A WELLINGTON Point respite care centre which has operated in the Redlands for 30 years has merged with The Australian Foundation for Disability.
More than 65 clients Redland Respite Care Committee Inc. will transition to the foundation, known as Afford, and will be able to access its services including allied health, support co-ordination, group homes and day programs.
An Afford spokesperson said the merger would ensure that local residents with special needs had greater choice of supports to live the life they wanted under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
With the rollout of the NDIS in regional areas across Queensland - including the Redlands from July 2018 - some disability service providers found it difficult to remain financially viable.
Struggles to understand new funding models and create new programs within the competitive disability sector meant that some smaller organisations could not sustain their operations.
Redland Respite Care - located on Roberts Street in Wellington Point - is one such provider whose clients will now continue to receive support through their community programs.
Head of Afford Steven Herald said the merge with Redland Respite Care aligned with Afford's expansion plans and its mission to provide support to people with disability across Queensland.
"At Afford, we value every individual and genuinely care about how we can deliver supports to cater to their needs," Mr Herald said.
"We believe that everyone should receive the best support and have the opportunity to live life on their terms.
"Whether they are already part of the Afford community, or with another organisation, Afford is committed to providing support to those in our community who need it."
He said many clients of Redland Respite Care entered as children and have grown up with the service.
