How does ExtendABLE Online work?

ExtendABLE Online is an online social inclusion support program designed to offer opportunities for participants to connect and engage in a safe and social environment. 

It is a great way for NDIS participants to develop relationships with peers while engaging in activities of interest - it can be done from home, which saves the hassle of getting from A to B - fantastic for rural participants - and is also a way for kids to use their screen time valuably. Our program is an amazingly affordable options for participants who have limited funding, but still want to get involved!

What sort of groups are available?

We have many groups in development, we currently have the following on offer:

• Craft
• Dancing
• Trivia and Games
• Around the World
• Disney Story Time
• Drawing
• Magic
• Exercise
• All Things Gaming
• Stretch and Relax

Click to download a PDF version of our timetable and current activities here.

	Magic with Alexander Get ready to enter the exciting world of magic! Hosted by our resident magician who will be performing magic tricks - with items found around your home - and then taking you on a step-by-step process on how to perform them yourself!		All Things Gaming with Billy A social group for those interested in discussing and playing games across all consoles and devices. Each week we unpack the latest gaming news, review our favourite games, and complete construction challenges in Minecraft. Look forward to seeing you online!
	Crafts & Trivia with Elise  Get creative with craft and test your wits with some fun quizzes and online games! This session will include a fun and exciting mix of imaginative craft projects as well as games and joining in on conversations about interesting topics! Come join the fun each week with Elise!		Exercise with Elise -  It can be hard to get up and moving, but if it means you get to catch up with friends, while staying active, strong and having fun, this is exercise you’ll look forward to!    Stretch and Relax with Elise - tranquil music, gentle stretching and fun breathing exercises to relax and re-focus. These easy and calming activities will help you to strengthen and centre your body and ultimately, relax!
	Dancing with Emma Join Emma and get your boogie on while dancing to popular songs. Be sure to come with a water bottle as you’ll be sure getting your heart pumping in this active session.		Disney Story Time A visual extravaganza delivered by a true Disney fan. Delve into a different Disney fantasy each week - and join in with a dress up if so inclined. Stories are followed by quizzes and games.
	Cooking with Ruby Roll up your sleeves and get ready to make some easy yummy snacks and meals! This class will help you to increase your confidence by practicing and grow your cooking skills in a fun & interactive environment!		Drawing with Keely Join Keely in these fun and interactive drawing classes. Surprise family and friends as you produce both cartoon and life-like works of art each week. Don’t worry about how much drawing experience you have as this session caters to all abilities.
	All Things Pokémon with Cam In this fun packed session you will get to chat about All Things Pokémon, try and complete your Pokédex and battle other players! Join Cam in this session each week in Pokémon battles and virtual trading!		Around the World with Jude Do you love history as much as we do? Come along and join Jude to learn all about the different countries, cultures, cuisines, interesting facts and so much more! Come join the fun!

How does ExtendABLE work?

We will offer programs of support that run for a limited number of weeks. These will mostly be term based, but we may offer shorter programs during holidays. If you are interested in specific programs, let us know and we can develop something to suit you.

What do you need?

A device with an internet connection and camera – a laptop, PC or iPad work best, but a phone may work for some sessions.

You will need to download the Zoom app to participate, and some sessions may require additional materials (i.e., pen and paper, musical instrument, crafts, cooking ingredients), however we will try to make sure these items can be found at home and will give you plenty of notice if anything additional is required.

To participate in our Trivia and Games session, the program Kahoot is used. Instructions on how to set this up can be provided.

Please also try to make sure your session space is quiet with minimal background noise.

Cost

We bill our sessions using a group rate, so it’s a really great affordable option for participants who have limited funding, but still want to get involved!

Each session will be billed at 1.5 hours, which is the amount of time our inclusion support workers are paid. 1 hour covers the session time, and 30 minutes is for preparation, planning and reporting for each session. This amount is also then divided by the number of participants enrolled.

Part of the service ExtendABLE provides includes supporting with the planning, oversight and coordination of the sessions. In order to cover this cost, we will be billing 10 minutes of non-face-to-face support for each session a participant is enrolled in, up to a maximum of 1 hour per week.

You may exit from a program given 2 weeks' notice. If another participant exits from a program you are participating in during the program period, the group rate will then be altered to reflect the number of participants remaining in the program.

For example, the cost for a group with 4 participants under Core supports will be $31.87 per session, including the non-face-to-face cost. Under Capacity Building (Increased Social & Community Participation), it would be $34.26 per session, including the non-face-to-face cost

How do I sign up?

Send your enrolment questions and enquiries to Georgia (georgia.woodrow@extendedfamilies.org.au) or contact her on 0414 532 461. You are welcome to trial a session before committing. You will also be sent information about using Zoom and how the sessions run prior to attending.

You can also sign up online via this form link.

