Broken Hill’s Interhealth Family Practice has received $19,500 in Federal Government assistance to support its transition into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The organisation is one of the successful recipients sharing in $5.6 million under the first round of Transition Assistance Funding, through the Boosting the Local Care Workforce program.

Member for Parkes Mark Coulton, who visited the organisation in Broken Hill today, said the grants are designed to support a skilled and sustainable NDIS workforce in communities across the country.

“These funds will help Interhealth Family Practice transition to the market-driven NDIS model, and I’m very pleased the Broken Hill community stands to benefit,” Mr Coulton said.

“This will ultimately empower people with disability by providing them with more choice when it comes to support options.

“Local providers can use the funding for tailored business advice, software upgrades and other one-on-one support that will help them to transition from block funding to the consumer-driven model of the NDIS.

“The NDIS provides a great opportunity for local businesses, and these grants will give them a hand up when it comes to having the tools and capabilities needed to deliver first-class support to NDIS participants.

“I strongly encourage eligible organisations in the Parkes electorate to apply for future funding rounds, with the next one opening later this year.”

The objective of the Transition Assistance Funding is to help providers transition to the NDIS while also creating more jobs in the disability and aged care sectors, particularly within regional, rural and outer metropolitan areas across Australia.

Providers are encouraged to visit the Boosting the Local Care Workforce website at blcw.dss.gov.au, to access business resources, including the NDIS Demand Map and the NDIS readiness assessment tool.

Photo Caption: Member for Parkes Mark Coulton with Heather Attard, Interhealth Manager.