Earlier this week, the NDIS Commission released a grant opportunity that offers a fund pool of $5.6M in its first round (with more rounds to follow).
The primary focus of the grant is to “attract, retain and optimise the workforce” as the market sets to more than double in the next few years. This means looking at skill development and making the NDIS an attractive proposition for a future workforce that it will need.
Amergin Director, Christine Dempsey says, “the grant will go a long way to promote capacity building for providers while also increasing the workforce in the NDIS. With many providers struggling to stay viable, initiatives like this will provide much needed relief to upskill existing staff or acquire more.”
Individual organisations can apply for up to $20,000 in funding – you can be an existing provider, currently going through the registration process or intending to register over the next 18 months.
The grant goes much further, extending to practical business supports such as professional services like consultancy to help new businesses register and existing providers make the transition to the new NDIS Quality and Safeguards Standards – of which VIC, NSW, TAS, NT and ACT will be doing from 1 July 2019.
Christine continues, “It’s an opportunity for providers look at (and invest in) their internal quality systems and ensure a ‘best practice’ service delivery model early on. With every provider now required to undergo some sort of audit under the new national system, this grant funding could help with important measures like ongoing compliance support”.
“Our expert team at Amergin can also help providers apply for the grant and effectively utilise the funds to enhance business viability and quality of services”.
Priority areas for this round include Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander service providers, providers delivering to remote locations and/or other areas where there are NDIS service gaps.
For more information, go to the Australian Governments’ Grant Connect. Registrants must also complete a Readiness Assessment to qualify.