Our Individual volunteers provide genuine friendship, practical assistance and mentoring support to a child or young person, helping them develop important life skills. They also help them take part in social activities such as a variety of sport, recreation and leisure events that are of interest to the child. Some volunteer matches also provide direct support for the family.

Our volunteer match program assists participants with developing: 

• Social and community participation; 
• Independence; 
• Health and Wellbeing; and 
• Service Coordination

How it works: 

• Each of our volunteers undergo an assessment process that determines their suitability as well as screening checks including police checks and referee checks, before they are selected. They then undergo comprehensive training. 
• The length of time for the matching process can vary. Finding a volunteer to provide the right support for a family can take time. Our family match coordinators are trained to find the perfect volunteer to match your needs and goals
• Once a match is made there is a 'getting to know you' period which allows everyone a chance to see how well the match fits. In some cases, we see instant connections but others take a little time to develop like any friendship. 
• We regularly undertake reviews with our volunteers and families to ensure the program/service is meeting your needs and adjust the support where necessary. At each review we also update key match information e.g. behavioural management, health & medication requirements. 

NDIS Category: 3.09 Increased social and community participation

Small to medium sized groups of children or young people with disabilities meet regularly, in a community venue and/or to access the community.

The group is supported by staff and volunteers. The groups build peer connections, help participants learn and strengthen social skills, build confidence and encourages participation in community activities and
events. Parents and siblings may attend some groups. Some groups are culturally specific and led by multi-lingual staff.

AVAILABLE FOR:

All eligible children and young people, including NDIS participants

NDIS CATEGORY:

1.04 Assistance with social and community participation

A weekend away for families held at a camp facility to enable positive connections, mutual support and fun experiences - a family holiday in a supported way. 

Possible (optional) additional support for part of the time to enable respite and opportunity for parent activities and interaction.

AVAILABLE FOR:

All eligible children and young people, including NDIS participants

NDIS CATEGORY:

3.09 Increased social and community participation

We currently offer My Time peer support groups in Springvale and Deer Park which supports developmental play experiences. These groups are facilitated by a Vietnamese speaking worker.

Other groups, including culturally specific groups, will be developed based on request or identified need. 

Parent education is provided as a one off session or a short series.

AVAILABLE FOR:

All eligible children and young people, including NDIS participants

NDIS CATEGORY:

3.09 Increased social and community participation

3.15 Improved daily living skills

Extended Families provides independent support coordination to help you manage your NDIS plan.

Our team of experienced staff will help you:

• assess support options
• connect with services
• manage your plan
• build your skills and confidence

For Support Coordination our age range is wider, also working with parents who have a disability, utilising both our strong individual and family focus to ensure positive outcomes.

Our support team are culturally sensitive and include bi-lingual staff in Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese and Arabic.

AVAILABLE FOR:

Children, young people and parents with a disability who have an NDIS plan

NDIS CATEGORY:

3.07 Coordination of support

As a registered plan management provider, Extended Families can manage the NDIS funding for supports on the participant’s behalf. Plan Management is a financial intermediary service that manages the financial and administrative aspects of an NDIS Plan.

We know that parents are busy managing and supporting their family. Plan Management can take away the stress of managing the funding aspect in your NDIS Plan.

One advantage of Plan Management is that the participant can receive
supports from service providers who are both registered and not
registered with the NDIS.

The service can be requested from the NDIS, and like Support Coordination Plan, it is an additional funded item and does not reduce funding from your other support budgets. There are no out of pocket expenses for participants.

What does our Plan Management service do?

Plan Management is a financial intermediary service and describes the processes of organising the financial and administrative aspects of the NDIS Plan on behalf of the participant. This includes:

• paying service provider / supplier invoices
• claiming from the NDIS to pay suppliers
• ensuring suppliers meet minimum requirements
• working with NDIA staff, Support Coordinators and support providers to resolve issues and answer supplier queries regarding payment under the NDIS
• preparing monthly reports on how funds are being used
• ensure providers are paid promptly

Do I have to have both Plan Management and Support Coordination from the same organisation?

No you can choose to have both from the one organisation or separate organisations. 

What choice do I have to manage the funding in my NDIS Plan?

There are three choices for managing NDIS funding and claims:

1. Self-Management – where the participant or their nominee manages the funding
2. NDIS Managed – if you use only NDIS registered providers they can individually claim directly from the NDIS
3. Plan Managed – a registered Plan Management provider manages the financial and administrative aspects of the Plan. This is particularly advised if you think you will or may want to use services from non-registered providers such as some sport and recreation clubs, home help services, and some therapists or specialist services.

How long will it take to pay invoices?

