Disability sector grant recipients announced

Posted 3 years ago by Rebecca St Clair
“I have spent four years trying to turn a vision into reality, and I now have [the] opportunity to move this forward.” (Source: iStock)
“I have spent four years trying to turn a vision into reality, and I now have [the] opportunity to move this forward.” (Source: iStock)

National social enterprise Community Business Bureau (CBB) has announced the first round of recipients to receive up to six months of direct business support, as part of the organisation’s Federal Government funded interactive learning program, NDIS Success.

CBB General Manager, Consulting and Business Services, Jane Arnott, says, “This direct business consulting opportunity helps these organisations take what they’ve learned through our webinar series and apply that knowledge to advance a number of very exciting projects and plans they have in the pipeline.

“We have been overwhelmed by the interest received during our first round of NDIS Success, from small to medium organisations across Australia wanting to adapt and scale services, as well as larger organisations wanting to fast-track their efforts to deliver on the needs of Australians living with disability.

“Those who successfully completed the program were invited to apply for direct business consulting support to help them take their ideas to the next step of development, and the many applications we received showcased ingenuity, commitment and innovation at its finest.”

As a round one mentoring recipient, Orana Care Managing Director, Dawn Inman-Wyness says tapping into the CBB team’s experience would help advance plans to establish purpose-built care homes across Victoria for younger people diagnosed with early-onset dementia.

“There are no care homes specifically designed to help younger people with early-onset dementia anywhere in Victoria which means a person as young as 20 has little choice but to go into an aged care facility – if they are fortunate enough to find a vacancy at all. 

“I have spent four years trying to turn a vision into reality, and I now have [the] opportunity to move this forward. It’s an extremely exciting opportunity for my organisation and will deliver a solution that addresses a growing unmet need in the community.”

Another successful round one recipient was Austour, with General Manager Glenda Ashton saying the organisation planned to use the mentoring opportunity to explore the expansion of its current tour operations so that people living with disability can travel.

“Australia has arguably some of the most magnificent natural wonders on the planet, and we want to use accessible all-terrain vehicles specifically designed for adult wheelchair users, so they can comfortably explore Uluru and other outback destinations which, until now, would not have been easily accessible.

“We are also keen to explore offering short break tours in regional destinations for adults living with physical and intellectual disabilities who want to see the most remote parts of this country but until now have had to miss out because the support they need to enjoy a holiday is just not easily accessed.”

Physiotherapists, speech and occupational therapists, medical practitioners, and podiatrists were among an array of participants who accumulated more than 800 webinar views in the initial round of NDIS Success, gaining valuable insight into the critical steps needed to thrive and grow in the NDIS environment from a panel of expert presenters.

Dozens of organisations who completed the program went on to apply for the Federally funded direct business consulting opportunity, with the following organisations announced as the initial recipients:

  • Orana Care and Consulting

  • Austour

  • Aboriginal Family Support Services

  • Baptist Care SA

  • Project Independence

  • Clubhouse SA Inc Diamond House

  • The Junction Cairns

  • The Aṉangu Ngangkaṟi Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation (ANTAC)

Round two registrations for NDIS Success are now open for organisations. You can read more about the next round of NDIS Success here.