Supported Living Fund applications are closing on Friday 7 September 2012.

People who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders, and those who are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD), have a special allocation of packages dedicated to them.

The roll out of Supported Living Fund packages is also being complemented by information sessions for families and carers in several areas of NSW – but only in August (this month). See further down in this story for locations and dates.

So, if you are an individual with disability, or a carer or family member of a person with disability, now is the time to get cracking with your application.

You only have a few weeks to research your application and get it in to be considered. You can email or post your application. Choose the ‘e-form’ PDF if you want to lodge electronically and the ‘printed form’ PDF if you want to fill out a hard copy and post it.

You will find the forms by clicking this link:

http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/individuals/support/somewhere_to_live/slfregistrations.

If you applied in Round 1 and missed out, you can reapply again for Round 2 funding. You can use your old submission, or update it, or lodge a completely new submission. But your application won’t automatically be re-submitted – you actually have to lodge it again.

The Supported Living Fund is a new type of accommodation funding. It enables people with a disability, along with their family and carers, to create living arrangements that suit the person’s life and preferences, gives access to paid supports and services, and helps to plan for their future. The funding is portable, so it remains with the individual if they move, and is administered by a service provider of the person’s choice.

There are only 100 SLF Round 2 packages available in 2012/13.

These 100 packages will be rolled out in a two-stage process, in recognition that the Round 1 intake process produced a high number of applicants, many of whom demonstrated a high level of suitability and readiness to take up a package immediately.

Stage 1: 75 places will be allocated by October 2012; and

Stage 2: 25 places for individuals from Aboriginal and CALD backgrounds will be allocated by December 2012. The allocation of the 25 packages will reflect the population distribution of Aboriginal and CALD people in each region.

Note that the two stages will have separate intake periods. This does not preclude people from Aboriginal and CALD backgrounds from applying in Stage 1 and being allocated a package.

Timelines for SLF Round 2 Intake Process 2012/13

Please click on the link below to view the Vision Flowchart diagram of the application process:

Visio Flowchart

Application process

As with SLF Round 1, the SLF Proposal Form is the official application form for Round 2. Regional SLF Intake Panels (Accommodation Committees) will use the information contained in this Proposal Form to assess and prioritise SLF applicants.

ADHC will be accepting applications from new applicants and people who were unsuccessful in their application for the Supported Living Fund in Round 1.

Please note that in Round 2 there will be no Expression of Interest process preceding the submission of Proposals.

To apply for the Supported Living Fund applicants will need to submit an application form called My Proposal. As mentioned, there is an electronic version of the form OR a printed version which can be accessed from the ADHC website.

Applicants are encouraged to read information about the Supported Living Fund which is also available on the ADHC website.

This information will assist them in deciding if they are interested in applying for the Supported Living Fund. There is also a lot of information in plain English on the website, so look for the links to the “plain English” versions.

Here is the website once again:

http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/individuals/support/somewhere_to_live/slfregistrations.

Should applicants have questions about completing the Proposal Form, they can contact Carers NSW on 1800 242 636 from Monday to Friday, 9-5pm.

Closing dates for Round 2 Proposal Forms are 5pm Friday 7 September 2012 for printed forms (postal submission), and midnight Friday 7 September 2012 for electronic forms (email submission). Please see Proposal Form for detailed instructions. Applications will NOT be accepted by fax.

SLF Round 1 unsuccessful applicants

All previous applicants will have four options:

1. to use their previous Proposal without change (ADHC already has a copy);

2. to re-submit their Round 1 Proposal with changes to their previous responses;

3. to lodge a completely new Proposal Form; or

4. to opt out of applying for Round 2.

Information has been posted to all unsuccessful Round 1 applicants with information about the re-application process.

Carers NSW’s SLF information sessions – August 2012

As with Round 1, the roll out of Supported Living Fund packages will be complemented by information sessions on the SLF for families and carers in August 2012. While these workshops are not compulsory, families and carers are encouraged to attend where possible to learn more about the fund and how to apply.

Carers NSW will deliver the information sessions and a flyer is also available on the ADHC website.

The free sessions run from 10am-2pm and are being held in the following locations:

Register for these sessions online at www.carersnsw.asn.au

Or, contact Carers NSW by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or calling 1800 242 636. If you can’t attend a session but want more information, Carers NSW can help, so call them.

The SLF service provider list was finalised in May 2012 and produced as a booklet in June 2012. It was posted to successful Round 1 funding recipients and uploaded on the ADHC website (see the right-hand side of the web page “ADHC Publications” and click on “choosing a service provider”.

Or read the booklet by clicking on this link: http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0008/256985/Supported_Living_Fund_Service_Provider_booklet_2011-12.pdf

There will be no changes to the service provider list for Round 2, and future expansion of SLF providers will be considered as part of Sector Development’s broader Panel Reform process throughout 2012/13.

SLF Guidelines and Policy and Practice Information Sheets

Since SLF Round 1, AHDC has developed some key policy documents which will benefit new applicants, current funding recipients and Regional ADHC staff. The SLF Guidelines are currently available on the ADHC website http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/individuals/support/somewhere_to_live/slfregistrations.

Policy and Practice Information Sheets, with specific examples of policy areas within the SLF, will also be available shortly.