Human and community service provider Intereach has successfully tendered to deliver the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and Home and Community Care Programs for Young People (HACC-PYP) in Campaspe Shire.

Intereach CEO Keryn Fox said she was delighted with this announcement, which was made by Campaspe Shire CEO Declan Moore this week.

“This is a natural progression for Intereach, as we’re already delivering these programs in the Riverina region, and we’re now looking forward to increasing our services in the Campaspe Shire,” Ms Fox said, adding anyone seeking a wide range of home support services could do so through Intereach.

The Senior Manager of Intereach Aged Care Services is Michael Harding, who said CHSP and HACC-PYP are valuable support programs for senior residents and people with a disability to help ensure they can continue to live well at home.

“Intereach looks forward to working with Campaspe Shire residents to deliver such important programs that help ensure senior residents and those living with a disability maintain their health and independence with support in their home,” Mr Harding said.

The Commonwealth Home Support Program helps senior Australians access entry-level support services to live independently and safely at home.

Mr Harding explained that eligibility is based on your support needs and age, but could be appropriate if you are having trouble with everyday tasks and feel a little support could improve your health and wellbeing.

To be eligible for the program you must be:

• 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people), or
• 50 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and on a low income, homeless or at risk of being homeless.

Services which may be accessed through the program can include meals and other food services, personal care, domestic assistance, nursing, allied health and therapy services, specialised support and respite care.

CHSP may also be able to help with domestic assistance including basic chores around the house, home maintenance or modifications, items to make you more mobile or assist in everyday living, community transport and homelessness support.

The HACC-PYP supports people who are:

• under the age of 65 years (under 50 years of age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and who experience difficulty carrying out the tasks of daily living and are eligible to apply for HACC-PYP supports.

Services which may be accessed through HACC-PYP can include meals and other food services, personal care, domestic assistance, nursing, allied health and therapy services, specialised support and respite care.

Mr Harding said Intereach looks forward to delivering these services and helping people within the Campaspe Shire.

Anyone seeking further information can phone Intereach on 1300 488 226, or visit www.intereach.com.au

While Intereach offices are currently closed to the public due to the coronavirus pandemic, telephone inquiries can still be made and services delivered.  When business returns to normal inquiries about CHSP and HACC-PYP can also be made at the Intereach Echuca office, located at 203-205 Hare St.

Intereach provides human and community services for children and families, older people, people living with disability, mental health and carers.  It operates from 16 offices in northern and central Victoria and the Mallee, and across the Riverina region of NSW.

For more information please view the video below:

Community and human services organisation Intereach has been congratulated by Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack on being announced a partner to deliver frontline Local Area Co-ordination (LAC) services for the NDIS in the region.

Southern NSW based Intereach has been delivering LAC services with another human services organisation in the Murrumbidgee area since the rollout of the NDIS, but will now be a standalone Partner in the Community (PITC) from 1 July under a new agreement with the Federal Government, Mr McCormack said.

The Local Government Areas of Bland, Coolamon, Cootamundra-Gundagai, Hilltops, Junee, Lockhart, Temora and Wagga Wagga are covered by the new agreement.
“Intereach has a long history of delivering services to clients across a significant footprint in the Riverina,” Mr McCormack said. “Many people look to the NDIS for support and Intereach will, I’m sure, ensure clients have a positive experience with the scheme.”

Intereach chief executive officer Keryn Fox said becoming a stand-alone PITC for Murrumbidgee was a natural progression for Intereach, which already provided numerous services across the region.

“This is a massive boost for our organisation,” Ms Fox said. “It underpins our future in the community and is a reward for all our team members.

“We are delighted with the announcement and look forward to continuing to support NDIS participants and their families. “In effect, participants can expect little to change in service delivery or the level of service provided. “I want to assure all participants they will continue to receive support from the Intereach team, which has extensive experience in NDIS delivery.”

The Minister for the NDIS, Stuart Robert, said current LAC agreements for NSW would end on 30 June. “The NSW LAC partners will start transition activities immediately, with full service cut over scheduled for 1 July,” Minister Robert said.

