Respite Effect and Recovery Grants open for people with disability and carers

Australian Greens

The ACT Government has today made $100,000 available to support people with disability, their families and carers under the ACT COVID-19 Disability Strategy. The Respite and Recovery Grants will support the wellbeing and resilience of people with disability across the ACT community.

The Grants will help relieve some of the challenges they are facing during the COVID-19 health emergency – offering supports such as meals, respite, cleaning and funding for hobbies or recreational activities.

Minister for Disability Emma Davidson says the Grants are part of the ACT COVID-19 Disability Strategy’s second phase and was developed in consultation with people with disability and sector stakeholders.

“Following a challenging year, where many Canberrans felt socially isolated, these Grants play an important role to not only support the wellbeing of people with disability and their families but also promote community inclusion,” Minister Davidson said.

“These Grants reinforce the ACT Government’s commitment to ensuring that people with disability are provided with the support they need to return to full participation in community life, as we continue towards recovery from the uncertainty of the COVID-19 health emergency.

We have been listening to the community and actively seeking the views of people with disability, their families, carers and the sector to inform how we can best support the community through this strategy.”

The ACT COVID-19 Disability Strategy, launched 18 May 2020, guides the ACT Government’s support to people with disability, their families, carers and the disability sector in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional resources and information for people with disability and their supporters are available at the Community Services Directorate’s COVID-19 webpage, including a planning tool for people with disability during COVID-19 and links to other sources of help and assistance.

A simple application process has been designed to ensure that support to the people and families who need it most is provided in a quick and timely way.

Applications close when funding is exhausted and will be processed on a first in, first served basis. Apply at: https://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/disability_act/recipients/respite-effect-and-recovery-grant-program-guidelines

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