Disability Services

Disability services from Abercare

Abercare provides services to assist children with disabilities and their families who live in the Northern and Western regions of Melbourne. The following programs are offered:

Case Management

Disability case management aims to assist people with disabilities to become more independent and to improve their quality of life. Case managers establish a positive relationship with the person and their support network and assist the person to identify, link with and organise the supports they need to deal with issues and achieve their goals.

Case management involves focusing on an individual’s identified needs through a person-directed planning process. Supports accessed through case management will be tailored to the needs of the child and their family.

Case Management is available for people aged between 0 and 18 who have a range of disabilities including physical, intellectual, sensory and acquired brain injury.

Respite

Abercare’s respite services provide short-term breaks for carers of people with a disability, while providing a positive experience for the person with a disability either in their own home or away from home. Abercare’s respite programs include:

  • Flexible Respite Program
    This program assists families with children aged between six and 18, to access funding for respite support as identified through a planning process.
  • Respite Activity Program (RAP)
    RAP offers children and teenagers aged between eight and 18 with a disability a fun, recreational community based activity, while providing families and carers with the opportunity for a break.
  • Family Active Holiday
    The Family Active Holiday program provides funding support to people with a disability, who are aged between six and 64, to assist them to participate in a holiday with their family/carer or independently. The program assists people who, without funding, would be unable to experience a holiday due to their disability.

Home Stay and Family Options Program

Children and young people with a disability are provided with a regular, overnight respite or longer term placements in a caregiver’s home, ensuring the needs of the child/young person and their family are met.

Support and Choice Initiative

People with a disability and their families/other support networks are encouraged to be in the ‘driver’s seat’ when planning for services and support, helping them to lead the lives they want.

Continuity of Care

Abercare is the state-wide administrator for this program which is for children with a disability or major health problem. These children have higher support needs than can be managed through regular case management services.

Continence Support Services

The Continence Support service provides financial assistance for disposable/reusable continence products such as nappies, washable pants and bed protection for children with a disability aged five to 15.

Intake and Response

Abercare has an intake worker who can assist with any queries regarding the range of Abercare’s disability programs. If you would like to enquire about any of these programs call us on 9373 3800 and ask for the disability intake worker.

If you are interested in becoming a disability carer or running activity programs for children with disabilities call 93733800 or send an email to abercare@baptcare.org.au.

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