“The grants provide a great opportunity for organisations to work with the National Disability Insurance Agency and grow their business. “The competitive approach to market is designed to make sure participants are receiving the very best services as well as ensuring value for money so the NDIA can deliver more services to more people.”

Intereach has been announced as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Partner in the Community (PITC) in the Murrumbidgee area of NSW for the next three years, covering a broad region of 28 local government areas including Wagga Wagga, Albury, Griffith, Leeton, Cootamundra and Deniliquin districts.

The community and human services organisation has been delivering NDIS Local Area Coordinator services to this area on behalf of outgoing PITC for Murrumbidgee, Social Futures, since the rollout of the Scheme.

Intereach CEO Keryn Fox said becoming the standalone PITC for Murrumbidgee was a natural progression for Intereach, which already provides numerous community services across this particular region.

“We are delighted with the announcement and look forward to continuing our work with NDIS participants and their families. In effect, participants can expect little to change in service delivery or the level of service provided,” Ms Fox said.

As the newly appointed Partner, Intereach will become the key contact for many participants aged seven years and above. The change will take place from June 30, 2020.

The changes apply to the NDIS Local Area Coordinator (LAC) services; Intereach continues to operate as the Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) Partner in the Murrumbidgee region.

Ms Fox said LAC participants would be contacted by Intereach and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA, which implements NDIS). She said it was important to understand that these changes will not affect participant plans or funding. Handover arrangements for participants will be put in place between Intereach and the outgoing partner, Social Futures, to ensure continuity of support.

“This is a normal process that all States and Territories go through as the end of a PITC contract term expires, so it is ‘business as usual’ when it comes to delivering the scheme to participants,” Ms Fox said, adding “processes are in place to ensure a smooth transition between any changing partners.”

“I want to assure all participants that there will be a smooth transition to the Intereach team, which has extensive experience in NDIS delivery,” Ms Fox said.

Intereach is also the PITC in the Loddon, Goulburn and Mallee NDIS service areas in Victoria.

The successful Intereach Community Links program continues to expand, as it provides more people with improved access to a vast range of services.

Community Links was established only six months ago and has already doubled in size. Intereach now has at least one ‘Community Linker’ in each of its 16 offices across the Riverina, central/northern Victoria and the Mallee.

Although access to these offices has been restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic, the ‘Linkers’ continue to be available from 9am to 5pm, five days a week.

And even during the pandemic the program continues to expand. In the past fortnight Intereach has welcomed six new Community Linkers to its team.

CEO Keryn Fox said Community Links, established last year by Intereach staff, was designed to ‘link’ customers to the appropriate services and support that are available and followed an expansion in what was being offered by the organisation.

“I am delighted to report that we have provided 4,807 ‘once off’ linkages to community and mainstream supports for local community members. These are the simple requests, but each one is very important.

“We have welcomed 474 new people to Intereach to either be linked to their local community or an internal program, via our intake forms, and we have had a further 2,200 conversations with these people, helping them make further linkages to their local community.

“To achieve these outcomes in such a short time is an outstanding effort by the various members of our Intereach team,” Ms Fox said.

Intereach also continues to make its facilities available for hire by various community groups and organisations, and in the six-month recording period there were 103 different groups which used its rooms more than 780 times.

Intereach has also been proudly represented at more than 450 events and activities in its local communities.

It has supported the financial security of 131 people with approval through the No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS), with applications totalling more than $140,000, and it has contributed 1,100 new additions to the Effort To Outcomes (ETO) Asset Map to better link and support the development of communities and their members.

“We are proud of these achievements and I would like to thank and congratulate all members of our Intereach family who have contributed to these results,” Ms Fox said.

“It’s also worth acknowledging that during the past three months we’ve had to close our office doors to the public for extended periods due to the bushfire smoke in January and the current Coronavirus pandemic, which make these statistics even more significant.

“Due to its outstanding success we will continue to expand the Community Links program across our footprint.”

Intereach offers a wide range of services, support and information for children, families, older people, people living with disability, mental health and carers. For more information on Community Links or any services provided by Intereach, visit www.intereach.com.au or phone 1300 488 226.

