People with Disability

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is funded by the Commonwealth Government.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is the Commonwealth Government Agency that oversees the NDIS.

To learn more about disability in Darebin, download our 'Disability in Darebin information guide' here

Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL) and the NDIS roll-out in North East Melbourne Area 
Since July 2016, the BSL has been delivering Local Area Coordination (LAC) supports across Darebin, Yarra, Nillumbik, Whittlesea and Banyule. If you live with disability, they will support you to identify and pursue your lifestyle goals by developing a plan and linking you to mainstream or community services.
NDIS participants who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander can ask to talk to a member of the BSL NDIS Aboriginal Participation Team. 

BSL are also providing Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) supports. ECEI services support children 0-6 years with a disability or developmental delay and their parent/carers to get information and access to supports.

How to contact the BSL NDIS Team:
Phone: 1300 BSL NDIS (1300 275 634) / 1300 BSL ECEI (1300 275 323)
Email: ndis.info@bsl.org.au / NDIS.feedback@bsl.org.au
Or drop into one of their offices during business hours:
- Banyule and Nillumbik - 65 Main Street, Greensborough
- Darebin -  293 High Street, Preston
- Whittlesea - 1/1 Latitude Drive, Thomastown  
- Yarra - 95 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

NDIS information sessions, forums and events: if you are aware of an NDIS event please contact us to have the details listed below: 

NDIS Webinars
The NDIS regularly run online webinars where people can watch a panel discussion online and contribute questions via email, text message and social media.
To find out when the next webinar is on and how to participate in a live webinar click here or to access old webinars click here.

NDIS pre-planning supports
The following Disability Services Organisations (DSO) can provide support to people with disabilities and their carers to prepare for transition to the NDIS by building up skills and feeling more confident:

• Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL) - Pre-planning and plan implementation workshops are being run weekly across all of the BSL office sites.
• VALID - support groups for people with disabilities, their family members and supports include 'Peer Action Groups' and 'Families as Planning Partners'. 
  Further information: contact VALID at office@valid.org.au or phone 9416 4003
  
• Association for Children with a Disability (ACD) - ACD CONNECT is a free workshop series for families with a child with a disability 18 years of age and under, who may transition to the NDIS.
  Further information: call 9880 7000 to speak with an ACD Connect facilitator
• Down Syndrome Victoria - NDISandME Groups: for people with Down Syndrome and their carers
  Further information: email your contact details to ndissupport@dsav.asn.au

Unhappy about an NDIS related decision?
NDIS review and appeals flow chart
NDIS: Who to make a complaint to
Review of NDIS decisions
Disability Services Commissioner (DSC) can help people who have a complaint about a disability service funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Disability Insurance Scheme or the Transport Accident Commission. 

NDIS Reviews and Appeal Support
A number of Victorian providers offer advocacy and support assistance to NDIS participants who are seeking review of NDIA decisions through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). The services of a support person are provided by the National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP). Access to a skilled support worker to act as an advocate is available, as well as, in the case of complex and novel legal issues, access to legal assistance. You can look up providers on the National Disability Advocacy Finder. 
All services provided under NDIS Appeals are free of charge. An NDIS Appeals pamphlet (also available in easy English) has been developed that briefly explains the process. There is also an NDIS Appeals Fact Sheet available with more information.

Victorian NDIS Appeals Providers are:
• Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities (ADEC)
• Action for More Independence & Dignity in Accommodation Inc.
• AED Legal
• Disability Justice Advocacy
• Leadership Plus
• Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council Inc. (VMIAC)
Further information: on NDIS Appeals can be found on the Department of Social Services website. 

More information about the NDIS
Resources in other languages, Plain and easy English
Support communicating with the NDIA (video)
NDIS Easy English fact sheets for participants
NDIS information in languages other than English - Arabic, Hindi, Vietnamese, simple and traditional Chinese, Filipino, French, Greek, Italian, Macedonian and Samoan
What are reasonable and necessary supports? (easy English)
What if I'm not happy with the NDIS (plain English)

General NDIS information
Auslan: NDIS explained (video)
NDIS Victoria
Disability Loop
Every Australian Counts
Interface with mainstream services fact sheets 
Changes to the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program

Resources for participants (people with a disability) - What is the NDIS?
Accessing the NDIS (video)
My NDIS Pathway - A Guide to being an NDIS Participant
NDIS Tip Sheet for Deaf community
What are Reasonable and Necessary Supports? (video)
The NDIS for Women with Disabilities

Writing Your Plan
Developing your NDIS Plan (video)
Developing Your Plan
Getting Ready for your Planning Conversation
Developing you child's participant statement
Understanding your plan and supports
'Picture My Future' planning toolkit 

