Our Disability Services programs will now be delivered via our Hubs situated at the following locations:

• Tweed Heads Hub within Seagulls Club, Gollan Drive, Tweed Heads\
• Murwillumbah Hub, 1/131 Murwillumbah Street, Murwillumbah
• Chinderah Hub, 1st Chinderah Scout Hall, 2A Chinderah Road, Chinderah

Disability Services Support Coordinators are primarily based at each of these Hubs and can be contacted either by phone or email.

Earlier in the year we also introduced a dedicated Customer Service Hub located at our Coolangatta Office, 100 Griffith Street, Coolangatta. This Hub is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm and assists with all general enquiries, transport and rostering.

Aged Care Services continue to operate from The Cottage, at Kingscliff. Here you will also find the Lifebridge business administrative functions and the Aged Care team.

A reminder, if you’re sending us mail to please send all mail correspondence to our postal address – PO Box 338, Tweed Heads, NSW 2485. All general email enquiries please send through to admin@lifebridge.org.au

Our freecall telephone number is still the same 1800 043 186 and our website address is lifebridge.org.au

AFTER HOURS SUPPORT

A reminder to only contact the after-hours numbers on weekends and out of normal day program operational hours, which are 8.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday. This will ensure your request is actioned appropriately and in a timely manner.

• Aged Care Services – 0400 087 077
• Disability Services – 0400 288 344

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While implementation has initially been with Disability Services, Aged Care Services will also transition in the coming months. I’m confident this too, will be a seamless transition with little to no disruption to daily services.

Another major milestone achieved this month was the successful transition of Disability Services from our Caloola premises, home since December 2014, to our new community integrated Hubs model. We have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback we have received from customers, carers and the community alike who have all embraced the change and provided us with wonderful accounts of customers selling their artwork, successfully navigating the public transport system and enthusiastically participating in performance events at Seagulls to name but a few.

I’m also excited to share a new program of ours along with our brand new promotional video, ‘Move to the Groove’. This fantastic video captures the Groovers as they do their warm up Tai Chi before dancing to upbeat contemporary jams. Participants support each other as they learn the steps, have a laugh and get moving. Check out the full story and video online.

Finally, I take this opportunity to thank you again for your ongoing support of Lifebridge. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we transition and transform our business to ensure its viability and sustainability. We are all working extremely hard to ensure our success in to the future.

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The Let’s Cook Group is an all-inclusive, practical hands-on program designed to help you reach your culinary potential. Learn how to prepare fresh healthy, nutritional meals that you can share with your family and friends in a social, friendly environment.

Throughout the program you will learn the basics of food nutrition and how to budget your meals. You will also increase your independent shopping skills.

Currently, the Let’s Cook Group work together with the local community and homeless services to prepare and share meals at Coolangatta. This partnership provides the Let’s Cook Group participants with the opportunity to make a difference in our community.

If you are interested in joining the Tuesday Let’s Cook Group please contact Lifebridge on 1800 043 186.

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If you’re in the process of transitioning to the NDIS you’ve undoubtedly heard the phrase ‘reasonable and necessary’, and probably with great prolificacy at that. But what does ‘reasonable and necessary’ mean and why is it important to understand?

‘Reasonable and necessary’ is important to understand because it’s by this determination that the NDIS provides funding for your supports.

If you have a disability that is likely to be permanent and significant the NDIS will fund reasonable and necessary supports to help you to reach your goals and aspirations, and to take part in activities that increase your social and economic participation.

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) makes its decisions on what is determined ‘reasonable and necessary’, based on the NDIS Scheme Act (2013) and the rules made under the NDIS Act. There are also operational guidelines which provide practical guidance for decision makers.

As defined by the NDIS ‘reasonable and necessary’ is defined as:

Reasonable: Something that is fair
Necessary: Something you must have

This will be different for everyone.

In its determination, the NDIS will review what formal and informal supports you already have in place. Formal supports are those delivered to you via a skilled professional including providers or practitioners, and informal supports are those delivered via your support network such as parents, carer’s or family members.

A reasonable and necessary support will be that in which helps you to reach your goal and aspirations, be more independent, take part in social activities and work, actively take part in the community and or enjoy an ordinary life.

When does this take place?

When you attend your planning meeting, the NDIA Planner or Local Area Coordinator, will gather information pertaining to your individual circumstances including an overview about you, where you live, the people who support you and your daily life. From this they will determine which supports are reasonable and necessary to your situation. When assessing what is reasonable and necessary, they will be evaluating whether a support request is:

• related to your disability & doesn’t include day-to-day living costs not related to your disability support needs
• represents value for money
• is likely to be effective and work for you

Once determined, these supports will be allocated in your NDIS Plan and you will have the choice of which providers you will like to deliver services to you.

If you require additional information or further clarification regarding ‘reasonable and necessary supports’, please contact Lifebridge on 1800 043 186.

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