A FORUM in Dubbo this week seeks to get Western region residents ready for the arrival of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in July 2017.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Almost 320 Indigenous and non-Indigenous delegates will be joined by service providers at the Building Kinnections Forum 2 on Wednesday and Thursday at Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre.
The first forum in December 2015 attracted more than 280 people keen to learn about NDIS and how it could help them.
Organising the forum this week is the Dubbo-based Disability Information Group (DIG), including representatives from the community, service providers and organisations such as National Disability Services (NDS) and the NSW Department of Family and Community Services.
It will feature addresses by people "navigating the NDIS in the Hunter region" and offer practical skills and knowledge on how people with disability, families, carers and community will be supported by the scheme.
Service providers will learn from Aboriginal leaders about the culturally-appropriate skills they will need to support Aboriginal people.
The 2011 Census revealed that one in three Aboriginal people were experiencing a long-term condition or disability in their lives.
DIG reports that despite the high rates of disability within Aboriginal communities, Aboriginal people access "very few services or supports".
The Department of Family and Community Services has been encouraging Aboriginal residents in the region's remote communities to take part in the forum that it describes as "a cultural safe place".
It has offered them support in obtaining accommodation for the two-day forum.
"Family and Community Services hopes this forum will continue to lead the way in supporting our mob with disability in their communities their way and educate our community members on the fast approaching NDIS," said Nattlie Smith, the department's manager of Aboriginal Disability Projects.
Ray Peckham, Indigenous regional co-ordinator for NDS, the peak body for non-government disability services, said DIG wanted delegates to leave the forum with a better understanding of the NDIS.
"We are hoping to get them ready for when it comes out west in July 2017," he said.
The forum will include a Welcome to Country by Lewis Burns, a Sorry Day celebration by Maurice Wright, dancers and bands.
