NDIS Options and Services Expand in Ballarat

View the original story from Siobhan Calafiore in the Ballarat Courier

Ballarat will have more options and services from National Disability Insurance Scheme providers as Noah’s Ark looks to expand its services.

The organisation provides early intervention services for children from birth to eight years old who have a developmental delay or disability.

The Noah’s Ark Ballarat branch was set up 12 months ago and recently expanded its services by adding a speech therapist and occupational therapist.

The Ballarat branch also has access to the broader Noah’s Ark family, which includes physiotherapists, psychologists and social workers.

All families are funded through packages under the NDIS, with the community organisation previously funded under the state system.

Team leader Sue Martin said Noah’s Ark added a Ballarat branch to offer extra support services in the region to allow families more choice and control under the NDIS funding.

Ms Martin said one of the organisation’s key focuses was building strong relationships with clients to be able to fit in with their lifestyle and needs, while recognising every family was different.

“One of the first things we do is sit down with the families and work through everything that’s happening for them in their day and really try to build that understanding on how we can support them,” Ms Martin told The Courier.

“We work under what is called the key worker model – so a family is allocated one worker, who is the conduit for all of the learning.

We provide families with strategies and supports they can use all day everyday in their child’s learning to help them with their development.

“We work with families in their own home and in (familiar) environments whether it’s child care, kinder or schools.”

Ms Martin said the branch was keen to build its client base as it continued to expand its team and services.