MidCoast Council has now formally transitioned the disability services delivered by MidCoast Assist to Ability Options.
This transition has provided continuity of services to MidCoast Assist’s disability participants and also for many MidCoast Assist staff who have elected to take up employment with the new provider.
Council entered into talks with Ability Options following a request for proposal process from interested providers, which was a result of a decision in February to transition out of the delivery of ageing and disability services.
Council’s Director of Liveable Communities, Paul De Szell, confirmed that participants who wished to transfer to Ability Options had now done so and there were no longer any disability services being delivered by MidCoast Assist.
“We are very pleased with the outcome for both participants and staff, as it has always been our aim to ensure continuity of services to our clients and participants,” Mr De Szell said.
“Ability Options have a long history of delivering disability services and I am pleased that we are able to transition our participants to such a high-quality service.”
Julia Squire, CEO of Ability Options said, “We couldn’t be more delighted to welcome MidCoast Assist’s participants and their families to the Ability Options community. We are so pleased that staff have also chosen to join us”.
“The Council’s team has worked closely with our teams to ensure a smooth transition, and I thank the MidCoast Assist Business Manager Paul Martin, and his team for all their effort, commitment, and support.”
Mr De Szell said planning for the transition of aged care services to Kirinari Community Services was well underway, with completion expected in early October.
“As was the case for the transfer of disability services, there will be no change to ageing services until clients are directly notified by MidCoast Assist of how the transition will work.”
MidCoast Council made the decision to transition out of the delivery of ageing and disability services in February 2024.
MidCoast Assist was a legacy function of the former Great Lakes Council and began in the 1990s. Ageing and disability services are a discretionary service rather than a core Council business such as roads, water and sewer, planning functions and waste management.
“Today there are multiple providers (large and small) of both ageing and disability services located in the MidCoast region. Those providers offer a broad range of services for the elderly and for people living with disability.”
Mr De Szell paid tribute to the staff of MidCoast Assist, saying they have delivered a fantastic and valued service for our community over the course of its operation.
“The decision is absolutely not a reflection of a lack of effort or capability on the part of MidCoast Assist staff – they have been outstanding,” Mr De Szell said.
