Individualised Support (IS)

Individualised Support at Accord

…putting people first

The Victorian disability sector is looking to implement a new vision, shifting from traditional service provision towards more tailored support arrangements. In our pursuit to become an outstanding leader in this area, we have established Regional Community Hubs providing localised leadership, planning and support. Your local Community Hub will provide Individualised Support (IS) through offices in the Eastern and North West Regions of Melbourne.

These arrangements offer support to individuals and families/key stakeholders seeking assistance with managing and planning their Individual Support Package. 

If you require further information about this service, please contact the Manager located closest to you or you may request further information via email at individualisedsupport@st.johnofgod.org.au. Please remember to mention that you have visited this website.

How to get more information about this service at Accord

1. Please telephone an IS Manager closest to your location (their details are listed below: Eastern or Northern region)
2. Download our informative and comprehensive Individualised Support Handbook / Service Agreement.
3. Email and request a copy of our IS Agreement document if the PDF file we have provided online is too large to download to your local computer.
4. Make arrangements to meet with one of our IS Managers in Greensborough or Mooroolbark.

Referral process (Your first step to our IS service)

1. In the first instance we strongly encourage you to telephone the closest Accord IS Manager to you (see contact details below).
2. The IS Manager will begin the discussion and establish whether or not you have an IS Package.
3. Once the scope and detail of your funding status is clear, the IS Manager will arrange to meet with you and discuss the Accord Individualised Support Agreement (see link to PDF above) in greater detail to ensure that the scope or what we can offer you as a service, best meets your needs, based on the funding you have been awarded by DHS (refer useful links below for more information about DHS Individual Support funding packages).

Please note that St John of God Accord is unable to offer you an Individualised Support service if you do not have the required IS funding package provided to you by DHS.

What is an Individual Support Package?

An Individual Support Package is funding from the Department of Human Services that is allocated to you to help pay for supports that meet your disability support goals and needs.

An Individual Support Package can help you do things that you are unable to do without support. Having a package allows you to choose what supports you need, who will provide those supports and how the funding will be managed.

Getting an Individual Support Package (ISP)

When disability funding is allocated to you, a worker from the department or a disability service provider will get in touch with you to let you know. You will be informed about the quantity of funding allocated (this is called a notional allocation) and we will discuss whether your support needs are still the same as when you put your request into the Disability Support Register. It is important to remember that the actual amount allocated depends on what is in your approved funding plan.

Useful links

1. About Individual Support Packages (DHS)
2. Frequently Asked Questions about ISPs (DHS)
3. Direct Payment Funding Information
4. Financial Intermediary service

We hope the information provided on this webpage are completely informative for you. If you feel we could include more resources or more clarity on the subject of Individualised Support, please do not hesitate to email us with your feedback.

Contact us

To discuss Accord Individualised Support options further, please contact the relevant regional Manager:

IS (Eastern Region)
Ringwood Corporate Services office, Manager - Peter Newsome
Tel: (03) 8804 4600
pnewsome@st.johnofgod.org.au or individualisedsupport@st.johnofgod.org.au

IS (North-Western Region)
108-131 Diamond Creek Road, Greensborough, Manager - Kristel Thwaites
Tel: (03) 9434 5155

kthwaites@st.johnofgod.org.au or individualisedsupport@st.johnofgod.org.au