Disability service’s new tactic
Residents encouraged to drop-by pop-up business
A DISABILITY service provider is pioneering a new approach to help families navigate their way through the new world of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Queensland-based and approved NDIS provider Me Time opened a pop-up business at Grand Central yesterday.
Me Time will assist people who already have a plan from the National Disability Insurance Agency to find the best services to meet their needs.
Staff will also help people with disabilities to coordinate complex plans and can manage supplier relationships on their behalf.
Me Time is a branch of Tea-Cup Cottage, a small family-run disability service provider that provides disability support services in south-east Queensland.
Tea-Cup Cottage and Me Time founder Alex Shaw said the shopping centre presence was the first of its kind in Toowoomba.
“Unlike other service providers who have a
❝We can be completely impartial and give people with disabilities objective advice on the support services available — Me Time founder Alex Shaw
financial interest in keeping their clients, Tea-Cup Cottage won’t be providing disability support services in Toowoomba,” she said.
“We’re here solely to help people to manage their NDIS plan, which means we can be completely impartial and give people with disabilities objective advice on the support services that are available to them in Toowoomba.”
The shopping centre presence is an idea that Tea-Cup Cottage has already successfully implemented in a suburban shopping centre in Brisbane.
Mrs Shaw said the drop-in nature of the service made it easy for families and people with disabilities to find out the information they needed during what could be an overwhelming and confusing process.
“We’re fully behind the introduction of the NDIS and giving people control over their own support packages,” she said.
“However, many participants and their families are feeling quite overwhelmed at choosing their own service provider, managing their own support plan and employing their own support staff.
“It’s important that all NDIS participants have easy access to truly impartial advice, and our knowledgeable team will be able to assist people to co-ordinate the best support services – mainstream or disability – to achieve their goals.”
Me Time is open Monday to Saturday during the centre’s trading hours. It will be open for six months but could stay longer.
For more information, visit metime.net.au, email twba@metime.net.au or phone 0488 074 358.