New disability information service

The Disability Information Victoria clearing house, www.disabilityinfo.org.au, an information bureau which acts as a distributor of material to people with disabilities, was launched on October 30 by the Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr Napthine.

The service comprises a telephone-based help service and an Internet information clearing house containing comprehensive databases of over 2000 services to assist people, information on social security and other entitlements, links to specialist information from around the world, and access to ‘chat’ lines and other opportunities for social interaction and support.

The phone service is available for those without Internet access or who prefer to speak directly to information providers. It is expected to receive around 15,000 calls per year.

Disability Information Victoria is run by the Association for the Blind in conjunction with the Association for Children with a Disability and the Knowledge works computer information company. The State Government is providing $240,000 per year to run the service. The redevelopment of disability information services in Victoria over the past two years has seen Government funding of more than $190,000 directed to 25 agencies to provide specialist disability information.

The phone number for Disability Information Victoria is 1300 650 865. The number for those with a hearing impairment is 03 9824 8442.

(News Release, Minister for Youth and Community Services, October 30, 1998)