EBL QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER • WINTER EDITION • JUNE 2016

Welcome to winterIt’s hard to believe we are putting on the thick socks and woolly jackets for

yet another winter! With the seasons changing so fast, we are reminded

that each day is a precious gift and that every moment is so special.

Over the past few months, the team at EBL has been working together to

further advance our service offering and the way we provide

information to our valued EBL community.

With that, we have much to report on in this edition of the EBL newsletter

and do hope you enjoy reading.

We would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you for your

ongoing support, feedback and connection. We are so grateful for you and

all that you do.

“ ”Our vision is to passionately support individuals

and their families to lead fulfilled lives.

In this edition

A Word from Wendy ............................................2

Congratulations Alex & Robert ........................3

New EBL Website ................................................. 4

Congratulations Janelle .......................................5

Meet Matt Heading ................................................5

Support Connection ..............................................5

Queensland holiday review ..........................6-7

NDIS Updates ...........................................................8

Are you #NDIS ready? .........................................8

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A Word from Wendy

A big warm hello from all of us at

EBL. It only feels like yesterday

the sun was shining and we were

enjoying the warm breeze and

changing colours of nature autumn

brings. Now though, winter is well

and truly upon us and there is no

better time to plan and prepare for

the seasons ahead.

Over the last few months, we have

worked with the NDIS to do our part

when it comes to communicating

the roll out of the full scheme. As

always, any questions you might

have relation the NDIS, we are here

to talk you through any questions

you may have at any time. We have

also included a number of helpful

links on our website to ensure you

always have quick access to the most

relevant and up to date news when it

comes to the NDIS.

Speaking of our website, I am very

excited to announce the launch of

our brand new website. The new

site has been given a fresh new

look that includes easy to find

information about EBL and the

services we offer. The new site

also includes videos, testimonials,

handy links and resources, feedback

area and much more. You can

check out the new website at www.

ebldisabilityservices.org.au

Just as exciting, we are pleased to

advise that one young woman we

support, ‘Janelle’ has been nominated

in the upcoming Volunteer awards.

This is a huge honour and testament

to all that Janelle does to support

others, both here at EBL and through

her role as Visitor Liaison at the

Lyell McEwin Hospital on a regular

basis. On behalf of everyone at EBL,

congratulations Janelle!

The congratulations don’t stop here!

It seems we have some amazing

artists among us at EBL, these being

Alex and Robert who both live in

supported accommodation. Both

Alex and Robert have recently had

their artwork showcased in the

official Community Visitor Scheme

2014/15 Annual Report. Their artwork

has certainly brightened the report

and we are so happy for Alex and

Robert, who both received a letter

from Principal Community Advisor,

Maurice Corcoran AM thanking

them for their lovely artwork.

Congratulations Alex and Robert.

We are also excited to announce

a new service to EBL, this being

Support Connections. Currently in

the development stage, we will have

more information about this service

soon.

As many of you are aware, Betsy

Tang, Co-Convenor of the EBL

Carers Advisory Board has been busy

collating the Carer Advisory Survey

Results of which we look forward to

sharing with you in the next edition of

the EBL Newsletter.

In the meantime, please enjoy

this edition of the EBL newsletter

including the wonderful highlights

from our recent Queensland camp,

more on the new website, Alex and

Robert’s artwork, upcoming events,

further NDIS updates and much

more.

Wendy Warren Chief Executive

EBL Disability Services

“”

Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking

alone in the light – Helen Keller

Congratulations Alex and Robert!Treasured members of the EBL family, Alex and Robert have recently had

their artwork featured in the official Community Visitor Scheme 2014/15

Annual Report.

Adding colour and vibrancy to the report, the artwork first had to be

nominated before being selected to feature in the document.

A letter from Principal Community Advisor,

Maurice Corcoran AM personally

thanked Alex and Robert for their lovely

artwork contribution. We certainly

couldn’t be happier or feel more

proud of these two talented people.

Congratulations from the entire EBL

community Alex and Robert!

We are sure there will be many

more masterpieces to come!

New EBL Website goes live!We are super excited to announce the launch of our brand new website.

In an effort to make information easier to find on our website and to reflect

our new EBL logo look and feel, we have been busy developing a new look

website to do just this.

