New service to help Wide Bay Burnett people with a disability

A new disability service planned for the Wide Bay Burnett region will be outlined at free public information sessions in Gin Gin and Childers next month.

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

The existing service in Murgon will also be enhanced with an extra LAC supervisor position.

“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 Wide Bay Burnett area will benefit enormously from its expansion.”

The LAC 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 (the 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 Gin Gin will take place at the Gin Gin Youth Centre on Station Street on Friday, 2 March, from 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 8.30pm. The Childers sessions will be held at the Cultural Centre on Churchill Street on Tuesday, 6 March, from 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 8.30pm.

For more information, phone 4124 8216.

Media contact: Peter Nibbs 3235 4280