New service to help Central Qld people with a disability

A new disability service planned for the Fitzroy/Central West region will be outlined at a free public information session in Biloela next week.

Disability Services Minister Warren Pitt said Disability Services Queensland’s successful Local Area Coordination (LAC) program was being introduced to the area as part of a statewide expansion.

“Since being piloted six years ago, the LAC program has grown around the state and we are now expanding it even further,” Mr Pitt said.

“The LAC is an innovative program that departs from the traditional approach of either providing or funding disability services.

“It supports people with a disability and their families by providing information and support and by strengthening their connections with the community.

“It has proven particularly effective at regional level in improving the quality of life of people with a disability and I am confident people in the Biloela area will benefit enormously from it.”

The LAC program currently operates in 30 locations throughout the state and employs 43 people.

Under a $1 million expansion, which brings the program’s total funding to $6.3 million, an extra seven people will be employed in four new locations (Fitzroy/Central West, Darling Downs/South West, Wide Bay Burnett and Mackay/Whitsunday regions) and two existing locations (far north Queensland and Wide Bay Burnett regions).

“The expansion of the LAC program means an estimated 300 extra individuals or families will be able to access local area coordination in regional and remote communities,” Mr Pitt said.

“This is another example of the Queensland Government’s strong commitment to improving the quality of life of people with a disability and building supportive communities.”

The information sessions at Biloela will take place at the Biloela Civic Centre on the corner of Prairie and Rainbow streets on Tuesday, 27 February, from 1pm to 3pm and 7pm to 8.30pm.

The sessions will discuss the aims of the program, the role of local area coordinators and how the program will work in communities. For more information, phone 4982 2465.

Media contact: Peter Nibbs 3235 4280