On the website home page, you will find information about EBL and the

services we offer, as well as quick links to relevant and up to date news

from the NDIS, links to our previous newsletters, current news from the

Department of Human Services, a video starring some very talented

members of the Tutti Arts team who have called themselves the ‘Escape

Artists’, as well as testimonials and links to our support partners.

The site also features information relating to our accreditation, the United

Nations Convention, our EBL vision, mission and values, details for those

wishing to join the EBL team, handy links and resources, video feedback

from a recent assisted holiday adventure, as well as an area to provide

your feedback, get in contact with us, submit your own testimonial or

even donate to the organisation.

We will continue to update the website along the way and welcome

any feedback you may have.

To view the site, head to www.ebldisabilityservices.org.au

Congratulations JanelleOne of the young women EBL support, Janelle, has been nominated in the

upcoming Volunteer awards.

This is a huge honour and testament to all that Janelle does to support

others, both here at EBL and through her role as Visitor Liaison at the

Lyell McEwin Hospital on a regular basis. On behalf of everyone at EBL,

congratulations Janelle!

Support ConnectionSupport Coordination

simply provides you and

your family with one on one

support, identifying your

goals and helping you make

a plan to achieve these

goals.

Whilst we support you to

plan your goals, we also

work out realistic ways

to achieve these dreams,

working with local partners

and within your budget.

The EBL Support

Coordinator works together

with you to:

• develop a detailed

program that matches the

goals developed in your

NDIS plan to how these

goals will be achieved,

• personalise your supports

and match you with the

right staff and services,

• manage resources

effectively to get the best

outcome from your plan.

Meet Individualised Funding Specialist, Matt HeadingEBL is proud to announce that we

now have in place an Individualised

Funding Specialist to assist with all things NDIS from a finance perspective.

Matt Heading has been brought on board with a background as a fully qualified

chartered accountant, and he is to be treated as the go to person for all things

individualised funding.

In the transition to the NDIS model, plan management and understanding what

the funding actually means is crucial, having Matt on board allows us to add

financial intermediary services to our already vast range of service offerings to

assist families through the change. This service discussion can be fully funded

through your plan, so please remember to ask for the service to be added to

your NDIS plan as you sit through your planning meeting. A full update on the

new financial services we are able to offer will be provided on our recently

refurbished website.

“

”

Our mission is to provide quality lifestyle support and accommodation services to enable people with disabilities to enjoy active fulfilled lives.”

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Our Queensland AdventureThe thing about memories is making them, and that is exactly what the

ladies of EBL did in March this year!

Shianne, Tayla, Courtney, Mikala, Jessica and Madison were all invited by EBL

Management to go on a once off trip to sunny Surfer’s Paradise sponsored by

the EBL Foundation. The girls graciously accepted this wonderful opportunity

with much excitement and some anxiety as most had never flown before, and

for one, this would be her first time out of South Australia!

The ladies handled the challenges with ease and surprised us all with how brave

they were on all of the rides they went on at the theme parks!

Here’s a snapshot on just some of the things the ladies got up to on their

Queensland adventure…

Arrival Day

A very early start that didn’t bother the girls in one bit as all were excited about

going on a plane, all of which did amazingly well over the duration of the flight.

On arrival to Surfers Paradise, everyone was shocked at the difference in

weather from Adelaide to Queensland. With the warm sun shining, no one

wasted any time getting into their bathers to enjoy a swim in the resort pool or

some relaxing time in the spa.

Sea World Day!

After spending the previous day relaxing by the pool, it was now time to get

up close and personal to some magnificent marine life. It was important to

plan the day really well to ensure everyone got to see all the shows they were

hoping to see. The girls loved the cheeky seal show and the amazing dolphin

show. Along with watching the seals and dolphins, everyone also got to see

polar bears, penguins and even sharks.

It didn’t stop there though, the ladies also braved the incredible rides Sea

World has to offer!

Wet & Wild Day!

Just as the name states, everyone got very wet and we had a wild time at the

Wet & Wild theme park. Here, the girls went on some very scary waterslides

and had a lot of fun in the wave pool. It was an effort to get the girls out of the

water for some lunch and by the end of the day everyone was worn out and

very tired from all the swimming.

Movie World Day!

Lights, camera, action!

Movie World really did live up to its name of “Hollywood on the Gold Coast”.

