Budget boost for Bowen disability services as NDIS gets closer

North Queensland disability and community care services providers Bowen Flexi Care and Blue Care will benefit from more than $1.7 million in Palaszczuk Government funding to support local people with disability.

Disability Services Minister and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke said the funding was part of a $1.7 billion allocation for disability services in this year’s State Budget, which reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to improving the lives of people with disability.

“We know how important these services are to local people with disability, which is why we have allocated more than $1.43 million to Bowen Flexi Care and more than $293,000 to Blue Care,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“This funding will help both organisations to deliver specialist disability services, including in-home supports and community access, and for Bowen Flexi Care to deliver respite services.

“Above all, this funding will help to develop creative solutions and tailored strategies to support local clients achieve their goals.”

Mrs O’Rourke said it was an exciting time for people with disability in Bowen, as the region moved closer to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which would start rolling out locally from November.

“Around 3160 people with disability in the greater Mackay-Whitsunday region will be among the first Queenslanders to benefit from the NDIS, entering the scheme in the first year of transition,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“The NDIS will give local people with disability much greater choice and control over their disability services and supports, and increase their social and economic participation in the community.

“Once fully operational, the scheme will generate up to 19,400 new jobs in our state’s disability sector, and up to 550 of these jobs could be created in the Mackay-Whitsunday region.”

Bowen Flexi Care Service Manager Mandy Edwards said Flexi Care had provided services to people of all ages in Bowen since 1995 and looked forward to expanding their services under the NDIS.

“We are delighted the NDIS is coming to Bowen soon and that many more people with disability will be able to receive the kinds of services and supports they need,” Ms Edwards said.

“We look forward to expanding our services and working with many new people as well as continuing to work with the people we currently support.”

For further information on the NDIS visit www.ndis.gov.au or call the NDIA Hotline on 1800 800 110.

Media Contact:                                  Minister O’Rourke’s office                  3719 7170