Intereach services have returned to ‘pandemic mode’ following the Easter break. The community service provider’s staff are back at their desks – albeit with many working from home – from 9am Tuesday (April 14).

Intereach offices remain closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, however its services are still available. Arrangements in place for the duration of the pandemic are designed to help prevent the risk of COVID-19 infection to its staff, participants and communities.

Until further notice the following applies:

• The Intereach Work From Home plan has been implemented for the majority of staff.
• Most participant meetings are conducted over the phone with the NDIS Local Area Coordinator or Early Childhood Early Intervention Coordinator.
• Family Day Care and Vacation Care services are continuing to operate in line with Department of Education strategies.
• Intereach recognises that some programs such as Community Transport, Aged Care Services, and Children’s Services have unique needs and considerations. The executive continues to work closely with these programs to ensure reasonable and appropriate action is being taken.

The Intereach strategy is aimed at reducing numbers in its 16 offices at any one point in time, but is not an exclusion strategy. Intereach has 16 offices and nearly 400 staff across a footprint that covers northern and central Victoria, the Mallee and the Riverina region of NSW.

Anyone with queries about the COVID-19 response, or any other Intereach matter, can phone 1300 488 226 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).

Intereach support and assistance is offered across community services, children and families, older people, people living with disability, mental health and carers. More information is available at www.intereach.com.au

To celebrate Youth Week 2020, the Intereach Reach Out And Relax (ROAR) team have provided some tips to stay mentally and physically healthy during these uncertain times.

Reach Out and Relax (ROAR) supports young people aged 0 to 18 and their families who are showing early signs or are at risk of developing a mental health issue. ROAR is delivered across the local government areas of Balranald, Wentworth, Berrigan, Hay, Edward River, Murray River, Federation, Murrumbidgee, Narrandera, Wagga Wagga, Lockhart, Leeton, Temora, Griffith, Carrathool, Coolamon, Cootamundra, Gundagai and Junee.

Below the ROAR team demonstrate some useful calming and mindfulness techniques.

Community service provider Intereach has advised of its operations over the Easter period.

General Manager – Operations Sam Hall said the Intereach offices continue to be closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however its services are still available. Many staff are working from home.

Mr Hall said from 5pm this Thursday April 9, until 9am on Tuesday April 14, all Intereach staff will be on the Easter break.

Outside this period Intereach will continue with the arrangements that have been put in place for the duration of the pandemic. These have been designed to help prevent the risk of COVID-19 infection to its staff, participants and communities.

Intereach has 16 offices and nearly 400 staff across a footprint that covers northern and central Victoria, the Mallee and the Riverina region of NSW.

Until further notice the following applies:

• The Intereach Work From Home plan has been implemented for the majority of staff.
• Most participant meetings are conducted over the phone with the NDIS Local Area Coordinator or Early Childhood Early Intervention Coordinator.
• Family Day Care and Vacation Care services are continuing to operate in line with Department of Education strategies.
• Intereach recognises that some programs such as Community Transport, Aged Care Services, and Children’s Services have unique needs and considerations. The executive continues to work closely with these programs to ensure reasonable and appropriate action is being taken.
• The Intereach strategy is aimed at reducing numbers in its 16 offices at any one point in time, but is not an exclusion strategy.

Mr Hall said the community was responding in a positive way to the pandemic, both in terms of using Intereach services and in general protecting fellow citizens.

“It is a particularly difficult time for many of our clients and participants and we remain acutely aware of their special needs.

“It is heartening to see the way in which everyone is banding together at this challenging time to overcome the pandemic,” Mr Hall said.

He added Intereach supports the Government directive that encourages people not to travel over Easter, and encourages everyone to continue the good work that is being done with social distancing.

“We’d also like to wish everyone a safe and happy Easter despite the obvious challenges at this time.”

Anyone with queries about the COVID-19 response, or any other Intereach matter, can phone 1300 488 226 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).

