Defunding of SWAN with 5 weeks' notice
Nick Avery
Hi Everyone,
We have very disappointing news to share. SWAN was one of a great many organisations who were advised late Thursday afternoon that we will no longer be funded beyond 30th June 2024 (in 5 weeks’ time).
You can view the list of successful Information, Linkages and Capacity building (ILC) – Individual Capacity Building grant recipients here:
The above list is a great deal shorter than in previous years, which means that a lot of disability peer support organisations like SWAN were notified late Thursday last week that they will be defunded in 5 weeks' time.
Sadly, no autism peer support organisations have been funded, nor has any organisation which will be prioritising support to the south west region of WA. There are four ILC projects to be delivered in WA, with just over 5% of the $90 million in ILC Individual Capacity Building funding awarded to projects for WA, despite 10% of the Australian population being in WA.
We have reached out to Commonwealth Ministers Bill Shorten and Amanda Rishworth and State Disability Minister Don Punch, and asking that anyone who would like to see SWAN continue to be able to provide our free support services please email the Ministers. There is a template on our website that you may like to use.
The SWAN Board and staff will be meeting tomorrow to discuss our options. In the meantime, if you need information, support or advocacy, please get in touch. The SWAN team are still here, and we are happy to provide support.
What Does SWAN Provide?
FREE support with NDIS, seeking diagnosis, mainstream and disability supports available to meet your / your child’s needs and much more. This includes:
- Seeking autism diagnostic assessment, understanding the process and navigating the various systems.
- What to do after diagnosis, including financial assistance available through Centrelink and NDIS, and support to make these applications.
- Information about what disability and mainstream supports are available, and support to access them. This includes NDIS, Education, Employment, Community Services ,Mental Health, Recreation and Social Connection, Advocacy and more.
- Person-Centred Planning and Goal-Setting Sessions for people with disability and families.
- Preparing for your / your child’s NDIS planning meeting.
- Understanding the NDIS and how to use your / your child’s NDIS plan.
- Self-Managing NDIS funding.
- Support with NDIS Plan Variations, Reassessments and Internal Review of Decisions.
- Peer Support – both individually and via our online peer support groups on Facebook.
- Autism Go-To Guides.
- Individual Advocacy where you may need support to advocate for yourself or your family member with NDIS, Education, mainstream or disability services.
- Systemic Advocacy to State and Commonwealth Governments to improve inclusion and accessibility of different systems for autistic people and people with other disabilities.
- Youth Mental Health First Aid Training.
- ‘Understanding Autism’ training to families and the wider community.
- Workshops and webinars to improve understanding of NDIS.
- Resources and Guides in our Regional Toolkit.
- Resource Library for SWAN members.
- Provider directory and resources on our website.
- South West distribution hub for various resources, including SECCA’s free guide to Sexuality, Relationships and Your Rights.
Find out more about some of SWAN’s Systemic Advocacy work on our website.
If you would like support from SWAN, please contact in...@swanautism.org.au or 0499 819 038.
If you have 2 minutes to answer our JumpStart Project survey for the Department of Social Services, your feedback will assist us with funding and improving the services that SWAN provide: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ILCJumpStart. Thank you.
Best wishes,
Nick Avery (she/her)
CEO
South West Autism Network Inc (SWAN)
Codesign Lead
Every Australian Counts
Celebrating 15 years supporting the south west community
PO Box 1739 Busselton WA 6280
Ph: 0499 819 038 or 0476 315 694
BUSSELTON Monday Friday 9.00am – 3.00pm
12 Pettit Cres, West Busselton WA 6280
(next to Seventh Day Adventist Church in the old school rooms to the right)
BUNBURY By Appointment
at Milligan CLRC
35 Milligan St, Carey Park WA 6230
Email: ni...@swanautism.org.au
SWAN acknowledge the Wardandi and Noongar people, the traditional owners of this region, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them, their cultures and elders past and present.
This email is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not disclose or use any of the information contained in it. If
you have received this email in error, please notify us immediately by return email and delete the document.