Flexicare is a flexible respite program that provides in-home and community-based respite for families in the Greater Geelong area, who are the primary caregivers of a child with a disability, who has high support needs.
What is Flexicare Children's Respite?
Flexicare is a flexible respite program that provides in-home and community-based respite for families in the Greater Geelong area, who are the primary caregivers of a child with a disability, who has high support needs.
Gateways receives funding from both the Victorian Department of Human Services and from the Federal Department of Health and Ageing to provide this support to families caring for a child with a disability.
What is the aim of Flexicare Children's Respite?
The service aims to support the primary caregivers in maintaining their existing care arrangements, and to enable families, children and adults to attain goals, develop skills and enjoy lifestyles valued by the general community.
Who is eligible for this service?
Each year in the Geelong region the Flexicare Children's Respite program supports up to 20 families who care for a child with a disability aged six years or more.
Eligibility for this program is based on:
- The family must have a child registered as having an intellectual or physical disability, or an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- The primary carer must be receiving the Carers Allowance.
- The child must be cared for by an unpaid primary carer and live at home with their carer.
- The primary carer has a demonstrated need for respite care due to the child's disability and other family factors that impact on the family's ability to cope.
- The primary carer is at risk of being unable to continue to care for the person with a disability in the family home.
- The family must live in the municipalities of Greater Geelong, Queenscliffe or Surf Coast.
How much respite could my family receive and what will it cost?
Each family will receive a service that is responsive to their needs and goals, as identified in their personalised respite plan. Allocations of respite can include: up to 100 hours funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services; and, up to 260 hours funded by the Federal Department of Health and Ageing.
A standard fee of $2.70 per hour is applied for the provision of respite, however this is negotiable in the case of financial hardship.
Who do I contact for more details?
For further details about Flexicare Children's Respite contact the Gateways Respite and Recreation Services Manager via Contact Us or by phoning 5221 2984.