Social inclusion for people marginalised by age, disability and mental illness across Victoria today received a boost thanks to State Trustees Australia Foundation’s annual Grassroots Grants.

With a focus on supporting the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the Foundation announced today, through their annual granting program, more than $200,000 to 23 organisations.

State Trustees Executive General Manager Melanie Lewis said the Foundation’s focus is with assisting organisations and people through the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and other associated sector reforms. The Foundation remains focussed on funding initiatives that support vulnerable Victorians to exercise choice in how they engage with and inform the service systems that support them.

“Many people experience social marginalisation through age, disability or mental illness, and local organisations are at the forefront of providing opportunities for those who face barriers to inclusion in their communities,” Ms Lewis said.

“There is a strong need to support communities, organisations and individuals through the NDIS transition period to enable a collaborative approach to the change, and prevent people falling through the gaps while adjustments are underway.

“State Trustees Australia Foundation is proud to support local community organisations, and are excited to announce this year’s Grassroots Grants recipients.”

Celebrating its 21st year, State Trustees Australia Foundation has provided more than $2 million to more than 250 projects through the grants. A further $10 million has also been provided directly to charitable organisations.

 

Organisation Name	Initiative Name	Grant
Able Australia Services	National Disability Insurance Scheme workshops for people with deaf blindness	$7649
Alzheimer’s Australia Vic	We Can We Can We Can: Purpose and pleasure for people living with dementia	$10000
Brite Services	Transition to NDIS	$9989
Brotherhood of St Laurence	Cafe Connections – social activities for older people	$9200
Cora Barclay Centre	Supporting Families with Deaf Children to Prepare for the NDIS	$10000
Deakin University	Meet Me in a Minute	$10000
Fitted for Work	Linking Women who have a Disability with Work	$10000
Gateways Support Services Inc.	Self-Advocacy Project for People with Intellectual Disabilities	$8418
Gawith Foundation	Understanding and Maximising Opportunities with the NDIS	$9940
High Street Bells Choir Inc.	High Street Bells Choir Operational Stability	$10000
Honeysuckle Regional Health	Training in dementia care for Honeysuckle Regional Health	$10000
Longbeach PLACE Inc.	Building Digital and Financial Literacy Amongst Seniors	$9800
Motor Neurone Disease Association of Victoria	Equipment Lending Service	$10000
Multiple Sclerosis Limited	MS in readiness for NDIS	$5275
Peninsula Home Hospice	New PHH Client Care Volunteer Training Program 2016	$4770
Per Capita Australia Limited	Money for Jam: An initiative of the Centre for Applied Policy in Positive Ageing	$10000
Pets in the Park	Helping the homeless care for their pets	$10000
Sacred Heart Mission	Home Care for the homeless – a new service response	$10000
South Port UnitingCare	Active Ageing	$10000
The Bridge Inc.	READY, SET, GO: a NDIS readiness workshop program targeting culturally and linguistically diverse people with a disability and their parents/carers	$10000
The Humour Foundation	Building a Model of Collaboration between Adolescent Mental Health Units and Clown Doctors	$9609
Victorian Deaf Society	Getting Deaf clients NDIS ready	$9565
Yooralla	Protecting the rights and safety of people with Disability- A DVD Life skills Resource	$10000