FAQs
Why is Council looking at its disability services?
Council regularly reviews its services as part of its continuous improvement program. The disability sector has also changed significantly over time, including through the NDIS, changes to funding and regulation and the growth of specialist disability providers. This process gives Council an opportunity to consider current community needs, service outcomes and how residential disability accommodation can best be delivered into the future.
Why now?
Council undertakes service reviews to make sure services continue to meet community needs, legislative requirements and Council’s strategic objectives. There is also limited recent community feedback specifically about Council’s role in residential disability accommodation, which is why community and stakeholder engagement forms an important part of this process.
What exactly is Council asking the community?
Council wants to understand what the community values about residential disability accommodation, current and future needs, expectations about how the service should be delivered and views about Council’s role and funding.
Why does a Council provide disability accommodation?
Council has provided disability services in Orange for many years. Its involvement developed during a period when disability services were moving away from institutional models towards person-centred care.
Aren’t disability services the responsibility of the NDIS?
The NDIS provides funding for eligible disability supports, but services are delivered by registered providers. Orange City Council is an NDIS-registered provider and currently delivers residential disability accommodation and other disability support programs.
What happens next?
Feedback from the survey and targeted engagement will be analysed and reported. The findings will inform Council’s service review and future recommendations. Council will update participants and the community following completion of the process.
