Toowoomba disability provider Montrose increases staff to meet growing demand for NDIS services across region

Demand for services through the National Disability Service Scheme is growing, and that has prompted one organisation to hire even more specialised staff.

NEW HIRINGS: Occupational therapists at Montrose disability service Rochelle Warbrooke (left) and Sarah Hamilton.

A jump in demand for services through National Disability Insurance Scheme is behind a Toowoomba provider’s decision to hire more staff to keep up with demand.

Local disability support provider Montrose is expanding its team of therapists to help more children waiting on NDIS funded services across the region.

It comes as the latest NDIS showed an extra 200 people in Toowoomba started accessing the NDIS and disability services between June and September last year.

Montrose has added two new occupational therapists, who started recently, and two speech pathologists who are being recruited to the team.

Montrose service centre manager Alexandra Young said the new OT positions would allow Montrose to provide additional therapy appointments to new families.

“We know that early intervention and ongoing delivery of therapy support is really important in helping people with developmental delays and disabilities to live the lives that they want,” she said.

“For some time now families who have contacted us for support have been put on a waitlist so we are delighted to be able to open up more appointments.”

The provider also currently has capacity to provide new appointments to families looking for physiotherapy support.

Montrose Toowoomba opened in July 2017 and works with over 100 local families in Toowoomba and the wider region.

Ms Young said the organisation had historically provided an outreach service to the area with therapists travelling from Brisbane before opening a permanent office.

Montrose also works with adults including assessments, support for modifications or equipment and ongoing therapy.

The Montrose centre is located at 1/9 Bowen Street at a fully renovated and custom designed centre.