Rapidly-growing disability service provider iCare Support Services Australia firmy believes in making participants the centre and the basis of everything it does.

Queensland-based iCare Support Services Australia was founded in 2018 by Chief executive officer Amy Costigan.

With 16 years’ experience in Job Active and DES, Amy saw a need for a disability service provider that provided a personalised and tailored service.

Three years on and iCare has expanded interstate, and opened a Victorian branch, which has gone from strength to strength.

“Your Goals are our Goals” is the company‘s motto.

“We want to support you to reach your goals, in a way that works for you,” Amy said.

“We want to create opportunities for the people we work with to live a life that is everything they want it to be.

We have a range of staff with different experiences and personalities, and we are sure we can help find one that is a match for you. If we don’t have somebody available that is suitable for you, we can recruit into the role!”

iCare provides valuable services for NDIS participants and their carers:

Support coordination

The company’s support coordinators will help participants understand and implement the funded support in their plan and link them to community, mainstream and other government services.

They will help build participants’ ability to exercise choice and control, to coordinate support and access the local community by:

• Understanding their NDIS plan and goals.
• Understanding what supports and services are funded by the NDIS.
• Provide information on what supports and services are available.
• Negotiate services and pricing to develop a client’s budget that will last for the life of their plan.
• Link participants with their community.
• Develop participants’ capacity to confidently manage their NDIS plans, over time.
• Assist in report writing for review renewals and or new plans.
• Supported Independent Living (SIL)

Supported Independent Living

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is to help with and/or supervising of daily tasks in a shared living environment, with a focus on developing the skills of each individual to live as independently as possible.

The support is provided to each person living in the shared arrangement based on their support needs.

Assistance provided to a participant will be included as part of their plan depending on the level of support they require to live independently in the housing option of their choice.

Short and medium term accommodation

Short term breaks are offered for people who need some time-out or a short holiday.

Inclusive of all expenses, iCare offers Short Term Accommodation (STA) options to support participants while they are transitioning.

The team helps clients find safety, security and high quality care with STA packages for participants or a loved one.

Holidays, planned breaks for carers – whatever reason you might need to plan a short term stay, the company’s accommodation and services are of the highest standard.

iCare packages cover all costs, including all daily activities, chosen by the client.

“Your goals are our goals, and taking time out when needed is such an important part of working towards a happier, more supported and independent life!” Amy said.

Improved daily living

iCare can help participants develop the skills needed to improve hygiene, get ready for the day, manage your life, and travel independently, we can assist you to learn how to manage:

• Showering, dressing, and other personal care tasks.
• Household tasks including cleaning and cooking.
• Life skills including budgeting and meal planning.
• Travel and transport, including using public transport.

Community nursing care

If participants need specialist nursing care relating to their disability, iCare registered nurses will come to participants’ homes to provide training to participants, their carers, or the team’s care staff to ensure that everyone has the skills and support they need to live independently at home.

Nursing that is not related to a disability can also be negotiated.

Social and community participation

This offers support for people to engage in their community, attend social engagements or take part in recreational activities.

Assistance with Social and Community Participation (Support Category 4) is a funded support category that some participants may find in their NDIS plan, under Core Supports.

This funding also covers support for activities that are either centre-based or out in the community (e.g. to attend a craft/cooking group) at standard or higher intensity rates.

Under Assistance with Social and Community Participation, the NDIS may fund a support worker to support you to:

• Attend personal development courses
• Join a social group
• Take an outing or a holiday
• Go on a holiday camp
• Visit your local library
• See a movie or a concert
• Go to community events, and/or
• Join a sporting club.

Most importantly, iCare Support Services knows that everyone is individual, with individual needs.

“We don’t expect the people we work with to have to change their own lives to suit us,” Amy said.

“We pride ourselves on being flexible, and we are enthusiastic about changing to suit your needs.

“We are a rapidly growing disability service provider that provides individualised support and care with passion and dedication, and we believe that those that we work with should be placed at the centre of all that we do.”

To find out more about iCare, their values and services, head to their website today to see how their team of experts can help you.