15 FFYA consumers, and a further five will take up places in 1998. The purchase of a relocatable building will ensure appropriate facilities.

Warracknabeal. Woodbine $10,000 rental assistance. The agency also received rental assistance in the 1996/97 financial year to establish a day program for seven FFYA consumers.

Shepparton. $290,000has been earmarked for what is identified as an area of significant need for the development of additional day service infrastructure. Funding will establish a program and provide places for 12 FFYA consumers.

Cobram. NOVAS $210,000. The agency provides day services to eight FFYA consumers living in Cobram, who travel to Numurkah each day. The establishment of an annex in Cobram will cater for them.

Swan Hill. Lady Byrnes Centre $7500. The agency provides day services for four FFYA people. This upgrade will increase the flexibility of the existing day service venue in meeting client needs.

Kyabram. Murray Human Services $300,000 to buy and adapt a property for programs for 10 young people. These clients travel to Echuca each day. The new service will meet their needs in Kyabram and free up their day program places in Echuca.

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Bendigo. Peter Harcourt Centre $39,200. The centre provides day services for eight young FFYA people. This minor upgrade will increase the flexibility of the existing day service venue in addressing consumers day program needs.

Echuca. Murray Human Services $67,395. The agency provides day services to five FFYA consumers living in the Echuca area. This minor upgrade to this site will allow increase flexibility in day programs.

Mildura. Christie Centre $11,120 rental assistance will rent a property to support the development of a new day service for eight existing FFYA consumers and a further two young people in 1998.

Northern suburbs. The Neighbourhood House Program $150,000. The program provides day programs for 20 FFYA consumers at 15 Neighbourhood Houses in the northern suburbs. The funds will allow them to do works to provide better accessibility and enhances program facilities.

Parkville. Milparinka $120,000. The agency provides day services to 10 FFYA consumers living in the Parkville/Brunswick area. The purchase of a relocatable building will meet the day program needs and provide additional capacity.

Northcote. Alpha Terrace $525,000. Funding will buy and adapt a new facility for 10 FFYA young people to replace a temporary venue in Thornbury. The new centre will allow an extra 10 FFYA consumers to access a day service over the next two years, and enable the provision of a specialist service for people with autism and challenging behaviour.

Coburg. Yooralla First Base $25,000 rent assistance. The agency runs a day service for10 FFYA consumers.

Pakenham. Minibah ATSS $200,000. The agency will extend and redevelop its building, which provides a day service for 11 FFYA consumers. The work will create extra program facilities to expand this service.

Dandenong. Yooralla First Base $500,000 to buy and adapt a property to provide day programs for 18 FFYA consumers, particularly consumers with a physical and sensory disability. This development will include some capacity for extra people in future years.

St. Albans/Sydenham. St. John of God Services $250,000, plus $32,000 rental costs. The funding will finalise the costs for a new day service facility for 34 FFYA clients. Funds of $700,000 were also approved in 1996/97, and the former Sydenham Primary School site purchased for $374,000. This extra funding will complete the building works.

Altona. Wyndham Centre $300,000, plus $20,000 rental costs. Funding will finalise a new day service facility for 28 FFYA consumers. Funds of $700,000 were also approved in 1996/97 and a portion of the former Altona Hospital site was purchased for $342,100. This extra funding will complete the building works. Some clients currently attending Wyndham ATSS in Werribee will transfer over, freeing up places there.

Melton. Merrimu Centre $320,000. to adapt a new facility for 14 FFYA clients. A former child care centre was bought from the Shire of Melton for $380,000 last year, and the extra funding of $320,000 will finalise the adaptation and fitout costs for the new program.

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(more to come - ATSS funding)

ADULT TRAINING SUPPORT SERVICE $822,937 FUNDING

Colac. Lions Adult Services $10,347 for wheelchair access and for upgrading of water services.

Geelong. Corilong Inc. $22,684 for redevelopment of the toilet facilities and a flood prevention program.

Terang. Cooinda $9496 for automatic doors to assist with client access.

Warrnambool. Yalundah $4699 for wheelchair access ramps, door modifications and disabled shower and plumbing works.

Geelong. Barwon Independent Living $2210 for general works and connections.

Hamilton. Mulleratrong $3247 for concrete parking bays and a client transit area.

Box Hill. Alkira $3500 to provide air conditioning for the senior persons facility.

Balwyn. EDAR Rochester Further Education Service $67,750 for extensions to the Rochester Rd. facility.

Surrey Hills. EDAR Surrey Hills Adult Education Service $4916 for works on floor coverings to address health and safety issues.

Ringwood East. Maroondah SCHC $25,000 to upgrade paving and the car parking area.

Oakleigh. Oakleigh Centre for Intellectually Disabled Citizens $33,500 to upgrade the access paths and toilet facilities.

Doncaster East. Onemda Assoc. $15,600 to upgrade flooring in six program areas.

Bairnsdale. Noweyung $15,845 to redevelop bathroom facilities to meet health and safety requirements.

Maffra. George Gray Centre $3916 to redevelop bathroom facilities to meet health and safety requirements.

Traralgon. Cooinda Hill $5000 to provide an all-weather entrance.

Warragul. Mawarra ATSS $6556 for an automatic door for wheelchair clients.

Morwell. Scope Inc. $2791 to redevelop the outdoor area for wheelchair clients.

Wonthaggi. Moonya ATSS $6064 for extra disabled bathroom facilities.

Bacchus Marsh. Merrimu ATSS $100,000 to redevelop the existing facilities.

Nhill. Cooinda $9290 for a verandah and covered walkway.

Alexandra. Dame Pattie Menzies $4640 to refurbish the program room.

Seymour. Goulburn Options $1840 to provide power to the workshop.

Wangaratta. Killara $22,567 to upgrade the building.

Numurkah. NOVAS $11,970 to upgrade the building.

Shepparton. GV Centre $2000 to build shade pergolas.

Bendigo. Bendigo Comm Prep Program $2770 to provide access ramps.

Echuca. Murray Human Services $19,800 to develop an outdoor recreation area.

Eltham. Araluen ATSS $55,000 for redevelopment of day service premises.

Richmond. Milparinka ATSS $27,560 for program facility upgrades and redevelopment.

Eltham. St. John of God Services $7000 to upgrade the driveway and entry.

Northcote. ARTS Project $2960 to install disabled bathroom facilities.

Mill Park. Mill Park ATSS $5000 to replace carpet.

Malvern. Caulfield Access $93,632 to upgrade the Independent Living Skills facility.

Brighton. Bayley House $54,000 to refurbish and upgrade bathroom facilities.

Pakenham. Minibah ATSS $58,600 to refurbish and upgrade bathroom facilities.

Rosebud. Wongabeena $30,000 to upgrade the driveway and entry.

Footscray. David House $55,872 to upgrade a lift, and the heating and cooling system.

East Keilor. Options for Everyone $4194 to upgrade windows and other works.

Werribee. Wyndham Centre $11,221 for general works.

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