The recent announcement of 14,000 additional Home Care Packages from the 2018-19 Federal Budget is very welcomed news. We’re proud to be supporting Australians to live independently in their homes for longer. This increase to allocated packages means that more people will move off the waiting list and receive packages which can be tailored to meet their needs. This in turn gives Lifebridge increased confidence to grow and expand its services and programs to meet the needs of its customers. It is reassuring to see the Government allocating resources to areas where it is needed so service providers like Lifebridge can make a positive difference in people’s lives.
Equally reassuring is the commitment to increase funding to the NDIS by 23% between 2018 and 2021. It is intended that all Australians will be able to access the NDIS by 2020. The benefits of having a National Scheme means consistency across borders and hopefully less complications and confusion across the States. Currently 140,000 Australians receive NDIS funding in regions where the scheme has been rolled out.
We are pleased to announce that Lifebridge has recently attained NDIS provider registration in Queensland. The National Disability Insurance Scheme commences roll-out in Queensland effective 1st July 2018. We will provide further information regarding our Queensland services and programs in future newsletters.
The result of these announcements is an opportunity for providers to adapt and grow. To provide services differently and to be innovative in a changing marketplace. At Lifebridge, there are many changes happening both internally and externally to accommodate the changing environment. All of these changes are intended to build upon the services and experience you receive at Lifebridge.
We’re passionate about what we do and we enjoy being a part of your journey and I would like to thank you for sharing them with us. We’re very proud to be your provider of choice in this new market.