You will get a personalised, prompt and efficient service with Extended Families. With many bigger organisations now taking month to pay, we pride ourselves on a quick turnaround. Invoices will be paid within 14 days of receipt, unless there are issues with the set-up of the Plan in the NDIA portal (or other NDIA portal issues beyond our control).

What is the cost of Plan Management?

The service can be a part of your NDIS Plan if you request it. It is paid for by the NDIA at a set level, and does not impact or reduce funding for any other area in your Plan, it is an additional funded item and is not deducted from your direct supports. There are no out of pocket expenses for participants.

Can you help me if I want to self-manage?

If you want to self-manage in the future, we can help you prepare for that.  We can help you develop the skills in management of financial and service activities. You can stop using us any time and become fully self-managed when you are ready. We are here to help.

How to I access the service?

Once you have Plan Management in your NDIS Plan, participants or Support Coordinators can complete the Plan Management Request for Service Form. Once received, along with a copy of you NDIS Plan, we will develop a service agreement with the participant or their representative and provide you with specific information about processes to enable us to work together effectively.

Why choose Extended Families for Plan Management?

• You can have confidence in an organisation that has been around for nearly 40 years and is experienced in working in the NDIS.
• We are a mission driven not for profit organisation with a reputation of genuine empathy and care and strong ethical and practice standards.
• We understand disability services and provide quality services – Extended Families is are a registered disability organisation with externally audited quality standards and a NDIS registered provider.
• We have invested in systems to ensure efficiency, accuracy and accountability.
• You will not just be a number lost in a system, you will have the response and attention you deserve.

So let us take care of managing supplier payments, communication and administration so you have more time for yourself. 

Click here to contact Extended Families Plan Management service.

Extended Families’ Carer’s Rebalance Wellbeing and Respite program is designed to support the needs of carers in Victoria.

If you are a carer for a young person with a disability, you can apply to access Extended Families Carer’s Rebalance funding to meet specific health and wellbeing needs you can’t currently access. 

These services are designed to be flexible and can be anything you identify a need for that meets health, respite, work, education, or wellbeing needs. Examples might include:

HEALTH	RESPITE	WORK	EDUCATION	WELLBEING
Psychology or counselling services	Funding for respite accommodation so you can get away	Support to find or keep a job	Support to fund a course	Funding for a weekend getaway
Specialist medical services	Funding for support workers	Support for training and courses required for work	Funding for training or courses	Support to accesses leisure activities
Dietician or Allied Health Services	Funding to access community respite services	Funding for career counselling or employment support	Funding for student materials	Access to Yoga or Pilates classes

How does it work? 

• You identify what you need support with and complete a Rebalance Request Form.
• Rebalance will assess the suitability for the program and contact you to discuss your needs. 
• If your request is approved, we will support you to access the support you need at no cost to you. Please keep in mind, there is a maximum amount of $1200 available per carer, and not every carer will have access to the maximum available.

Who can use this service? 

• Anyone who provides informal care to a young person (18 years and under) with a disability or specialized needs. This might include parents, siblings or grandparents, among others and  
• They are experiencing stress, burnout, or financial struggles that are preventing them getting their needs met in areas of health, respite, work, education or personal wellbeing.

Do you need more information? 

Contact the Rebalance Program Coordinator, Ahysa on 0414 923 913.  

Submit a Request Form here.

Download the Rebalance Flier here

Vươn Lên and Tham Gia - Facilitating friendship, belonging and achievement for young Vietnamese people

Vươn Lên (VL) and Tham Gia are group based community inclusion programs offered by Vietnamese Families with Special Needs and Extended Families Australia with funding provided through the NDIS’ Information, Linkages and Capacity Building scheme.

The programs support Vietnamese children, youth and young adults who have experienced significant barriers to meaning community participation because of their disability.

Vươn Lên Peer Support Program - offers fortnightly structured small group friendship meet ups for young people with Autism (ages 15-18 and 19-24 years) with the aim of supporting participants to improve their social connection, build on their interests and strengths, develop key life skills to boost confidence and motivation, and facilitate community and vocational inclusion.  The program runs two groups in the western region (Brimbank - youth and young adult) and one in south east (Springvale – young adult) across 2021-2022.

See the full Vươn Lên program details here  

Tham Gia provides school holiday events for both large and smaller groups of primary and secondary aged children/youth of Vietnamese background living with a disability in the western and southern metro areas.  The program offers supported opportunities for young people with various types of disabilities to experience locally based activities and to explore the communities in which they live.  It will offer support to 4 groups of young people and families (primary, secondary, senior secondary and families) with 4 events per school holiday period (one event per group per holiday break) commencing January 2021.

Find out more Tham Gia School Holiday Program - Western Region

Find out more Tham Gia School Holiday Program - Southern Region

If you are interested in participating any of these programs, please follow the above links.

Program brochures, Expression of Interest Forms and Program Contacts for each program can be found on these pages.