Starting Your First Plan
Understanding Your NDIS Plan
Starting Your Plan (video)
Starting Your Plan
Starting Your Plan with a Support Coordinator
Starting Your Plan with a Local Area Coordinator (LAC)
Starting Your Plan as an NDIS Self Managed participant

Choice and Control over your NDIS Plan
Choice and Control - Fact sheet on managing your funding
Consumers with disability - The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) have developed resources to assist consumers with disability to navigate the market and know their rights. 
'It's My Choice' Toolkit
Finding and Engaging Providers
'Choosing a Service Provider'
Clickability - An Australian Disability Service Directory featuring ratings and reviews from the people who actually use the services. 
Care Navigator - A directory for people to search, review and find NDIS providers.

Resources for parents/families of young children (0 - 12 years old)
Accessing Supports for my Child
Early Childhood Early Intervention (video)
How the NDIS can help your child guide
NDIS4Kids online resource for families of children with a disability aged 0-6 years of age
Early Childhood Intervention Services transition to NDIS
Raising Children Network NDIS resources for parents of children aged 0 - 6 years
Choosing an NDIS Service Provider for a child aged 0 - 6 years old 

Resources for carers - carers cannot join the NDIS, however there are rules which outline how carers should be involved in the assessment and planning of the person they care for. There are also supports available through the NDIS which can help carers in their caring role, either directly or indirectly.
Carer Gateway
Carers and Families in the NDIS
Peer Conversation Partners
NDIS Guide and Checklist for Mental Health Carers

Resources for service providers
National Disability Services (NDS)
NDS NDIS Helpdesk - An online state-wide Q&A forum with the single focus of helping providers successfully transition to the NDIS
NDIS service provider readiness toolkit
Working with the NDIS - Information for service providers
Disability Services Consulting

Darebin Access and Inclusion Plan 2015-2019 – Towards an Inclusive City

The goals of the Plan are:

• Goal 1 – Liveable housing and safe public places
• Goal 2 – Accessible transport and freedom of movement
• Goal 3 – The right to education, employment and pathways to well being
• Goal 4 – An amplified voice in public affairs and decision-making
• Goal 5 – The right to a creative and dynamic city with quality services
• Goal 6 – Freedom from discrimination into the future

Darebin Access and Inclusion Plan 2015 - 2019 MASTER DOCUMENT
Darebin Access and Inclusion Plan 2015 - 2019 ACTION PLAN
Darebin Access and Inclusion Plan 2015 - 2019 MASTER DOCUMENT Large Print
Darebin Access and Inclusion Plan 2015 - 2019 ACTION PLAN Large Print

Further Information:
Senior Team Leader Access & Inclusion
Ph: 8470 8315
Email: katherine.kiley@darebin.vic.gov.au 

Victoria also has its own state disability plan 2017 - 2020. The Victorian Government  are committed to a range of actions for achieving greater inclusion, in partnership with the community. The plan tackles the negative attitudes and barriers that more than one million Victorians with a disability deal with on a daily basis. It is available in a number of accessible formats:
- Victoria’s state disability plan 2017–2020 PDF
- Summary of Victoria’s state disability plan 2017–2020 PDF
- Audio summary of Absolutely everyone
- Easy English of Absolutely everyone
- Auslan translation of Absolutely everyone

Subscribe to our monthly Disability Access e-Newsletter to stay up to date with news and events. 

Changing Places

The Darebin City Council Plan 2017 -2021 includes a commitment to build four Changing Places in Darebin over the next four years. Preston will soon have a brand new changing place facility at the corner of Gower Street and Kelvin Grove after Council successfully applied for funding from the Victorian Government. The facility is one of 26 new locations announced for changing places in Victoria as part of a program to create more accessible toilets to meet the needs of people with a disability and their carers. Each facility has a height adjustable adult-sized changing bench, a tracking hoist system, space for two or more people and provides a safer and cleaner environment. Council has committed to building a further three new changing place facilities in Darebin over the next four years. Construction of the central Preston facility is set to begin in December 2018.

The Darebin Disability Advisory Committee
The The Darebin Disability Advisory Committee (DDAC) provides advice to Council on issues relating to access and inclusion for people with disabilities and carers living, working, studying or visiting Darebin. DDAC is made up of people with a lived experience of disability, people who care for someone with a disability, local disability service providers, Council staff, and representation from the Darebin Council. The committee also has a role in promoting and advocating for better access and equity within Council and monitors the implementation of the Darebin Access and Inclusion Plan 2015 – 2019.

