Whiddon Announces Strengthening of NDIS Coordination of Services Program
Meet the NDIS participants living the way they want with tailored support from Whiddon’s one-on-one approach to NDIS coordination of services.
4 June 2024
Award-winning care provider, Whiddon has strengthened its NDIS service offering to provide greater access to tailored support and one-on-one coordination of services to participants, relaunching as part of a campaign to encourage participants to maximise their NDIS plans.
With an emphasis on support for regional, rural, and remote communities, the announcement brings those living in the regions closer to the relationship-based care at the heart of Whiddon’s philosophy. It is this philosophy that has connected individuals with exceptional care and support across NSW and South-East Queensland for over 75 years.
The program’s expanded resources include the appointment of dedicated NDIS Support Coordinators to help those living with a disability better understand their plans, make the most of their NDIS funding, and find local providers who are best suited to their needs to find the right support.
More than 650,000 individuals are current NDIS participants across Australia, with approximately 200,000 participants living outside of metro cities and relying on vital community-based support services such as those offered by Whiddon.
Whiddon’s announcement could not be more timely, with several reforms on the horizon for the sector and new research suggesting greater choice around provider selection by participants is key to unlocking safety for those living with a disability.
Speaking to the announcement and ethos behind Whiddon’s NDIS Coordination of Services, Whiddon Community Care Manager, Ashley Stevens said:
“At Whiddon, we understand that everyone is different in their own way, and support tailored to specific needs is what connects, inspires, and enriches lives every day and brings our participants closer to their personalised goals.”
“Navigating the complexities within personalised NDIS plans can be overwhelming for participants and their families, and that’s where Whiddon’s services are so critical, particularly in the remote communities in which we operate.”
“Through Whiddon’s tailored support we have proudly seen our participants develop rich and rewarding relationships with our support team and thrive in their everyday lives.”
Emphasising the impact of Whiddon’s NDIS support, particularly in regional communities, is Tamworth local, Rodney Butler (65). Diagnosed with a genetic condition from birth, Rodney’s Raynaud-Claes syndrome means he lives with a moderate intellectual disability, impaired language development and is non-verbal.
From being institutionalised alongside one of his brothers at the age of 7 and living in group homes throughout his younger years, Rodney was able to transition to living the way he wanted through tailored and personalised care in his own home, even taking on his own Meals on Wheels run for many years before retiring.
He transitioned to Whiddon’s coordination of support services in 2021 and hasn’t looked back since, enjoying activities like watching sports, playing lawn bowls at the local club, and going on boys' weekends camping, fishing, and boating.
Rodney’s brother Des speaks on his behalf about the impact of Whiddon’s tailored NDIS support on his life:
“Whiddon has made sure that I can keep on doing these activities and that I remain safe so I can continue to live at home. My coordinator has made sure I have seen the occupational therapist to get any aids I might need and to get some railings in my bathroom. She has also made sure I see my behaviour support person so that I stay calm and polite and can remain in my own home. She has also made sure my support staff are the ones I like to work with because they know me well.”
David Takiari (57) has been a proud Whiddon NDIS participant for two years, with Whiddon’s one-on-one coordination of support services helping him to find a network of providers in his local area of Liverpool in Sydney’s Southwest.
Living with the ongoing impacts of a stroke, daily support activities such as transporting David to his dialysis appointments every Monday and Thursday have meant he can focus on spending more time with his wife and children.
David is hopeful that with the tailored ongoing support of Whiddon he will be able to return to many of his favourite social activities, work towards regaining employment and retaining his licence to drive independently.
Whiddon is one of 16,000 registered providers under the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to deliver support to plan-managed participants.
About Whiddon
Whiddon is an award-winning care provider that aims to inspire every day in its 23 RAC homes, dedicated community care and NDIS support across NSW & SE QLD. Its purpose is to enrich people’s lives and make a real difference.
Whiddon has been providing exceptional care to older Australians and people with disabilities across regional, rural, and remote NSW and QLD for more than 75 years.
Whiddon proudly partners with academics and universities to remain at the forefront of innovation as it leads the latest thinking, programs, and training around quality of life and ageing.
