By MELISSA MEEHAN
Disability group appeals for friends to pitch in…
FACED with an uncertain future thanks to the NDIS, a Ferntree Gully disability service provider is calling on friends to prop up its costs.
Interchange Outer East (IOE) provides support to families of disabled people and is calling on individuals and businesses to become an official friend of IOE.
It’s a new direction, but it’s the only way CEO Fred Brumhead believes it can cover costs of more than 30 programs of important family services.
Services offered by IOE include opportunities for friendship, networking relaxation and recreation for the mums, dads and siblings of children with disabilities.
“We’ve been running for 20 years and provide a vital service to those living with a disabled child,” Mr Brumhead said.
“In the past we’ve survived from government grants and fundraising, but with financial times it’s getting tougher and tougher out there to survive.”
IOE not only provides an outlet for parents of disabled children to meet people going through the same things – but it provides camps for siblings, too.
“It lets these kids know that they are not alone, and they spend time with other children who understand what they are going through,” he said.
“The problem with the way funding works now, and with the introduction of the NDIS, whenever that happens, is that it is really based on the needs of the disabled person.
“We do that too, but we see more of a holistic approach and identify the needs of those closest to them.”
Mr Brumhead said it was important that services such as IOE survive because the longest relationship disabled people often have was with family members.
“It sounds so simple,” he said.
“We’ve been out and spoken to these families and this is what they want.
“They want to be able to take the whole family away, mum and dad need a break sometimes and so do the siblings – every now and then they need to step away for a weekend and let their hair down.”
For as little as $35 anyone can become a Friend of IOE and donations of any level are appreciated.
For more information visit www.ioe.org.au and click the ‘Get Involved’ tab or call 9758 5522.