Some current community capacity building programs and opportunities for people with disability to get involved include: 

Bandmates Victoria
Bandmates is a program that matches volunteers with people over 18 with disability or mental health issues, to go out to live music.
- Are you a young person over 18 with a disability or mental health issue that wants to see live music?
- Want to meet a person who has the same musical interest as you?
- Bandmates will meet and talk with you and match you with a volunteer of your choice
To get involved: contact the Bandmates Victoria Officer at Maribyrnong Council on 0437 161 061, email bandmatesvic@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au or website. 

Enabling Women Leadership Program
Enabling Women is a community leadership program targeting women with disabilities to have a voice about issues that relate to them and other women with disabilities. The Program empowers women to build upon their advocacy skills and voice to advocate for themselves and others. It has a focus on natural leadership, building self-confidence and discusses ways to contribute to the local community as a woman with a disability. The program has come to the inner north Melbourne metropolitan area with the collective support and enthusiasm of Darebin City Council, City of Yarra and Moreland City Council, Women’s Health in the North in partnership with Women with Disabilities Victoria. 

Further Information:
Senior Team Leader Access & Inclusion
Katie Kiley
Ph: 03 8470 8315
Email: katherine.kiley@darebin.vic.gov.au

Access for All Abilities
RecLink Australia is funded by the Access for All Abilities program to act as the first point of call for people with disabilities looking for sporting opportunities, through the provision of Access for All Abilities Play.

AAA Play is a free information and referral service. Visit the AAA Play website or call today to discover the range of sports and active recreation activities close to your home for people of all abilities.

AAA Play
Ph: 1800 222 842
Email: request@aaavic.org.au

Promoting Inclusion in Sport

The Access for All Guide provides advice, ideas, contacts and practical ways that your club or community group can become more inclusive of people with a disability.

Deaf, Speech or Hearing Impaired Support
If you are deaf, or have a hearing impairment or speech impairment, contact us through the National Relay Service.

• TTY (Hearing Impaired): Phone 133 677 and ask for 03 8470 8888
• Speak and Listen: Phone 1300 555 727 and ask for 03 8470 8888
• Internet Relay: Connect to Internet Relay and enter 03 8470 8888

Accessible Documents
All Council documents and publications are available in alternative formats upon request. Formats available include large print, electronic (CD or email), audio and hard copy.
To request a publication/document in an alternative format contact:
Customer Service
Ph: 8470 8888

Hearing Augmentation
Council Chambers located on High Street, Preston features an audio loop that allows people with hearing aids to hear better. Preston Shire Hall and Preston City Hall are fitted with portable hearing loops. 

Auslan Sign Language Interpreters
Sign Language interpreters are available for Deaf residents to allow them to participate in Council meetings, forums, community consultation and general Council events.

To organise an Auslan Interpreter contact:
Customer Service
Ph: 8470 8888
Email: mailbox@darebin.vic.gov.au 

Website
The Darebin City Council Website has been designed to ensure content is available to all users including those with visual, motor or cognitive disabilities. We are continually assessing the accessibility standards and making changes as required to ensure the website maintains a minimum level AA compliance.

Visit the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) website for more information on accessible websites.

How do I apply for a disability parking permit?

• Download an application form from Parking Permits.
• Call Customer Service on (03) 8470 8888 for a hard copy
• Visit any Darebin Customer Service Centre to obtain an application form

What's Happening in Darebin?
At any given time there are numerous events, activities and programs running all over Darebin. Many of these can be found on our website.

• Our Community Calendar lists a wide range of events and activities happening across Darebin. These events are posted by community organisations and service providers themselves, and when published can be viewed by the public. You can also add your events to this calendar.
• Our Annual events program lists a range of events that are hosted or supported by Darebin Council. Visit the program to help planning your own events calendar as well as to find the contact details for each event.
• Sign up for our Disability Access e-newsletter in Council newsletters and select 'Disability Access Update'.
• Get to know what business, activities and facilities are available in Darebin by visiting our Community Portal. You can also add your details to this directory, by completing the online registration form.

How can I complain if treated unfairly by Darebin Council because of my disability?
If you are unhappy with a service provided by Council you can make a complaint by talking to us in person, by phone, letter, fax, or online. If you are unsure which area you need to speak to, phone Darebin Customer Service. If you still do not have your complaint answered, you can contact Senior Team Leader Access & Inclusion for advice and further assistance.

Further Information:
Senior Team Leader Access & Inclusion
Katie Kiley
Ph: 03 8470 8315
Email: katherine.kiley@darebin.vic.gov.au