Initiatives for Carers and Families

The Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr. Denis Napthine, has outlined measures taken by the Government in recent times to support the caring work of families with both children and adults:

• A range of flexible programs for families, such as Early Choices, Making a Difference
• Extending the coverage of Making a Difference beyond children living with families
• Expansion and strengthening of early intervention services to support children with additional needs and their families and reduce the impact of development delay or disability
• A family-centred approach to service delivery
• Joint programs and services so families can care for medically dependent children with high health needs at home
• The introduction of the State Plan for Intellectual Disability Services 1996-99.

The Victorian Carers Strategy and association initiatives are providing $100 million up to the year 2000 for a range of service initiatives. Funding for disability services was boosted by a further $19 million in the most recent state budget, increasing spending in these areas to more than $520 million in 1998/99

(News Release, Minister for Youth and Community Services, November 12, 1998)