When walking into this amazing place, the look on the girls faces were

unbelievable, they were completely blown away. Everyone really felt like they

were in Hollywood surrounded by their favourite stars and superheroes, with

one of them being Scooby Doo.

With so much to see, it was hard for the ladies to know where to start first.

In the end, it was decided that they would kick off the day by jumping onto

some thrill seeking rides. The girls took us all by surprise with their courage and

adventure as some of these rides looked very scary!

After tackling all the rides, it was time for the ladies to meet their favourite

stars and superheroes, followed by watching a magical street parade in the

main street of the park. It was here that some of the ladies even got the chance

to shake batman’s hand!

Bon Voyage Surfer’s Paradise

The morning of the final day was quite sad, but all holidays must come to an

end, but the memories will live on for a lifetime.

All the girls were so appreciative of the opportunity to travel to Queensland

and thanked the EBL Board, Management and the staff involved, these being

Lynda Woods, Emily Baird and Jodie Bunyan, for giving them a holiday full of

new experiences and lots of fun.

As special thanks goes to all the girls and staff for the amazing time shared

together.

You can hear directly from the ladies about their experience of the trip over on

our website on the testimonials page via this link:

www.ebldisabilityservices.org.au/testimonials/

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5 things you need to know about NDIS in South AustraliaThe National Disability Insurance

Scheme (NDIS) is the new way of

providing individualised support for

people with disability, their families

and carers. The NDIS is insurance,

which gives us all peace of mind.

Disability can affect anyone and

having the right support makes a big

difference.

The NDIS provides eligible people a

flexible, whole-of-life approach to the

support they need to pursue their

goals. It also fosters social inclusion

and economic participation.

For more information head to:

www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/our-

sites/sa

1. WhatThe Commonwealth and South Australian governments have agreed on

how the NDIS will be rolled our in South Australia. The NDIS is currently

available for children aged 13 years and under.

4. How?The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is working closely with

relevant Commonwealth and South Australian government departments

to ensure a smooth NDIS transition for all existing and new clients, their

families and providers.

5. What can I do to prepare?If you currently receive disability services and are eligible to enter the

NDIS, you will be contacted before your transition. If you are currently not

receiving support, you may still be able to access the NDIS.and new clients,

their families and providers.

2. WhenThe NDIS is a big change and it will be progressively rolled out in South

Australia. People will move to the NDIS at different times depending on

age and where they live. The NDIS will be operating state-wide for all age

groups by July 2018.

3. Who?1 February 2016 – Children 0-14 years - state-wide.

1 January 2017 – Young people 15-17 years old – state-wide.

1 July 2017 – 30 June 2018 – roll our will be based on where you live.

State-wide for all age groups by July 2018.

Are you #NDIS ready?With Australia now committed to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) the National Disability Insurance

Agency (NDIA) is calling on communities, businesses and people to get #ndisready.

The Scheme will be rolled out across

Australia from July 1st, which has

already seen 25,000 people with a

disability receive support from the

NDIS through trial and early transition

sites.

Earlier this month, NDIA Chairman

Bruce Bonyhady, said “delivery of the

Scheme is on time and on budget,

with client satisfaction above 90 per

cent.”

Mr Bonyhady also said, “we are

exactly where we need to be to

deliver the greatest social reform in

this country since the introduction of

Medicare in the 1970s.”

NDIA Chief Executive Officer David

Bowen said the NDIS would change

the lives of close to half a million

Australians with disability.

He also stated, “the Scheme will

provide about 460,000 Australians

under the age of 65 with a permanent

and significant disability with the

reasonable and necessary supports

– such as personal care and support,

access to the community, therapy

services and essential equipment –

they need to live an ordinary life.”

The NDIS will begin to roll out

nationally from July 1st, with timing

and roll out guided by agreements

made between the Commonwealth,

state and territory governments,

meaning the transition will be slightly

different depending on where you

live.

For more information about when

the NDIS is coming to your area and

what to do to prepare for its arrival,

visit www.ndis.gov.au.

EBL contact details t (08) 8252 1000 f (08) 8255 1066

w ebldisabilityservices.org.au

e admin@ebldisabilityservices.org.au

EBL Disability Services

Endeavour House, Module 3,

11 – 15 Fourth Avenue,

Mawson Lakes SA 5095