1 May 2024
Due to inadequate funding and increasing costs of providing services, Able Australia has had to make the difficult decision to transition out of the provision of some of our services in South East Queensland at the end of September 2024.
These services include those funded under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, Active Living Program for Seniors and emergency relief.
Able has been looking for solutions to help us to continue, but inadequate funding and the rising costs of items like fuel and utilities mean we have been running these services at significant loss for years. These services have run at a loss of more than $2.2 million just since 2018 and Able Australia has covered the cost of these losses. As a not-for-profit organisation, we are not in a position to continue to do this.
Over the years our staff and volunteers have provided excellent service and have become integral to the local community. Their efforts have also provided incredible support in recent challenging times, including in the recent storm emergency and throughout the pandemic.
We have been proud to support seniors in Jimboomba, Ipswich, Lowood and Southport in South East Queensland through our community transport, individual and group programs, Meals on Wheels, Food Pantry, Active Living Program for seniors as well as emergency relief programs for people who need short-term support.
Able will actively work to ensure that clients experience minimal disruption and will be working with the Department of Health and Aged Care as they seek to find an alternative provider.
We are working through the potential impacts of this decision with our 18 staff who work in these services in South East Queensland, approximately 500 current clients and 130 volunteers, and will continue to do so through this period of change.
We will continue to provide disability supports in South East Queensland, including supported independent living and positive behaviour support services funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Disability Support for Older Australians (DSOA).
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FOR INTERESTED ORGANISATIONS:
Our services impacted across Jimboomba, Raceview, Lowood and Southport in South East Queensland include:
- Commonwealth Home Support Package:
- Community transport
- Social Support – individual and group supports
- Meals on Wheels and Food pantry
- Goods, equipment and assistive technology (alarms)
- Active Living Program for Seniors
- Emergency relief
These services have been provided with excellence by a committed team of staff and volunteers to the local community for over ten years.
If you represent an organisation which provides these services and would like to know more, please email us at questions@ableaustralia.org.au for a confidential discussion.
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FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Gillian Victor, National Manager Marketing and Engagement
media@ableaustralia.org.au