The McGowan Government will provide an initial round of grant funding totalling $2.5 million through a $5 million Innovation Fund to stimulate innovative ways to increase employment opportunities for people with disability and enhance independence at home and in the community.
Disability Services Minister Don Punch today announced the public release of the new Western Australia for Everyone: State Disability Strategy 2020-2030 Innovation Fund (‘Innovation Fund’).
The Innovation Fund is a key part of implementing the State Government’s ‘A Western Australia for Everyone: State Disability Strategy 2020-2030’ and will provide funding of $1.25 million each year for the next two years through the initial round.
The Innovation Fund will focus on developing projects that creatively apply new knowledge, technologies or processes to improve inclusion, participation, and independence.
It will enable a variety of new and emerging initiatives or new approaches to existing initiatives to assist people with disability in continuing education, obtaining employment and growing their independence both at home and in the community.
An Expression of Interest process is now underway to allow potential proponents to familiarise themselves with the requirements of the new fund.
The initial round of funding will provide grants for projects over a maximum of 24 months. A further $2.5 million will be available for an additional round of two-year projects once the projects that were funded initially conclude.
Tenders close on Friday October 29, 2021 and a ‘virtual’ briefing session will be held on Tuesday October 5, 2021.
More information can be found on the Tenders WA website at https://www.tenders.wa.gov.au
As stated by Disability Services Minister Don Punch:
“Access to education and employment opportunities form an integral part of ensuring people with disability are engaged and empowered.
“The whole community benefits when everyone has the opportunity to be included. The Innovation Fund will promote and foster new and exciting ways to facilitate the inclusion and participation of people with disability in the community.
“The new Innovation Fund will support projects that improve the economic as well as social wellbeing of Western Australians with disability, with a focus on new ideas and solutions to long-standing issues faced by people with disability and the disability sector.
“Most importantly, the Fund will stimulate creative thinking and support projects that build the capacity of people with disability, their family and their community.”
