Bus service lost at Coorondo Home in Ashwood

An Ashwood residential home has lost funding for a critical bus service used to transport residents with intellectual disabilities to activities. One volunteer says the residents will now have nothing to do except sit around.

A furious volunteer has hit out at the National Disability Insurance Scheme which he says has failed people with intellectual disabilities.

Ashburton Uniting Church volunteer Michael Donnelly said Coorondo Home, a supported residential service in Ashwood, lost vital funding for a bus under the scheme.

This meant there was no way to transport residents to and from activities, something he said he’d done as a volunteer bus driver for the past 10 years.

Their quality of life was impacted as a result, he said, but because many of them didn’t have the capacity to speak out there was no way the funding could be restored.

“It’s a lack of flexibility in the current set up,” he said.

“For some of them I don’t know what they’re going to doing now except for sitting around.”

Coorondo Home manager Linda Valardo said the bus was provided by Eastern Access Community Health (EACH), but the service was cut on June 30.

It equated to a massive loss for those who lived at the home, she said, and there was now no way to take them on outings to the beach or to the park.

“It’s really disappointing because they really enjoyed getting out in the community,” Miss Valardo said.

EACH spokeswoman Michelle Egan said the bus was previously paid for under the Supporting Accommodation for Vulnerable Victorians Initiative, but funding stopped under the NDIS and My Age Care program.

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EACH staff were working closely with Coorondo Home to find alternative transport, she said.

A Department of Social Services spokesman who refused to be named said the service was not paid for by the previous Federal disability scheme and maintained funding was not cut under the NDIS.

It was the State Government’s responsibility to provide accessible public transport to the community, he said.

“The Federal Government is working in good faith with our state and territory colleagues to ensure our shared responsibility to deliver on the NDIS’ objectives with action, and quick resolution of emerging challenges,” he said.