Have you heard about the Supported Living Fund and want to know more?

It is a scheme to help people with a disability move into their own homes and gain more independent lives.

It also enables carers (especially ageing carers) to plan for the transition to the time when they will no longer be around to provide primary care for their loved one.

Family Advocacy and the NSW Council for Intellectual Disability have gone into partnership to run a series of free, supported living fund information sessions, for people with disability and their families and carers across NSW.

The first round of events will be held during February and March 2012. The second round will be during April and June.

Dates and locations for the first round are:

• Wed Feb 15 Dubbo
• Thurs Feb 16 Bathurst
• Mon Feb 20 Kingsford
• Tues Feb 21 Blacktown
• Wed Feb 22 Burwood
• Thurs Feb 23 Hornsby
• Tues Feb 28 Lismore & Wollongong
• Wed Feb 29 Coffs Harbour & Liverpool
• Thurs March 1 Armidale & Newcastle
• Fri March 2 Wyong
• Mon March 5 Wagga Wagga
• Wed March 7 Campbelltown

If none of these dates work for you, Family Advocacy can organise to provide you with the information in others ways.

Minister for Disability Services Andrew Constance said Family Advocacy, in partnership with CID, will assist people with a disability, their families and carers to build person-centred and sustainable living arrangements which are flexible and individualised.

“We have committed $60 million to the Supported Living Fund over the next five years, as part of Stronger Together 2, to provide support for 300 individuals,” Mr Constance said.

“We have listened to the community and know that access to good information and sharing stories is so important.”

Around 30 consultation sessions about supported living were held throughout the state last year which were attended by 270 people with a disability, their families and carers, advocacy groups and service providers. A web survey was also conducted with more than 100 responses received.

Expressions of interest were then called earlier this month for the first 100 Supported Living Fund places. People who are interested in supported living are now being invited to attend family information sessions over the next two months.

“This is to make sure they truly qualify and the program meets their needs,” Mr Constance said.

“We hope support will commence for those selected individuals by the end of June.”

A further round of expressions of interest will be conducted later this year for the second year intake of 100 places.

Mr Constance said that the Supported Living Fund is a great new example of a person centred approach which places people with a disability at the centre of decision making about their lives.

For information session details call Family Advocacy on 9869 0866 or 1800 620 588.

Family Advocacy is an independent, disability advocacy organisation which works across NSW.

The organisation works with families in which there is a child or an adult with developmental disability.

Their vision is of families being agents of positive social change so the inherent value of people with developmental disability is recognised within a just and inclusive society.

Their mission is to attain positive social roles for people who have a developmental disability through the development and support of advocacy by families and by strengthening the knowledge, role and influence of the family.

Their focus is to encourage and support families to speak up for opportunities for people with developmental disability to enjoy the same environment, lifestyle and living conditions that are available to the majority of Australians. This means they support the philosophy and practice of inclusion.

Family Advocacy has members and allies in all parts of NSW and across Australia.

Business hours are from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. No referral is required Information and telephone advice is provided at no cost to families of people with disability.

Read more about eligibility for the Supported Living Fund.

Click here for a plain English version about supported living which can easily be shared with people who have a learning impairment.