Making A Difference
What is the Making a Difference program?
Making a Difference is a family centred program which provides support to families caring for people with moderate to severe disabilities and/or high support needs aged 6-65.The impact of disability varies. Many families may find they cannot readily obtain the services they require to meet their needs. More flexible services with a wider variety of choices may be required.
What does the Making a Difference Program provide?
The Making a Difference Program provides Case Managers to work in partnership with families to identify needs and co-ordinate services and resources to ensure that quality of life is enhanced. Families may be linked into a number of existing services or funds may be available to purchase service.
A key aim of the program is to provide a flexible range of services to ensure individual needs are met. The program also aims to support families in their decision making and enable them to continue caring for their child/adult in the most effective and least stressful way possible.
Making a Difference also provides:
- Information & referral
- Co-ordination of services
- Family support
- Advocacy
- Planning for future needs*
*This may include education, financial planning, future accommodation.
Where additional supports are required, discretionary funds may be used to purchase services and/or contribute to the cost of equipment and modifications.
These may include:
- Additional assistance in the home at peak times, eg. bath time, meals, shopping
- In and out-of-home respite to give families a break
- Support with recreation & leisure activities for the child/adult with disabilities
- Holiday support
- Specialised aids & equipment
- Reimbursement of carer expenses
- Professional support, e.g. counseling referral, therapy service
Who Is eligible?
You may be eligible if:
- Your family member is aged 6-65 years
- Your family member has moderate to severe disabilities and/or complex support needs
Priority is given to families:
- Caring for a family member with severe and/or multiple disabilities
- Families with more than one family member with disabilities
- Families requiring intensive support
- When the carer is over 60 years of age
Disabilities may include, Physical, Intellectual, Sensory, Neurological Impairment or Acquired Brain Injury.
Fee for Service Case Management
People may also purchase our case management services privately or via an existing Individualised Support Package, or through other fee-paying arrangements.