New service life-changing for remote community

ONE of the Northern Territory’s largest Aboriginal communities has adopted a new motto: Kardu Caring for Kardu. It means simply: People Caring for People

Thamarrurr Development Corporation manager Scott McIntyre with Traditional Owner Francisco Bunduck at Wadeye ... NDIS registration will make a big difference to people's lives.

ONE of the Northern Territory’s largest Aboriginal communities has adopted a new motto: Kardu Caring for Kardu.

It means simply: People Caring for People – and reflects a new age in looking after people with a disability.

Thamarrurr Development Corporation (TDC) has been given provisional registration to act as a disability services provider under the Federal National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

It means that the estimated 130 people with a disability in Wadeye region, 420 kilometres south-west of Darwin, can receive life-changing help from their own people.

“Many local disabled people may be getting help for the first time,” says corporation General Manager Scott McIntyre.

TDC received help from the Territory Government’s NDIS Business Readiness Program to engage Keogh Bay Consulting to test the feasibility of service provision and plan how much needed services could be provided.

The consultancy included financial sustainability analysis, workforce planning, governance, IT planning, and marketing and communication strategies.

The corporation also received grants from the NT Government Department of Trade, Business and Innovation, and Department of Health.

“Government help was very important to us,” says Scott. “We needed help because we started from scratch. This will lead to a very positive impact on the community.”

“Our focus will be on helping disabled people connect with the community,” says Scott.

Men with mental health problems – some of whom rarely leave their homes – will be encouraged to spend time at the community Men’s Shed where they can take part in many activities, such as making didgeridoos and painting.

People confined to wheelchairs will be helped to get to the shops.

And through the community ranger program, people with disabilities will be taken on trips out bush or to the beach and fishing.

TDC is hoping to produce information on the disability services in language.

For more information about the disability services in Wadeye, call 08 89 781305 or visit www.thamarrurr.org.au.

If you would like to discuss ways to improve the profitability, sustainability or capability of your business, contact the Small Business Champions team on [phone].