Intereach support and assistance is offered across community services, children and families, older people, people living with disability, mental health and carers. More information is available at www.intereach.com.au

The Deniliquin Vacation Care program is on again during the April school holidays.

The program, offered by community-service provider Intereach for primary school aged children, will proceed with strict hygiene measures in place to ensure the safety of participating children during the Coronavirus pandemic.

This will include additional hand-washing, sanitiser being provided and additional facility cleaning.

Priority during the upcoming school holidays for Vacation Care places will be given to children whose parents are essential workers, or children considered vulnerable or at risk.

Any parent who is feeling unwell will be advised not to enter the Intereach Family Centre. Instead, they can call the Vacation Care mobile phone number and an educator will escort the child to their vehicle. Parents are also asked to keep children who are feeling unwell at home.

Vacation Care activities during these school holidays will include movie days, kite making, street art, cooking, Lego competitions, ANZAC activities and a disco day.

Vacation Care is located at the Intereach Family Centre, 366 Trickett St, Deniliquin.

Parents are advised to book places early by text to the Vacation Care mobile phone on 0428 554 478 or use the ‘My Family Lounge’ app.

The program will operate Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm throughout the designated April school holiday period.

Timetable below:

In recognition of the need to support and sustain the vital work of unpaid carers, the Australian Government is investing in the rollout of a range of new early intervention services for Australia’s carers as part of the Integrated Carer Support Service.

These services include free telephone counselling, online self-guided Carer Coaching modules, an online peer support Community Forum, Carer Skills Courses, and information for carers about topics such as planning for an emergency, carer payments, and legal matters.

From 6th April 2020, carers will be asked to access all new supports which will include in-person counselling, peer support and emergency respite through the Carer Gateway by visiting www.carergateway.gov.au. Carers can also access service and supports from the Carer Gateway Contact Centre on 1800 422 737 Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm local time. This will replace the current services provided by Intereach Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre (CRCC)

New providers of these Care Gateway services will be

• Live Better for NSW3, which is the current Riverina Murray Region excluding Albury which will now be included in (Vic2).
• Merri Health/Uniting for Vic Tas will be the new provider for (Vic2).

Intereach has been providing CRCC support to Carers across the entire Riverina Murray Region for 22 years and the program was an integral part of the organisation’s expansion east to Albury and Wagga

There has rarely been a time of greater need to support the most vulnerable in our community.

As such, community service provider Intereach is ensuring it remains operational and ready to help.

Intereach provides a vast range of community services across areas including children and families, older people, people living with disability, mental health and carers.

CEO Keryn Fox said the manner in which most services are being provided has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but communities need to be aware Intereach is still operating and available to provide assistance wherever required.

“Our purpose, which has been clearly articulated in the past, is to strengthen and improve social and personal well-being for individuals, families and communities. This is achieved by facilitating a vast range of programs for the various communities we serve.

“Throughout the challenges of the pandemic, and during the long recovery process, many people will need our assistance.

“I want to ensure all our communities that we are ready and willing to help, as required.”

Intereach operates from 16 offices across the Riverina and Murray regions of NSW, north and central Victoria and the Mallee.

“Each of our communities is special, with its own team to provide the local services we offer.

“At present we have unfortunately had to close all our offices to the public, but we still have nearly 400 team members across our footprint who can deliver our services.

“We have many team members working from home. We are encouraging phone meetings to be undertaken with our participants/clients whenever possible. This includes our NDIS Local Area Coordinator or Early Childhood Early Intervention Coordinator services, with most participant meetings to be conducted over the phone.

“We take great pride in the way in which our team members care for their local people and needs, and in this respect nothing has changed,” Ms Fox said.

Anyone who requires support or advice in relation to the many Intereach community service programs is asked to phone 1300 488 226. Team members will continue to be available during office hours (9am-5pm, Monday to Friday).

“We recognise that some programs such as Community Transport, Community Support and Children’s Services have unique needs and considerations. The executive will work closely with these programs to ensure reasonable and appropriate action is being taken,” Ms Fox said.

“At this time I would encourage our clients and participants to stay in touch – keep phoning our team members and working with us, as we meet the challenges we are facing.”