Media Contact: Ben Ruse
0407 030 808
Media Release
BILL SHORTEN MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services
Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
New outside school hours care providers for
teenagers with disability
The Australian Government today announced 15 specialist disability child care
service providers selected to provide new outside school hours care places for
teenagers with disability.
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, Bill Shorten, said
this funding will provide new places across Australia and help address an area of
very high unmet need.
Announcing the new places together in Melbourne today, Mr Shorten said the
program would allow teenagers with disability to receive quality care, while allowing
their carers to continue working during school holidays.
“These programs are a life-saver for parents of children with severe disabilities, who
can be sure that their children are getting the best care over the school holidays,” Mr
Shorten said.
“The Government is delivering an extra $5.1 million over four years (2009-13) for
outside school hours care places,” Mr Shorten said.
“This program assists teenagers with disability and their families by providing
appropriate and flexible outside school hours care, including before and after school
and school holiday care.
“Teenagers with disability aged 12 to 18 years join in stimulating and age-appropriate
developmental, social and recreational activities.
“We are funding a range of different organisations to provide innovative programs
across Australia.
“One of the funded organizations, All Saints Floreat Uniting Church in Perth, assists
teenagers from The Mowanjum Aboriginal community.
“Up to five staff members fly to Derby and run school holiday activities for seven to
10 days in each term holiday, and for two weeks in January.
“It also involves local parents and community leaders where possible, to ensure
skills are passed on and activities can continue for the young people between holiday
programs.”
“Novita Children’s Services in South Australia has also been funded to deliver centre
and community based activities, some which are ‘driven’ by the young people.
“Activities include swimming and hydrotherapy, gym and fitness activities, sporting
activities including wheelchair rugby and basketball, computer access through
specialised software and technology, including social networking, workshops to
design and write web pages and mentoring from adults with disability.
Media Contact: Ben Ruse
0407 030 808
“The Government currently funds 1052 outside school hours care places for
teenagers with disability in 48 locations across Australia, delivered by 40 services
providers.
”Along with the benefits to teenage children with disability, it also supports their
carers to enter, re-enter or remain in the workforce,” Mr Shorten said.
New Organisations receiving funding:
NSW:
The Disability Trust, North Wollongong: 6 places
The Disability Trust, Milton: 9 places
Sylvanvale Foundation, Kareela: 9 places
Ability Options Ltd, Goulburn: 16 places
Barnardos Australia, Cranebrook: 11 places
Victoria:
Yooralla, Laverton: 5 places
City of Whittlesea, Mill Park: 12 places
Noble Park School, Noble Park: 20 places
YMCA Geelong, Newtown: 30 places
Queensland:
FSG Australia, Gold Coast: 6 places
Cerebral Palsy League, Hervey Bay: 18 places
Cerebral Palsy League, Toowoomba: 6 places
Sunshine Coast Link Family: 12 places
Western Australia:
All Saints, Floreat: 10 places
South Australia
Novita, Mitchell Park: 15 places
NEWS 
